In fact, Josh had taken one look at her and smiled before kissing her brains out. Dressed in the black leather jacket, the black shirt, and the black jeans, he declared that finally he was the bad boy she had accused him of.
Oh god, her heart would not calm down. It had kicked up and was now thundering a deafening beat as he went ahead and added to the wink. He smiled in that devastating way that had first put him on her radar so many months ago.
Shelly turned quickly to Lena with a panicked expression. “I don’t know what to do next.”
Lena smiled and tried to reach across to Shelly but the peach impeded her. It would have been ridiculous if Shelly hadn’t been sitting there realizing that the next few hours would probably either secure her future happiness or commit her to a lifetime of heartbreak and misery.
No pressure though.
“How about you tell him?” Lena suggested.
Shelly gave her friend a deadpan look and told her, “Wow, thanks for pointing out the obvious there, peaches.”
“Hey! You asked,” Lena defended, pouting and sitting back the best she could.
She really did look beyond absurd.
“It was more of a rhetorical kind of thing. I know what I need to do.” Shelly paused, and then looked back to the man she now knew with certainty she wanted for the rest of her life. “Now, I just have to convince him I mean it.”
***
Josh knew something was up. His spine had been tingling all night. He wasn’t exactly sure what had happened, but Shelly had changed somehow.
“Earth to Josh. Hey!” Mason said, waving a hand in front of him.
Josh turned his eyes to his friend and raised an eyebrow.
“Did the guys tell you they are ahead of schedule?” Mason asked him.
Josh nodded, taking a swig of his beer. “Who the hell are you supposed to be again, man?”
Mason spread his arms out and did a mock bow as he stood there dressed in a white pirate shirt coupled with a black vest and cream pantaloons.
“I’m Casanova. Lover of all women.”
Josh shook his head, chuckling. “And douche bag extraordinaire? What on earth were you and Lena thinking? She looks so uncomfortable anytime she tries to sit.”
Mason chuckled. “I suggested it, and she liked the idea. Well, until I brought the costume home, but by then, it was too late.”
Josh shook his head. “Shocker, man, total shocker.”
“Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking about. I happen to think she looks cute as a peach.”
Josh looked over to where Lena was squished up, seated with Shelly.
“Okay, she does look cute.”
Mason hummed his agreement, and then told him, “And your Man-Eater looks downright tame tonight, dressed as innocent little Sandra Dee.”
Josh then let his eyes wander to the perfect blonde ponytail and the red and white get-up. He had to admit that he wished he was staying tonight, just so he could get under that skirt.
“Yeah, well, maybe she isn’t quite the man-eater I first thought.”
“Oh yeah?” Mason queried.
“Yeah,” Josh agreed, lifting his beer for another swig. “In fact, she’s pretty fantastic—in every way.”
Mason gave him a shit-eating grin. “In a forever kind of way?”
Josh looked over to Shelly, who was now watching him. He winked at her and then smiled, watching her pale a little before gathering her composure. When she turned back to Lena, he himself turned back to Mason.
“Oh yeah, man. In a forever kind of way.”
***
Shelly took a deep breath and nodded. “Yep. I’m going to tell him tonight. Maybe he’ll stay.”
Lena nodded, and then grinned up at Rachel as she appeared beside their table from the crowd. She was dressed as a ninja tonight, wearing black skintight leggings that rode low around her waist, showing off her pierced navel, which, apparently, Mason knew about. She’d paired them with a slinky black top that clung to every curve of her body but left her arms bare. She wore a black scarf wrapped around her head and neck, revealing only her startling, now sad, blue eyes. The only reason Shelly knew what she was supposed to be was by the fake sword on her side. Oh yeah, and I had to ask.
“What’s going on?” Rachel asked as she sat down beside the peach.
“Sandy over here is going to tell Danny that what they had over the summer really was true love.”
Rachel snorted at Lena, and Shelly rolled her eyes.
“Ahh. So you finally worked out he was a keeper, huh?”
Shelly felt her spine straighten, like she was defending herself. Hang on, why should I? She had just been erring on the side of caution.
“Fine. Okay, yes, you’re right. I finally caught up.” Shelly paused, and then like a teenage girl, she added on a sigh, “He’s amazing.”
Rachel let out a grunt and stated softly, “Excuse me while I get a violin.”
She turned to the left, pretending to get the fake violin no doubt, and that was when Shelly saw her freeze.
Shelly raised her eyes to follow Rachel’s line of sight, and that was when she noticed him. Isn’t that...
“What the hell is he doing here?” Rachel demanded in—oh boy—Super Domme’s voice.
Lena struggled to sit up and peer across the crowd to where they were looking. When she locked on to who they were staring at, Lena turned to Rachel.
“I thought you said you didn’t know him,” Lena said.
Rachel’s spine straightened, and her shoulders went back a noticeable inch. “I do not know him. I don’t even know why he’s here,” she stressed, looking physically agitated.
Shelly tried to calm her. Shit, she had enough on her mind. She didn’t need Rachel having an anxiety attack.
“Look, if he’s given you shit in the past—” Shelly started.
However, before she could finish, Rachel stood abruptly.
“He hasn’t done anything to me. I. Don’t. Know. Him,” she stated, and then turned on her heel, stalking off.
Shelly looked at Lena with a shocked expression, and then they both turned back to see the man from Whipped, whose eyes were currently on Rachel’s retreating form.
***
Josh had gotten a text from Cole that he was just now making his way in.
He’d apologized for not dressing up, but he was coming from the office. Josh hadn’t thought that it was so unusual. After all, the guy practically lived there.
Scanning the room for his friend, he saw Cole as he stepped through all the colorful costumes. He noticed that his lawyer and friend was looking at the table with Shelly, Lena, and Rachel. Josh smirked. Hell, who can blame the guy? They were a good trio to be watching, even though two were taken and the other one was more like a loveable sister.
Plus, Josh didn’t think Cole dated anyway. It wasn’t like he ever had time, considering the painfully long hours he put in on his job.
“Cole!” Josh shouted out.
He watched as his friend turned slowly on his heel, and then he strode over toward the bar. There wasn’t a smile on Cole’s face, or even a grin, just a serious expression accompanied by a frown.
Mason had left a few minutes ago to go and socialize. Cole came over and took the seat beside him.
“Want a beer?” Josh asked.
“How about a cognac?”
Josh chuckled. “Of course.”
After putting the order in, he looked back to his lawyer and friend. “Another long day?”
Cole reached up and scratched his chin. “Yes. Very long and tedious.” He paused as the bartender passed him the lowball, and then he turned back to Josh and gave him a thoughtful look. “However, I think it just got interesting.”
Josh raised an inquiring brow. “Oh? Because of the party?”
Cole scanned the room, and then turned back to Josh.
Without answering Josh’s immediate question, Cole asked, “Do you know the three women who were over there?”
Josh stiffened, immediately feeling the ugly green-eyed monster creeping into his gut.
“Yes. Why?” he asked in a tone much shorter than he had intended.
Cole must have caught that because he turned narrow eyes on him, raising his glass to take a slow sip.
“No reason,” he told him smoothly. “I thought I knew one of them.”
Automatically, Josh started to think the worst until Cole continued.
“The one in black. She’s not there anymore.”
Suddenly, Josh’s heart slowed to a normal rate. “Rachel?” Then, he found himself laughing. “I doubt you’d know Rachel. She’s a pastry chef slash florist. Not really two things you have a lot of use for since you’re married to your job.”
Cole nodded slowly, tapping the side of the glass with his finger. “Perhaps I’m wrong.” He paused and then asked, “Maybe you could introduce me?”
Josh nodded, suddenly thinking this would be great. After all, look how good his set-up had turned out—well, almost turned out.
“Sure, let me go and get her.”
Cole nodded, and then muttered quietly, “I’ll just wait here.”
***
Shelly turned to Lena. “Okay, who’s the guy with Josh?”
Lena shrugged the best she could. “Why don’t you ask him? He’s coming over here.”
Shelly turned her head and saw that Josh was in fact making his way toward them. When he stopped, Shelly felt all the nerves from earlier come fluttering back.
Forget the stranger at the bar, here was her man. The man I want to spend the rest of my life with.
“Hey there, Zuko,” Shelly sassed, trying to hide her nerves.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “God, you’re sweet.”
“Hmm,” she hummed, and then asked, “Can we talk?”
Josh grinned against her lips. “I’d love to talk to you.” He paused. “But first, where’s Rachel?”
Shelly pulled back and told him, “She left.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. My friend, Cole, wanted to meet her.”
Shelly looked over at Peaches and widened her eyes in the universal sign of holy shit.
“That guy at the bar?” Shelly asked, turning back to Josh.
She watched him nod, and then he reached out to twirl her ponytail.
“Who is he?” Shelly asked before she lost all focus.
“He’s my lawyer and friend.”
“Oh,” Lena squeaked behind them.
Josh looked over Shelly’s shoulder.
“What?” he inquired.
“Nothing,” they both answered in unison.
So subtle.
Shelly knew that she needed to distract him from getting Rachel. For some reason, this Cole guy was determined to meet the Super Domme, and Super Domme wanted nothing to do with him.
Shelly stood and Josh backed up a little.
“So? Can we talk?” she asked again.
Josh nodded and held a hand out to her. Shelly gripped it and was about to walk away with him. Before she did, he turned back to Lena.
“If you get a chance, go ahead and introduce the two of them. I think Cole is interested. It’d be funny to watch.” Josh said to Lena.
Lena gave them a strained smile, and when Josh turned around, she looked at Shelly panicked. Yeah, Shelly heard her loud and clear. That would be one big hell no.
***
Josh had taken Shelly’s hand and tugged her into the newly renovated and empty space. He knew he had to leave soon if he wanted to make some good time tonight, but as he stood with her in the silent room, he was finding it difficult to walk away.
“I love you,” Shelly blurted out.
There was no gentle delivery and no build-up. Just straight to the point, like the bold, brave man-eater he had first met.
However, this time she was standing with her hands balled together in front of her in a dark room, illuminated only by the passing taxicabs.
She looked sweet, innocent, and full of the love she spoke, and Josh was trembling with how much he wanted to believe what she was saying.
Taking a deep breath, he took a step closer, reaching out to cup her face.
“Don’t play with me,” he told her as he looked down at eyes shining with nothing but pure emotion.
“I’m not,” she whispered, licking her lips. “I want everything you talked about. I’m ready.”
Josh shook his head, not believing he was finally getting everything he wanted. He stroked a hand down her neck and cupped the back of it, tugging her closer to lean his forehead against hers.
“You really mean it, Georgia?”
She blinked her eyes, and he felt her eyelashes against his skin. Then, she looked back at him.
“Every single word. I want everything you said you wanted. I want to wake up with you in the mornings and fall asleep with you every night. I want you to stay,” she whispered.
Josh felt his heart clench. “I still need to go back tonight, Shel.”
She stepped back from him and shook her head. “I don’t understand.” Pausing, she asked softly, “You still don’t believe me?” Then, she reached forward and gripped his hands. “Because I mean it,” she told him almost desperately. “I really mean it. With everything inside of me. Just thinking about you leaving...”
She sniffed a little, and he realized she was actually crying.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “You crazy woman,” he spoke against her head, hugging her tight. “I have to go. I have responsibilities. But, Georgia, I believe you.”
Pulling back from her, he tipped up her chin and wiped away a tear from her cheek. “Where’s your brave face?”
***
Shelly laughed a little and tried for a smile.
“Still pathetic,” he commented and leaned in to kiss her.
His lips were so sweet and so very gentle that Shelly felt her heart crack even wider when he pulled back.
“I need to go. But, Georgia, if you mean everything you said tonight—”
She nodded, confirming quickly, “I do.”
She watched as a big grin crossed his face.
He squeezed her hand. “Then, will you do me a favor?”
Shelly nodded before he even finished. He looked so sexy standing there, eyes and mouth smiling at her.
“If you mean everything you said tonight, next Saturday at 4 p.m., meet me.”
Shelly cocked her head to the side as he dropped her hand. She frowned at him. “Does that mean you’ll finally tell me where you’ve been staying?”
She watched as he walked backwards toward the door, and Shelly literally felt her heart gaping wider apart the further he moved away from her. Saturday will take forever to get here.
“Where, Josh?” she demanded.
She almost afraid he would vanish before she knew where to find him.
Giving her the biggest grin she had ever seen, he shouted back, “Saturday! Four o’clock! Where I once wished for you on a penny!”
Shelly thought for a moment, and then gave him a huge grin of her own. “I’ll be there!”
When he reached back and opened the door, eyes still on her, he called out, “Don’t be late, Georgia.”
All Shelly could think was, For once, I plan to be right on time.
Chapter Twenty-Six
November
It felt like a year had come and gone by the time Friday morning finally arrived. Shelly had been anxious ever since Josh had disappeared out the door Saturday night.
When Sunday evening had rolled around, Shelly was woman enough to admit that she had checked her email around twenty times.
Nothing.
On Monday, after a shift that had dragged forever, she upped her email monitoring to thirty times before reminding herself that she was acting like a complete idiot.
The man had clearly stated he was going to meet her on Saturday, and just because he didn’t send her an email every night did not mean he had
changed his mind. She needed to stop worrying, stop obsessing over what may happen, and just trust him.
“Hey there, Dr. Monroe.”
Shelly was standing just inside the doctor’s lounge, and when she turned, she saw Dr. Robert McKinney strolling in. He smiled in her direction, and then made his way over to the coffee pot. Shelly returned the smile and moved over to the doctor she now considered a kind and friendly colleague who she had once dated.
“Good morning, Dr. McKinney,” she told him as he passed her a mug of coffee.
“I heard a little rumor that you’re off to Georgia for the weekend.”
Shelly grinned over the lip of her mug and nodded, feeling her heart squeeze inside her chest.
“Yes, that’s right. I fly out at two o’clock.”
McKinney nodded, and then asked, “Going to see family?”
Taking another sip, Shelly lowered the cup to the counter and leaned against it. “Actually, yes and no. I’ll see the family while I’m there, but I’m going to meet Josh down there.”
McKinney frowned, and then almost like a light bulb went off, he nodded. “Oh, yes, Bob the Builder.”
Shelly laughed at that image, and then thought of Josh that one time she had seen him with a tool belt around his waist.
Hmmm, maybe I’ll have to get him to put that on again around his jeans, so I can get on my knees and unzip—
“Shelly?” McKinney interrupted.
“Oh, sorry. Yes, that’s him,” she replied, pulling herself out of her fantasy.
McKinney looked into her smiling eyes, and then gave her a huge grin. “It’s serious, isn’t it?”
As Shelly stood there, she thought back to the Halloween party and how Josh had smiled at her, telling her to come and meet him. Meet him where he wished for me.
She felt her heart melt as she answered McKinney with complete certainty, “Yes. Very.”
***
Josh was exhausted.
It was Friday night, and he and his crew had been working around the clock. Although the project was nowhere close to being finished, he felt that they had definitely gotten things to a point that he was happy with. He had a couple of things to do tomorrow morning, but none of that came close to what he planned to do tomorrow afternoon.