Page 45 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“Nothing yet. I still have time to fix it.” Which he did. Her event was three weeks away, and he could get approval through a different route; he was sure of it. At least he was until the only brother in a serious relationship, who knew more about women than the other four brothers combined, gave him aseriously?look.
“If you think you can fix something with a woman by hiding it from her, you’re never going to get laid again,” Gage said. “Whatever you did, you need to be up front with her and come clean.”
“There’s nothing to come clean about because I can fix this.”
Gage laughed. “That right there is why you will remain single, my friend.”
“That and the ugly eye,” Rhett said, and Josh punched him in the face.
13
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Josh had done it.He’d called Piper.
He hadn’t actually spoken to her, but he’d left a message and they’d shared a few texts in which he said he had news and she invited him to swing by her house tonight after work.
He hadn’t said what kind of news, and she’d been in the middle of a shoot, which worked for him since he had one last trick up his sleeve.
He was packing up to leave his office when a giant basket arrived. It was a must-be-there, signature-required kind of basket filled with a signed football and jersey, four neon-green foam fingers, matching totes and drink koozie, and four fifty-yard-line Seahawks tickets. Attached was a card:
When your job is cool enough
that you don’t need to plan
Mommy’s party…
~ The Favorite
Josh sent Clay a picture of his middle finger then quickly raced out of his office, calling Kitty Caldwell on his way home.
“I hope you’re calling to tell me that someone donated a Faberge egg for the auction,” Kitty said by way of greeting.
“Better than that. I secured a Seahawks themed basket with four fifty-yard-line season tickets. Compliments of my brother, Clay.”
Clay’s bank account, to be specific. A couple of tickets were nothing, but fifty-yard-line, season tickets would cost in the tens of thousands. Good thing ‘the favorite’ made the big bucks.
“Not Faberge, but it will be a big-ticket item.” Kitty was downplaying her excitement. “How many lot numbers are there?”
“We’re nearly at a hundred,” he guessed, based on the clutter in his office.
“That’s wonderful.” Kitty paused, a pregnant, ‘I need a favor’ pause. “I understand your mother is trying to steal you away to help the decorations committee.”
If his mom knew he was working for Kitty he’d be disowned. “You know how it is with sons and moms.”
“I have all girls, but anytime your mother gets a chance to brag about her boys, she goes on and on. How successful you all are. How driven you all are. How handsome and sweet you all are.” Kitty sounded not one iota impressed.
“Not as successful as your husband,” Josh said, and the woman practically purred through the phone. “Nor as successful as this auction is going to be.” And here was his pitch. “I know you’ve already announced that the proceeds are going to help Portland People Against Purebreds, but I have an idea that will make this year’s charity auction the talk of the town.”
Kitty was silent for a long moment. “Did your mom put you up to this?”
“No, she doesn’t even know about it.” He grimaced. His mom might be a braggart and busybody, but it all stemmed from a place of love. Usually. After losing Kyle, her interest in her sons’ lives may have gone a little overboard. Even if it meant burning bridges or driving her sons crazy in the process.
As Josh and his brothers grew up and started forging their own paths, Margo held on tighter, becoming more and more creative in her attempts to insert herself in their lives. Going as far as to nearly chase off both Gage’s and Rhett’s women. Josh was embarrassed to admit, he’d been so focused on his mom’s happiness, he sometimes overlooked the trouble her stubbornness brought. So Kitty had a right to be cautious.
“If this idea of yours is so brilliant, why not wait until Margo steals the board chair position from me next year?”
He wasn’t touching that with a ten-foot pole. “I’m telling you because I feel as if we’re co-chairs of sorts and I’ve really come to enjoy my contribution.” That was a big, old fib if he’d ever heard one. “Which is why I want this year to be the best it can.”
