Page 45 of Mister Curb Appeal
Tears well in my eyes, threatening to leak at any moment. “Thank you,” I stammer, trying to contain myself but not knowing if I’m able. “So much, Ali. I was so worried you’d be super disappointed in me, but we both got stuck at the cabin, and one thing led to another, and he’s so freaking dreamy — I can’t even describe it?—”
She pats me on the arm and reaches for my hand to squeeze it. “You’re in love with him. I know. I’ve also suspected for a while that he feels the same way.”
“How do you know that?”
She shrugs. “The way his face lights up whenever I mention your name. The way he asks about you when you’re not around. He always makes excuses to come to the office, or call you to ask about something irrelevant, something Mason could do.”
I pull on my bottom lip nervously. “That is kinda sweet.”
She stands, then pulls me into a hug. “I’m happy for you, Lex. You deserve a man like Josh, he’s perfect for you.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God, because I would’ve really hated to quit.”
She blanches. “You’d really quit your job?”
“I wouldn’t want to, but we both feel the same way, and we’re just… I don’t know?—”
“In love.” She smiles. “I get it. But I’m not losing you that easily, thank you very much. We’ve got a lot more to do.”
I feel on top of the world. “Thank you,” I say. “For understanding. I guess the little mix up at the cabin was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“It seems like it. And I’m so proud of what you did with the Monica Chase deal.”
She thanked me profusely for pulling the deal together with Melinda in her absence, and I know she’s really happy with how I handled things.
My smile at her words is wide and proud. I’m quite pleased with myself over everything that happened that weekend.
She wipes a finger through the frosting of a cupcake. “I’m glad my flu was good for something, at least. Never thought I’d be inadvertently playing matchmaker on my deathbed.”
“I’m glad you lived through it. You look much better, by the way.” I grab a cupcake, too. Dying to call Josh and tell him the good news.
“Here’s to falling in love.” She holds up her cupcake and I tip mine against hers in a toast.
“And the Lucas men,” I laugh. “Hey, do I get to call you Mom for real now?”
She gives me a stern look, but it only lasts a moment. “Not if you expect me to answer.”
All is right in the world again.
Chapter Twenty-One
JOSHUA
“She’s an amazing woman,” Dad says. “Just don’t go messing with her heart, she’s a good girl and Alison thinks the world of her.”
“I love her, Dad. I’ve secretly had a thing for her for a while, I just didn’t act on it.”
Dad pops his eyebrows. “You love her?”
“Yep. Hook. Line. Sinker. I’m done.”
“Pathetic,” Brad says, waltzing into the kitchen. “I heard all about it from Chelsea, by the way. The little display of cupcakes begging Ali to let her date you.”
Chelsea is the owner of Sweet Confetti Bakery and Brad’s childhood friend. She’s probably the only woman in the world that can get a smile out of him. How she puts up with his grumpy ass I’ll never know.
“A little begging does wonders, you should try it sometime. How is Chelsea, by the way? You seem to be spending a lot of time at the bakery.”
Dad chuckles. “Boys.” It’s a warning, not that either of us will listen.
