Courtney glanced at him briefly. “I thought I told you she’d be there.”
Josh shook his head. He would have remembered that detail.
“Mom invited my aunts and uncles too. I don’t know if they’ll make it.”
He’d prepared himself for a small gathering. It sounded like her mom had other plans in mind.
“Between you and me, I hope they don’t. I love them, but I already know Mom will start in again on pushing the wedding date back. If Aunt Judith is there, I think she’ll do the same.”
Except for occasionally attending the Christmas party his dad hosted every year, Josh didn’t do family gatherings. Perhaps if he liked more of his family, he would, but except for his brother, sister, and dad, he’d never been close to the majority of his relatives. That even included his mom. And he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have a family more like Courtney’s.
“You were right about this being like riding a bike. Another few times out here, and I might be able to keep up with those preschoolers over there.” Smiling, she nodded toward a group of young children learning to skate. “You don’t have to stick by my side while we’re here. Going this slow can’t be a lot of fun for you.”
There’s no place I’d rather be. The thought almost knocked him on his ass. But it was true. The only other person he’d want to be spending time with right now was his daughter. “Who says I can skate any faster than this?”
The look she threw him spoke volumes. Before she could add a comment to her expression, a twenty-something-year old woman wearing a New England Rebels snow hat skated in front of them and stopped, forcing them to do the same or crash into her.
Rather than apologize for almost causing a collision, the woman smiled and pulled a cell phone from her jacket pocket. “You really are here. When Fiona texted that she’d rented skates to you, I didn’t believe her.”
The woman’s comment didn’t surprise him. But he hoped Fiona hadn’t also posted the news on a social media site.
“I’ve seen all your movies. Can I get a photo of us together?” She didn’t wait for an answer before moving into position next to him.
Courtney’s fingers slipped from his hand. “I’ll take it for you.”
Immediately, the fan handed over the device and then put her arm around his waist. “My sister is going to be so mad when I tell her I met you. She loves you. I thought she was going to cry when she read you were getting married.”
Never mind her sister being mad, he was. Thanks to her, other people were taking notice of them. Some we simply staring in their direction, but two people were standing near Courtney with their cell phones in hand. Normally fans didn’t bother him. If not for them, he wouldn’t have a career. This afternoon, he wished he didn’t have a single fan in the world.
“I took a couple for you.” Courtney handed the phone back to the woman, who remained glued to his side.
“Thanks.” Although she removed her arm, she didn’t leave. “Could I take a picture of you for my sister?”
Josh shot Courtney a look intended to tell her he was sorry before answering.
A similar scenario played out with the other two fans. As soon as they left, he grabbed Courtney’s hand and started moving again. The women he dated knew there was a possibility that fans or photographers would seek him out. When it happened, he never felt the need to apologize to them. Today he did.
“I’m sorry.”
He had nothing to be sorry for. Since the moment they’d met, Courtney had known he was one of the biggest male actors around. She’d seen fans approach him countless times while in Hawaii and ask for a few pictures and often an autograph. People wouldn’t suddenly lose interest in him because they were no longer in paradise.
Some conversations you needed to have face-to-face. Courtney skated in front of him and stopped. “Sorry? Why, because those fans came over to you? I knew it would happen eventually.” Moving closer, she placed her palms on his shoulders. “You don’t need to apologize.”
She intended to kiss him on the cheek. Give him a friendly, sisterly kiss to let him know she wasn’t upset. Somehow the message got changed before it reached its final destination, and her lips brushed against his instead.
Considering the outside temperature, his lips should be cold. Instead, they were warm and, in a single word, perfect.
The gag slipped off the bad girl in her, and she spoke up. No point in stopping now.
As if they had a mind of their own, her arms slipped over his shoulders as she moved her mouth against his. With each pass, the rest of the world slipped away a little more. Soon the only things registering were Josh’s lips and his body against hers.
A loud wolf whistle brought reality crashing back down around her. She was holding onto Josh as if her life depended on it while having her way with his mouth in a public place filled with people. Clearly, the left side of her brain had turned off for the day. Her sister did things like this. She didn’t. Courtney forced her gaze up past his nose. Considering the heat in his eyes, she wondered how her clothing wasn’t on fire.
The arms around her kept her from moving away. Exactly when he’d put them around her, she didn’t know, but she wasn’t in any rush for him to move them either. Unfortunately, they were getting in the way of other skaters. Already a small group forced to go around had thrown dirty looks in their direction.
“I’m ready for a break.” She unclasped her hands from behind his neck and settled her palms back on his shoulders. “Why don’t we go to Ambrosia for some hot chocolate? After, we can stop in Benoit Jewelers and look at wedding rings.” Benoit wasn’t the only jewelry store in the city, but in her opinion, its selection far surpassed any other in Providence.
He loosened his embrace, but his arms remained where they were. “Whatever you want.”
Talk about a loaded response. Part of her wanted to say “let’s go home and spend the rest of the afternoon getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies.” Her more logical side reminded her why it was a good idea to keep their relationship as platonic as possible and urged her to remain in public places.
The left side of her brain switched back on. “We still need wedding rings. We might as well get them today.”
Nine
Josh grabbed the cell phone on the nightstand and checked the caller ID. The device had remained silent up until now, unlike Courtney’s. He’d lost count of how many calls she’d received between the time they left the ice rink and returned to the Mayfair. Several of the calls she’d ignored. The handful she took were short, and she’d ended each of them with the promise to call whoever it was back later.
Mom appeared on his screen now. Despite the text message she’d sent him earlier in the week and the media attention since news of their engagement went public, she hadn’t called him back. Even though Josh hadn’t met the woman yet, he knew if Marilyn Belmont had received a similar message to the one he left, she would’ve been on Courtney’s doorstep within a matter of hours.
He considered letting the call go to voice mail. So far, his day had been fantastic. He knew from experience a conversation with his mom could easily ruin it. Josh didn’t think she set out to do that, but rather she simply didn’t always think before she spoke. Most of the time she was too concerned about herself and what was going on in her little world to think about anyone else, including her three children—a fact he and his siblings accepted a long time ago.
Still, it was his mother. She deserved to know the details of his upcoming wedding. Whether or not she attended was up to her.
He pressed the green icon before the device rang again. “Hey, Mom.”
“When I got your message, I thought it was some kind of practical joke,” she said after greeting him.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Josh shook his head. A practical joke? When had he ever been known to pull practical jokes? And if he did decide to take it up, he wouldn’t have started by telling his mother he was engaged.
“
But then Eve mentioned it when she stopped by on Wednesday night.”
He’d met Eve, his mom’s stepdaughter, once, and it’d been when his mom married Trevor six years ago. It didn’t surprise him she’d mentioned his engagement. While he didn’t interact with the woman, his sister, Shannon, did. According to her, when Eve wasn’t promoting her new fashion line, she was either posting pictures of herself in various states of undress or searching for any mention of herself in the media.
“I saw the pictures of you and Courtney on the Star Report website. She is definitely not as beautiful as her sister or her cousin Sara. But she’s pretty in a girl-next-door sort of way.”
Josh ground his teeth together rather than say what he was thinking, because after all, this was his mother on the phone. He kept his mouth closed until he was confident he could speak and not be rude.
“I disagree, Mom.” At least he disagreed with his mom’s assessment that her sister and cousin were more attractive. She wasn’t far off by saying Courtney had that girl-next-door look. Although in his head, she had more of a sexy librarian vibe going on.
“We both know what she looks like doesn’t matter as much as who she’s related to anyway. An association with the Sherbrooke family is going to be great for you,” his mom said, further demonstrating that there was no filter between her brain and her mouth.
He considered disconnecting the call. Once again, the fact the woman had given birth to him kept him from doing so. “Mom, I didn’t ask her to marry me because of who she’s related to.” If the dull ache in his forehead was any indication, the sooner he ended this call the better.
Evidently, even his tone-deaf mother didn’t miss the anger in his voice, because after a moment she said, “Josh, of course, I wasn’t saying you did. But it must have occurred to you how beneficial being a part of that family will be.”
His mom didn’t give him a chance to disagree before continuing. “I read the wedding is on the first in Newport.”
At the knock on the bedroom door, Josh crossed the room and opened the door. “Yeah, we decided against a long engagement.” He gestured for Courtney to enter. “I know it is short notice, so if you and Trevor can’t make it, I understand.”
Left up to him, she wouldn’t come, but he’d never tell her that. Besides, not only was it short notice, but the wedding was taking place in New England in February. His mom hated the cold. One of the first things she’d done after divorcing his dad was move out to the West Coast.
“I wouldn’t miss it. I’m not sure about Trevor’s schedule, but I’ll be there.”
Damn it. “Great. I look forward to seeing you.” You’re playing a role, Josh reminded himself. He glanced in Courtney’s direction. At the moment, her back was to him as she looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Courtney and I have plans tonight, so I need to go, but I’ll text you the details.”
No way was he telling her their plans involved him meeting Courtney’s parents. If he shared that detail, she might offer to arrive a day or two before the wedding so she could get to know Courtney. His mom in the same room with Courtney and her family was one thing. During the wedding and reception, there wouldn’t be too much opportunity for the two of them to speak. If his mom visited them here, she would have Courtney’s full attention, and there was no predicting what comments she might make.
At the sound of her name, Courtney turned and shook her head. “No rush,” she whispered. He ignored her.
After disconnecting the call, Josh shoved the device in his pocket and rubbed the area above his left eyebrow. Most people didn’t get a headache from talking to their mothers. Then again, when it came to mothers, Scarlett Basto was one of a kind.
“You didn’t have to cut your conversation short. If we’re a few minutes late, it’s not a big deal.” She slipped her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, something he’d almost done himself when she’d kissed him on the ice. The fear she’d pull her sweet mouth away from his if he did had kept his palms pressed against her back.
Yeah, I did. “Mom and I were done.”
The wisest course of action would be to insist they leave before he lost the battle and decided getting her mouth against his again was more important than letting her control the pace of their relationship. Making wise decisions wasn’t something he was well-known for. Rounding the bed, he closed in on her.
He stopped less than an arm’s length away, but she didn’t retreat or suggest they leave. “It sounded like she’s coming to the wedding.” Thanks to the three-inch heels on her boots, they were almost the same height, and she locked her eyes with his.
Another step closer and he could kiss her. How would she react if he did? Would she melt against him as she had earlier, or would she remind him she was only pretending to be in love with him?
“Unfortunately.” Distracted by his thoughts and the way her sweater clung to her breasts, the answer slipped out.
Courtney’s eyebrows shot up faster than an old-fashioned jack in the box. “Unfortunately? You don’t want your mother there?”
And he complained his mom didn’t have a filter between her mouth and brain. Maybe he didn’t either. “Mom seeks attention everywhere she goes. The fact it’s our wedding won’t matter to her.” No point in sugarcoating the truth. It was better Courtney knew what to expect before she met his mom.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she tucked some hair behind her right ear. “I’ve seen articles referring to your mom as a diva. Sounds like for once the media wasn’t exaggerating.”
“Diva, yeah, that’s one word you could use to describe her.” Reaching out, he tucked the hair on the other side of her face behind her left ear. “All eyes should be on you that day. Not her.” He gave his fingers permission to skim across her jaw and down her neck. Rather than push his hand away or tell him to stop, she moved closer and settled a hand on his waist.
The feel of her hand against his body caused him to lose the battle. Lowering his mouth to hers, Josh anchored her against him with his arms. Tenderly he brushed his lips back and forth against hers, urging her to open for him. When she did, her tongue tangled with his and lust as well as another emotion he couldn’t name broke over him like a wave.
In his head, he envisioned placing her on the bed and then peeling off her sweater and skinny jeans. Before he gave in to the temptation, he pulled his lips away. “Maybe we should go.”
If he looked in her face and saw even a hint that she was suffering from the same emotions plaguing him, he’d lose what little self-control he had. So instead he rested his forehead against hers and kept his arms locked around her because he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“Probably.” Thank God, her voice echoed the battle he was waging. Courtney dropped her arms by her sides and took a step away from him, proving that at least one of them had some common sense left. “I don’t want us to be too late.”
He’d dated what many considered some of the most beautiful women in the world. As far as he was concerned, none of them compared to the woman standing in front of him. Unlike many of those women, she didn’t rely on makeup and plastic surgeons to perfect her looks. She had a natural beauty that no one could artificially replicate. How could his mom think her sister and cousin were prettier?
By the time they turned into her parents’ driveway, the clock read quarter past five. Courtney hated being late. Today she had no one to blame but herself. She’d only knocked on Josh’s door to let him know she was ready to go whenever he was. When she’d seen he was on the phone, she should’ve turned around and walked back into the kitchen or just about any other part of the penthouse and waited for him. But had she done that? Nope.
Instead, she’d entered his bedroom, the one room in the house that should be off-limits to her. For someone with an IQ of 154, she’d been doing some pretty questionable things over the past couple of months.
Even with her first misstep, they would’ve made it to her parents by five if she’d moved closer to t
he door rather than Josh when he skimmed his fingers across her jaw. Once he’d done it, she’d been a goner. The current time and getting to her parents’ became the farthest thing from her mind. All she could concentrate on was the way he looked at her—like she was the most important person in the world. She’d read somewhere a person’s eyes could tell you what they truly felt. While she believed that might be true for some, she wasn’t sure it pertained to an individual whose career demanded they constantly portray emotions they didn’t feel.
The Tudor-style mansion came into view as the car rounded the corner, and she groaned when she noticed the three vehicles parked out front. After her mom mentioned inviting her aunts and uncles, she’d kept her fingers crossed they wouldn’t come and it would only be her parents, brother, sister, and Paige tonight. The black SUV with Virginia plates in front of them told her not only had her mom invited her aunts and uncles, but she’d invited her cousins too. And if Jake was here, who else might be on their way?
Courtney held Josh’s hand as they walked up the front steps. Tonight wasn’t only about her family meeting Josh, it was also about selling the story that they were very much in love and had been for months.
“Looks like my uncle Mark and my cousin Jake are here.” She pressed the doorbell. Normally she’d let herself in, but since Josh drove tonight, she’d left her keys at home. “I’m not sure who the third car belongs to. It might be Uncle Jonathan’s.” The silver Bentley with Massachusetts license plates was something he would drive, but if it belonged to him, she’d never seen it.
The door opened before either of them could say anything else, and Marilyn Belmont greeted them. “I was starting to worry,” she said, allowing them to enter. “You usually call when you’re running late.”
Actually, it was more like she never ran late, but she wouldn’t contradict her mom. “I’m sorry. It took me a little longer than I expected to get ready.” Courtney hugged her mom and then slipped off her jacket. A formal introduction was unnecessary for several reasons, yet she felt the need to say something. Her mom beat her to it.
Tempting The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 13) Page 11