Josie

by Beth Gildersleeve

  Gabe returned the smile as he slowly looked her over from head to aching toes. “I like the uniform. Can you keep it?” he asked and Josie heard the innuendo.

  Josie rolled her eyes at him and walked out of the kitchen, but Gabe snagged her arm as she brushed passed him. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “You were the last person I expected to see at that party and it took me by surprise. What were you doing there?”

  Working, duh? Was Josie’s first thought, but she bit her tongue to keep the snark from rolling off of it. If Gabe was making an effort, she should, too.

  “Helping Miranda. This party was a huge break for her, and her assistant is down with the flu. She asked me to help.” Josie shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal, but the look on Gabe’s face told her otherwise.

  “You’re a good person Josephine Dorothy Wright Kane. I don’t deserve you.”

  “Not yet, but keep working on it,” she teased as she took a sip from his tumbler. She grimaced. “Flat cream soda? What are you, an old person?”

  “Rumor has it I got drunk at the Peterson holiday party so I didn’t think I needed more liquor when I got home.”

  “Maybe I should run out and get you some Pedialyte for your hangover tomorrow?” She played along with Gabe’s light banter.

  “As much as I appreciate the offer, I’d rather keep you here.” Gabe backed her up against the granite countertop and lifted her up on it. Neither said anything as Gabe’s hands inched down her sides and legs. He hooked his foot around a chair’s leg and dragged it over. He sat and propped her foot on his knee. Gabe rolled her foot between his hands. His thumbs pressed into her arch and Josie dropped her head to her chest. He continued to massage her foot, and she focused on breathing.

  “Food was great, by the way. I’ll have Darlene call you Monday to get your friend’s information. But if Witz hires her, you can’t help, understand?” On principle, she would have liked to argue with him about it, but she knew he was right. It would embarrass the family. And she’d only helped Miranda because it had been an emergency.

  “Don’t worry. This was a one-time deal with Miranda.”

  “Good.”

  Josie moaned when Gabe’s thumb hit the spot just below her big toe. His knuckles rubbed up and down her arch and her head lolled back. “Oh, Gabe,” she breathed. “That feels so good. I’d suffer in heels more often if I knew I had this to look forward to.” Gabe chuckled softly as his hands moved up her calves. Josie straightened her legs to give him more access and her foot brushed his hardness.

  He shifted back. Josie stretched forward. Her foot sought him. “You’re playing with fire, Mrs. Kane,” he warned. Josie’s foot swiped again.

  “I don’t mind it hot,” she said, surprised by the husky tone in her voice. Gabe’s hands slid underneath her skirt and up the front of her thighs before grabbing the backs of them. Josie gasped as he stood up and pulled her against him in one fluid movement. She wrapped her legs around Gabe to keep from falling as he gripped on her bottom.

  Josie looked into Gabe’s golden eyes. She saw hunger, the promised heat, and something else. Something infinitely more dangerous. She didn’t want to dissect it or discuss it, at least not tonight.

  Tonight, she wanted action not talk. She wanted feeling not thinking. She wanted him. Now. She nipped his ear as her hands roamed his chest and fumbled with the top buttons. “Why aren’t your feet moving?” she complained as she released the second button and looked at him.

  “I can’t think when you’re this close.”

  Josie took his face between her hands. “Focus, Gabe. Focus on the goal. You and me.” She leaned forward and licked his earlobe. Gabe tensed underneath her. “Naked,” she whispered in his ear. Hallelujah, she thought as he strode toward the master bedroom.

  12

  Josie’s face hurt. Too many smiles. Most were natural but some had been forced, like the “impromptu” family photo that the head of Witz Holdings’ PR department had insisted upon. The photo would be plastered on social media and sent to all the regional news outlets, including the Star Tribune, where it would be featured in next Sunday’s Happenings section.

  She wrapped her hands around her hot chocolate and watched Gabe circle the rink. It was Witz Holdings’ annual holiday employee and family party, and this year they’d held it at a fancy indoor rink in downtown Minneapolis. Free ice skating, food, and beverages, and a visit from Santa later in the afternoon for the kids. It was a fun party, and Josie was surprised by how much she was enjoying herself.

  She’d never been an incredible skater, unlike Gabe, who must have been born with silver blades on the bottom of his feet. But she could go forward and backward and do crossovers for the corners. She could even execute a fairly decent hockey stop complete with ice spray. Her above-beginner skills had captured the attention of a few tweens, who had spent the last half hour trying to teach her a simple spin. Gabe had rescued her from the ice after her second tumble, teasing the girls that he didn’t want them to break his new wife. He’d corralled them to the other end of the rink where a pickup game of non-checking hockey had started.

  Josie had escaped off the ice and made a beeline for the coffee station. After two sips, she’d scanned the area for a garbage can. Life’s too short for bad coffee, she’d thought as she’d discreetly dumped the cup. She’d found the hot chocolate station and had ordered a cup of dark chocolate raspberry with whipped cream.

  She leaned against the railing enjoying a break from the action. This really has been a great weekend, she thought in wonder as she smiled. They’d had a leisurely breakfast on Saturday and then they’d hit the stores for some holiday shopping. Gabe had burned dinner that night so they’d ordered in pizza and then spent the evening together in front of the fireplace, each curled up with a book. It seemed every time she’d peeked around her e-reader, he was doing the same. They went to bed early that night even though neither of them was tired.

  This morning they’d had brunch at a restaurant near the estate before heading to the party venue to help set up. Josie had noticed a few raised eyebrows at Gabe’s early appearance, but no one had said anything.

  Josie took a sip of her drink and admired Gabe’s form as he sped toward her. His worn black denim jeans hugged his powerful thighs as they ate up the ice. His broad shoulders and muscular arms swayed naturally with each graceful stride. The green and black checked-flannel barn coat gave him a sexy, lumberjack vibe.

  And he was smiling. His smile made her smile. It was a real smile that met his eyes, like the ones she’d gotten used to seeing when he’d been in Haven. His abrupt hockey stop sprayed ice on her and she laughed. “You should do that more often,” she said as she brushed the ice shavings from her pants.

  “Do what? Cover you in ice?”

  “No. Smile.” Gabe looked like he was going to disagree with her so she handed him her cup.

  “You’re sharing?” It was an ongoing joke between the two of them. Josie would readily share her food but she was rather proprietary with her beverages.

  “What’s mine is yours.” She watched him take a drink and then grimace.

  “This isn’t hot chocolate.” He thrust the cup at her.

  “It’s grown-up hot chocolate,” she explained.

  “It’s an abomination.”

  “Do you want me to get you a kiddie one? Milk chocolate and cooled so you won’t burn your tongue?” she asked him as if she was talking to a toddler.

  Gabe leaned toward her. “I’d like an adult one. Hot. And I’d like you to blow on it.” From the heat in his eyes, she knew he wasn’t talking about hot chocolate. Josie felt her cheeks warm and Gabe dropped a quick kiss on her lips. The sweetness of his touch was a stark contrast to his sexy words.

  “This has been a good weekend,” Josie said, hoping to change his train of thought. If they both continued down that path, the ice around them would melt.

  “Are you sure you need to go to Haven this week?” he asked. “I liked comin
g home to you at the cottage each night this week.”

  “Are you sure you need to be at Witz Holdings all week?” she countered, but Gabe didn’t answer. It didn’t surprise her and she felt the familiar rush of disappointment. She’d made no bones about wanting Haven to be their home base. When pushed, Gabe couldn’t commit. He’d argued they were too busy to settle in one spot.

  She knew Witz Holdings was his top priority, just like Jo’s Joe was hers. Her good mood evaporated. She lifted her eyes to Gabe’s. His golden eyes studied her as if he was trying to read her mind. “Sometimes I wish you weren’t you and I wasn’t me,” she said.

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “I know,” he agreed. “Things should calm down after —”

  “—Mr. Kane?” interrupted a cute little pixie who tugged on his sleeve. “The big kids won’t let me play. They say I’m too little.” She pouted and gave him big puppy-dog eyes. The same look her brother’s dog, Bitty, would give when she begged for bacon. “Can you make them? My mom says you’re the boss.”

  “I am the boss at work, but not at the ice rink.” Josie saw the little girl’s lower lip wobble and Gabe must have, too. “Come on. Let’s see what I can do.” The pixie slipped her hand into his and tugged him across the rink.

  Josie watched them skate away. He’ll be such a great dad, someday, she thought as she watched him broker a deal between the two teams to let the pixie play. If we’re together that long.

  Josie knew they couldn’t keep going as they were. Someone would have to give up their business or drastically reconfigure their work life. She snorted and shook her head. Who was she kidding? Work was their life and that was really, really wrong.

  She’d never meant to be a workaholic. It had just happened. This wasn’t the life she’d envisioned. Sure, there were lots of parts of her job she liked, but more that she didn’t. She liked the roasting and experimenting. Finding new recipes. Creating a welcoming environment in each store and supporting the communities.

  What she didn’t like were the endless reports, rules, and responsibilities. Elle had taken over a lot of that in the day-to-day operations, but Josie was still intimately involved. Jo’s Joe was her baby. She just couldn’t hand all the headaches over to Elle and keep the fun parts for herself, even though Elle had been advocating that for a while. She’d argued that Josie would burn herself out, and where would they be without her creative juices?

  If given the long-term choice between Gabe and Jo’s Joe, she’d chose Gabe, but that would be foolish. As long as Witz Holdings was more important to him than her –than them – she’d have to choose Jo’s Joe. She’d have to keep one foot in their relationship and the other in her business when what she really wanted was both feet in the relationship. Tangled with his every night.

  Josie wiggled from side-to-side on her blades. The rented skates pinched her feet. If she hadn’t been going back to Haven right after the skating event, she would have begged Gabe for another foot massage.

  “Excuse me? Mrs. Kane?” Josie turned to look at the young woman approaching her with her hand extended. Josie shook it automatically. “I’m Nikki. I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know I can’t wait to start working with you next month.” Josie hid her surprise and irritation.

  “Next month?” Josie asked. “What are you —”

  “Oh, darn! Sandra is headed our way. I’d better go.” Nikki scurried away before Josie finished her question. What did she mean she’d be working with her next month? Josie didn’t like any of the answers she came up with. She frowned as her watch alarm vibrated, alerting her it was time to leave. She needed to drive back to Haven, hit the grocery store for a few essentials, and turn in early for what she’d hoped would be a good night’s sleep, but her mysterious visitor might have ruined that.

  Good night sleep or not, she’d planned a spot inspection for her new roaster, Cam, which meant she’d need to get up at her old wake-up time to meet him. Josie wasn’t expecting any problems with Cam, but she wanted to make sure he roasted the beans the way she’d trained him. No shortcuts.

  If Josie had any problems percolating in her new world, she knew Gabriel Kane would be behind them. She tossed her cup and went in search of Gabe for a good-bye kiss. Josie wouldn’t mention her visitor’s vague message. After all, why ruin a perfectly good weekend? she thought as she pushed onto the ice toward her husband.

  13

  “You’re still here?” Josie raised her head off of her office desk at the sound of Elle’s voice. “I thought you would be heading back to the estate by now.” Josie yawned and looked at her watch.

  “Soon, unless I want to sit in traffic for two hours.” She stood up but dropped back down. “Whoa, that felt weird,” she said under her breath.

  Elle was by her side in a heartbeat. “You look weird, too.” Josie gave her best friend the stink eye. “Do you feel okay?” Elle placed the back of her hand on Josie’s forehead.

  “Dizzy and nauseous. It’s probably because I got up too early this morning and I missed lunch.” Josie knew better than to admit she hadn’t slept well. Elle would want to know why, and then Josie would have to explain the cryptic message from perky Nikki at the skating party. Elle would then start the “You’re Being Paranoid” speech. Again. Considering Elle was supposed to be her best friend, she’d been siding with Gabe a lot lately.

  Elle put her hand on Josie’s shoulder. “You don’t feel warm but stay put. I’ll grab you a scone and some tea.” Josie gave her a weak smile, folded her arms on top of each other, and placed them on the table. I’ll just rest my eyes until she comes back, Josie thought as she laid her head on her hands.

  All too soon, Elle was back. “Here. You’ll feel better once you have some food in your belly.” Josie didn’t think she would, but she broke off a piece of the pumpkin white chocolate scone to appease Elle.

  “Thanks,” Josie mumbled as she took another piece.

  “Why’d you miss lunch?”

  “I was hoping we could go to lunch, but then I checked the calendar and saw you were at a meeting. I called Josh, but he didn’t answer his phone. I didn’t feel like eating by myself.” Josie shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal, but it was. Lunch with Elle was supposed to be her treat for hauling her body out of bed this morning, and she’d been looking forward to it. It was always a mix of business and girl talk, and right now she could really use some girl talk.

  “If I’d known, I could have —”

  “No, Elle. This is on me. I should have checked with you instead of assuming you’d be available.”

  “I’m available now.” Elle sat down and Josie handed her a piece of the scone. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Josie focused on her scone instead of looking at Elle. If she did, she’d be busted. Josie was a lousy liar.

  “Well, something’s wrong because you didn’t fight me when I suggested a cup of tea and you’re actually drinking it.”

  “Hey, I like tea. It’s a great second-class citizen.” Josie defended the weak drink in front of her. After all, it was warm and somewhat comforting.

  “Don’t change the subject.” Elle sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. Her stubborn streak was even worse than Josie’s.

  Josie shrugged. “I’m just feeling out of sorts. It seems like ever since I got back from Paris with my college pals, my world has been topsy-turvy. First, we got the deal from Hart Hotels, which was great but came with its own set of problems like needing the new roaster and a place to put it. Then I eloped. And now I’m crisscrossing the metro on snowy roads trying to balance my business and my marriage. I hired someone to do the roasting for the stores, which is scary as hell. By the way, Cam passed his spot inspection this morning and needs a raise. Throw in the holiday craziness and not feeling one hundred percent, and I’m the poster girl for stress.”

  “Yeah, it must suck to be married to a rich hottie and own a successful business,” Elle deadpanned.

  “I know, ri
ght? I feel petty even complaining about all of this. I’m not normally a complainer.”

  “No, you’re not,” Elle agreed.

  “I just need a hot bath, a good book, and an early night.” Josie finished her tea and slapped on a smile. “New topic. Who was your lunch with?”

  “Just business. Nothing for you to worry about.” Elle grabbed a nearby notepad and asked, “How much is Cam’s raise and when is it effective?”

  “Effective immediately and a dollar an hour,” Josie answered briskly. I hate when she tells me not to worry. Josie channeled her inner kindergarten teacher and used her patient, nonthreatening voice. “If there’s nothing to worry about, then tell me. If you don’t, I’ll worry. Or worse, my brain will make stuff up. You know how I love a good conspiracy theory,” she reminded Elle.

  “I’m warning you right now that you won’t like it.” Elle stopped for a breath. “This was my second lunch with Gabe.” Josie’s stomach plummeted as she felt the scone rise. Stop it! Josie ordered her runaway thoughts. Elle was not cheating on Josh with Gabe. That was utter foolishness. Elle only had eyes for Josh. But she’d said Gabe was a hottie, a part of her brain reminded her. Shut up! Josie took a deep breath. And then another. Gabe is not cheating on you with your best friend. This isn’t like San Francisco. Josie took one more breath before continuing. “You had lunch with my husband to discuss my business, and you didn’t think I’d want to know that?”

  “Josie, it’s just preliminary discussions. It’s the boring stuff you don’t like. Trust me. If there’s something you need to know, I’ll tell you, okay?”

  “The wives are always the last to know,” Josie muttered under her breath, but Elle had heard her loud and clear.

  “He’s right. You are paranoid. Gabe has given me no indication that Witz Holdings wants Jo’s Joe. I know your track record with men has sucked, and you’ve got every reason to be leery. But jeez, Josie, it pisses me off that you’d think I’d cheat on your brother, the man I’ve been in love with since I was a teen, with your husband.”