Smart, Sexy and Secretive (The Reed Brothers 2)

Paul points toward the drawer full of condoms and arches his brow. It’s a house full of men, and they have a kitchen drawer full of condoms. It works for them, but heat creeps up my face when Paul points out that Logan needs to get one.

“Be right back,” Logan says.

He carries me into the bedroom and pulls back the covers. “I need to go talk to Paul,” he says. He bends down with the intention of kissing me.

“To talk about condoms?” I ask.

He grins. “Among other things.”

“What other things?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. But he has that look on his face like he needs to talk to me.” His lips brush mine quickly. “Be right back.”

He walks out the door, and I can’t be angry that Paul is trying to keep Logan safe. It’s what he does.

Logan

I’m pissed that Paul made Emily feel uncomfortable, but I try not to let it show as I walk into the living room to find him. He’s sitting on one sofa and Matt’s on the other. “I don’t need a condom,” I blurt out.

Paul’s brow lifts. “What the f**k?” he says. He shakes his head. “Go get a condom. Don’t be stupid.”

“I’m not stupid,” I say. I’m not. I’m really not. Am I?

Matt heaves a sigh. “You should ask why he thinks he doesn’t need one,” he says. He shakes his head like we’re both the worst kind of stupid.

“Why do you feel the need to pry?” I ask. I’m twenty-one f**king years old. I’m not a child.

“That’s what I do,” Paul warns. He pats his chest. “I f**king care about you, doofus.”

Matt coughs into his fist. “So, why don’t you need a condom?” he asks gently. He holds up a hand to stop Paul’s upcoming tirade. “I’m sure there’s a good reason.”

I scrub a hand down my face. She wouldn’t like me discussing this with them, but they’re not going to shut up about it until I explain. “She’s on the pill,” I hiss.

Paul laughs and points toward his bedroom. He put Hayley to bed when she fell asleep, a few minutes after the movie started. “So was Hayley’s mom. And look where that got us.” I open my mouth to speak, and he holds up a hand to stop me. “I love that little girl more than anything, and I don’t regret one thing about the way she got here, but the pill is about ninety-four percent effective, dumbass.” He throws a pillow at me.

“I’m going to marry her,” I say. It’s like I have diarrhea of the mouth.

“You better,” Matt murmurs.

“I will!” I shove him in the shoulder. “I have to win her father over first, and then I’m going to marry her.” So there.

“Does she want kids?” Matt asks. He would ask the difficult questions.

“She’s afraid she won’t be a good mother,” I admit. “But she’s wrong.”

“What’s she afraid of?” Paul asks.

I can’t tell them about her not being able to read well. Her dyslexia makes it really difficult for her, and she has trouble even with simple sentences. “She just has some fears is all.” It’s not my secret to tell. Even to them.

Paul is like a dog with a bone. “You want to finish college, right?” he asks.

I want a cigarette. I quit smoking when Matt was sick with cancer, but I still want one at times like these.

I nod.

“Then go get a f**king condom.” His eyebrows draw together sternly. “Fuck. You’ve been doing it without one.”

I bite back a growl. “She’s on the f**king pill. Quit being such a dick.”

“If you don’t use one, you have about ninety-four percent chance of finishing college. A ninety-four percent chance of getting a good job that will impress her father and keep her comfortable. A ninety-four percent chance of not getting her f**king pregnant!”

“Ninety-four percent is worst-case scenario.” I am a rational adult. Right?

Paul growls and yanks at his short hair. “Listen to me,” he says, leaning forward. “I know you love her, and, hell, I love her too. And Matt would throw you off a bridge if he thought he could have her.” Paul chuckles and a grin he doesn’t want tips his lips.

“Ew,” Matt complains. “I don’t like her like that.” He points a finger in my face. “But I will throw you off a bridge if you hurt her.”

I shove his hand out of my face. “I wouldn’t hurt her for anything.” I clutch my fist to my chest. “I felt like part of me was missing when she was gone.” I shake my head. “I swear to God, I am not sure I could live without her.”

I look toward my bedroom, and my world settles knowing she’s in there waiting for me.

“You’re not going to listen to me, are you?” Paul asks.

I see my door open, and Emily stalks out. She’s wearing my shirt, and it comes down to her knees. She stomps into the kitchen, and I see her lips moving, but I can’t catch a word. She goes to the drawer, takes a handful of condoms and carries them back to the room, mumbling to herself the whole way. When she gets to the door, she holds them out like a prize and says, “Do you think this is enough?” Then she goes into the bedroom and slams the door behind her.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Paul says. He drops back heavily against the couch. “I didn’t mean for her to hear me. “Why is that she always hears me when I don’t want her to hear me? Fuck,” he breathes.