Page 19 of Loving Josy
As we make our way to the back, I can’t help but feel a bit of tension in the air, a mix of anticipation and nerves. I’m about to walk into Josy’s space, and I want this meeting to go differently. I want to break through whatever wall she’s built between us, even if it’s just a small crack. Violet stops at a door and gestures for me to go ahead.
“Good luck,” she whispers with a teasing smile before heading back to her table.
I take a deep breath, then knock lightly before opening the door.
“Come in,” I hear Josy say from inside.
I open the door slowly, stepping into the small but tidy office. Josy is sitting behind her desk, her curly hair cascading down her shoulders, and for a moment, I’m distracted by the intense urge to cross the room, pull her into my arms, and kiss her senseless. The image of my fingers threading through her darkcurls and making her moan flashes in my mind, but I shake my head slightly, trying to clear it away.Not the time or place, Noah.
I force a smile as she looks up and finds me standing at her door. Josy looks startled, her surprise evident before she quickly masks it. Before she can say anything, I step fully into her office, closing the door behind me.
“Hi, Josy. I came to talk about the quote I promised,” I say, holding up the blue folder as evidence.
She narrows her eyes slightly, clearly not letting me off the hook so easily. “I thought you said you’d be here three days ago.”
I shrug, offering her a sheepish grin. “I was planning to, but I got stuck at work. I wanted to finish one of our other projects before I started yours. I didn’t want to half-ass anything, especially not for you.”
Her expression softens a bit, though she tries to keep it guarded. “I see. Well, I appreciate you making time for it now.”
“Of course. I know how important this is to you.” Moving closer to her desk, I place the folder down, sliding it toward her. “Everything’s detailed here—what we’ll do, the timeline, the cost. I’m aiming to get started as soon as possible, assuming you’re happy with it.”
Josy picks up the folder and opens it, skimming through the pages. I watch her, noticing the way her brow furrows slightly in concentration. God, even when she’s all business, she’s captivating. Her beautiful lips are pursed while she peruses the quote, and her delicate finger is following the lines while she reads. Her nails are painted a light pink and I immediately think about how it would feel for her to be using her nails to scratch my back while I take her hard or how they would look wrapped around my cock while she goes down on me.Again with your dirty thoughts. Focus on the job, man.
As Josy flips through the pages of the quote, I can see her brows knitting together in confusion. “Noah,” she says slowly, her voice laced with suspicion, “why is the cost of this project so low? This can’t be right.”
I lean back in my chair, trying to keep my smile in check. “It’s right. I’m only charging you for the cost of materials.”
Her head snaps up, those dark eyes of hers are practically throwing daggers at me. “What? Why? I can pay for your work, Noah. I don’t need any charity.”
“It’s not charity, Josy,” I say calmly, keeping my tone even. “I wanted to give you a break on the labor costs since I’ll be the one doing the work. It’s my way of helping you out.”
“I don’t need your help!” she snaps, her voice rising in that familiar way that always gets to me. “I can afford to pay you what you’re worth, and I want to. I don’t need any special treatment just because we?—”
“Just because we what?” I cut in, my voice steady but firm. “We’re friends? We have history? Look, Josy, I’m not doing this out of pity. I’m doing this because I want to. Let me help you.”
She pushes her chair back with a force that matches her frustration, standing up so quickly I almost reach out to steady her. “I don’t want your help, Noah. I want to pay you what you deserve.”
I stand, too, stepping close enough to see the fire in her eyes. “And I’m telling you, this is what I want to do. You’re not going to change my mind on this. Let me do this for you.”
We’re standing there, just a few feet apart, and I can see the anger and frustration boiling under the surface. After a long moment, she finally speaks, her voice softer but still full of tension. “Fine. But don’t think for a second that I’m okay with this.”
I let my smile soften, trying to show her that I mean what I’m saying. “No problem,” I say, leaning against the edge of herdesk, trying to close the distance between us. “I’ll have a few of my guys with me, but I’ll be there most days. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Her gaze flickers, and I can see her trying to maintain that cool exterior. “I’m sure it will. You’ve always been thorough.”
I can’t help the grin that tugs at my lips. “That’s one way to describe me.”
She rolls her eyes, and for a split second, I see a hint of the old Josy, the one who wasn’t so guarded around me. But then it’s gone, replaced by that careful distance she keeps between us now.
“So, when do you plan to start?” she asks, shifting the conversation back to business.
“As soon as you’re ready. We can get materials ordered tomorrow, and if all goes well, we can begin work next week. Sound good?”
Josy nods, but I notice the slight tension in her posture. I can tell she’s still holding back, still unsure. But for now, it’s progress.
“Okay, then. I’ll leave you to it.” I push off the desk and head for the door. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow to confirm the schedule.”
“Thanks, Noah,” she says quietly, her voice softer than before.
