Page 43 of Mister Curb Appeal
“You scared the crap out of me!”
He laughs. “But seriously, you look like someone just told you there was no Santa.”
“I’m worried about telling Ali, and your dad,” I say. “I mean, they’re the bosses, they’re in charge, they can date whoever they want.”
“If Dad has a problem with it, which he won’t, then I’ll quit.”
I balk. “Quit? Josh, I don’t expect you to do that, it’s absurd.”
“No, it isn’t. If he really loves me and respects my choices, then he’ll be okay with it. We’re professionals. He’s in love with his ex-sworn enemy. Somehow that makes me think that all is well over in their camp.”
“I know, I just worry because Ali has been so good to me. She’s worked so hard, and her ex-husband almost took it all away from her. They had a horrible divorce.”
“I didn’t know that, and that’s awful. She’s done an amazing job, and single handedly created a powerhouse business all while raising her daughter.”
“I love her like a mom,” I admit. “But I haven’t exactly come clean about my feelings for you. If anything, I’ve played it down. We’ve joked here and there about the handsome Lucas men?—”
“Ew, please don’t tell me my brothers were included in that vision.”
I ignore him. “But I’ve never come out and said ‘hey Ali, I’ve got the hots for Josh and I think I want to have his babies.’”
I pause. “You want to have my babies?”
“Uh.”Oh, shit.“Um, no, it was a figure of speech, you know, like ovaries exploding whenever women see Tom Hardy on the TV, that kinda thing.”
Think before you speak, asshat!
“I really hope you don’t want Tom Hardy’s babies, or we might have a bit of a problem.”
I think I got away with it, until I open my mouth, close it again and Josh piques a brow.
“You want my babies?” He repeats, folding his arms over his chest.
“Well, not right this second.”
“But someday?”
“Maybe. I’ve never really thought about kids, until?—”
“Until?”
“Until you did that thing to me all weekend and I kept seeing us at the cabin, our kids playing in the grass, Jesus, Josh, you’re really gonna run a mile if I don’t shut my pie hole.”
He pulls me closer, and I can feel how hard he is. Is this man ever down? “I think I quite like that pie hole where it is, thank you very much, and all the other holes. And I had the same vision, Princess,” he tells me. “I can’t even believe I’m admitting this, but I see my future in your eyes. I see our kids, our life, our happiness. What have you done to me?” He presses his forehead to mine.
“What haveyoudone tome?” I breathe. “This is moving so fast, but none of it feels forced or wrong. Why is that?”
“Because we're in love with each other,” he affirms. “When I saw you at the house with Melinda, I didn’t even think twice if I’d done the right thing when we broke up. Iknewit was all falling into place, because when I saw you next to her, there was only one woman I wanted, one woman who I want to share my life with, if you’ll have me?”
“I love you,” I whisper. “I really fucking love you, Joshie.”
He chuckles. “I’m glad we’re on the same page, would be kinda awkward now.”
She laughs, too. “We’ve just got to break it to our bosses.”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
I groan. “Oh, no.”
