She took Rose, cooing over her as she switched out the collar.
His dad gave him a smile and knowing look across the table.
Yeah, that’s right, I kissed up to her dog. Sue me.
Hailey held up Rose proudly, wearing her new collar.
“Beautiful!” Brandy exclaimed.
“Very nice,” his dad said.
Hailey turned to him and flashed a smile that grabbed him by the balls. She was pure incandescent happiness shining in his direction for the first time ever. It took his breath away. Why hadn’t he thought of kissing up to her dog sooner?
She settled Rose back into her dog purse on the bench seat between them. Rose scrambled out to climb on his lap and promptly fell asleep. If only Hailey were that easy to get into his lap. Ha! Not for sex, that door was closed. More of a trust thing. He wanted to earn back her trust most of all.
Dinner was…interesting. Brandy kept up a steady stream of conversation, his dad chimed in on a regular basis, and Hailey was quiet, sneaking glances over at Rose curled up on his lap, and glancing up at him like she still couldn’t believe it. He’d put his napkin over Rose so he wouldn’t spill on her, and it looked like a little blanket.
As soon as the check arrived, his dad snatched it up. “My treat as congratulations for Garner’s. You going to keep the name?”
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll keep the name for now since everyone knows it.”
“Thanks for dinner, Joe,” Hailey said.
“Of course,” his dad said with a smile.
“Yes, thanks,” Brandy said.
His dad smoothed a lock of Brandy’s hair behind her ear. “What’s mine is yours, sweetheart.”
Brandy smiled at his dad, her eyes watering. They kissed.
He looked away and caught Hailey’s eye, who looked revolted. It was weird to watch your parent all mushy and romantic with someone in front of you. He crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. She giggled.
His dad set the check down. “Actually, we’re going to stay and get some coffee too.” He turned to him. “Josh, could you do me a favor and take a bookcase over to Hailey’s place?”
Josh shot him a look. First his dad told him to keep his distance, and then he sends him to be alone with Hailey at her place? What the hell? “Right now?”
His dad stared back and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument. “It’s a nice gesture to help out your new stepsister. The bookcase is in my truck parked out back.”
Josh seethed, not liking the heavy-handedness of his dad’s plan to end the war. Josh was doing just fine with his own better plan to make amends and move things forward with Hailey, until his dad had to squash it.
Brandy wiggled her fingers at Hailey. “You remember that bookcase you always liked of mine? The distressed wood, pale blue—”
“I love that bookcase!” Hailey exclaimed. “You’re giving it to me?”
Brandy smiled and nodded. “The antique look doesn’t go with Joe’s place. I know you’ve always admired it.” She turned to him. “Josh, would you be a dear and move it to Hailey’s apartment? I’d so appreciate it.”
Family was overrated.
Chapter Eight
Josh stifled a sigh as Hailey turned to him expectantly. There were so many holes in this stupid move-the-bookcase setup he couldn’t believe Hailey didn’t see it. First of all, his dad was just as big as Josh and kept fit. He could easily move the bookcase himself. How did he get it into the truck in the first place, huh? Second, the bookcase just happened to be in the truck parked in back of Garner’s? Obviously Brandy and his dad parked here ahead of time with their plan in mind and then walked to get Hailey. They easily could’ve driven a few more blocks and delivered the bookcase to Hailey’s place.
“It’s too heavy for us to move,” Brandy said in a chirpy voice. “Your dad hurt his back just getting it into the truck.”
His dad shot him a look that said, End the war, son. Here’s how you do it.
Fucking A. He didn’t need help ending the war. He could do things his way.
“I’d really appreciate it,” Hailey said to him. “If you’re not too busy.”
“Sure.” Like he could deny her anything. Okay, at one point he’d denied her drinks at the bar, but she’d tanked his sex life with that impotence rumor, so they were even. Sort of. She might be a little up on him with that devious move.
Hailey wiggled a bit in her excitement. “It’s so gorgeous! The front was made from an antique picture frame carved with these curlicue swirls all along the top and sides. Truly unique.”
He held out his palm to his dad, who dropped the pickup truck’s keys in his hand. “Be back soon.”
“No hurry,” Brandy said. “We’re going to just enjoy our coffee.”
“Leave Rose with us,” his dad said. “We’ll take her for a walk around the block after coffee.”
“Are you sure?” Hailey asked, oblivious to their parents’ maneuvering.
“Absolutely,” his dad declared.
Josh got out of the booth and waited for Hailey to hand over Rose to his dad and scoot out. She was so classy that she managed to get out of the booth while keeping her dress anchored down, not giving him even a glimpse of what was underneath. Probably a thong. Not that he was looking or thinking about her thong. Much.
He led the way around the bar to the back exit, Hailey’s heels clicking along next to him, her floral scent washing over him.
“I can’t get over how Rose curled up in your lap,” Hailey said.
“Warm spot, I guess.”
“She only sleeps on someone she trusts.”
He met her eyes. “So I finally earned her trust. How about yours?” He kept his voice light, knowing she wasn’t there yet, but wanting her to know he hoped for that.
She pursed her lips. “I’m not a dog.”
He chuckled to himself. Nope, she was no dog. He headed through the parking lot and stopped at the truck, opening the passenger-side door for her.
She looked up at him, fire in her pale blue eyes. “Let me guess, you’re doing that devious little laugh because you’re thinking I’m a bitch, like Rose is a female dog.”
“So suspicious.”
She cocked her head. “Were you baking today? You smell like cookies.”
Heat crept up his neck. “Nope. Get in.”
She went up on tiptoe to sniff him, and he remained very still, really hoping she didn’t notice any lingering butter scent on him. “Actually, you smell like Rose. I thought I smelled cookies.”
He bit back a smile. She eyed him for a moment and finally climbed in the truck. He shut the door behind her and headed over to the other side. The bookcase was tied down with crisscrossing bungee cords in the truck’s flatbed. Five shelves, a little over three feet wide. His dad easily could’ve handled it.
He climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled out of the lot. “So how’s your prince?”
“He’s not my prince.”
“What did you guys do after coffee?” Mad had told him nothing big had happened. Just coffee. He had to check with Hailey, though, because Mad could’ve been holding out on him through some twisted girl code that prevented her from revealing Hailey’s private info. It had happened before. Mad knew about the impotence rumor Hailey started long before Josh got wind of it and had claimed girl code prevented her from sharing with him. Mad was an unreliable informant, but she was all he had.
“Nothing. Just coffee.”
He couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or if it didn’t bother her. Her tone was subdued. “You into him?”
She laughed.
“Are you?” he pressed.
“He’s not interested in me like that. He’s a client.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
She smoothed nonexistent wrinkles out of her dress. “Why do you care?”
“Looking out for you, princess.”
“Don’t,” she snapped.
Dammit, he was screwing up this g
olden opportunity to make amends. It was the first time he’d been alone with her since that disastrous night at his place.
“Sorry about calling you princess,” he said. “I meant Hailey. Our parents want us to make amends, and I want that too.”
She sniffed. “Old habits die hard, I guess.” She turned to him. “Wait, did our parents say something?”
“My dad told me to end the war between us for the sake of our families. So what would it take?” He left out the part where he was warned not to cross the line with her. What was the point? He’d do the right thing, and it was unlikely she’d attempt to seduce him again after his rejection. Besides, she had the playboy prince turning her head. Her fantasy man.
She took a deep breath, looking thoughtful. “It would help a lot if you were nice to me.”
“Nice,” he bit out. “And what am I now?”
“Confrontational.”
Pot calling kettle, please pick up the phone. “Maybe it would help if you were nice to me.”
“I’m always nice!”
He shut his mouth before they started fighting again. But guess what? She wasn’t always nice and he liked that about her. He liked her fighting spirit, liked that she had sharp teeth and claws. She matched him like no woman ever had before. Hell.
A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of the old colonial where she lived. He’d never been invited in before. He’d always met her at Ludbury House for their wedding-escort dates.
“You can back into the driveway,” she said. “The owner is away on business. I have the basement apartment, and the entrance is in back.”
Hailey lived in a crap basement apartment? He never would’ve expected it, given how great her wedding planning business was going. A horrifying thought struck him. It must’ve cost her dearly to pay him to be her wedding escort. He barely resisted slapping his forehead at his complete miscalculation. Shit, shit, shit.
“You got it,” he said, forcing his tone to sound normal. He backed the truck into the driveway and turned it off. She hopped out of the truck before he could open her door for her.
He went to the bookcase, untied everything, and slid the thick quilted movers’ blanket under the bookcase to the end of the flatbed. He set the bookcase on the driveway. It wasn’t light, but it wasn’t all that heavy either. “Lead the way.”
She went around the back of the house and down some concrete steps. He waited for her to unlock the door and then followed her down, setting the bookcase inside the living room of her apartment. Then he just gaped at girly nirvana. The sofa was floral, the lamps on the end tables had shades with white fringes, the bookcase was filled with romance novels, and the coffee table held a fanned-out display of bridal magazines. This was a woman who lived and breathed romance. So why was she so prickly with him? She should be softer, more open to his new attempts at reconciliation. Just because he’d turned her down once when she’d dropped her dress to the floor…nope. Do not go there.
He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding looking at her sexy body, trying to get the image of her in only a bra and thong out of his head. Again. He glanced around. The living room was open to a small dining area and a kitchen separated by a half wall. A short hallway led to what he assumed was her bedroom and a bathroom.
He met her eyes, back under control. Mostly. “So, uh, where do you want it?” Now why did that sound dirty?
“My bedroom. I’ll show you.”
Now that really did sound dirty, though she said it real casual-like. He followed her into her bedroom—an explosion of pink, lace, and flowers. Had any man ever breached this girly territory? The bed had a brass headboard, a rose-patterned comforter, and white lacy covers on two large pillows with a bunch of satin pillows in various shades of pink piled in front of them. The dresser and nightstand were white with rose decals she’d probably put on herself. A border of roses along the top of the walls added to the flowery effect.
“Are the roses in honor of Rose?” he asked.
She glanced around. “No, they were here first. She was already named Rose when I got her. Guess it was fate.”
He moved the bookcase to the wall by the bed’s headboard. She had a nightstand on the other side. It was the only place the bookcase could possibly go.
“Perfect!” she exclaimed. “Or should we move it next to the dresser?”
“It won’t fit there.”
“Sideways?”
“Half of it will be inaccessible.”
She planted her hands on her hips as she studied the space. “I guess you’re right.” She turned to him with a smile. “Now I have to move to a bigger place that goes with my bookcase.”
He smiled back. “Looks that way.”
She left the bedroom, and he followed, his gaze involuntarily dropping to her curvy ass. She stopped at the entrance to her kitchen and turned to him. He jerked his gaze up to her eyes.
“Snickerdoodle?” she asked.
The simple act of hospitality warmed him. She was letting him in, sort of. “No, thanks. I don’t like sweets.” He did like her fudgy brownies, they were incredible, and he still hadn’t figured out the secret ingredient. She wouldn’t share the recipe because he was the enemy. In any case, she hadn’t offered brownies.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “How can you not like sweets?”
He stepped closer. “I just don’t.”
She threw her hands up. “But that’s the only thing I can cook!”
He closed the distance between them, still keeping a gentlemanly space so he could resist hauling her into his arms. Off-limits. “I can cook. My boss made me take a bunch of cooking classes for Garner’s.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “Mad says you took those classes because you’re a foodie.”
“What else did Mad say about me?”
She pursed her lips. “Only good things. She’s president of the Josh fan club.”
He grinned. At least Mad had come through for him.
She eased back a step into her kitchen and flicked on the light. “This must be why you’re so cranky all the time.” She turned and helped herself to a glass of water. Guess her hospitality vanished, since she didn’t offer him any water.
“I’m not cranky. What, you think the kind of food you eat affects your personality?”
She set her glass down on the counter with a thunk. “Yes.”
He crossed his arms. “You’re not very sweet.”
She slammed her hands on her hips. “I am so.”
He slowly shook his head, smiling.
She dropped her hands and smiled a little back. “Well, I don’t eat many sweets either. Usually I give them away.”
“Hypocrite.”
She gestured for him to move back since he was blocking her exit from the kitchen. He shifted, and she rushed past him like he was about to pounce on her. Did she sense the raging lust coursing through his veins? Maybe. But she had no idea how strong-willed he was. He could control himself—keep his distance for everyone’s sake. But what about you? a voice whispered in his head. What about what you want?
“I guess we should go,” she chirped, standing much too far away from him.
They stared at each other. Seconds ticked by in charged silence. Every nerve ending crackled to life; his pulse thrummed, all of him tuned into her, hungry for her.
She let out a shaky breath, smoothed her hair and looked away.
“Lead the way,” he said.
She went to the door and held it open for him. He strode over and then stopped in front of her, gazing into her eyes with all the lust he’d bottled up for way too long. In that moment all he cared about was her, connecting with her in every way possible.
The door slammed shut—her doing. And that was a go. His gaze never left her eyes as he rested one palm above her head and leaned close, almost but not quite touching, their bodies so close he felt her heat.
Her voice was breathy. “Josh?”
“Yeah.”
“If we cros
s this line, it could backfire really badly. We fight so much. And our parents are getting married in three and a half weeks.”
He pushed his guilt away, too far gone to dwell on it. “Maybe if we stop battling our lust, we’ll stop fighting, and it will all work out.”
She swallowed. His gaze caught on the pulse point beating rapidly in her throat.
He ran his fingers down her throat. “You star in my erotic dreams.”
She licked her lips and stared at his mouth. “Are you going Fierce Longing on me?” There was a note of hopefulness in her voice. That was part of the erotic romance series her book club was into. He’d seen the movies since his sister-in-law had produced and starred in them. They were hot. And the guy, man, he did not hold back in staking his claim on his woman.
He spoke close enough he could feel her breath against his lips. “Do you want me to go Fierce Longing on you?”
Her breath hitched. “Of course not. I’m—”
He shut her up, his mouth claiming hers, his fingers spearing into her hair, holding her in place, taking what he’d wanted for so long. Everything in him ratcheted up, hot and urgent. He deepened the kiss, and she opened immediately, soft and yielding. Fuck yes. The kiss turned wild, urgent, and he fought for control. She made a mewling sound in the back of her throat, her nails digging into his shoulders. He bunched the fabric of her dress with both hands, ready to rip it off her. Slow down.
He broke the kiss, trying to catch his breath. “You enjoying my fierce kiss?”
“Stop gloating.” She closed her eyes and waited for more.
He gave it to her. Her hands were on his ass now, pulling him closer, her hips lifting to meet him. His cock surged, his need out of control, his hand sliding up the inside of her thigh, reaching a damp scrap of panties. Jesus. He tore his mouth away, breathing hard.
“What?” she asked.
He dropped his hands from her and shifted away. “I don’t want to rush with you.”
“But I’m into it.”
Reality crept in. Their parents were waiting back at Garner’s for them, expecting him to end the war in a civil friendly way, not return looking like he’d just gotten laid. He wanted to do a lot more than kiss her, and he suspected she did too. Any way he figured it, the timing sucked. Not only that, he’d left his post at work. He was supposed to be on break.
An Inconvenient Plan (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 10) Page 8