You're The One

by Layla Hagen

  “Why girls?”

  “’Cause I’d have no idea what to do with boys. And man, this house would honestly be perfect to raise kids.”

  “The house will be yours after I get my green card. I’ll sign it over to you.”

  Josie stopped walking.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Shit. She’d narrowed her eyes at me. Still, I persisted.

  “I want you to have the house.”

  “I can’t afford to buy it from you.”

  “I wouldn’t be selling it to you. Just signing it over.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because you’re doing me a huge favor, Josie. And you like the house—”

  “Hunter!”

  “What’s so bad about what I’m saying? You like the house; I can afford to buy something else and move out once I receive the papers. You just said it would be perfect to raise a family.”

  How would this even work out? What sane man would like an ex-husband hanging around, being his wife’s best friend? Perhaps if we told him the truth?

  The thought of a nameless man being able to give her what she needed made me want to punch something.

  She pointed a finger at me, then poked my chest.

  “I just want to make you happy.”

  She sighed, letting her hand drop. “Why do you say these things? I can’t fight you when you do that.”

  “Does that mean you’ll accept?”

  “No.”

  “Josie—”

  “Hunter. I am not just going to accept a house.” She held her chin high, crossing her arms over her chest. I nearly kissed her, right then and there. Then she flashed a wicked smile. “What’s your stance on foot rubs?”

  “What?”

  “You said you want to make me happy. Foot rubs make me happy. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn the skill. At the end of the day, when I’m tired, sitting on the couch and reading or watching TV.”

  My heart started beating faster again at the image she was painting, at this version of our life together. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who was actually looking forward to this, crazy as it was.

  “Want me to put you in contact with Leonie so you can take care of decorating the house?”

  Josie blinked, shaking her head. “My taste isn’t that great. Just have Leonie deal with everything, as usual.”

  Leonie was my assistant and overall lifesaver. She held the keys to my life. She’d taken care of decorating every place I’d lived in over the last seven years.

  I couldn’t keep the disappointment at bay. I’d wanted Josie to decorate it. I wanted her to feel at home... make a home for us? For a split second, it had seemed she’d wanted that, but maybe I’d just been imagining... projecting.

  “Okay. I’ll have her coordinate everything.”

  We were already looking around for cabs when I remembered I wanted to run something else by her.

  “Josie, I don’t think we can keep the wedding small.”

  “Why not?”

  “Everyone’s getting wind of it.”

  “And let me guess, they’re all checking their mail already to see if they’ve got an invitation.”

  “Something like that.”

  She bit her lip, running a hand through her hair. “So... how many guests are we talking?”

  “Two hundred, give or take.”

  “Wow. Okay. Okay. I guess everything’s going to be at a grander scale than I imagined. The wedding, the bachelorette party....”

  “How’s that coming along?” I tried to sound casual, not like I was already a jealous, possessive bastard.

  I wasn’t fooling her. She looked at me suspiciously, smiling slyly.

  “I’m not telling you anything.”

  “Josie...”

  “What? Are you going to make me tell you, fiancé?”

  “You know I can do just that.”

  I leaned in closer, touching my fingers to her cheek, resting my thumb right under her lower lip. She gasped, widening her eyes. There was no one with us. No one to pretend for. But I couldn’t be next to her and not touch her. Hell, I was barely refraining from kissing her. She exhaled sharply, licking her lower lip. I very nearly took what I wanted but stopped just in time.

  There would be plenty of occasions to kiss her, and I was going to take advantage of them. A lot.

  Chapter Eight

  Josie

  On Wednesday, Hunter surprised me yet again. An employee from my bank called me at 8:00 a.m.

  “Ms. Gallagher, someone by the name of Hunter Caldwell has transferred one hundred thousand dollars to your account. We just wanted to check a few things. Our internal compliance requires us to ask a few things when sums this large are transferred.”

  I nearly fell off my chair. “That’s my fiancé... I think our wires got crossed somehow. But don’t approve it.”

  What was he thinking? He’d said that he’d take care of all extra costs that arose because I was married to him, but I hadn’t explicitly agreed to this. And we weren’t even married yet. After ending the current call, I pulled up Hunter’s number on my phone but disconnected before it rang.

  No, I wanted to talk to him about this in person. The money weighed on me the entire day, as I shifted through statutes for my clients, billing hours like crazy.

  I was on track to become partner—my bosses had heavily hinted that I was in the running to be promoted by the end of this year. I couldn’t wait for that to happen. It came with a hefty salary increase. I’d already budgeted the extra dollars for the first year—I was going to reimburse my parents for helping me with law school.

  I left work at seven o’clock and headed to Hunter’s office. I wasn’t even sure he would still be there, so I called him.

  “Hey, fiancé,” I greeted when he picked up. “Where are you?”

  “Not sure you want to know.”

  “Oh?”

  “On second thought... wait a second. Ryker’s been killing me with planning my bachelor party for the past hour. Care to rescue me?”

  I chuckled. “You can’t rescue yourself?”

  “Not after I just asked him to be my best man.”

  “Right... that does require outside intervention. Where are you?”

  “At the Greek restaurant near my condo.”

  “I need about twenty minutes to get there. Think you can handle Ryker on your own?”

  Hunter groaned. “I’ll try.”

  “Won’t he be suspicious that I’ll just show up there?”

  “No, he’ll just think we’re madly in love.”

  “Of course he will. Can you order a moussaka for me? I’m starving.”

  I took a cab to the restaurant, pressing the side of my head against the cool window. When we’d visited that house, I could practically see myself living there, raising kids, growing old... with Hunter. My heart was getting involved in this already, and that was dangerous.

  When he’d suggested I decorate the house, I’d been dying to say yes but couldn’t. That house already felt like a home. I didn’t want to get even more invested in it. It would just make it harder to say goodbye. Or... maybe we’d become a real family. Could that happen? Could he fall for me? Jesus, thinking like that was going to lead me to heartbreak... and yet, I couldn’t stop.

  When I climbed out of the cab in front of the restaurant, I drew in a deep breath and nearly choked. New York was stifling hot in July, even in the evening. And the humidity was inescapable. My hair had already curled at the temples.

  The restaurant boasted Corinthian-style columns and alabaster statues at the corners. Hunter and Ryker were sitting at a table for four on the left side of the room.

  “Hello, boys.”

  Ryker tilted his head, smiling. “I see I’m on my way to becoming the third wheel.”

  “Don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I can’t contradict you,” I teased.

  “Well, I’ve got what I came for anyway.”

&nbs
p; “Giving me white hair,” Hunter said in a grouchy tone. Ryker laughed. Even I laughed.

  “I haven’t seen him in such a good mood in a long time. Someone’s in love.”

  Ah... if only.

  Ryker rose, kissing my cheek, then trapping my right hand between his palms. “Josie, you’re my only hope. I need you on my side on this.”

  “You charmer, you.”

  “Hey, I’m The Flirt, and proud of it. Don’t you get me mixed up with Cole.”

  I laughed, shaking my head.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “I can flirt just to prove I’m worthy of my nickname.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Hunter’s eyes snapped fire.

  “Or maybe not. Someone’s jealous.” I batted my eyelashes at Hunter. “What? I’m not marrying Ryker, am I?”

  I winked at him before focusing on Ryker.

  “Hunter wants to have the bachelor party the night before the wedding. I have big plans, and I don’t think that would be wise,” Ryker said.

  “We’re just going to have some drinks,” Hunter grumbled. Ryker smirked. They were definitely not just going to have some drinks.

  “Are you going to return him to me in one piece?” I asked Ryker.

  “I cannot promise that.”

  “Without a hangover?”

  “Also can’t promise that.”

  I turned to Hunter. “So, since you’ll probably be hungover and in bad shape, I can’t have that on our wedding day. You should have your bachelor party the weekend before.”

  Hunter narrowed his eyes. “You were supposed to come here to rescue me.”

  “Yes, but Ryker’s case is so much more convincing than yours.”

  “Thank you, Josie,” Ryker said jovially.

  Hunter still looked grouchy as Ryker bid us goodbye. I slid into the chair he’d just vacated.

  Hunter asked one of the waiters to bring the moussaka he’d ordered for me. I was so hungry that I’d completely forgotten why I’d wanted to see him in the first place, but I remembered after a few mouthfuls, once the couple next to us asked to pay.

  “I got a call from my bank,” I said.

  A grin appeared on his face.

  “Of course. As we agreed.”

  “I don’t remember the agreeing part.”

  His grin broadened. “I suggested it, you gave me shit. I persisted. You said I was very convincing.”

  Damn it, this was where I was supposed to have a smart comeback. Instead, I was lost in those blue eyes. I couldn’t look away from his lips. They were so full. They always had been, but after knowing how they felt against mine, I couldn’t unthink it anymore.

  “Tess called today to inform me she wanted you all to herself one afternoon this week to go dress shopping for the wedding. You will need that money.”

  “Has it ever occurred to you that Tess will never believe I’d let you pay for my wedding dress? Or let you give me money, for that matter? She knows me too well.”

  “She also knows me well, and I have no doubt that she’s sure that if you were really mine, I would make sure you’re taken care of and want for nothing.”

  God, that was sweet. A bit tyrannical, but sweet.

  “You’d have a hard time convincing me.”

  “I remember you saying my kiss threw you off your game. Want to test that theory some more?” Hunter moved from the chair opposite me to the one next to me.

  He was slightly towering over me, and by the delicious glint in his eyes, I could tell that if I pushed, he’d kiss me just to prove his point.

  I shook my head. “This is insane.”

  “I know.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him, but he seemed unfazed.

  “I didn’t authorize the transfer. Aside from my personal reasons, it would be a huge red flag for the immigration office, Hunter.”

  His smile fell. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “It would look as if you’re paying me to marry you.”

  “You’re right.”

  “So... this arrangement will have to work differently. I will deal with my wedding dress. As to all the other dresses I’ll need for functions and so on... you and I can go shopping before every event. It would make me feel better than having a joint account or credit card.”

  He stared at me. “That’s my punishment, right? I hate shopping.”

  “Right. Of course, you do.”

  “You can bribe me into coming.”

  “How?”

  “Promise me a peek while you’re changing.”

  His eyes smoldered. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t have a comeback. Was he joking? But that heat in his eyes... Oh, God, he wasn’t joking.

  There were two sides to Hunter. One I knew: my friend, my rock. The other: the man. Pure masculinity. Pure testosterone. I was more aware of that now than ever. My body reacted to it on a primal level.

  “Cat got your tongue?” he whispered playfully.

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Just tell me what you want.”

  He placed his hand over mine. Holy shit. My skin sizzled everywhere he touched me... and everywhere he didn’t, as if my entire body was anticipating his touch—craving it.

  “Shopping. Tomorrow” was all I managed to say.

  Hunter’s grin turned triumphant. Damn, I loved making him smile. “We have a deal.”

  ***

  Hunter

  The next afternoon, we headed to a shop Tess recommended on Fifth Avenue. The street was packed, but there were only a few other patrons in the shop. The salesperson led me and Josie to a changing room all the way at the back.

  There was a leather armchair directly in front of the changing rooms, and on the small coffee table next to it there was a bottle of water and a glass. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

  Josie turned to me. “The Ballroom Galas only start in September, but we’ll be attending other functions in the meantime, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are they as elegant as the galas?”

  She’d come to a few over the years.

  “I don’t know how to answer that. I always wear a tux.”

  She laughed, patting my shoulder. “Okay, I can handle this.”

  She went directly to a salesperson and they spoke about lengths and styles and God knows what else before the woman disappeared. Josie closed the curtains.

  I poured water in my glass and nearly toppled it over when I heard a zipper. She was undressing. I drew in a sharp breath, focusing on my glass.

  The woman—Honor was the name on her badge—brought a handful of dresses, handing them over to Josie. When Honor left, she didn’t draw the curtains to the changing room all the way together.

  I played with the rim of the glass, determined not to look.

  Five seconds later, I lost the battle with myself and glanced up. I was getting more than an eyeful. Was she doing this on purpose? To torment me? No, that wasn’t her style.

  The right thing to do would have been to tell her that I had a direct view, but as of late, when it came to Josie, I couldn’t seem to be able to do the right thing.

  She was gorgeous. I got an eyeful of her legs and—

  Fuck me.

  The panties she was wearing... were those even panties? They covered nothing of her ass. The front was semitransparent.

  I glanced at the glass in my hand again, attempting to calm down. It was useless. I had a raging hard-on.

  I fought to get it under control, and by the time she came out, I’d succeeded somewhat, but I was hanging by a very thin thread.

  She was wearing a red dress that was just... perfection.

  “What do you think?”

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “Does it fit the bill?”

  “Definitely.”

  “Okay. We’re done, then.”

  “Buy more. More than the ones she brought you. About ten. You’ll be situated then for a few months.�
��

  “Okay.”

  Forty minutes later, Josie came out wearing the last dress. White with silver streaks, showcasing every curve. She was so goddamn sexy in it that I nearly swallowed my tongue. Her breasts were peeking out of the top of the gown, her neck and shoulders on full display.

  “I love this dress. But I want something to cover my shoulders.”

  “I can call Honor to find something.”

  “No, just give me that scarf, I think it will work with all the dresses. I can throw it over my shoulders and just knot it in the front.”

  She pointed to a mannequin with a silver scarf around its neck. I brought it, but instead of handing it to Josie, I wrapped it around her shoulders myself.

  I rested my thumbs on her clavicle, desperate to steal a touch under the pretense of playing the fiancé.

  “This took longer than we thought,” she said.

  “I’m not complaining.”

  “How so?”

  “You didn’t close the curtains completely.”

  She gasped. “Naughty fiancé.”

  “That’s not naughty, Josie.” I dragged my thumbs up the sides of her neck, stopping at the nape, coming closer. “If I’d been naughty, I would’ve come after you in that changing room and kissed you until you moaned.”

  “Hunter, you can’t say these things,” she whispered. Her cheeks turned pink. Her pulse accelerated. I felt its thrum under my thumbs.

  “Of course, I can. I’m your fiancé.”

  “You’re impossible.”

  “Just wait until I’m your husband.”

  The skin on her arms broke out in goose bumps. Her breath caught. Her reaction to me was intoxicating. A touch wasn’t enough anymore. I needed a kiss.

  The salesperson was coming our way. I could pass this off as a kiss for the public, right?

  I sealed my mouth over Josie’s the next second, and every doubt I had subsided, because she was kissing me back with a fervor that nearly brought me to my knees. When she sucked on my tongue, instinct overpowered every rational thought.

  I wanted to kiss, claim, fuck.

  I had no idea how I managed to pull back, but I did.

  Josie averted her gaze, turning to Honor, who was looking between us with a wide smile.

  “We’re taking everything,” I informed her.