Page 15 of Her Fantasy Husband

They didn’t get up, and Josh just nodded in their direction. Both were clones of their father—tall, slender, blond. Melissa was quite beautiful, and the smile she sent him made it clear she thought he was okay as well. The smile faded as she looked at Lexi and gave a brief tip of her head.

From the age of seventeen he’d considered himself to have no family. Now he could see that that perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Lexi’s family had all the warmth of a night at the North Pole. He held the chair next to Harry out for her, and she sat down and glanced up at him, biting her lip.

He took the only other free seat between Lexi’s grandmother and Melissa. He immediately caught the attention of a passing waiter and ordered himself a beer and a scotch for Lexi. He had a feeling she was going to need it.

So he was stupid. He decided to go for the strong, silent, stupid type.

Lexi was making small talk with Harry and Daniel, asking about New York. Harry, apparently, had still to decide where his true talents lay—another way of saying out of a job and no doubt sponging off Daddy. Daniel obviously owned some sort of gallery and Melissa worked for him.

The waiter brought their drinks, and he raised his glass to Lexi and took a gulp of icy cold beer.

They ordered, and he sat back and willed the evening to be over.

“So, Joshua, tell us about yourself.” Melissa turned in her seat. “I can’t believe Lexi hasn’t introduced us before now. Keeping you all to herself. How selfish.”

He shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

“How did you meet?”

“Lexi’s godfather introduced us.”

Her grandmother’s gaze sharpened on him. “You know James Frobisher?”

“He was my commanding officer, ma’am.”

“Of course. You were in the army. A sergeant, I believe. How…interesting. How did you come to join up?”

His lips twitched. “It was suggested it might be a good career move.”

“And they didn’t suggest officer training?”

“No, ma’am.” He glanced at Lexi, gave her a brief grin. “I was seventeen and I hadn’t done too well at school. I somehow doubt they would have taken me.”

Which was true. He’d left school with absolutely no qualifications, mainly because he’d spent so much time playing truant, looking after his little sister. When he was seventeen, his sister had been taken into care and his mother had disappeared.

He’d been entirely alone in the world, feeling a total failure, and powerless to do anything for Evie. He’d lost her, and he hadn’t really cared what he did next. But the army had worked for him. He’d loved the order, which had been totally lacking in his life up until that point. And he’d been good, had moved quickly through the ranks and finally been offered a place in the Special Air Services, the most elite regiment in the army.

“Well, I suppose we can’t all be brilliant,” Melissa said. “I’m sure you have other talents.”

Yeah, I know at least twenty ways to kill you with my bare hands.

Perhaps he should offer to demonstrate. Luckily, the food arrived at that moment and distracted him from the temptation.

They were all watching him as if waiting for him to make some huge social gaffe. It didn’t bother him. The food was actually very good.

“And where do you come from?” Daniel asked.

“South London. A council estate.”

“Really? And your parents?”

He finished the last mouthful of his seafood salad, put down his knife and fork, and sat back. He caught Lexi’s gaze, gave her a wink, and her eyes widened. “I didn’t know my father.” His mother had once told him he was an American sailor she’d met at a party, who’d vanished out of her life at the point he’d been told he was going to be a father. “My mother is still around somewhere.” He’d never forgive her, would be happy if he never saw her again as long as he lived, but he didn’t need to share that. He curved his lips into what he hoped was a warm smile. “Lexi is all the family I need.”

“Aw, isn’t that sweet,” Harry muttered.

Josh turned a bland gaze on him and imagined a quick chop to the throat.

“But you’ve left the army now?”

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