by Lori Foster
Susan looked away, embarrassed, but Josie only continued in her praise. Susan deserved it—and much more. “You’ve been the very best of sisters. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me, for being there when I didn’t have anyone else, for being my best friend and my mother as well as my big sister.” Josie swallowed back her tears, and ignored the wrenching heartache.
She squeezed Susan’s hands, her gaze unwavering. “You don’t have to do it anymore. I can take care of myself now. If you’re attracted to a man, to…” She swallowed, then forced the words out. “If you’re attracted to Bob, let him know. You deserve to give it your best shot.”
Before Susan could respond, the bell over the door jingled and a man walked in carrying a fancy wrapped package. “For Miss Susan Jackson?”
Susan stepped forward, eyes wide, one had splayed over her chest. “For me? Oh my goodness, who’s it from?”
Josie tipped the delivery man and then peered over Susan’s shoulder while she fumbled with her package.
“It’s chocolates!” Susan peered at the box, holding it at arm’s length. “I can’t imagine who it’s from.”
Josie had a sick feeling she knew exactly who had sent the extravagant gift. Her knees felt watery and she perched on a stool. “Read the card.”
Looking like a toddler on Christmas Day, Susan tore the small envelope open with trembling fingers. She read the card silently, her lips moving. When she turned to Josie, she bit her lip in indecision.
“Well?” Josie urged.
“It says…” Susan cleared her throat, and her cheeks turned pink. “It says, ‘With all my regard, Bob.’”
How…prosaic. Josie would have thought Bob could do better than that.
Susan halted, her smile frozen. “It doesn’t mean anything, Josie.”
Very gently Josie said, “Of course it does.”
“No. He knew I was worried about you last night and this is his way of showing me he understands.”
“I think it’s his way of showing you he’s as interested as you are.”
“No! Don’t be silly. He’s simply a very considerate, kind man. He’s always thinking of others, even that disreputable partner of his, Nick something-or-other. Now there’s a man who can’t be trusted! I could tell just by looking at him, he’s entirely too used to getting his own way. But Bob is different. He’s scrupulous and…”
While Susan droned on and on, trying to convince Josie while simultaneously pulling open the silver ribbon on the box, Josie did her best to keep her smile in place. Her stomach cramped and her temples pounded. She’d made such a colossal fool of herself, and possibly damaged something very precious to her sister. The problem now was how to fix things.
Susan went in the back room to put the chocolates in the refrigerator and Josie did the only thing she could think of to do. She grabbed up one of the little blank cards in the rotating stand by the cash register and filled it out. It would be easier to write the words than to face Bob and say them out loud. In fact, if she had her way, it’d be a long, long time before she had to lay eyes on him again.
She added Bob’s name to the outside and attached the card to a basket of dieffenbachia and English ivy, spiked with colorful tigridias. The plants were supposed to help filter the air of chemicals, and right now, she thought the air needed a little cleaning. She stuck a large bow wrapped with a wire into the middle of the thing along with the yellow address copy from an order form. She shoved it up next to the other plants due to be sent out in the next half hour.
After dusting off her hands in a show of finality, she re-seated herself. She didn’t really feel any better for having made the break clean, but at least it was over. If her conscience wasn’t clear, at least it was somewhat relieved.
The hard part would be trying to forget what it had been like, being with him, feeling his heat and breathing his scent and… No. She wouldn’t think about it. Not at all.
When Susan came out humming, looking for all the world like a young girl again, Josie lost her composure.
Self-recrimination was all well and good, and probably deserved. But what she’d done, she’d done unknowingly. Bob should have said something. So she’d more or less thrown herself at him? With his looks and body and charm, it probably happened to him all the time. He could have resisted her, could have been gentleman enough to tell her the truth, to explain that her own sister was interested in him. Susan certainly deserved better treatment than that. And not for a moment did she imagine Bob to be oblivious to Susan’s interest. The man wasn’t naive, and he had to have firsthand knowledge of female adoration.
As to that, why was he even accepting blind dates? He surely had his pick of women.
She thought about everything now and saw things in a different light. He’d said, several times, that they needed to talk. But she’d kept putting him off. Had he intended to tell her that what they’d shared had been no more than a wild fling for him? Just as she’d cut loose for once, maybe he had, too. Could she really fault him for that, when she knew firsthand how difficult it was always to be circumspect and conservative? Perhaps he’d even planned to explain the truth to her tomorrow. She hoped so, for Susan’s sake. With all she knew now, she realized how ideally suited Bob and Susan were for each other.
When the delivery truck pulled up to collect all the flowers, Josie decided it was time to go home. Susan never noticed the extra basket. She merely signed the inventory form, moving in a fog as she made repeated trips to the back room for more chocolate in between singing Bob’s praises. Josie gave the deliveryman an extra ten to make certain Bob’s basket got delivered right away. She hoped he was still at the office, as Susan assumed, because she wanted him to get the thing today.
Susan stood staring out the front window, a small smile on her face. Josie couldn’t help but smile, too. As heartsick and disillusioned as she felt, she was glad for her sister. Susan deserved a little happiness, regardless of the cost. “Hey, sis? Anyone home in there?”
Susan turned to her, one brow raised. “I’m sorry. I was thinking.”
“Gee, I wonder about what.”
Seeing Susan blush was a novelty. Normally Josie would have teased her endlessly. Today she just didn’t have it in her. “Will you call him and thank him for the candy?”
Susan’s blush vanished and her brows drew together in that stern look she had. “Of course not. Why don’t you just thank him for me when you reset your date?”
“Susan…”
“Now, Josie, you promised you’d give him another chance. Don’t back out on me now.”
Josie rolled her eyes, trying to cover her discomfort. Susan could be so stubborn once she’d got her mind set. “Just once, why don’t you do what you want instead of thinking about me?”
Susan looked nonplussed. “Why, because you’re my sister, of course. And he’d make you the perfect husband, Josie. I just know it.”
Josie quelled the churning in her belly and smiled. “You can’t dictate love, Susan. It happens when you least expect it.” If her words sounded a little uncertain, a little sad, Susan didn’t notice.
“But you haven’t even given him a chance!”
Josie closed her eyes, not wanting Susan to see the guilt there. She hated lying to her sister.
Susan huffed. “For the life of me I don’t understand your attitude, Josie. He’s a terrific man.”
“I know. Perfect.”
“Well, he is!” Susan crossed her arms over her chest and glared. Josie knew what that meant. “At least go out with him once. Just once. If you’re truly not interested, then I’ll accept it.”
Though she knew it was a mistake, Josie saw no way around it. “And you’ll admit that you’re the one who’s attracted?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Susan.” There was pure warning in Josie’s tone.
Throwing up her arms, Susan conceded. “Oh, all right. If nothing comes of your date, I’ll…consider him for myself.
But trust me, Josie, you’ll adore him. It’s just that you don’t know what you’re missing.”
But Josie did know. She only wished she didn’t.
“I’M GLAD YOU DECIDED to come in for a few hours.”
“A few minutes, not hours.” Nick went past Bob, who was lingering in the lobby of the building that housed their offices. Each of them had his own space, connected by a doorway that almost always remained open. They shared access to the numerous pieces of computer and graphic equipment they used. “Do I look like I’m dressed for the office?” he added.
Bob eyed his tan khaki slacks and polo shirt. “Not particularly, but with you I’m never sure.”
Nick thought about being offended, since he always wore a suit to the office, but he didn’t bother. At present, he had other things on his mind. “I’m only going to pick up the Ferguson file. I thought I’d look it over tonight and see if I come up with any ideas.”
Bob trailed behind him, a fresh cup of coffee in his hand. “We don’t have to make a presentation on that job for some time yet.”
“I know, but I have the night free.” Nick caught Bob’s censuring look and shook his head. “Lighten up, Bob. It’s Saturday. The work will still be here come Monday.”
“Actually I was amazed you have Saturday night free. That’s a rare occurrence, isn’t it?”
Nick shrugged. He had no intention of explaining to Bob what he wasn’t sure he understood himself. Josie hadn’t in any way asked him to restrict his dating habits, but he’d done so anyway. And in the back of his mind lurked the worry that she might not be so considerate. He wasn’t used to worrying about a woman, and he didn’t like it. What pressing business did she have between now and Sunday?
Not that knowing would alter his decision. He didn’t want to see anyone except Josie, and besides, after the day’s activities, he was too tired to go out, but too restless to sleep. And sitting in his house had about driven him crazy. He kept remembering everything about her—her hot scent, the incredible feel of her skin, the way she moaned so sweetly when he—
He jerked open another drawer and shuffled files around. He was damn tired of torturing himself with those memories. He needed a distraction in the worst way and the Ferguson account would have to be it.
With his head buried in a filing drawer, he heard a knock and then Bob opened the outer door to speak to someone. Nick twisted to try to see who had entered, but only managed to get a peek of a large basket of flowers and greenery. He blinked, lifted his head and smacked it hard on the open drawer above him. “Damn it!”
“You okay?”
“I’ll live.” Rubbing the top of his head, he sauntered over to where Bob stood opening a small envelope. “What’s this?”
Bob grinned, still holding the card. “I sent Susan some chocolates. I guess she decided to send me flowers.”
“Flowers, huh?” He looked at the basket with interest. No woman had ever sent him flowers. He fingered a bright green leaf, intrigued and a tad jealous. “Hey, the plants are alive. What do you know?”
“Umm…” Bob hastily stuck the card back in the envelope. “I think these were meant for you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. The card says, ‘Bob,’ but Josie sent them. I take it you didn’t come clean with her yet?”
Half pleased over the gesture of the plant, and half embarrassed to still be caught in his lie, Nick rolled back on his heels and looked at the ceiling. “I tried. But she didn’t want to do any serious talking. The timing wasn’t right. We decided we’d clear the air tomorrow afternoon. We’re doing lunch and a movie.”
“But that’s when we play poker. You’ve never missed a Sunday!”
Nick was well acquainted with his own routine; he didn’t need Bob to run it into the ground. “I’ll miss it tomorrow.”
“But…this is unprecedented! You never change your plans for a woman!”
Nick ground his teeth, frustrated with the truth of that. And it wasn’t even Josie who had asked him to change his plans; he’d done so on his own. But he didn’t regret it. And that was the strangest thing of all.
Bob was staring at him, assessing, and Nick forced a shrug, not about to reveal his discomfort. “So tomorrow will be a first.”
It took him a second, and then Bob managed to collect himself. He looked away, and mumbled, “Maybe not. Here, you should probably read this.”
Nick watched Bob hustle out of the room after thrusting the card at him. He discreetly closed the door behind him. Nick looked at the plant again. A live plant with flowers somehow stuck in it. It was pretty and he felt absurdly touched by the gesture.
He opened the envelope and began to read.
Dear Bob,
Yesterday I wasn’t myself. If you ever met the real me, you’d understand what I’m telling you. It wouldn’t be right for me to see you ever again. If you truly want a continuing relationship, I suggest you call on Susan.
All my best,
Josie
He read it twice, not quite believing the little fool would actually do such a thing, then he cursed. Storming out of the room, he went after Bob. He found him behind his desk, pretending to look over an ad campaign. “You sent Susan candy today, right?”
“Well…”
“And you had them delivered to her at her shop, am I right?”
“Well…”
“And you put your own damn name on it, instead of leaving it as a secret admirer like I suggested. Right?”
“Well…”
“Damn it, Bob, do you know what you’ve done? Do you know what that plant is? I’ll tell you what it is. It’s a damn kiss off plant. I’m getting dumped because Josie thinks I’m you and she apparently thinks I want Susan!”
Bob shot to his feet. “Well, whose brilliant idea was that? Not mine. I told you to tell her the truth.”
“And you promised me you’d give me a little time. If you’d gone with our original plan and played the secret admirer, none of this would have happened.”
“I’m no good at that stuff and you know it. I’d have been blushing every time I looked at her. It wouldn’t have taken Susan five minutes tops to figure out the candy was from me. Then I’d have looked plain stupid.”
“You would have looked like a romantic.”
“Which I’m not. And I’d have ended up in the very position you’re in right now.”
He had a point. Nick supposed every speck of fault could be laid at his own big feet, but that didn’t help him to figure out what to do next. A sense of panic began to swell around him. He had to do something. “I should go see her.”
“Who, Susan?”
Frustration mounted. “No, not Susan.” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it on end. “That woman hates me, remember? I meant Josie.”
“Do you know where she lives?”
“I know which condo complex she’s in, but not which condo.” He looked at Bob hopefully. “You could get her exact address for me.”
“Forget it. Susan already thinks I should be interested in Josie, not her. The woman doesn’t understand her own appeal. It took me forever this afternoon to get her to soften up a little, but she’s still determined to get me and Josie together, no matter how I try to divert her. If I start asking for Josie’s address now, she’ll decide her intuition was right, and Susan will never give me the time of day. It’d be like taking three giant steps backward.”
God, what a mess. Nick thumped his fist against the desk. “Think about it, Bob. Susan wants you to pursue Josie, but you want Susan. I want Josie, but she thinks I’m you and courting her sister.” He groaned, his stomach knotting as he thought of how Josie must feel, how hurt she must be right now. Would she think he’d merely used her last night? Hell, she probably hated him, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d been a total ass.
“So how are we going to fix things?”
Nick closed his eyes wearily. “You can’t ask Susan for Josie’s address because she’ll think you’re hung up on
Josie. I can’t very well ask her for it, because odds are she wouldn’t give it to me. I suppose I’ll just have to go over there and start knocking on doors.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Nick glared at him. “No, I’m dead serious. Unless you have a better idea?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I remember Susan mentioning a woman who heads up the decision committee for the condo. She has a nephew who does the yard work, and she monitors all the problems in the complex. She wanted some advice on inexpensive advertising for a small business she’s recently started. She could probably tell you which condo is Josie’s.”
Nick rubbed his hands together, finally feeling a little of the bizarre panic recede. Things would work out. They had to. No woman had ever thrown him off balance this way, and he wasn’t used to it. He didn’t know how to react, that’s all. He needed just a little more time.
He wanted to make love to her, to touch her. Her effect on him was unique, but considering how explosive they were together, it was understandable. At least to him. Hell, he got hot just thinking about her—yet she’d done the unprecedented and dumped him. “Give me her number.”
“I can do better than that.” Bob rummaged in his drawer and then withdrew a pink business card. He handed it to Nick. “That’s her address in the complex. From what I understood, she knows Josie pretty well. She can tell you which condo Josie lives in.”
Nick snapped the card twice with a finger, then slipped it into his pocket. He felt filled with relief, and iron determination. “If you wouldn’t think ill of me, I’d kiss you.”
Bob pretended horror and ducked away. But Nick still managed to clap him on the shoulder, nearly knocking him into his desk.