Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

I walked to the coffee shop with a pep in my step. By the time I ordered tea and scones, I was already seeing things in a more optimistic light.

When he arrived, the corners of my mouth lifted in a smile of their own accord. I leaped to my feet. He stopped just a few inches in front of me.

“You look like you need to be thoroughly kissed,” he said.

“Then what are you waiting for?”

He cupped my face with both hands and kissed me deeply. Far from satisfying my need for him, it made me even more greedy. I pushed myself up to my toes, wrapping both arms around his neck. I didn’t want this kiss to end.

I let out a growl of protest when we paused to breathe. Reid was smiling at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. Oh, he thought this was funny, did he? I peeked to my right, and then to my left. Okay, so maybe this was a little funny. People were staring at us.

I crossed my fingers behind me, taking a step back. That was the only thing I could think of to resist the temptation of jumping him again. Clearly, I couldn’t be trusted.

“Want to tell me what’s wrong, pretty girl?”

I nodded, and as we both sat at the table, I recounted my conversation with Cameron word for word. Reid ordered tea as well.

“He’s blowing this out of proportion.”

“Not really. I can’t do right by my clients, so I’m no use to the agency. But hey, the move will have some perks too. I’ll have the chance to acquire some new skills.” Yes! Finally, I’d found a positive angle to this whole ordeal.

Reid stopped in the act of pouring sugar in his tea. “Wait, you already accepted?”

“What else could I do?”

His jaw hardened. “Maybe tell him that you need time to think? Did it ever occur to you to talk to me about it?”

“Wh-what?”

“We’re a couple. We’re supposed to decide things like this together.”

Oh crap. I could totally see his point, but when I sat there in front of Cameron, it had honestly not even occurred to me to tell him anything but yes. It hadn’t felt as if he was really asking.

Reid was right, but I was hard-pressed here. I needed his support, not accusations. I really couldn’t take him putting me against a wall for this, turning against me.

“This is my boss telling me it’s Houston or nothing.”

“Right.”

“I’m serious. Cameron values me, and honestly, he didn’t even have to do this. He could just have told me to pack up my stuff. He’s giving me an opportunity here. I don’t have a choice.”

“You can quit.”

I stared at him, annoyance trumping all the fuzzy feelings that had resurfaced since he’d entered the coffee shop.

“You know me too well to really think I’d do that. I’m not a quitter.”

He twirled the teaspoon between his fingers, smiling sadly. “Am I even a factor you’re considering in all this?”

“Are you serious? Of course you are.”

“It doesn’t feel like it.”

“Reid, why are you being like this?”

“Because I’m ready to do anything for us, and yet you decide something like this... just like that?”

“I’m....”