An Inconvenient Plan (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 10)

by Kylie Gilmore

  “I love you,” Phillip said earnestly.

  Dylan grumbled, “I told you.”

  She stared at Phillip, speechless. How could he love her so soon? They’d met a little over three weeks ago. Very little of that time was spent face-to-face, mostly they talked by phone or text. Was his life so insular that the small amount of time they’d had together felt intimate? She couldn’t say she felt the same way.

  Dylan glowered as Phillip went on from the heart. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way now; with time you will. Come back with me. You’re a diamond who can’t shine to your full potential here. Villroy is where you belong.”

  Both men stared at her.

  She tried to let him down easy. “I’m sorry, Phillip, the answer is no. I can’t be who you want.”

  Phillip took her hand. “Just think about it. There’s a spot on the jet for you.”

  Dylan shook his head, turned, and left, heading for a motorcycle he’d parked on the street. He roared off and they all watched him go.

  “Riffraff,” Phillip muttered under his breath before he left too.

  She went inside and sat at her desk, shaken by the past few days’ events. Things were weird in every part of her life.

  She checked in on her mom again with no response. Now she was actually starting to worry about her mom. What if something had happened to her? She’d never left for longer than a weekend drive away.

  By the time she wrapped up work for the day, all she wanted to do was return to her cozy woman cave of an apartment and watch mindless TV. When she got to her front door, a bouquet of roses was waiting. Clearly Phillip didn’t take no for an answer. She grabbed the flowers, let herself in, and tossed them in the trash.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Hailey had just settled with a big bowl of buttery popcorn in front of the TV when her doorbell rang. Rose barked and ran to the door. Hailey sighed, put the popcorn on the coffee table, and went to answer it. Josh stood there, looking worried.

  “Is everything okay?” she managed over the lump in her throat.

  “No word from my dad,” he said, stepping inside. Rose climbed his leg and he scooped her up, rubbing her behind the ear. “Any word from your mom?”

  “No, not yet.”

  He set Rose down and made himself comfortable on her sofa. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. It seemed presumptuous, but then again, Josh had never been overly polite.

  She joined him. “So you just stopped by to hang out or…”

  “Do I need a reason to be with you?”

  “I guess not. It’s just the first time you showed up like this.”

  He took a piece of popcorn. “Did you get the flowers?”

  She startled. “Those were from you?”

  “Didn’t you read the card?”

  She leapt off the sofa, rushed to the kitchen, and pulled the trash can out from under the sink.

  “You threw them out?” he barked from behind her.

  She retrieved them, still in their nice wrapper. “It’s okay. The wrap protected them.”

  “Why would you throw out an expensive bouquet?”

  “I’m sorry! I thought they were from Phillip!” She set the roses on a kitchen chair and pulled the small card from the envelope. Thinking of you! Love, Josh. It was sweet both for the exclamation point, which was probably half-teasing but showed effort, and the love. Maybe Josh did love her.

  He remained leaning in the doorway of the kitchen. “Why would you think the roses were from the prince? You turned him down, right? You told him you’re mine.”

  She shook her head at his possessive side that still felt weird. If he’d said, “you’re my girlfriend” or “you’re my love” or even “you’re my woman” she might have thought it nearly romantic. But you’re mine? Sigh.

  “Why’re you shaking your head?” He closed the distance between them, his jaw clenched tight. “Tell me right now that you told him no.”

  She met his dark eyes burning into hers. “I did tell him no, but he’s persistent. He thinks he’s in love with me.” Are you?

  He glowered down at her. Grr. No loving sentiment would ever emerge from that mouth.

  She scowled. “And stop saying ‘you’re mine.’ I’m not yours.”

  “Hailey, you drive me insane,” he ground out. “Literally insane. Yet I can’t quit you. I need to hear your voice, even when it’s irritating me, I need to see your eyes flashing at me about to rip me a new one, and I live to see you in your element taking care of business.” He took both of her hands in his. “You own me. So it’s only fair I own you too.”

  “Josh,” she gasped out, her stomach fluttering, all of her flushed hot, “it doesn’t work like that.”

  His arms wrapped around her waist. “That’s how we work.”

  Her hands went to his chest. She was so flustered she wasn’t sure if she wanted to push him away or hold him close. “But it’s not right.”

  He went nose to nose with her. “Why does a woman who’s never been in love think she knows everything about right and wrong in a relationship?”

  “So we have a relationship?”

  “I can’t even…” He nipped her lower lip.

  “I need clarity—”

  “Stop talking,” he said, smiling against her mouth before he kissed her.

  She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back passionately. He lifted her, his mouth still sealed over hers, and walked with her to her bedroom, shutting the door with his shoulder. She was wild for him, all of her angst that had built up since she’d last seen him pouring through her. She kissed him roughly, her hands running through his hair, across his shoulders, his back, everywhere she could reach. His hands were on her ass and he guided her to the wall.

  He broke the kiss and set her on her feet, turning her, unzipping her dress and sliding it over her shoulders. His hands smoothed over her skin as the dress slipped off, his warm lips trailing down her spine. She turned in his arms, yanked him up, and slammed her mouth over his. He groaned, ripped her thong off, and slid his hand between her legs.

  “So wet for me,” he growled. He took her hand and made her feel. “Touch yourself.”

  “Josh,” she protested and then trailed off as he pulled a condom from his pocket, stripped, and got it on in a flash.

  Then he lifted her, thrusting deep inside her, the two of them frantic for each other. She threw her head back, hips arching to meet each hard thrust. Tension spiraled through her, stealing her breath as he claimed her. Yes, yes, yes.

  He held her jaw, drawing her gaze to him, his eyes dilated, raw and animal. His fingers slipped between them, stroking her as he gazed into her eyes, his harsh breath hot on her lips. She trembled as the deep connection overwhelmed her, a primal beat in her ears, a message that shook her to her core—she was his.

  “Yes,” he said, a guttural sound of approval.

  She went off with a soft cry, her body clenching around him, a starburst of intense pleasure rocking her. He pressed his lips to her neck as he drove into her for his own release, bringing shockwaves of pleasure before he let go with a roar.

  The world came back into focus slowly. Josh’s strong arms held her, his weight partially leaning against her, his spicy male scent filling her senses. He lifted his head, pushed her hair back from her face and kissed her tenderly. She nearly cried at that tenderness.

  “Don’t cry,” he said against her mouth.

  “I’m not,” she choked out.

  His fingers slid down her throat, his gaze knowing. “You felt something deep.”

  She blinked rapidly. “I claim you. You’re mine. I own you.”

  His lips curled up in a sexy smirk of a smile. “It’s only fair.”

  She kissed him again and couldn’t seem to stop, needing that connection. He was moving, walking with her still wrapped around him, still buried deep inside her. He stopped abruptly, lifted her off him, and set her on the bed. She opened her arms to him.

 
He leaned down and kissed her. “Give me a minute.”

  He left, probably for the bathroom, and Rose ran in, begging to get up on the bed. Hailey set a pillow on the floor for Rose, arranged pillows for her and Josh in bed, and got under the covers. She wanted Josh all to herself without Rose stealing his attention.

  Josh strode back in, naked, looking badass and a little smug. Hmph. Did he think sex was the answer to everything? He joined her, rolling to his side to face her, wedging his leg between hers, unexpectedly applying pressure to her still tingling sex, his hand stroking down her side to her hip.

  Her voice came out a little breathy. “Josh, you can’t end every argument with sex.”

  He smiled lazily, his hand sliding down her leg. “It’s working for me.”

  She stilled his hand, which was creeping to the inside of her thigh. “I’m not sure if it’s working for me. Things feel unresolved.”

  “You’re mine. I’m yours. Easy.”

  She sighed. Maybe he was right. Maybe his phrasing wasn’t romantic, but she’d felt it on a visceral level during sex, and wasn’t sex when they both let down their defenses the most? Stripped bare to each other. Could it be that all that fighting was just a defense against the vulnerable feeling of belonging to each other? It was hard to feel vulnerable.

  He nuzzled into her neck, tugged her earlobe between his teeth, and whispered in her ear, “Admit it, woman. Say the words for me.”

  She slid her hand to the nape of his neck, playing with his soft hair. “All this time I’ve had a plan for world domination—”

  “Ha!”

  “Well, of my little corner of the world, a hugely successful wedding planning business, money in the bank, and my own happy ending. I’ve worked so hard, you have no idea how hard—”

  “I have some idea. I’ve seen you in action.”

  She dropped her hand from him and rolled to her back, throwing an arm over her eyes. “And then I had a breakdown.” She inwardly cringed at the memory. “The next day, a prince falls into my lap, and I think maybe I should try less and things might work out better.”

  Josh pulled her arm off her eyes and propped up on one elbow. “And I had a plan to make you mine, and then a goddamn prince shows up, trying to ruin everything. You see, the problem here isn’t my plan or your plan, the problem is the prince. Very inconvenient that guy showing up in the middle of our plans.”

  “The prince isn’t our problem. We’re not a normal couple.”

  He cradled her jaw, his thumb brushing her cheek. “Define normal.”

  She blew out a breath. “You know, dating, actually liking each other…forget it.”

  He slid his hand from her jaw, down her neck, to her shoulder, which he squeezed. “I like you okay.”

  “Gee, thanks. And not so much fighting. More romantic stuff, love notes, gifts of adoration, sweet words—”

  “You watch too many sappy movies and read way too many love books.”

  She glared at him. “You said you wanted to give me a courtship. That’s what it is.”

  “No, a courtship is when you spend time with the person because you like them and hold off on sex.”

  “You didn’t hold off on sex.”

  He smirked. “That’s because you couldn’t stop begging for it. I put you out of your misery.”

  She jackknifed upright. “Josh! This is exactly the problem. We don’t see eye to eye on anything.”

  “You like sex with me.”

  She blushed, which was ridiculous, sitting here naked with him. “Yes.”

  He sat up. “Me too. So we see eye to eye on that. And you like looking at me, touching me, talking to me, spending time with me.”

  “Sometimes.”

  He grinned. “Me too.”

  They laughed.

  She squeezed his arm. “I’m afraid we’re a pitiful excuse for a couple.”

  “I’m sure of it. But we’re stuck with each other.”

  She grimaced. “Stuck with each other? I don’t know. That doesn’t sound quite right. I feel a little weird about it actually.”

  He started running his hands all over her. “You do feel a little weird.”

  She pushed his hands away, laughing. “Josh!”

  He grinned and then he kissed her. It wasn’t perfect between them, but it felt right. The kiss quickly turned carnal. Next thing she knew, he had her flat on her back. And then he was kissing his way down her body, his big hands spreading her legs. She arched her hips up in offering because his mouth was heaven.

  “So weird,” he said before his mouth closed over her sex.

  “Shut up.” White-hot pleasure surged through her. “Don’t stop.”

  He didn’t stop. Sensations flooded her, the tension building again as he used his lips and tongue in the most wicked way, his fingers thrusting inside, hitting just the right spot. Oh my God, she was going to die. Just when she was about to have the mother of all orgasms, he stopped.

  “Josh!” She grabbed him by the hair, trying to bring him back. “Please!”

  “Say it.” He gave her a tap that made her hips jerk. “You’re mine.”

  She met his eyes, expecting a smirk or gloating, but what she saw was a deep tenderness, love shining in those dark eyes. For her. A rush of affection stole through her and she gave back to him with all the love in her heart. “I’m yours.”

  He smiled, his warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “Very good.”

  He lowered his head again, giving her exactly what she needed, and she flew.

  ~ ~ ~

  That night Hailey sat on the sofa with Josh, watching more of those fun home shows that they both thoroughly enjoyed, when she received an unexpected phone call. Phillip. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Her apartment was too small for privacy, and Josh would not be happy with this.

  “Hi, this isn’t a good time,” she said as soon as she answered.

  “Hailey, the jet’s waiting. I’ve been called home early. It’s now or never. I won’t be returning with another proposal.”

  She lowered her voice, though Josh was so close he could probably hear both sides of the conversation. “I’m sorry, but I gave you my answer. I should’ve been more up front, but my current…thing was so confusing. I have a boyfr—” She stopped herself because Josh was man through and through, and boyfriend sounded almost juvenile when applied to him. “A, um, someone, a man who—”

  Josh grabbed her phone and barked, “I’m her lover, it’s fucking serious, and, if you don’t stop harassing her, I will hunt you down, rip your still-beating heart out of your chest, and eat it for a goddamn snack.” He listened for a moment, nodded once in satisfaction, and disconnected. “He won’t be bothering you again.”

  She gingerly took her phone back and set it on the coffee table. Warrior Josh was magnificent in all his fierce glory. “I don’t imagine he will.”

  Josh grunted and hauled her into his lap, her back to his front, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. “You should’ve explained we were serious.” He nipped her neck. “He was surprised.”

  She tilted her head, giving him better access as he kissed and nipped his way down her neck. “I didn’t know where we stood. No label seemed to apply. You have to admit we’re not a typical couple.”

  He lifted his head. “So you finally admit we’re a couple.”

  “It does feel that way now. Before, I was so confused.”

  His hands roamed over the tops of her legs. “What is this pink thing you’re wearing? A pants suit?”

  She stifled a laugh. “They’re pajamas.” It was a button-down short-sleeve shirt with elastic-waist pants.

  “They’re silk.”

  “Yeah, they were a splurge.”

  He spread her legs wide, sliding his hands up her inner thighs, bunching the silk material. “I like the dresses better. Easier access.”

  “I’d like to think I’m more than just a fuck to you.”

  He gripped her by the hair, tu
rning her head to kiss her. “Love when you talk dirty.” He lifted her, turning her to straddle him, his hands sliding under the waistband to cup her ass.

  Her phone rang again.

  He sucked on the side of her neck. “Don’t answer it.”

  “What if it’s my mom?”

  He groaned and set her on the sofa next to him. She grabbed her phone. The screen showed her mom’s number. “Mom! Where are you? Are you okay?”

  “It’s Joe. I’m with your mom. She’s okay. She’s just out of surgery.”

  “Surgery! Oh my God. What happened?”

  Josh’s brows drew together in concern. She mouthed it’s your dad.

  Joe went on. “She broke her leg and they had to go in to fix it so it’d set right. We’ll be on our way home tomorrow. We’re in Maine.” That was where her mom grew up. Her mom’s parents had died years ago in a car accident off a narrow winding road in Maine, both of them gone at once. She hadn’t even considered her mom would return there with the reminder of her parents. It suddenly occurred to her she didn’t understand her mom at all, but Joe did.

  Hailey’s eyes filled. What if Joe hadn’t found her mom? How long was her mom all alone, suffering with a broken leg? “I’m so glad you were with her. I’m so sorry all of this happened. I was afraid to say anything about her going off on her own. I didn’t want everyone to hate her. And me.” She slapped a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob.

  “Sweetheart, it’s okay. We worked things out.”

  “You did?” she managed, her throat painfully tight. She wiped the tears away.

  “She had some wild notion that when she got older, her looks would fade and my love would fade too. Real love isn’t like that. I’m here to stay. I’ve waited a long time for her, and I’m not letting her go that easily.”

  “She’s always missed her modeling days. That was the golden time in her life, and I guess she feared losing what she had then.”

  “Ah, Hailey, she’s so much more than a beautiful woman. She’s caring in all the little ways that count, and she has such a strong spirit, always with a zest for life despite all she’s been through losing her parents, your dad, and doing the single-mom thing. She’s been on her own for the most part since she was sixteen. I have a lot of respect for her.” Her mom had started her modeling career at sixteen, travelling the world, shortly after her parents died. She hadn’t known her mom was mourning Hailey’s dad. She’d said very little about him.