Step Brother by Jayna King Read Free Book Online

looked at Reed. “So who do you have handling your investments? I have a guy I can send you to if you’d like.”
    “Nah. Thanks, though. I have my money handled just the way I want it.”
    My father knew more than anyone about turning money into more money. “You need to make sure your portfolio is diversified, and there are some very simple investment rules that can help you shape your investments in a way that will have you out of that studio before you’re forty. Let me make you an appointment with my guy. People wait months to see him, but I can get you in anytime.”
    Reed didn’t change his relaxed posture, and I was surprised that he didn’t seem intimidated in the least to be talking to my father about investments. “I’m good. I like my money where I can see it.”
    “The days of stuffing cash under your mattress are over. Have been over for quite some time. It’s neither safe nor profitable.”
    “Thanks for the offer, Donald,” Reed said evenly. “I’ll think it over.”
    “Lunch is ready,” Tina called from the doorway, waving us inside.
    It was a little ridiculous, but we were seated at one end of the enormous dining room table. The china and crystal were polished to perfection, and the lunch was a revelation.
    “I would never have thought of putting lemongrass in chicken salad,” I said, polishing off my sandwich and wishing there were more. “And the smoked chicken—brilliant. I’m glad Garrett’s not here to see me cleaning my plate.”
    Reed shifted slightly in his seat next to mine, and I suspected that it was no accident that his hard, muscled thigh brushed up against mine.
    “Who’s Garrett?” he asked.
    “Oh, you remember Garrett, don’t you? Garrett Fillmore? He went to elementary school with us, and he’s my roommate, at least until I get a job and can get my own place.”
    Reed thought for a minute. “Skinny kid? Glasses?”
    I laughed. “That was him, but you’d never recognize him now. He owns a gym, and he’s my Crossfit Nazi. He’s insane, but he looks amazing. I’ve actually lost weight living with him because the abuse just isn’t worth it if I skip even a single class. He’s relentless.”
    Reed looked sideways at me. “You look just fine to me. If he gives you too hard a time, you just let me know.”
    “Oh, it’s all because he loves me. I know that. And his classes are great. The only trouble is I have a hard time getting out of bed the next day.” I couldn’t quite interpret Reed’s expression as he looked at me, but I wasn’t about to get into a discussion with him that might reveal to our parents that we knew each other slightly better than we’d let on.
    As the dishes were cleared, Tina looked at my dad. “Should we tell them? About the trip?”
    Dad nodded to her.
    “So Donald and I were thinking that it would be great for us to all take a trip together, you know, get to know one another better? Donald’s investment broker has a house in Tahoe, and the skiing there’s supposed to be just fabulous.”
    Reed gave his mother a strange look, and I realized that even though I’d seen him naked—and what a glorious sight that was—I didn’t actually know him very well. His face was expressive, but it didn’t really tell me what was going on inside his head.
    Tina continued to talk. “So Lee said he’d let Donald and I use the house over the holidays if we wanted to.”
    She described the house’s amenities and the area activities, but I could only half listen because Reed was doing a very effective job of completely distracting me. He slid his hand over to cover my knee, and very slowly slid one finger up to trace the edge of my skirt’s hem. I couldn’t think straight, and I had no idea what Tina was saying, even though I was looking at her and smiling and nodding.
    I was startled out of my reverie—very steamy thoughts about Reed, a bed, and a startling absence of clothes—by Tina’s exclamation.
    “Well, it’s all settled,