He smiled and decided there wasn’t much point in laying down the law and forcing them all to promise they wouldn’t tell anyone, because it would only make him look ill-humored. But as he walked off, his smile faded, and he clenched his fists. It had been unprofessional and downright stupid to agree to having his photo taken. What was Maisey thinking, sending a copy of it to the surgery. Did she think it was funny?
And he’d been just as stupid to sleep with her. Clearly, she hadn’t grown up at all, and he’d been an idiot to let her tempt him on both accounts.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Maisey and Tasha arrived home around seven on Monday night, both tired and with aching feet after a long and busy afternoon. They’d stopped at the fish and chip shop around the corner and bought themselves dinner, too tired to cook, and Maisey was looking forward to putting her feet up and relaxing with a long glass of wine.
As Tasha pulled into their drive, however, she frowned and peered at the car parked down the road. “That looks like Joss’s car.”
Maisey frowned. “It is Joss’s car.” Her heart leaped into a frantic rhythm. He must have gotten the photo, she thought, hope spreading a smile across her face. Maybe her words had prompted him to ask her out again.
As they got out of the car, however, and he walked toward them, his thunderous expression told her he had not come to pay her a compliment.
“Hey,” Tasha said. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to see Maisey.” He didn’t look at Tasha, but his gaze bored into Maisey, intensely angry.
Tasha looked from him to her friend and back. “Oh.”
“Go inside,” Maisey said hurriedly. “I don’t think this is going to take long.”
Tasha hesitated, and then Joss glanced at her, hands on hips.
“Okay,” she said, and scurried off.
He turned his gaze back to Maisey. She gulped at the way his eyes blazed, having a vivid memory of him on top of her, thrusting her to next Tuesday. She blinked and wiped away the vision. At that moment, he was obviously feeling anything but love.
“I got your letter today,” he said.
She moistened her lips. “Oh.”
“Yes,” he said. “Oh.”
She blinked, confused. Why had it made him angry? “You didn’t like it?”
“I didn’t like the fact my post gets opened by my receptionists, and therefore now the whole surgery knows exactly who the model is in the poster splayed all around town.”
Maisey was conscious her jaw had dropped, but her brain didn’t seem to be able to tell it to shut.
His expression turned from angry to impatient at her lack of response. “What were you thinking of, sending it to the surgery?”
His irritation kick-started her brain. “I didn’t realize the receptionists opened your mail,” she said carefully. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s too late for that. Now half the fucking town knows I stripped off.”
She couldn’t stop a laugh. “So what? So they know you have a bit of fun in your spare time, what does that matter? I keep trying to tell you—it’s okay to relax and enjoy yourself. Life doesn’t have to be all about responsibility and stress.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Now he looked really mad. “I’m a professional, Maisey. I’m new to the job, and I need to make a name for myself and build a client list. But patients aren’t going to come to me if they think I’m some kind of playboy who strips off and poses for fun.”
Personally, she thought that kind of image might actually increase his client list, but it wasn’t the moment to voice her opinion. “I understand why you’re angry,” she said softly, “but I didn’t do it on purpose. I just didn’t think it through.”
“And that’s the real issue,” he snapped. “You do or say the first thing that comes into your mind without giving any thought about how it’s going to affect people’s lives.”
Her face burned. “I said I’m sorry. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“You need to think more, Maisey, and not jump into everything with both feet. It makes other people make rash decisions too, and as adults we have a responsibility to be more mature and think about what we’re doing.”
His words didn’t make sense, unless she took into account he wasn’t just talking about the photograph—he was referring to them sleeping together. She frowned. “What’s this really about? What’s happened?”
“I’ve had the fucking interrogation from your brother, that’s what’s happened.”
Goddammit Kole! She tightened her hands into fists, but forced herself to stay calm. “This is none of Kole’s business.”
“No, it’s not, and I object to being made to feel as if I’m a pervert seducing a fucking schoolgirl. You knew perfectly well what you were doing. If anything, you seduced me.”
She stared at him, fighting back a hysterical laugh. “Yeah, because you really needed talking into it.”
“Maisey…”
“This is bullshit,” she snapped, “and Kole’s got no right poking his nose in. We both knew what we were doing. We had a good time, didn’t we? I don’t see what the problem is.” Her throat tightened. Joss had never been angry with her in his life, and it was horrible being on the receiving end of his wrath.
“The problem…” He ran a hand through his hair. It stuck up at the front, and she itched to smooth it down. But he wouldn’t welcome the touch right now. “The problem is I don’t have the time or space in my life right now for someone, especially someone else that needs looking after! My life’s complicated enough as it is without all this nonsense.”
“Oh, so now I’m just nonsense?”
He met her gaze, and his eyes were filled with hurt and pain. “You shouldn’t have come on to me, Maisey. You knew I liked you, and that it would be difficult for me to say no. You need to stop messing with people’s lives and stop acting like a child.”
Maisey’s breath hitched. His words echoed Kole’s closely, and they were so unfair they gave her a physical pain in her chest. But beneath the surface of the stormy waves, she could see the riptide pulling him under. What they’d done had confused him because he liked her—had always liked her, in fact, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her, even though it was just supposed to be a fling.
But Kole had stuck his nose in and laid on the guilt. And between them, the two guys had taken away any of the responsibility for what had happened out of her hands, the same way her parents always did, blaming her for not acting like an adult while at the same time refusing to let her act like one.
“I’m a grown woman,” she yelled, finally losing her patience, “which certainly didn’t seem to escape your notice at your house! Everyone keeps telling me to grow up, and everyone wants to change me. Well, do you know what? I don’t want to change. When Harry died, I promised myself I’d live each day as it comes, and I wouldn’t worry about the future. That doesn’t mean I don’t understand about having responsibilities. I didn’t send that fucking photo to embarrass you—I thought it would make you smile. I slept with you because I wanted to sleep with you, and I wanted to show you life doesn’t have to be all about duty and obligation. But you’ve made it sound like I’m a teenager with a crush on a movie star.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said through gritted teeth.
She ignored him. “I’m not an idiot, and I’m not a child. I run my own business, and I’m doing a fucking brilliant job at it, if you must know.”
“I know…”
“No, you don’t know. We were close to going under, Joss, just months away from it, but the party and all the promotion has turned it around. It’s doubled our business, and I know it’ll probably drop off a bit, but it’s saved the shop. I’ve done that, Joss, me. So I wish everyone would stop treating me like I’m eleven years old!”
“I would if you didn’t act eleven years old! It’s in the things you say, the clothes you wear.” He gestured at her sparkly T-shirt, her blue fingernails. “You
need to project an image of the way you want to be treated; that’s what I was saying about the surgery. I understand about Harry, but you can’t act like you don’t give a damn about anything and then expect people to treat you seriously.”
“I don’t see why I should have to change for anyone.”
“You don’t. It’s your life; you live it how you like. But you can’t blame everyone for treating you like a kid if you refuse to grow up.”
She stared at him, her stomach churning. He’d obviously forgotten she took antidepressants, and he had no understanding of how much of a struggle it was for her to even get up in the morning sometimes.
“I am who I am,” she said softly. “And obviously that’s not enough for you. And that’s okay. I never expected what we had to be anything other than a fling. I am disappointed. I like you a lot, and I think we could have been good together. And I think you’re wrong to assume we wouldn’t have worked. You can’t spend your whole life being responsible and serious, Joss—life’s too short for that. You need to live a little, and I thought I could help you there. But I understand. And I’m sorry I embarrassed you.”
She turned on her heel and walked back to the house.
All the way to the front door, she expected him to catch her arm or shout out, but he did neither. She reached the door, opened it, went in, and closed it behind her.
She stood in the living room, arms folded, and heard his car door slam and the engine start up. It revved loudly, several times. Then he pulled away, and it faded into the distance.
Maisey looked over to where Tasha stood in the doorway to the kitchen, hands in her pockets.
Tasha walked forward to stand before her. “Are you okay?”
Maisey studied her feet. “Because of what happened to Harry, I’ve always lived every day as if it were my last. Done whatever I wanted without any thought of the future.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Tasha said fiercely.
“No, maybe not, but they’re both right; I keep complaining everyone’s treating me like a kid, but I can’t really object when I am acting like one.”
“I like you just the way you are,” Tasha said, taking her hand. “You’re fun, and you don’t take life too seriously. Fuck knows there are enough people out there who do. You bring a smile to everyone’s face, Maisey, and that’s a good thing, it’s something to be proud of. Don’t let those two idiots tell you it’s not.”
Maisey tried to raise a smile, unsuccessfully. “Because I’m here and Harry’s not, I thought I owed it to him to do all the things he would never have the chance to do, to live every minute to the full. But life isn’t always about having fun. Look at Joss—his sister is on her own with four kids, his father has dementia, and his mother’s in a wheelchair, plus he’s also trying to establish himself in the surgery. It’s not that he doesn’t have time for fun, but when you have all those responsibilities, watching someone else act as if life’s one big rollercoaster must be incredibly irritating. I can understand why he wouldn’t want to spend time with me.”
“Stop it,” Tasha snapped. “Stop being so bloody self-pitying. This is Kole’s fucking fault for screwing things up.”
“No, it’s not. I told Joss I don’t want to change, but the thing is, I do, Tash. I want people to take me seriously. I want to grow up. I’ve wanted to for a while, but I felt if I acted serious and responsible I’d be letting Harry down.” No longer able to hold back the tears, she let them spill. “I don’t want to let him down. I miss him so much, and it’s so unfair.”
“I know, I know.” Tasha kissed her friend’s hand. “It was a fucking awful thing to happen, and there’s no justice in the world.”
“I’ve tried to enjoy life, and it’s been great, but I do want more.” Maisey wiped away her tears, only to have fresh ones take their place. “I didn’t think I wanted responsibility and duty, but I do. I desperately want the business to work. At first it was just a bit of fun—working with chocolate all day, what could be better?”
Tasha smiled. “It is the perfect job.”
“Yes. But it’s more than that. It’s ours, you know? I didn’t realize how important it would be to me, and how much I’d enjoy working with you and Elle and Caitlin. I want to prove we can do it; I want it to be a success. But that’s not all. I want marriage and kids and a mortgage, and do the school run and get to work and sort dinner out for my husband. I want more. And I thought I could have it with Joss.” Her lip trembled. “But I can’t.”
She gave in and started to cry.
Tasha folded her in her arms. “We’ll see,” she said softly, kissing the top of her head. “All’s not lost yet.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Joss drove away from Maisey’s house, took a corner too fast, and the car skidded. Cursing, remember what had happened to Harry, he slowed down and proceeded more cautiously, although he still gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
You should have stayed and talked to her, said a voice in his head. But he dismissed it contemptuously. What was the point in dragging out the situation further? He shouldn’t have slept with her in the first place, he shouldn’t have invited her in that day at his house, and he should certainly not have asked her to stay the night. The whole thing was a huge cock-up from start to finish, and he only had himself to blame.
He pulled up outside his parents’ house and sat there for a moment. He’d been too harsh on her. The look on her face as he laid into her would scar him forever. Poor kind, gentle, fun Maisey—it had been like shouting at a lamb. She hadn’t deserved to bear the brunt of his ire and frustration. She obviously hadn’t meant anyone to find out about him being the centerpiece for the poster, and she’d looked truly mortified when she’d realized she’d embarrassed him.
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. He was such a heel. She’d not made a single demand on him because she’d thought he needed some light loving to take his mind off his responsibilities, and he’d thrown it back in her face and called her a child. After what they’d done, the accusation was laughable, but he’d known the insult would hit home, and he’d wanted to hurt her. It was easier to throw the blame onto her for leading him on than admit he’d slept with her because he liked her, he enjoyed being with her, and she was the only thing in his day that brought him joy and made life worth living.
And he’d fucked it up.
He banged his forehead on the plastic. He’d lost her, and yet again, it was his own fault.
It was too late now though. He’d sat outside her house burning with indignation and resentment, and it had all come spewing out before he’d had a chance to vet the words. He sat back, angry with the world, with Kole, but mainly with himself for making this into such a big deal. She’s just a girl, he told himself. There would be others. She wasn’t anything special.
Ignoring the ache in his chest and the voice screaming in his head, he got out of the car and went up to the front door.
Sarah Heaven had rung him earlier that day to say she wanted to talk to him about something, but not over the phone, and could he please call in later. Hoping she didn’t have some further tale about his father, he waited for the door to open, relieved to see his father standing there.
“Joss!” Noel Heaven looked surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“We asked him to come, remember?” Sarah wheeled herself up and rolled her eyes at Joss with a smile. “Hello, sweetheart. Come in.”
She led the way through to the living room, and Noel shut the door and followed them in.
“Everything all right?” Joss hovered with his hands in his pockets and shoulders hunched.
“Relax,” his mother scolded and gestured to the sofa. “Sit down for a moment.”
Joss perched on the edge and watched his father sit in the armchair next to his mother. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve been talking,” Sarah said. “Joss, we know what a sacrifice you’ve made coming up here.
And it’s been lovely to have you back. But sweetheart, neither of us wants to be a burden on you.”
“You’re not a burden—” Joss began to say, but Sarah waved a hand.
“You’re young,” she said firmly, “and you have your whole life ahead of you. I know you have your hands full with Hayley, and it’s lovely that you’re helping her out. But eventually you’ll meet a girl and settle down, and the last thing either your father or I want to do is get in the way of you having a happy life, son.”
Joss’s throat tightened. “Mum…”
“Please, let me finish. I’ve been talking to the retirement village, and they have a house coming up in a few weeks’ time. Your father and I have decided to move there.”
He stared at her. “You’ve always said that’s the last thing either of you would want. You told me you’d rather shoot yourself than go into a home.”
“That was before your father had trouble with his memory,” she said softly. “And anyway, it’s not a home. We’ll have our own place just like here. But there will be people on call if there’s an emergency, and we’ll have support if things become more…difficult.”
“I’m your support,” he said huskily, “that’s what I’m here for. And I don’t mind helping—I want to be there for you.”
“I know, son, and I’m not saying we won’t ever call on you. We’ll still need help if we have appointments at the hospital, and I might ask you to take me shopping occasionally. But it will be a relief for us to have that extra assistance, and it will be better for you too.”
Joss looked at his father, filled with conflicting emotions: guilt, relief, anger they were putting him in this position, despair things had gotten this bad. “What do you think?”
His father focused on him, and for once he seemed lucid, aware of the moment and the situation. “I know I’ve been difficult,” Noel said. “And I don’t like to worry your mother. I just forget things, that’s all. But it makes sense to be somewhere she can have some more support, if I do forget. And I don’t like you to worry, son.”
Treat her Right: A New Zealand Sexy Beach Romance (Treats to Tempt You Book 2) Page 19