Seeking Justice Page 6

  Logan cleared his throat noisily and grimaced. “No, but he is worried that Amy is spending a little too much time with you. Whenever you two are in the same room she can’t seem to tear her eyes from you.”

  “I’m not interested in her.”

  “We’re not saying that you are. We’re saying that she’s interested in you. I don’t think it’s something we should be encouraging, unless you have other ideas.”

  Was Logan truly asking what Reed thought he was?

  “I am not encouraging that woman. I love my wife.”

  “I know you do but we’ve noticed that Amy seems to like you. A lot.”

  Blowing out a breath, Reed slumped against the desk, draping a leg over the corner. “She’s been…friendly.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Yes. She offered me a sympathetic ear.” Reed rolled his eyes. “Jesus, I’m not interested and I’m not even sure she’s attracted to me. She’s a nice woman. We may all be blowing this out of proportion.”

  “That’s true. She does seem to gravitate toward you, though. I think she’s a good agent but I also think she might have a…crush.”

  “I guess people can tell about Kaylee and me.”

  “To be fair, I didn’t until Ava pointed it out,” Logan explained. “My mind has been elsewhere these past few days. I’m sorry you two are going through a rough patch. I’m sure it will all work out.”

  “It will,” Reed said with far more confidence than he possessed. Despite Kaylee allowing him to hold her for the first time in months, it didn’t mean that their relationship was all patched up. They still had problems. “We’re already doing better. Every marriage has its issues. We’ll get through it.”

  “Just know that we’re here for you. If you need it. But it sounds like it’s all going to be okay.”

  “It is. For sure.” The sound of footsteps in the hall had them both looking toward the door. “I appreciate the concern, though. You guys are good friends.”

  Reed wasn’t sure how to fix his marriage but spending time with another woman absolutely wasn’t going to help. He’d avoid Amy for the rest of his time here. He didn’t need another problem on top of the ones he already had.

  * * * *

  Reed had attracted the attention of many women over the years and for the most part Kaylee hadn’t minded. She’d known that her husband wasn’t interested and would be in her bed each night, so why worry?

  Do I need to worry now?

  “I can’t believe you haven’t smacked the crap out of her yet. I admire your restraint.”

  While they were all combing through Wade’s prison mail, Kaylee had sought peace and quiet folding towels in the laundry room. She should have known Ava would find her.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Ava shut the laundry room door behind her and leaned a hip against the washer. “You had a deep-seated need to fold laundry at midnight?”

  “It needed to be done.”

  “It could be done in the morning. Those towels weren’t going to jump out of the dryer and dance around. They’d be there whenever we got to them.”

  The image of the sunny yellow towels doing a dance down the hall had Kaylee giggling. “If they could dance they could fold themselves.”

  Ava sighed and rubbed at the back of her neck. “Wouldn’t it be great if towels and clothes were self-folding? That’s the worst part of doing laundry. If Logan had his way he’d never hang anything up. He’d just wear the clean clothes I bring upstairs in the laundry basket. When it’s empty it must be time to do the wash again.”

  “Reed’s more persnickety. He likes his clothes a certain way.”

  They’d come to the end of the laundry discussion because Ava threw a glance over her shoulder toward the door. “Amy likes him.”

  “I’m not worried about her.”

  Much.

  Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Ava make a gagging noise. “She’s trying to stay professional but it shows. And don’t think that Logan and Jared haven’t noticed. They have, and my husband mentioned that tomorrow he’d make a few calls and get Amy reassigned. Her crush on your husband isn’t good for this mission.”

  “She thinks I’m only good for folding laundry.”

  Kaylee’s tone was far more bitter than she’d intended but she’d had quite enough of Amy batting her eyelashes at Reed.

  Especially when I’m standing right there.

  “And we know better,” Ava declared. “Don’t worry about her. Reed isn’t interested.”

  “She’s a good marshal and she actually seems…nice.”

  “Well…yes. She’s nice but she’s also making a fool of herself.” Ava took a step forward and lowered her voice. “Just ignore her because that’s what your husband is doing.”

  “Is he? Are you sure?”

  That green-eyed monster had Kaylee firmly within its grips and she hated what she’d become. One of those jealous women who didn’t trust their husbands. She’d never thought she’d get here to this awful place.

  But here she was.

  “Reed would never cheat on you.”

  He was the most honorable man Kaylee had ever known. But Amy…

  “She doesn’t look like a quitter.”

  “She looks like a fool.”

  Ava’s tone had Kaylee laughing. “I sure as hell won’t argue with you about that.”

  Taking the towel from her hands, Ava nudged Kaylee toward the door. “Now go out there and don’t give a shit what that woman says or thinks. She’s not important. You and Reed are.”

  Kaylee didn’t want to give up the progress she and her husband had made this afternoon. For a while today she’d felt…happy and content. A state she hadn’t experienced in too long. Now she was greedy for more.

  She’d found a little bit of hope here in this safe house.

  Chapter Nine

  Reed was tired and not in the best of moods. He wanted to be curled up in bed with his wife, not sifting through letters sent to Bryson from some of the wackiest people in the world. People who had real mental health issues and needed immediate professional intervention and care. It wasn’t just the women fantasizing about reforming Bryson, it was the crazy monsters who fantasized about killing others in his name. Reed didn’t even want to think about how many of these nut cases who had stopped thinking about it and made it a grisly reality.

  After their tender afternoon together, Reed wanted more of Kaylee. Impatient as hell with the entire situation, he hadn’t been the nicest to Amy this evening. To be fair, she hadn’t made it easy. She didn’t appear to be getting the message and he was going to have to be more direct with the female marshal.

  Very direct. And if she still didn’t get it, he’d draw her a fucking picture. Thank goodness, she’d finally gone outside to speak with Mike who was on guard duty.

  Stretching his stiff back, he tossed the last letter on his stack into a box. There were plenty more still to go through, but they were making progress. “I’m going to make a fresh pot of coffee. I could use the caffeine.”

  “I’ll be in to get a cup in ten minutes,” Jared replied with a yawn. “Make it industrial strength.”

  “Like tar,” Logan agreed. “I’m fading fast. Why can’t I be like the twins? A little sugar and they’re good to go for hours.”

  “Because you’re not six anymore,” Ava teased him, kissing his cheek as she and Kaylee re-settled into chairs around the desk. They’d been off folding laundry or something like that for awhile, but Reed was glad to see his wife back. She was smiling too, and it was doing funny things to his heart. He loved this woman so damn much. It had to be obvious to the world.

  “In other words, I’m getting old,” Logan laughed. “It happens to everyone I guess but I thought my loving wife would be the last one to remind me.”

  “I’m getting old, too,” Ava laughed. “You’re not alone. Besides, I don’t want to think about the alternative.”

  “Damn right,” Jared said. “Getting old is a good thing. That’s a birthday gift you don’t want to give back.”

  Standing, Reed stretched his arms over his head, working out the kinks in his neck and back. “One pot of coffee coming up.”

  Bravely, he dropped a kiss on the top of Kaylee’s head as he headed to the kitchen. As always, she smelled amazing and he was tempted to sweep her up in his arms and carry her to their bedroom.

  Patience. I need more patience.

  They’d made huge progress today but that didn’t mean that she was ready to do more. He needed to move slowly, or he’d scare her off and they’d be back where they’d started.

  “A cup of coffee sounds good.”

  Shit. He couldn’t seem to shake this woman.

  He flipped the switch on the coffeemaker and turned around to find Amy. She certainly was persistent.

  “It will be ready in about ten minutes.”

  “I can wait.”

  She could but she didn’t need to. Reed wasn’t attracted to Amy, but he didn’t want anyone else to think that he might be. Already they were talking about her behavior. She didn’t know it, but Jared was going to call Evan tomorrow and have her reassigned.

  “You seem tense.”

  Because you won’t get the message.

  “I think we’re all tense. We want Bryson back behind bars so we can all go back to our regular lives.”

  The problem with Amy was that she wasn’t a bitch or anything. If she had been, this would be easy. She truly seemed sympathetic.

  “You’re not happy.”

  Even when his relationship with Kaylee had been at its worst he’d been happy and grateful to have her for a wife and be sharing his life with her. That meant he needed to be blunt and kind of mean to Amy. Right now. He couldn’t let her harbor any thoughts that this could ever be more.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m very happy. Maybe you simply don’t recognize it when you see it.” He walked up to her, invading her personal space. As a cop he’d learned about intimidating with his size early on. “I’m only going to say this once so listen up. I’m not interested. I will never be interested.”

  Whatever Amy might have said in response would forever be a mystery. Jared, Logan, Ava, and Kaylee stomped into the kitchen, their voices announcing their arrival before he could see them. They were debating the merits of two television shows and whether one was better than the other. Kaylee and Ava were bound to win whatever the argument. They always did.

  To his surprise, Kaylee walked straight to him and wrapped an arm around his waist. A warmth spread through his chest and gut and a big smile bloomed on his face. The ice was finally beginning to thaw. Fuck, he should have encouraged her to talk with Ava a long time ago. Clearly a few days with her best friend had helped. Kaylee looked far more relaxed than she had in months despite the crappy situation they found themselves in.

  “Hey, babe,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. “We’re almost done with the mail. You can go upstairs and get some sleep if you need to.”

  She shook her head, her silky auburn hair tickling his arm. “No, I’m good. I want to finish. But we are going to need that coffee. Ava and I thought we might get a tray of snacks going, too. Coffee on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea.”

  “I can help,” Amy offered. “Just tell me what to do.”

  Before Ava could answer, Jared stepped in. “Actually, we need you to give Mike a hand outside. He’s due for a long break.”

  Reed had half-expected Amy to argue but she didn’t hesitate, turning on her heel and heading back outside. He gave his friend a grateful look over Kaylee’s head. They had each other’s back.

  Things were finally looking up. His wife didn’t hate him and Logan had a lead on Bryson’s whereabouts. If they could find the son of a bitch, Reed could take Kaylee back home. Their home.

  He and Kaylee could start their life again.

  Chapter Ten

  It was almost four in the morning when they all crawled exhausted up the stairs to bed. As tired as Kaylee was – and there were zombies who had felt livelier – she also desperately wanted a quick shower. She was so hopped up on caffeine and sugar the heat of the water might calm her, helping her fall asleep more easily.

  Reed had lingered in the hallway talking to Logan and Jared, so she took the opportunity to strip off and step under the hot, steamy water. While Reed had slept on the floor last night, she didn’t think he was planning to do that now. She’d opened up the floodgates this afternoon by cuddling with him and she had no regrets.

  But…

  It was kind of scary. It had been months since the last time she’d shared a bed with Reed, not to mention made love with him. Eventually even the sex had become perfunctory, almost a chore. Their playful and passionate physical relationship had been reduced to a calendar-driven schedule. And romance? Forget about it.

  Spontaneity had gone out the window. No sex three days before she was fertile. A pillow under her hips that had cancelled out any more daring positions. Then afterward, she’d lie there for a long time, her legs in the air praying this time it would work.

  It wasn’t a great formula for feeling sexy and desired.

  The bathroom had filled with steam and her muscles loosened under the strong hot spray. Sleep had never come easily to her but she might actually get a few hours before the twins wanted breakfast. Unlike the rest of them, Colt and Brianna had been put to bed on time. Ava had warned that while her kids might bemoan a regular schedule they also thrived on it, which was funny coming from her. Ava was quite orderly but when writing, schedules went right out of the window. She didn’t have that luxury anymore.

  Kaylee was rinsing the lather from her skin when the shower curtain was thrown back and Reed stood there, steam billowing around his too perfect body. A cool breeze wafted around her and she could feel her nipples pucker in response and goosebumps rise on her wet flesh.

  I guess it would be stupid to try and cover any part of me with my hands. He is my husband and he’s seen it all.

  And touched it. Many times.

  Instead she tried to brazen it out by scolding him, but she had the sneaking suspicion that her face was bright red. Hopefully, he’d think it was just from the heat. “Reed, you’re letting in the cold air.”

  “Then I’ll close the curtain.”

  Stepping into the bathtub, he pulled the curtain closed. He was close and intimate, and it was kind of scary and exciting at the same time. Everything was moving so fast. This morning she and Reed had barely been speaking to one another and now they were both naked in the shower. She loved her husband and had never stopped wanting him, but it felt awkward and strange. It had been so long.

  Had they completely forgotten how to have sex spontaneously? She couldn’t remember the last time they had, it had been so long ago. For the last several years they’d only done it when the calendar told them to. It was sad that they’d lost that spark of kink that had brought them together. They used to have so much fun with their sexuality. Reed had never made her feel like her wants and needs were in any way wrong or weird.

  Hot and steamy, it felt like a world all to themselves. Kaylee wanted to shut the rest of the world out and, for a few minutes at least, forget all their troubles and strife. But mostly she wanted to feel something good again. She’d been in pain for too long.

  She handed the bottle of body wash to Reed, trying to keep her gaze from resting on his body. Heaven forbid she be caught staring.

  “I’m already done so you can take it.”

  “Did you get your back?”

  She hadn’t become double-jointed nor had her arms grown several inches during their separation.

  His intention was clear, and she was captured by how his normally hazel eyes had turned a molten gold. She knew that look well.

  “No.”

  “No?” Reed stepped back, his expression wary. He was giving her the time and space to turn him down.

  She could totally say no and step out of the shower, get dressed, and go to bed. Reed would never press her for more than she was ready for.

  I can say no. Walk away.

  Or I can stay here and feel my husband’s arms around me again. It’s been so long.

  Like all humans, Kaylee craved physical affection. She and Reed had had a tactile relationship, always cuddling and holding one another. She’d missed that and she craved it.

  “No…I didn’t get my back.”

  His features eased and he held up the body wash. “I can do it for you. If you like.”

  She would like but was she ready for this? Her hesitation must have cued him in to her predicament.

  “Just your back.”

  Her heart in her throat, Kaylee slowly turned so she was facing the shower wall. “That would be fine.”

  With just a touch to her shoulder it was like a live wire had been run from her neck all the way down her spine. For such a big tough man he had such a gentle touch and those magic fingers massaged the lather into her skin, running up and down her back. Her knees went watery and she had to reach out and brace herself with a hand on the tile walls. Pressing her lips together to hold in her whimper of want, she closed her eyes and savored the sensation. Her pulse raced and her stomach tumbled but she didn’t move away, determined to enjoy feeling good.

  I do deserve happiness. I don’t have to be miserable.

  Kaylee was tired of punishing herself. She was a naturally happy and optimistic person when she wasn’t tied into knots with hormones. Maybe she was finally coming up for air, but she wanted to find that person that she used to be.

  I’ll be different too, but I need to find that part of myself that loved life. I want to look forward to each day. I want to find the passion that I’ve lost.

  For writing. For Reed. For everything.

  His rough fingers brushed her hip as he placed the bottle on the little bathtub ledge. His hands wrapped around her long hair, scraping it back from her face so he could press his lips to her temple and then her cheek.