Page 5 of Naughty & Nice
Chapter Three
Oliver
Sitting across from the woman I’d hoped to marry is easier than I ever dreamed.
After refusing my proposal and cutting herself out of my life, I often wondered what this moment might feel like. I expected it might hurt. When I first laid eyes on her again, it did hurt for a moment. Seeing her reminded me of the heartache that still haunts me.
Once she laughs that sweet, bubbly, anxious laugh of hers, I forget the bad. I stared down at her and waited for rage or contempt to take over. All the angry words I’d practiced a thousand times to come rushing out. Hell, I figured I'd tell her off and then be the one to walk away, and it briefly crossed my mind.
Seeing her again took my breath away. Besides being reminded of the most painful moment of my life. Josie looks as stunning as the last time I saw her. But right away I can see something is off and she isn’t even trying to hide it. Despite how we ended, I always hoped she’d find happiness. Looking at her now, I can tell she is not happy at all.
“Oh yeah, he left that detail out,” I respond to her question about Keegan letting me know she was our designer.
He wouldn’t tell me—he’s been after me since I let her walk away to go after her. If he thought telling me would’ve made me call off our meeting or the project, he’s wrong. No way I’ll walk away from a chance to see her again.
Over the years, I’ve wondered how we never worked the same job sites seeing it’s how we met. After asking around a little, I found she refuses any builds we work on. I guess I understand, she made it clear she didn’t want to settle down with me. She swore she’d never settle down.
My eyes take in her bare left hand and I feel my breath rush out in relief.I know better.After I asked for her forever, I realized she wasn’t the type to give her forever to anyone. I was lucky I got those months we had together. I knew it then and I think that’s why I asked so soon. Our time was winding down before my eyes and I thought a ring and a promise might change that.
“I told him he needed to tell you,” her voice is soft and sweet as if apologizing for him, but I see her mouth twitch a little.
That cute twitch is a sure sign she is hiding something. Josie’s a bit impulsive and wild and sometimes she leaps before she looks. I never minded it—in fact, I admire it about her.
No one warned me because she did not want me warned. They both figured I’d refuse the meeting. They both got it wrong—even if this is awkward or difficult, I am thrilled to see her again.
From the moment I walked into that electric buzz in the air, I’ve felt switched on. It’s what her and her presence has always done to me. Not only is she more beautiful than ever, her bubbly and free-spirited nature has always called to my strictly by plan nature.
“You look...amazing,” I say before realizing it’s not entirely proper.
Proper or not, I say it because it’s true.
Her hair spills down her back in blonde curls I know feel as silky as they look. Tan skin peeks out from the lacy dress she wears, and I know for a fact she wears no panties or bra beneath it. I used to love flipping up her skirt or dress knowing she was bare and ready beneath.
“You do too...even better than I remember,” her voice goes throaty and rough the way it does whenever she flirts.
Our gazes lock as her skin flushes pink in the dim light. Something she never was before is bashful. Or coy. I like how it looks on her. I want her to tell me all the ways she has changed since we knew one another. I start to ask her all the details I hope no one else knows about her before a waitress interrupts us.
“What will it be tonight?”
Her innocent and simple question is aimed at both of us. All she wants is our dinner order. We both sit quiet, staring at one another with our past flooding the space between us. What I want is to ask Josie the same question. Only I don’t care what she wants to eat or what wine she is sipping.
Noting the tension between us, our waitress silently disappears. I am not thinking about steak and potatoes or dessert. Hell, I am not even thinking about what I came here for. My focus has shifted completely.
“You chose to meet with me tonight...here?” I sit forward, keeping my voice low as I ask the loaded question.
It’s an intimate little bistro with just a few tables and booths filled with another family and two couples. Soft music plays and the space is lit up with wall sconces and the candles flickering at the linen draped tables. In the air the smell of garlic and basil tease delicious Italian food. Any other time my mouth would be watering because it’s my weakness.
Instead I am hungry for just one thing. Not just for the sexy and sweet blonde who broke my heart and now sits across from me like a dish waiting to be served. I want morsels of the time we’ve lost since we last saw one another. I want to taste the moments I missed and devour the details I don’t know about her.
Josie smiles at my question with a glimmer in her bright green eyes. My heart responds so violently I fear for my health. I can’t get my hopes up or pin some fantasy on what this meeting could mean but it’s hard not to. Because this little restaurant, the setting, even the lacy dress she has on and the way her hair is down in golden waves recalls our very first date.
“I figured...maybe here was a good place to start fresh. We will be working together so I want to be sure we are okay,” she says this gently, leaning forward and reaching across the table.
Without thinking I snatch my own hand away. I want to touch her so badly—and want to feel her touch—but I am terrified. This woman wrecked me. I was never the same after her. Seeing her again has such a gamut of feelings roiling through me I am barely holding any of it in.
“I... I am sorry, Josie,” I reach my hand out too late, “Jesus hell,it isamazing to see you, I just was not ready to feel...” sighing heavily as my words rush out, I run a frustrated hand through my hair.
What I feel iseverything. Earlier I expected to feel anger or rage at seeing her again but instead I felt longing and want. That anger and rage has simmered to the top now but still it battles with how badly I want her—have always and I expect will always want her—and how scared I feel to be alone with her again.
