Rock Hard: A Stepbrother Romance (Extreme Sports Alphas) Read Online Free PDF Page B

hope that stuff wasn’t risking your life on a wet cliff face,” Cora said.
    He grinned. “Climbing isn’t risking my life. It’s like walking up a hill for me.”
    “Do people still call you ‘Climber’?” I asked him.
    “Some do around here, yeah.”
    “He’s being modest,” Cora cut in. “Everyone still calls him that.”
    “I’d rather they called him something else. Maybe like ‘gainfully employed,’” Dad grumbled.
    Reid ignored him. “Some habits die hard, I guess.”
    “Habits? Don’t you hold like ten regional records?” I asked.
    He nodded. “Twelve actually.”
    “Oh, sorry. I forgot you were a big shot.”
    “Feeling intimidated?”
    “Only a little bit.”
    “Don’t worry, college girl. You’re not so bad yourself.”
    We finished up the meal quickly after that comment. My dad announced that he was tired, although he took the time to finish an entire chicken on his own. After the dishes, I found myself sitting out on the back porch, listening to the rain fall on the roof.
    After a minute, Reid walked out. “Nice out here,” he said.
    “Yeah. I missed this porch.”
    He sat down on a chair across from me and sipped a beer.
    “You look good,” he said.
    “Uh, thanks.”
    “College agrees with you.”
    I ignored that. “Where did you go earlier, for real?”
    “For real. I didn’t go anywhere special.”
    “Really, not going to tell me?”
    “Really. But I’d love to talk about anything else. Like maybe how you keep staring at me.”
    I quickly looked away, realizing he was right. I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. The way his shirt clung to his body was undeniably sexy, and I kept imagining how it felt when he had kissed me.
    It was always like that when I was around him. No matter how hard I tried, I always ended up wanting to tear his clothes off. Or maybe I wanted him to pin me up against the couch and have his way with me.
    Either would have been fine, actually.
    “I’m not staring, asshole.”
    “It’s fine. I don’t mind being eye candy for you.”
    “You really haven’t changed.”
    “You have. There’s something new about you.”
    “What?” I couldn’t help but ask.
    He narrowed his eyes. “Becca . . . did you finally kiss a boy?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Nope. Still a prude.”
    “I think that’s a lie. Did you go a little wild your last semester?”
    I laughed. If only he knew how incredibly wrong that was. In fact, I had done almost nothing but study. Sure, I had been with a few guys at school, but not like he was thinking.
    “You caught me. I was the school slut.”
    He nodded. “I thought so. You carry it well.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Is this how it’s going to be all summer?”
    He stood up, taking a swill of his beer, and walked over toward me.
    “You know how it is, Becca.”
    “How’s that?” I asked softly.
    His gaze was intense. “If you want to know, you can find me any time.”
    He walked off without another word. His voice lingered in the space between us, heat rushing up my spine, sending shivers down my legs. I realized I was dripping wet already.
    I shook my head. It was going to be a rough summer.

Chapter Four: Reid
     

     
    Earlier that day
     
    I slipped over the fence and watched as Becca kept walking back toward the house, mentally kicking myself for bringing her along on my little “hike.” She was going to get suspicious if I kept giving her bullshit answers to every question she had.
    I turned and hurried out into the woods, moving faster than normal. I had to get to the van and then meet Thom for the drop, and although I had plenty of time, part of me wanted to put as much distance between Becca and me as fast as possible.
    It wasn’t like she would follow me or anything. Even though she had grown up in Ridgewood and hiked the woods a thousand times, she still didn’t know the area like I did. As far as I could tell, she’d forgotten what it was like living out near the wilderness. She’d gone a little soft