Scandalous Engagement

by Jules Bennett

  She was proud of herself, though. She’d stepped out of her comfort zone and been bold enough to take what she wanted. But how did she go back to what she’d been once everything was done? When they didn’t need to show their faces to the public and they could just be Reese and Josie, best friends? Was that even possible?

  So, sex was good. It was great, in fact. Josie figured she’d just enjoy herself, enjoy this bit of freedom she’d never allowed herself to have, and hope nobody got hurt in the end because she still needed that rock her best friend provided. She always had.

  Josie glanced down to the ring on her finger and couldn’t deny how much she loved the sparkling piece. The oval ruby surrounded by twinkling diamonds. She’d never given an engagement ring much thought before.

  “Looks good on you.”

  She turned her attention to Reese, who nodded toward her hand. “I knew a ruby would look good on you.”

  “You were just dying to get some color on me,” she laughed. “It’s beautiful, but you know I can’t keep this.”

  “Sure you can. I told you, consider it your birthday gift, but for now the public can believe it’s your engagement ring.”

  “Reese—”

  He reached across the table and grabbed her hand, stroking his thumb over the stone. “A friend can’t buy another friend a nice birthday gift?”

  She didn’t know why every time he threw out the word friend she felt a little...off. Josie couldn’t quite find the right word for how the word made her feel, but it certainly wasn’t settled.

  She hated disruption in her life. She’d grown up with a very regimented, standoffish father, and all of that rearing had carried over into her adult life. Everything had changed after her mother passed because, looking back, Josie realized that it was her mother who had been doting and loving, while her father demanded structure and obedience.

  Josie still craved that safe zone, the comfort of knowing every aspect of her life was in the proper place.

  “I got you something else,” he said, hopping up from the table.

  “I don’t need anything else,” she laughed. “The cruise, the dinner, the ring. I’m good, Reese.”

  He smiled down at her. “Trust me, this was not expensive, but I couldn’t resist.”

  Now she was intrigued. She waited while he stepped down into the cabin and then came back holding a small, narrow box that was so small there was no bow. Just simple wrapping.

  “It’s really not much,” he repeated, handing the gift over. “But I hope you’ll put it to good use.”

  She took the gift, but kept her eyes on him. “It’s too small to be a sex toy.”

  Reese laughed. “I’m all the sex toy you need right now.”

  Right now.

  Josie let the words wash over her. She tried to brush them aside, but they wiggled their way right past the giddiness that consumed her and hit her heart. The simple term took hold, threatening to penetrate and cause pain.

  She refused to let their current situation hurt her or damage their friendship.

  Ignoring thoughts of the future, Josie tore the paper and discovered her present.

  “A tube of red lipstick?”

  She glanced up to Reese, who stood there smiling.

  “I figure if you’re not comfortable wearing the clothes, maybe we could ease you into the color.”

  She stared at the name brand and was actually impressed he’d known what to purchase. “I’m not sure bright red lips would be easing into wearing color.”

  “Just try it,” he told her. “Don’t let fear win, Jo. That’s all this is. Fear. It’s a tube of lipstick. I’m not asking you to skydive.”

  Josie took the cosmetic from the box and slid the lid off. Turning the base, she stared at the vibrant shade and wondered how the hell she could pull that off. Her makeup regimen consisted of mascara, black of course, and sometimes a sheer gloss if she wanted to be extra.

  “Listen,” he told her as he pulled his chair around the table and next to hers. He grabbed her hands and set the tube on the table. “I’m not trying to make you into someone you’re not. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable, but you have all of this inside of you. If you want to channel your mother or pay tribute to her in some way, then do it. Do it for you, and who gives a damn what other people think.”

  She stared into those bright blue eyes and wondered how she’d never gotten lost in them before. How had she never noticed just how remarkable Reese was? Not just to look at, because she’d known for years how hot he was, but he was her friend...right? She shouldn’t have had lustful thoughts.

  Yet now she did.

  They’d been intimate a handful of times and she already had enough fantasies to last a lifetime.

  Beyond his looks, though, there was that heart of gold. He dominated everything around him, but not in an asshole kind of way. Yes, he demanded respect, but his loyal circle of friends and employees loved him and would do anything for him. That was the sign of a true leader.

  “Why did we never date when we were younger?” she asked before she could stop herself, because they weren’t even dating now.

  His brows drew in as he released her hands and sat back in his chair. “I asked you out.”

  Confused, Josie racked her brain, but drew a blank. “You did? When?”

  “In college,” he told her as if she should remember. “I was helping you move from the dorm into your first apartment and I asked you out.”

  She recalled when he’d helped her. They thought they’d never get her hand-me-down couch up that flight of stairs to the second floor. They’d laughed, argued, shared a horrible pizza for dinner.

  Oh yeah. That’s when he’d asked her.

  “I thought you were joking,” she finally stated, but caught the sober look on his face. “You were serious?”

  Reese didn’t smile. He didn’t make a move as he continued to stare back at her. “I’d never been more serious.”

  Oh. Well.

  What did she do with that information?

  She couldn’t exactly go back in time, but if she could, would she have said yes? Josie had never thought of Reese as more than a friend until recently, but the word more was such a blanket term. It could be applied to anything.

  She didn’t know how to reply to his statement, but he had clearly thought about this over the years because he hadn’t forgotten the moment. Obviously, there had been a bigger impact on him than her.

  What exactly did that mean? Surely he didn’t want to take this beyond best friend territory...did he?

  “Reese, I—”

  He leaned forward and cut her words off with a kiss. She melted into his powerful touch, completely forgetting anything she needed to say.

  “No more talking,” he murmured against her lips. “I want you wearing nothing but that ring and the moonlight.”

  Shivers raced through her at his sexy command. Anything they needed to discuss or work out with this relationship could be done later, because Reese was stripping her clothes off and she had a feeling she was about to get another birthday present.

  * * *

  “I discovered I’m adopted.”

  Josie’s gasp over the warm night air seemed to echo.

  It was well past midnight, so technically her birthday was over. They were on their way back to his place, fully dressed, and he found he couldn’t keep the news from her any longer. The only people who knew that he knew the truth were strangers. Reese needed her advice and her shoulder to lean on. That was the main thing he valued about their relationship. Even when he was trying to be strong, to put up a front of steel, he could let his guard down around her and she never criticized or judged him.

  He’d wanted to tell his parents first. He really thought he owed them that. But the other part of him needed Josie’s advice on how to handle such a delic
ate situation. There was nobody he trusted more with this secret.

  “Adopted?” she repeated. “Reese, how... I mean, who told you? Are you sure?”

  He guided the yacht toward his dock. In the distance, his three-story beachfront home lit up the shoreline. He always loved this time of night when the water was calm and quiet. He needed a stillness in however he could manage to gain one, in order to keep his sanity.

  “I’m pretty certain,” he told her, still keeping his eye on the dock. “I also found out I have two half brothers in Green Valley, Tennessee.”

  “That was the reason for your trip.”

  He nodded as he felt her come up beside him. The wind whipped her hair, sending strands drifting over his bare arm.

  “Who are your birth parents?” she asked.

  Reese shrugged. “I received a letter from a woman who I found out was my half brother’s mom. She was dying and before she passed, she sent three letters. Even her son didn’t know who his father was growing up, but she wanted to clear the air, I guess. Anyway, I don’t know about my birth mother, but my biological father is Rusty Lockwood.”

  “Lockwood,” she murmured. “As in, Lockwood Lightning?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Wow.” Josie laid her delicate hand on his arm for support. “Have you met him?”

  Reese slowed the engine as he neared the dock. “No, but I’ve not heard pleasant things about him and in my own research, I’ve read some disturbing news. He’s certainly no comparison to Martin Conrad.”

  The gentle squeeze from her touch had a bit of his anxiety sliding away.

  “Nobody is Martin Conrad,” she agreed. “Do your parents know you found this out?”

  “No. That’s what I want to talk to them about tomorrow.”

  He still didn’t know how to approach the topic other than just showing them the letter and giving them a chance to explain.

  “Do you...um, do you need me there?” she asked, her tone low, uncertain. “I mean, I don’t want to step over the line and make you uncomfortable, but if you need someone—”

  Reese reached up and slid his hand over hers as he glanced her way for a brief moment. “I want you there.”

  She seemed to exhale a breath and her body relaxed against his. “I don’t even know what to say, but I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

  He knew she would. He knew no matter what decision he made, she would stand by him.

  “I’m going to Green Valley in a few days.” He steered the ship expertly between the docks. “I’d like you to come with me if you can get away.”

  “I’ll make the time, and I can always work on the road,” she told him. “Or are we taking the jet?”

  “It’s going to be a quick trip,” he stated, killing the engine. “We’ll fly to save time.”

  She nodded and smiled. “Tell me when to be ready and I’ll be there.”

  Once the yacht was secure and he’d assisted her off the dock, Reese blocked her path to head back to the house. He framed her face with his hands and leaned closer.

  “You said I would spoil you, but I think it’s the other way around,” he murmured against her mouth. “Maybe I’m the one getting spoiled because I don’t deserve all I want to take from you.”

  Reese wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest and claiming her lips. He didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to think, didn’t want to consider tomorrow or even the day after that. Right now, he wanted to take Jo back to his bedroom and show her just how much he ached for her.

  Because their two weeks were slowly coming to an end, and he wasn’t quite ready to let this physical relationship go. And maybe there was more, maybe there was something beyond the physical. Reese wasn’t sure if he was getting the friendship bond confused with something more or not...he only prayed nobody got hurt in the end.

  Twelve

  “Darling, you look so happy.”

  Reese cringed when his mother wrapped her arms around him and then stepped back to examine him and Josie, who stood at his side.

  “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that the two of you are together,” she went on. “I’ve known for years you were the one for my son.”

  Josie’s eyes darted to his, but Reese merely smiled. He had bigger things to deal with right now than this fake engagement. He was about to crush the two people who loved him more than anything, who’d raised him like their own, who’d given him the life he lived today.

  But they all deserved for the secrets to come out so they could move forward. He’d had time to deal with the truth. He knew his parents were good people and they likely had done what they thought was in his best interest.

  “Can we at least get inside before you start smothering them?” Martin asked as he stepped into the foyer.

  Reese stared at the man he’d always thought of as his father. He’d never given it much thought, but other than the fact that they were both tall with broad shoulders, there were no other similarities.

  Laura reached for Josie and wrapped her arms around her, too. Reese hated the guilt that layered in with his anxiety. He’d never held on to this many secrets at one time in his life.

  Between the engagement and the news about his biological father, Reese had to get something out in the open before he drove himself mad. The only saving grace in all of this was that Josie was finally in his bed, where he’d wanted her for longer than he cared to admit. Granted, now he didn’t know how to take a step back with her into that friend territory. He honestly wasn’t sure he wanted to, but they’d agreed that after his opening, they would make an announcement that they were better off as friends and call off this fake engagement.

  What did it say about him that he wasn’t ready for that announcement?

  “Oh, my word, that ring is gorgeous,” his mother declared, holding Josie’s hand. “So unique and perfect.”

  “It’s really beautiful,” Josie stated, but Reese didn’t miss the tightness in her tone. “Why don’t you guys come on in? Frisco set up lunch out on the back deck.”

  Reese was thankful Josie took over and turned the attention away from the engagement, but that meant the next topic was another he didn’t want to get into.

  Lunch flew by with chatter and laughter, but Reese knew time was ticking and he’d have to just pull the letter from his pocket and share.

  Josie’s fingertip drew a pattern over the condensation on her water glass and he knew she was feeling all the nerves as well. He met her gaze and she offered him a reassuring smile.

  “I’m glad to see you guys,” Reese started. “But there’s something I need to discuss.”

  His mother sat back in her seat and shifted her attention. “Yes, you have me intrigued. Is this about New York? You’re not moving, are you?”

  Reese shook his head. “I love it here and I’m fine with traveling wherever I need.”

  “Is something wrong, son?” his father asked, resting his elbows on the arms of the dining chair.

  Reese reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. He passed it to his father.

  “I received this right after you were released from the hospital and I didn’t want to bring it up,” he added. “And then I wanted you guys to enjoy your trip, so I kept it to myself until I could sort things out.”

  Martin Conrad’s eyes darted from Reese down to the folded letter. He opened the paper and started reading. It didn’t take long for the color to drain from his face.

  “Martin, what is it?”

  His father remained silent as he finished reading, but ultimately he handed the letter across the table.

  Reese’s heart beat so hard, so fast, but he tried to remain calm. This was the best move in the long run; there would just be some painful hurdles to overcome.

  Surprisingly, his mother didn’t get upset. She squared her shoulders and placed th
e letter on the table, running her fingertip along the creases in a vain attempt to smooth it out.

  Her dark brown eyes finally came up to his.

  “I want you to know we did everything we could to make the best decision at the time,” she told him. “We went through an agency, but the birth parents wanted to remain anonymous.”

  “That’s when we decided not to tell you about the adoption because we had no more information to give,” his father added. “You were our son from day one. Blood didn’t matter.”

  No, it didn’t. These were his parents and there had never been any doubt the lengths they would go to to make him happy and show their love.

  “Do you hate us?” his mother finally asked. “I don’t think I could stand it if you were upset with us. We just wanted to give you the best life.”

  Reese scooted his chair back and went around to his mom. “Never,” he said, leaning down to wrap his arms around her. “I could never hate either of you. I just didn’t want to keep this from you. I may always wonder why you didn’t tell me before, but I respect that you have your reasons. I’ve never been a parent or in your shoes, so I can’t judge.”

  “Well, now you have the birth father’s name,” his dad chimed in. “Have you reached out to him?”

  Reese straightened, but kept his hand on his mother’s shoulder. “No. I wouldn’t have done that before talking to you. I did go to Green Valley, Tennessee, though. I’ve met with my half brothers. Nick Campbell and Sam Hawkins.”

  “Sam Hawkins,” his dad murmured. “He’s the son of Rusty Lockwood, too?”

  Reese nodded. “And Nick is a major investor and renovator. He’s opening a resort this fall in the Smoky Mountains. A project his late mom started.”

  “Sounds like all the boys turned out well,” his mom said. “I don’t know Rusty, other than through the Lockwood Lightning name.”

  Reese glanced to Josie, who had given her silent support this entire time. He wasn’t sure what all to get into regarding Rusty, but he knew he didn’t want to think about it right now. He’d let the secret out; that had been his main goal.