Friendship on Fire (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 3) Contemporary Romance

by Melissa Foster

“It does,” Treat said with a nod.

  “No shit.”

  “Why do you see this as all or nothing? You know how these things go. It’s a setback, Josh. So what if you fall back a year or two while this thing blows over? You climbed that ladder once; you’ll climb it again. And as far as losing it goes, or hitting someone, you’re a Braden. Your first line of defense isn’t your fists. You might feel like it’s going to be, but your mind will always override that physical side.”

  Josh ran his hand through his hair. “I want an assurance that I’m not going to kill someone, and…” He pushed past his embarrassment and admitted what he’d been thinking for the last twenty-four hours. “I want to be like you and be ready and willing to give it all up for the woman I love. I know that would make me so much more of a man, but—”

  “Bullshit,” Treat said with another glare. “Being a man has nothing to do with giving up anything. I built my business to prove something to myself and to my family. That was it. There was no love built into that. I love negotiating, but I could have done that in any business. I could have built a business on resorts, sailboats, or freaking playground equipment, for all I care. You built your business based on something you love, and you wouldn’t love doing any other work the way you love designing. Hell, we’ve known that since you were six years old.” Treat shook his head.

  “What are you getting at?” Josh asked.

  Treat sighed. “What makes a man isn’t what he’ll give up, Josh. It’s the grace in which he lives his life. The level of honesty and the moral code he lives by. The ethics of being aboveboard, and…” Treat looked away.

  “And?”

  Treat drew his eyes back to Josh, and when he spoke, his voice was tender. “And the value he places on those he loves combined with the efforts he takes to protect them. Those are the qualities that make a man. What I did wasn’t manly. What I did was sort of cowardly.” Treat laughed. “I would have walked through a field of dinosaurs to be with Max. Nothing else mattered to me. Doling out my responsibilities for work to enable me to be by her side was weak. It was the easy way out, but it made me happy, and I’m okay with that. I could have fought for her to bend to my lifestyle, and she probably would have. No, she definitely would have. But I can tell you this. Working on Dad’s ranch and running my businesses remotely was worth it. I’ve never been happier than when I’m with Max.”

  “It wasn’t weak. It was chivalrous,” Josh said.

  “Hardly,” Treat said. “Okay, maybe to some people. But, Josh, we all have our own paths to happiness. Yours doesn’t have to include giving up your career. You just need to figure out if you can live with the world around you seeing Riley one way when you know her to be another.”

  “That’s just half of what I’ve been wrestling with,” Josh admitted.

  “And what have you come up with?” Treat asked.

  “I can’t imagine my life without her. I’ve spent my career worried about doing the right thing, dating the right women, dressing appropriately, attending all the right events, and for the first time in my life, when I’m with Riley, I feel free from that. But it’s more than that.” Josh took a deep breath, hoping his brother wouldn’t think less of him for what he was about to say. “It’s like there’s another person controlling my emotions. The anger…” Josh looked away.

  “Go on,” Treat urged.

  “Treat, man, if someone were to say something derogatory about Riley in my presence, I don’t know what I’d do. When those media hounds were all over her, I felt something I had never felt before. I swear my blood was on fire. It was all I could do not to rip them to shreds, and that’s not who I am. I had to stop myself from getting physical. I mean, really stop myself. Tell myself, ‘This isn’t you.’ You know me. I’m not a fighter, never have been. ” Josh watched a smile spread across Treat’s face.

  “You’re also a man in love, little brother, and that’s something you’ve never been before either. It takes you by surprise, doesn’t it?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe,” Josh said.

  “All those protective urges that you always thought were reserved for your family members suddenly apply to someone else in a bigger, more powerful way, and it scares you. That’s natural. It should scare you,” Treat said.

  “Scared the shit out of me. It still does.” Josh sighed, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. Treat understood. He wasn’t losing his mind after all.

  “Your rational mind will always override the physical,” Treat assured him.

  “I keep going over and over this in my head. As scary as all this shit is—and believe me, lately it feels like the Incredible Hulk is trying to break through my body—it’s not half as scary as losing Riley. I know I fucked up. I should have fired Claudia ages ago, before Riley ever came to work there. Claudia’s been an issue for a long time, but she was so damned good at her job, and she’s Peter Stafford’s niece, so there’s the whole damn loyalty thing. I never thought…”

  Treat leaned back and crossed his legs. “You’re a good person, Josh. You see the best in people and want to believe no one is as slippery as they are. You’ve been that way your whole life. Hell, when Hugh used to do stupid shit, you’d try and take the blame for him so that he didn’t get in trouble. Dad would turn his back and chuckle.”

  “If he didn’t believe I did those things, why did he allow me to take the heat?” Josh remembered a handful of times he’s taken Hugh’s punishments, usually for Hugh being selfish toward others. Josh had never wanted to believe that his little brother could be selfish and self-centered. He’d learned a lot about Hugh over the years, and he’d come to accept that the youngest Braden was, in fact, exactly that. Although, Hugh’s recent call had him questioning if the assessment was still accurate.

  “Because Dad was teaching you a lesson just as he taught the rest of us. If you’re going to step in to take the heat, you’re going to get it. It was a good lesson, at least for me. You learn to pick and choose your battles. You do realize, Josh, that if you move forward with Riley, nothing in your life will ever be the same.”

  “You’ve convinced me. No one could ever make me believe Riley stole anything, and I feel better knowing you understand the anger that’s been eating away at my gut. I’ll trust your experience, Treat, that I won’t hit someone,” Josh said.

  “What are you saying?” Treat asked.

  “I’m picking this battle.” Josh nodded as he stood from his chair.

  “And what if you’re wrong and she stole the design? You can’t have a life with a woman you can’t trust,” Treat said.

  “Maybe I really am an asshole, because now I want to hit you,” Josh said.

  Treat shook his head. “Seriously, Josh.”

  “It’s Riley. She’s worth it, and I’m not wrong. She didn’t steal the drawing, and even if we can’t prove it, I’m ready to take the heat.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  RILEY, JADE, MAX, and Savannah sat in a café in the village of Allure. They’d spent the morning walking through shops and talking about how crazy Claudia was, Max’s wedding, and the house Jade and Rex were having built. Riley tried to add to the conversations, but as each hour passed, the fissures in her heart deepened. She hadn’t heard from Josh since the text he’d sent at four in the morning, and she couldn’t get the photo out of her head.

  “What does my brother have to say about the latest?” Savannah asked. She looked chic in her jeans, long-sleeved white shirt, and suede blazer.

  Riley drew in a breath, trying to formulate an answer that didn’t sound whiny or clingy. The best she could come up with was “Not much.”

  “Do you think he’s all right? Gosh, maybe he needs one of us down there with him.” Savannah pulled out her cell phone.

  “Treat’s with him,” Max said.

  “What?” Savannah and Riley asked in unison.

  “He chartered a plane in the middle of the night. He said he was worried about Josh. Apparently, he had tried to
call him several times, and he said Josh had a tendency to pull into himself and block out the world when things went awry.” Max sipped her iced tea and then continued. “He’s with him now. He texted me about half an hour ago.”

  Treat texted you? Why didn’t Josh text me?

  “What did he say? Is Josh okay?” Savannah asked.

  Riley was dying to know the same thing. She was relieved Savannah had stepped in to ask.

  “He said he’s having a hard time, but they’re going to meet with the PI and get this figured out today,” Max explained. “He sounded pretty firm, like neither of them was going to let this nonsense continue.” She touched Riley’s arm. “Treat said Josh was worried about Riley but that he was in no shape to call and that they were rushing around taking care of things.”

  “No shape to call? What does that even mean?” Riley asked.

  “I guess he’s really angry about everything, but, Riley, he’s also probably in that befuddled stage that guys go through, where they don’t know up from down when they’re first in love. Imagine being newly in love and thrown in a blender with your lover’s nemesis.”

  “I’m living that nightmare, remember?” Riley said.

  Jade touched her arm. “Oh, I know that befuddled stage,” Jade said. “Remember, Ri, when Rex was all tied in knots? He was so cute and so passionate.”

  Riley knew Jade was trying to sidetrack her from her hurt over Josh not calling.

  “Please.” Savannah pretended to cover her ears.

  “No, I mean he was protective and loving.” She winked at Riley. “And passionate that way, too.”

  Savannah swatted her arm. “Ew! That’s my brother, okay. Let me think of him as a brother, please. Gross.”

  Jade laughed.

  “Well, Josh isn’t that way. He’s loving, but he’s not passionate like Rex is. He’s very in control when it comes to his protective urges. I can’t even imagine him getting that mad at anyone,” Riley said.

  “Not even Claudia?” Max asked.

  “Well.” Riley reconsidered. “Mad, yes, but viscerally angry, I doubt it.”

  “Don’t underestimate my little brother, Riley. I bet this situation is making him see all sides of himself that he’s not used to.” Savannah leaned closer to Riley and whispered, “And please, when he does, don’t use the words passionate and Josh in the same sentence. He’s still very pure in my eyes,” she teased.

  Riley couldn’t take it anymore. Why hadn’t he called her? Why hadn’t he warned her about Claudia? What was she missing?

  “Savannah, you said Josh pulls into himself. What did you mean?” Riley finally asked.

  “Josh is the most passive of my brothers. When something goes wrong, he tends to close himself off until he has a way to deal with it.” Savannah narrowed her eyes. “Riley, is he doing that to you? Shutting you out?”

  “No.” The word shot from Riley’s lips.

  “Oh no, honey. Haven’t you talked to him since you saw that picture? Oh goodness, you’ve been with us the whole time. We’ve been monopolizing your time. We’re such idiots.” She looked around the table. “Call him, Riley. It’ll make you feel a lot better.”

  Everyone stared at her. She didn’t want to call Josh in front of everyone. What if he hadn’t called because he wasn’t sure about them anymore? What if he didn’t tell her about Claudia because he was on her side now?

  “Call him,” Savannah said.

  Riley pressed speed dial and put the phone to her ear. Don’t pick up. Don’t pick up.

  “Riley,” he said in a rushed whisper. “You okay?”

  Hearing his voice made her want to climb through the phone and crawl into his lap. “Josh? Yes. You?” Too many questions cluttered her mind.

  “Yeah, fine. I’m in the middle of something. I’m sorry about the Post and about not calling. I can explain.”

  “I don’t care about the Post.” Yes, I do. Explain, please! “Why are you whispering?”

  “I’m in the middle of a meeting. I love you. I’ll call you later. Promise. ’Kay, babe?”

  Riley ended the call feeling more confused than she was before. “He says he’s okay and that he can explain about the Post.”

  “Of course he can. Jeez, if there’s one thing about my brothers, none of them are cheats. My father would have whooped their butts if he thought he raised cheaters,” Savannah said.

  “I’d never have pegged Josh as a cheater, but I have to admit, I do feel better having heard him say he can explain,” Riley admitted.

  “What are you going to do, Ri?” Jade asked. “Have you thought any more about what happens if they don’t clear your name?”

  “That’s all I can think about, and if it’s fair to Josh to stay with him. I mean he’s a great guy, but he could do so much better than a woman with an accusation like design thief on her résumé.” Riley averted her eyes from Savannah’s dark stare.

  “Are you telling me that you would break up with him…to protect him from being—what?—connected to you if they don’t clear your name?” Savannah pushed her chair back and crossed her arms.

  “I don’t think she’s saying that,” Jade said.

  “I’m so confused, Savannah. What would you do?” Riley needed answers, and since she hadn’t come up with any, she sure hoped someone else had them.

  “Any man that would stick with me through thick and thin would be making his own choice.” Savannah clenched her jaw. “If you plan on hurting Josh—”

  “No, that’s not my intent,” Riley said. Great. Now his sister hates me. “I’m saying that…” Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. Her eyes betrayed her and filled with tears. “I just don’t know what to do.” Her voice cracked as warm tears spilled down her cheeks. “I love him, Savannah. I don’t ever want to be without him, but what if being with him hurts him? He loves his career. I could kill his reputation.”

  Jade was by her side in a heartbeat, her arms wrapped around her. “Shh. It’s gonna be okay. We’ll figure this out,” Jade said.

  “I went through this with Treat,” Max added. “I’m not sure if you knew about this, Savannah, but I didn’t want Treat to give up his work for me. I knew how much he loved the traveling, the negotiations, the fast-paced lifestyle, but in the end, I realized that I could only control what I did, not what he did. These are men, not boys, Riley. They make their own decisions, and from what I’ve experienced with Treat, I can honestly say that he’s never regretted his decision.”

  Riley wiped her eyes. “So you think I shouldn’t worry that he’ll change his mind?”

  “No way,” Max said. “If Josh says he loves you, he will stand by you. How can you or anyone else dispute what comes from his heart? They're his feelings, Riley, not yours or anyone else’s. Just Josh’s.”

  Riley looked at Savannah, who was watching her like a lion on the prowl—one wrong word about her brother and she’d pounce.

  “Savannah, I need to know. Do you think if Josh decided to stay with me he wouldn’t turn around and regret it a month, a year, or even ten years later?” Riley held her breath, waiting for Savannah to answer.

  Savannah opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. She took a drink; then she put one hand on Riley’s hand and the other on her heart. “I’m not Josh, but cross my heart, this is what I believe. If Josh makes a commitment, it’s a commitment that he won’t break unless you force him to.” She pulled Riley into a hug and whispered against her ear, “If you hurt him, I’ll kill you, so decide before he gets here.”

  Riley pulled away with her eyes wide, her heart racing.

  “Kidding,” Savannah said in a high-pitched voice. Something in her voice told Riley she wasn’t.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  “YOU’RE ONE HUNDRED percent sure about this?” Treat asked.

  Josh tucked the package he’d just purchased into his pocket as he and Treat climbed into the waiting car.

  “Definitely.” Josh hadn’t ever felt more certain of anything in his life
. “You assured me that this desire to hammer anyone who hurts Riley is normal. All I can do is believe you. You have more experience with that than I do. But if I land in jail, you’ve got to bail me out.”

  “I’ll bail you out, and then our other brothers and I will stand by your side while Rex pummels the bastard again.”

  Josh laughed. “Then he’ll end up in jail.”

  “Family honor. Sometimes it’s a vicious cycle,” Treat said with a nod.

  “Let’s get this shit over with. I wanna get back to Riley. I’ve wasted enough time on this bullshit.”

  “Did you get ahold of Savannah?” Treat asked.

  “Yeah, she knows just what to do. By the way, Savannah apparently told Riley that if she hurts me, she’ll kill her. Did she do that shit to Max?”

  “Savannah’s pretty protective. I’m sure she said it to Max, to Jade, and whoever the women are who Dane and Hugh fall for will be in for the same threat.”

  JOSH’S HEART SLAMMED against his chest. He and Treat had just come from his attorney’s office after finally taking care of filing a formal sexual harassment suit against Claudia—one he should have filed long ago. Thankfully, his attorney was well connected and had expedited the process. He should have taken the appropriate measures long ago, but he couldn’t change the past. All he could do was concentrate on doing all the right things to ensure his and Riley’s future, and filing that suit made him feel a thousand times better. He had a flash of worry about what doing this would do to his relationship with Peter, but he bit back the worry. He’d deal with that later. He was taking strides in the right direction, and he had to maintain his focus. As he climbed the narrow apartment stairs, the nerves across his shoulders pulled tight once again. He looked over his shoulder at Treat, stealing confidence from his brother’s determination. He needed a witness. He needed his brother.

  Josh threw his shoulders back, straightened his perfectly pressed, white dress shirt, lifted his chin, and knocked on the door of apartment 213. He’d never been in this particular Greenwich Village apartment building, and he hoped he’d never have cause to go there again. He lifted his hand to knock again as the door swung open.