by Kimi Flores
“I had to take a look at this balcony you talked about.” She bounced on the balls of her feet, wearing a beat up pair of black Converse.
Finally, he stopped gawking. Am I drooling? He touched his mouth to make sure. “Oh yeah, come in.” He stepped aside, allowing her to pass.
She made a beeline for the open balcony door and leaned against the railing outside. “Wow. It’s breathtaking. We don’t have all those gorgeous sailboats coasting around at our beaches.” She slid her hands in her tiny back pockets. “Look at that one out there. Man,” she said, awed.
He stepped up behind her, kissing her bare shoulder. “If you didn’t get seasick, I’d take you out on one of those right now.” He rested his chin on her shoulder and turned his head, running his nose along her neck as he moved her long dark hair to the side. “You smell so good. I don’t even need breakfast. Just you.”
She spun around with a hurt look on her face. “Then why do you keep kissing me and walking away?”
What? His eyes widened. “I told you I’m letting you take charge. I know I keep getting carried away, but it’s your call.”
Narrowing one eye, she pursed her lips. “Maybe I’m not the kinda girl that makes the first move. Maybe I want you to show me what you want.”
Confused, he furrowed his eyebrows.
This has got to be tied to some insecurity she’s fighting.
“Listen, Bri.” He carefully grabbed her hands, pulling her into the room then down on the edge of the bed with him. “I haven’t been with anyone since I moved out to the ranch, and I really had no intention on looking for someone, then you showed up. No matter what I’ve told myself, I just couldn’t let you go a second time. Tell me what you’re feeling, what do you need me to do? I don’t know what the next move is either, so…how about we figure it out together?”
She didn’t look convinced. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“I listened to everything you said last night about how I treated other people, but what is it about me that makes you want to be with me?”
Her eyes were so telling, he could see the emotions warring inside of her.
She wants to know why I’m picking her. Okay don’t hold back, Josh. She deserves the truth.
He placed his hand on the side of her face, looking deep into her eyes. “On top of what I told you last night, there’s something there. Between us. And it’s big. I’ve felt it for a while. I’ve never met another girl like you. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re pretty kick ass.”
He smirked when she blushed. Since she remained silent, he went on, ticking things off. “I love that you’re ready to beat me in a competition, but willing to let me win if it means you get a kiss from me.” He gave her a pointed look. “The fact that you enjoy wearing killer heels and a short, sexy ass dress one minute, then you want to jump on a dirt bike with me the next,” he threw his head back, “makes me crazy hot.”
“You’re letting me get to know pieces of the real Bri, which I know is hard for you and it makes me feel—” He shrugged. “—special. I see what you’ve overcome and you still see good in the world. Honestly, you are pretty damn amazing, and I want you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. That’s ‘why you’.”
Bri let out a breath, looking at him with shock and awe in her eyes. And she was speechless, which was good, because there wasn’t one thing he’d told her that she could argue against.
Josh pulled her onto his lap and into a hug. “Can you trust me, if only for today? Will you let me to show you how much you mean to me?”
With her face firmly planted against his heart, she answered, “I don’t know how to trust myself or my feelings. What if I’m wrong? What if I misunderstand something?”
He moved her face away from his chest and planted a soft kiss on the end of her nose. “Lord knows, I wrote the book on mistakes and misunderstandings—some of them toward you—and here you are, still letting me do things that I don’t deserve. Like this.” He smiled softly and kissed the corner of her mouth. “So what do you say?”
Bri blinked, thinking for a moment. “I’ll try, Josh. It’s the best I can do for now.”
Josh let out a breath of relief. “Okay. Good enough.” He narrowed his eyes playfully and added, “For now.”
Bringing her hand to his lips, he peppered her knuckles with tiny kisses. “As nice as this is, I really want to take you jet skiing before the girls steal you from me. We only have a few hours. I hate leaving you though.” He sighed.
Excited, she sat up straighter. “Then don’t leave me. Let’s spend the day together. Can I go with you to the race after we jet ski?”
He frowned. “I thought you said you should spend time with Alison? Will it cause issues between you girls?”
Bri smirked. “You said to trust my feelings and follow my heart. My heart says I want to be with you today.” Making a silly face, Bri crossed her eyes. “Plus Alison knows how in love with you I’ve been all these years.”
Jerking his head to the side, he wondered if she was being real. “Are you just saying that, or are you taking a chance by showing your feelings like we’ve been talking about?”
Her eyes made their way down to her lap. “Josh, I told you I don’t know how to do this, but my answer is yes. I tried to convince myself over the years that I wasn’t, but…” She peeked up at his face. ”Ever since you opened up to me that night in the bar, I’ve never gotten over you.”
“I’ve compared every guy I’ve ever dated to you and none of them have ever measured up. I’ve never been able to stay in a relationship past a certain point because I knew they would want something I wasn’t prepared to give. I’ve never given myself to another guy because they weren’t you. Now that you’re here with me, I don’t want to run away from my feelings anymore.”
Shocked, Josh leaned back on his elbows. “Um, Bri. I think you’re better at sharing your feelings than you thought.”
Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “I don’t know where that came from. I started talking and it all just came out.”
Reaching forward with one hand, he swept his thumb across the side of her face, overwhelmed with his own emotions.
Could it be true? It couldn’t. There was no way. Not this soon. And as much as he wanted her, shouldn’t he be freaked out? Without saying the actual word, she just admitted to being in love with him. Holy shit! This was big. But deep in the recesses of his heart, he wanted it to be true. He was begging it to be true.
“Is that really how you feel?”
With a sweet smile on her lips, she admitted, “Yes.”
Oh what the hell, I’ll say it first because there is no doubt in my mind that’s how I feel too. “Then that’s the only thing that matters because I’m in love with you too.” He sounded out of breath and couldn’t believe he was saying it, but he didn’t care anymore. “Alright, what the hell are we doing today because I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
With a wicked smile, she climbed off his lap, pulling him down onto the bed with her. Hovering over her, he looked into her wanting eyes before crashing his mouth down on hers. Her hands roamed under his shirt, igniting his hunger. He was totally down for this, but didn’t want her to regret anything. He wanted their second first time to be special. She deserved that.
His lips made their way to her ear as she panted into his.
Shit. I don’t know if I have enough restraint. “Babe, if we don’t leave right now, we aren’t going anywhere.”
He moved up when she began to yank her shirt over her head. She breathed out. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I want you, Josh. ” She brought her hips up to meet his.
Oh fuck. I definitely don’t have the strength to fight her on this.
His lips made their way across the curves of her breasts popping out of the top of her bra. “I don’t have anything here. I’ll need to go down to the gift shop downstairs.”
Maybe that will give us a minute to co
ol down.
Bri shook her head. “No. I’m covered. We’re good. I promise.” Her hands greedily threaded through his hair.
Well damn, there go all of my excuses. Letting go, his mouth traveled up her neck, savoring every spot his lips met her skin.
“Josh, you’ve told me you love me. Now show me.” Bri begged him with her eyes, sealing the deal.
She held his heart, and he would do anything she asked. Especially if the end result was her becoming his.
Strolling through the lobby, hand in hand, with the man she loved, Bri felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Josh loved her as much as she loved him. It did seem kinda early for them to have such strong feelings for each other but there was no denying it. It just felt…right.
And now they’d missed out on breakfast and were both starving.
“Where are you two headed?” Alison sat in one of the oversized leather chairs in the lobby, a smirk on her lips as though she knew what they’d just been doing.
Stop being paranoid, Bri told herself.
Josh blurted out, “Lunch and if we still have time, jet skiing.”
Alison raised an eyebrow, looking only a little disappointed. “I’m not gonna see you at the spa today, am I?”
Bri shifted nervously back and forth without answering.
“Dammit.” Alison snapped her fingers. “Now I owe Paul twenty bucks. I should’ve known you’d rather hang out with the boys at the track.” She giggled, setting Bri at ease.
“Do you mind?” Bri asked, hoping Alison was in fact okay with it.
Alison waved her off. “Bri, I’d rather you guys spend time together than force you to hang out with Brandy.” She stuck her tongue out and scrunched her nose, obviously not a fan of her soon to be sister-in-law.
That was music to Bri’s ears. Not only did she get to spend the whole day with Josh, but she didn’t have to feel guilty about choosing him over her friend.
Reaching behind, Josh tugged on her hand, encouraging her to follow. Bri’s eyes roamed his backside, enjoying the view of his swaying hips under his board shorts. She heard a chuckle come from him, and realized she’d been caught staring at his butt.
“I’m not embarrassed.” She strode up to his side, rather proud of herself. “You have a nice ass.”
“I wasn’t trying to embarrass you. I like when you watch me. And by the way, you have a nice ass too.” He winked, sending her pulse into overdrive again.
Swinging their connected hands, Bri asked as they passed the first food stand outside of the hotel. “So what’s for lunch?”
With his free hand, he pointed a block up from where they were. “I spotted a deli over there the other day. Thought we could munch on some sandwiches now that we’ve worked up an appetite.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “The jet skis were reserved for earlier, but we can still see if they’re available after we eat. We’ll get them by the pier over there.” He pointed to the right of them.
“You were pretty confident that I’d agree to go with you, weren’t you?” she teased.
“Yep,” he popped his lips, looking way too cocky. “I had no doubt.” Reaching for the back of her neck, he pulled her close and kissed her in a much more passionate way than they had in public before.
Now that’s a kiss. I could get used to those.
Pulling away, he kept his fingers on the back of her head, tangled in her hair. “Bri, now that we’re together, I’ll keep doing new things that I think you may like. I’m gonna strike out here and there, but I’ll keep trying.”
She held onto his hand, kissing the inside of his palm. “I’m gonna hold you to that. Even when we’re old and wrinkled, you’re going to try to woo me?” She joked.
“Wait a minute, I never said anything about old and wrinkled.” He chuckled, ducking out of the way when she tried to smack his chest.
Pulling her toward him once more, he kissed the top of her head. “Yes, Bri, even when we’re old and wrinkled.”
Bri was on cloud nine after spending the morning alone with Josh. This time was so different than the first. She was definitely up for doing that again, very soon. Once they made it out of the room and had lunch, she enjoyed the afternoon she’d spent with him, jet skiing, then hanging out with the guys at the motocross grand prix.
Now it was time to play dress up and get all pretty for the wedding. Since they were running late, they’d decided to get ready in their separate rooms, but this was the last time she planned on being alone in this hotel.
As she glanced in the mirror, she ran a hand over her outfit. Each piece had come from a different store along Mission Boulevard in Santa Barbara. The coral color of her sleeveless, silk chiffon-embroidered scarf dress was a beautiful contrast to her now sun kissed skin. As usual, her favorite part of her ensemble was the shoes. She’d eyed these cream-colored, heeled sandals with ankle cuffs several times but didn’t have anything to wear them with until now.
She decided to wear her hair up, giving her summery outfit a more elegant look.
There was a knock at her door as she struggled to clasp her beaded charm necklace.
Pushing the handle down with her elbow, she encouraged Josh to push it open. “Come in.”
She walked up to the mirror again, adjusting all of her jewelry. When she turned, she saw him standing in the doorway, mouth gaped open. She, too, felt her lips part as she took in the view. He looked mouthwatering in a fitted black tux that included a vest and bowtie.
Clearing his throat, Josh finally spoke. “Bri, didn’t you get the invite?” He stepped up behind her, looking at her in the reflection of the mirror.
Turning her head to the side so she could see his face, she inquired, “Yeah, why?”
“There was a specific dress code on there.” His fingertips ran up her arm.
Panicked, she darted to her small white clutch purse and pulled out the embossed piece of paper. “What did I miss?” She quickly scanned the words as he pressed against her from behind.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her shoulder, her neck, and across the nape. “It says you’re not allowed to be more stunning than the bride, her mother, her mother-in-law, her bridesmaids…”
Bri spun around, bopping him on the shoulder. “You scared the crap out of me. I thought I missed something.”
He laughed. “Man, I was hoping to get a kiss for that, not a beat down.” Drawing her body close to his, Josh admitted, “Seriously, I’m one lucky bastard to be taking you to this shindig tonight.”
Peering up, she blinked slowly a few times as a sexy smile spread across her lips. “If you play your cards right, you may be the one taking me home from this shindig too.”
His eyes widened before he gave her one quick, soft kiss. “Uh, let’s get out of the room before that king-sized bed gets the better of me.”
“That ceremony was torturous,” Josh whispered into Bri’s ear as she took her last bite of salmon and a sip of her wine.
Dabbing her lips with her napkin, she tilted her head to the side. “Why do you say that? I thought it was beautiful.”
“Do you know how difficult it was to stand up there, when all I wanted to do was sit next to you and hold your hand?”
“Oh, I thought you looked uncomfortable, but I assumed it was the monkey suit.” She let out a playful chuckle and finished off her wine. Scooting her chair back, she stood up. “Wanna dance?”
He shook his head. “Not yet.” His other plan was much more fun but he didn’t want her to feel like he was shooting her down, so he told her, “When you catch the bouquet, and I snag that garter, you’ll get your dance.”
“What makes you think I want to catch the bouquet?” Raising an eyebrow, she sat back down, placing her elbows on the table.
He glanced around before leaning in discreetly. “Because you and I are the most competitive people in this room, and once you get the spotlight you deserve, I’ve got a little something special up my sleeve.”
She raised th
e other eyebrow, tucking her chin down. “You’ve definitely peaked my interest.”
“Good,” he grinned, “because it looks like the time has come.” He pointed to the dance floor where Alison was standing, holding onto her bouquet.
The DJ announced over Abba’s, Dancing Queen, “Now’s the time for all the single ladies in the room to come onto the dance floor. Single Ladies!”
“Go get ‘em, babe.” Josh helped Bri up after she took off her shoes and placed them on her seat. He kissed her cheek and lightly swatted her butt as she made her way onto the makeshift dance floor, with the gang of crazed female wedding guests.