Page 53 of An Inconvenient Plan
He leaned down and kissed both her cheeks in his European way. “See you tomorrow. Eight o’clock for cocktails.”
She bobbed her head, smiling, and went to her car, tucking Rose into her Sherpa-lined bucket seat in the back. Excitement got the better of her and she pulled out her phone for a group text to her friends inviting everyone to the club. She loved dancing. A few texts came in right away from her friends, saying they had to check with their guys and get back to her. Well, for once she was happy not to have someone to check in with whenever she wanted to go out. Except…Josh.
She shook her head at herself, got in the driver’s seat, and headed for home. She hadn’t heard from Josh all week besides his sarcasticSup!!!He hadn’t asked her out, hadn’t called, hadn’t bothered to walk across the street to say hi. She kept telling herself he was just busy, but it still stung. Was this how Josh treated Clarissa?She made me a better man.Somehow she couldn’t imagine Josh ever saying something that amazing about her.
Why did she feel like she had to check in with him before joining Phillip at a club? Everyone was invited. It wasn’t like Phillip had asked her on a date. The real problem was she needed more from Josh than this if what they had was a relationship. She debated calling, texting, or just showing up to clear the air with Josh. He worked weekends at Garner’s. Finally she just decided to show up.
She confided in Rose as she drove. “I know, I’m a sucker being the one to go to him first, but if I don’t, this is all going to turn into a big thing. I need to show him I’m a mature adult capable of having a prince for a friend. I also have to feel him out to see what the frick he’s thinking.” She tried never to curse in front of Rose. Dogs were sensitive to harsh language.
She sighed. Why were men so confusing? Mixed signals much?
She’d already finished at work, so she parked in the lot behind Garner’s and headed inside. She spotted Josh right away behind the bar, serving up some beer with a smile playing over his lips. He turned unexpectedly, his intense gaze locking on hers, giving her a jolt. She hadn’t seen him in person since they’d hooked up four days ago. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until she saw his familiar features—his always rumpled dark brown hair, his scruffy jaw, his old faded T-shirt that stretched across his strong chest and shoulders, his dark eyes that gleamed with knowing. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to kiss him or yell at him.
She took an empty seat at the end of the bar and set a sleeping Rose by her feet. “Hi, Josh.”
Josh crossed over to her. “Hailey.” His tone was cool.
She leaned across the bar. “Don’t even tell me you’re mad at me. I’m mad at you.”
He placed his palms on the bar and got in her face. “How’s your prince? Everyone’s talking about you spending the entire week with him. I saw you strolling down Main Street. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
“Is that why I haven’t heard from you?”
His voice dropped, low and deadly. “I was so pissed I didn’t trust myself not to bash his face in or worse.”
“He’s a friend,” she hissed. “You could’ve called me or asked me out or something. What the hell am I supposed to think, especially after that huge wad of cash you dropped in my purse after we fucked!”
He straightened and looked around. Several people at the bar snickered and looked over at them. Shit. She might’ve gotten a little loud there.
“My office,” he ordered.
She silently seethed, not liking his tone or imperious command.
“Please,” he said through his teeth.
“Fine.” She stood and tucked her doggie purse over her shoulder. “I was going to suggest a private conversation anyway.”
He rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone, probably calling for backup, because a moment later a guy stepped out of the kitchen and went to the bar. Josh gestured for her to follow him back to his office.
The moment the office door closed behind her, she said, “What the hell, Josh!” at the same time as he said, “What the hell, Hailey!”
Rose barked at Josh ferociously.
Josh retreated behind his desk, pulled a small twisted rope toy from his drawer, and offered it to Rose. The anger drained from her, watching him give her fur baby yet another gift. How could he be so thoughtful for Rose and not for her?
She set Rose on the floor to play with her new toy and took the chair across from Josh’s desk. “So here we are again. Enemies.”
“We’re not enemies. You’re so dramatic.”
“What are we, then?”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I don’t know.”
She blew out a breath of frustration. “There’s nothing to be jealous about. I told you Phillip is a friend.”
“Is he buying you Ludbury House?”
She looked away, unsure how to answer that. She met his eyes again. “He’s considering it as a business investment, but it’s not a definite thing. I’m not holding my breath.”
