Red Hot Obsessions (128 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Six o’clock Monday
morning came way too early for Josh, since he hadn’t left Carissa’s place until close to midnight. Not that he was complaining. They’d watched two movies together and they’d spent the intermission christening her couch.

Okay, so the couch had probably already been broken in, but, as he’d realized last night, cuddled beside her, there were undoubtedly lots of things she’d experienced in her apartment in the two and half years she’d lived there he didn’t want to know about. Most of which had likely occurred while she’d dated his best friend.

Not the swallowing though. That she’d saved for him and he was happy to claim that prize, small and dirty as it might be.

In fact, he was still grinning at the memory when he pulled up at the Henry mansion, pleased to see this section of his crew in full force. Tony jogged over as he climbed out of the truck.

“You survived, I see.”

Josh frowned, guilty conscience stirring. “What?”

“Those younger, more in shape newbie Marines didn’t give your old ass a heart attack out there in the field.”

Blinking, Josh swallowed down the guilt. “Oh. No. And shut the hell up. I’m not that old.” Granted, he felt every one of his thirty-one years this morning, no thanks to the couch gymnastics he’d done with Carissa.

Tony laughed. “Well, you’ll be happy to hear there was no vandalism over the weekend.”

Thank God.

“But we do have a foundation issue at the clinic. Ryan’s over there now. Shouldn’t be hard to fix, but it’ll set us back a day on the framing, until the repaired concrete cures.”

Josh nodded and got an update on the mansion, as well. “What about the flip?”

“I’m headed there this afternoon to rewire the kitchen. What’s going on with the cabinetry?”

“Can’t get up to Hastings with Carissa until Wednesday afternoon. Got a meeting today with the county to go over the courthouse proposal and then I’m tied up with the bank all day tomorrow.”

Tony gave a smart-ass half-grin. “Hey, man, I’d happily take her.”

“And I’d happily castrate you.”

His friend chortled, as he inclined his chin in Josh’s direction. “Speaking of the hot little mama, I’m gonna assume you didn’t get that hickey curling your hair this morning.” He leaned in to get a closer look. “Or a couple days ago by the looks of it.”

Christ. Josh’s palm went to the mark on his neck he’d been harassed about all weekend.

“In any case, you should probably slap some make-up on it before Fletcher notices and starts asking questions you don’t wanna answer.”

“Fuck you.”

Tony lifted his hands and barked out a laugh. “Just trying to help out, man. I kinda like having you for a boss, you know?”

“Then you should get back to work before I fire your ass.”

Tony laughed all the way back to the mansion and Josh gave him a head start before he followed behind to do a quick run-through of the place, as he did with every site on Monday mornings. When he was finished at Henry’s, he’d move on to the clinic and then the flip, before he finished out his day with a presentation in front of the county board. A presentation so air-tight, it’d schmooze the pants right off the board members and guarantee Hudson Contracting next year’s multi-million dollar courthouse renovation.

The courthouse was a historical, architectural masterpiece and would be, by far, the biggest and most intricate project he’d ever taken on. Fortunately, he and his guys had the skills to do the beautiful structure justice and give the board and all of Cameron County what they wanted. At a very respectable price, to boot.

Josh grinned to himself as he made his way through the mansion. Luckily, he’d garnered enough revenue in the last few years that he could afford to take a few risks with his bids, if it meant he’d get a leg up on the competition.

But the
competition
he was most concerned with today had nothing to do with the contractors his company would be vying against. Instead, his preoccupation was with Fletcher and the reality that, sooner or later, he was going to have to face his friend. Being at the courthouse today seemed like the most likely opportunity.

He didn’t plan on avoiding the man. In fact, he’d made up his mind that he wouldn’t hide. But purposely jumping into the fire didn’t exactly appeal either.

Hell, he should just lay it all out there with Fletcher. Tell him everything from the beginning, because some idiotic part of Josh still wanted to think his friend had been the one in the wrong, getting involved with Carissa in the first place. But he knew pointing the finger at Fletcher wasn’t exactly fair. He’d had plenty of opportunities early on to come clean and he’d shied away from every single one of them.

He hadn’t wanted to hurt his oldest friend. Wasn’t confident enough in how he felt about Carissa to gauge whether or not being honest was even worth it. They’d only shared one night together. They barely knew each other and their contact after their fling had been almost nonexistent. What right did he have to stick a foot in the door of her plans with another man? Even if that man
was
his best friend?

In hindsight, he’d been a fool, because this thing between him and Carissa never went away. And here they were, wrapped up in sexual chemistry so unyielding and thick it was hard to think clearly, much less breathe.

He knew acting on that lingering attraction made him a traitorous, self-serving asshole, just like it had all those years ago when he’d gotten tangled up with a girl Fletcher had cared about. His recklessness had almost cost him his oldest friendship and he’d decided that was a risk he’d never take again. He swore he’d never look twice at a woman his friend had dated, much less loved, and Fletcher made the same commitment. For over a decade, the promise had served them well. Then Carissa came along.

The greedy, resentful part of Josh had a hard time rationalizing why he and Carissa shouldn’t enjoy the sizzling connection between them. He’d gotten involved with her first, after all, and she obviously still desired him as much as he did her, despite her interlude with Fletcher. Indulging in each other again was just as much for her as it was him.

So his reasoning sounded weak, even to his more sensible self, but he was going with it, because nothing…
nothing
…felt better than holding Carissa. And though she’d given him almost nothing to go on, he got the distinct impression that, right now, she needed to be held. She didn’t want forever, but he could offer her a safe place to fall until she got back on her feet again.

Fletcher wouldn’t like it, but Josh wouldn’t like himself much either, if he didn’t at least try to give the woman he cared about what she needed.

***

Still love you. At least text back so I know you’re alive.

Carissa sat back on her bare feet, grass tickling between her toes, as she pulled off her gardening gloves and blinked down at her phone. Cade had to be up to something, for him to make contact with her three times in as many days, when up until last week, he’d sent exactly as many messages in all of twelve months.

She twisted her mouth to the side as it occurred to her that he might actually
not
know if she was breathing or she was six feet under. Though Maddie probably would have alerted him to that status had it changed.

Still, he was her brother. Even if she did hate him a little for taking their father’s side when everything went to hell. And his messages did give her the unfair advantage of not having to question whether or not he was still taking in air.

Alive
was her single word response.

She tossed the phone into the grass and made a move for her gloves when the phone chirped again.

“Damn you, Cade.” She snatched up the device again and swiped to the new text.

Baby steps. I like it.

With a snort, she thumbed her reply—
Smartass
—and sent it off before realizing the enormity of what she’d done: engaged in the first legitimate conversation she’d had with her older brother in over a year.

LOL I’ll take what I can get. Call me sometime. I don’t bite…anymore.

His last words had her catapulting back to the pigtails picture Josh had raised eyebrows at last night in her photo album. She chuckled softly at the memory of Cade’s first baseball game. He’d been so nervous when they’d arrived at the field that he’d taken a chunk out of her arm when she’d offered her doll as consolation.

I’ll think about it.
Because something bittersweet and reminiscent had begun to tug at her resolve lately. And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad to let Cade back into a little part of her life.

“You texting the virginity stealer?”

Carissa jumped at Josh’s sudden appearance above her. She held her hand and her phone to her chest above her racing heart. She wasn’t so surprised she couldn’t banter back, however. “Believe me, if I was
sexting
Ethan, I’d hardly be this dressed.”

Josh gave a light laugh as he crouched beside her, blocking her view of the house which lent them some privacy. He picked a piece of dandelion fluff from her hair and let his fingers trail down the profile of her jaw. “As long as I’m the only one getting the real thing.”

She pressed her lips together in playful smile. And then she remembered...

“But am I the only one getting the real thing from you? Or am I sharing with Ellie?”

The momentary flicker of surprise that slashed across his face had her galloping heart skidding to a near stop. She probably should have been more tactful in asking, but it had slipped her mind when he’d shown up on her doorstep and distracted her with his unexpected offer.

“Where’d you get that idea?” he asked quietly, something tight and undefined in his expression.

She lifted a shoulder, tossed back her ponytail and adjusted her sunglasses, trying to pull off the worst attempt at nonchalance
ever
. “Shop talk has it you recently requested a booty call.”

“Shop talk, huh?” He shook his head and made an aggravated sound.

He also avoided giving her a direct answer. Shit. At least they’d used condoms. Not that they’d protect her pride. “How recent, Josh?”

“The night of Dan and Maddie’s party. After our argument. But she was out of town. It didn’t work out.”

Carissa wet her lips and swallowed, not the least bit comfortable with the jealousy rousing in her stomach. Still, she nodded and reached for her gloves. “Okay.”

“Uh-uh.” Suddenly Josh’s fingers were at her chin, turning her face toward him again. Questioning blue eyes searched her own. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, which had turned down in the slightest bit of a pout.
Ridiculous
. “What’s this?”

She wet her lips and sighed. “It’s not my right to know who else you’re making house calls to, but frankly I’m not sure I’m interested in continuing this if—”

“
It didn’t work out
,” he repeated, his expression still concerned. “You’re the only woman I’ve been with in months. Hell, the only reason I even called her was because of you. You riled me up that night.”

The jealous weight in her stomach turned to butterflies.

Months? Josh Hudson? The second half of the dynamic duo, infamous for sweet talking the panties off even the most astute of women? That was some kind of impressive.

And he’d only called Ellie because of her? Twisted as it was, her previously wounded pride swelled and she attempted to laugh off her ridiculous jealousy. “So we’re even then? Andrew, Ellie…”

He shook his head and gave her a small, unsuccessful smile. “Not even close, babe.”

A ball of guilt formed in her throat. Yeah, probably not. Considering there’d also been Reed…

“But none of that matters, because right now it’s just you and me. No one else. While this lasts.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

While this lasts
. Damn. “What are you saying? That this fling of ours should be monogamous?”

He dipped his chin. “I am. I don’t share well.”

“Neither do I.” She felt the wickedly satisfied twist of his lips all the way down to her toes.

“I also want us to be honest with each other when it starts to feel like this thing has run its course.”

Which hopefully wouldn’t be tomorrow. Or next week. Because she wasn’t even close to being done with him. “Okay.”

His focus fell to her mouth and he flashed that devious grin once again. “You know I wanna kiss you, right?”

“Do you?” She had to admit his mouth looked awfully tempting amidst his dark stubble. “Mmm, I wanna kiss you, too. Among other things.”

“I’m gonna leave something in your car. Make of if what you will, okay?”

She arched an eyebrow. “What kind of something?”

“You’ll have to wait and see. And no pressure. Just…if you want.”

“My mind is going all sorts of dirty places, hot shot.”

“Good. Catalog it all and save it for later.” He chucked her nose and stood. “Hastings on Wednesday afternoon work for you?”

“Of course.”

“Great. We’ll work out the time later. I’ve got a meeting in fifteen at the courthouse.”

“Don’t forget my
something
.”

He grinned as he began jogging backwards. “I won’t, babe.”

***

Two hours later, Josh walked out of the county boardroom with a bounce in his step. He had to admit he’d been worried that the recent bouts of vandalism would come up during his presentation, but fortunately no one said a word. Thank God. Because he’d nailed that damn proposal and he’d noticed every single lifted eyebrow and impressed expression when the board had taken a look at his bottom line.

All he had to do now was keep his reputation clean for the next few weeks and the job of a lifetime would be his.

He jogged up to the second floor of the old building and into his brother’s office, eager to share to news.

“Go on in, Josh. Dan’s just finishing up a phone call.” Greta, the receptionist, waved him toward the rear section of the legal department without batting an eye.

He found Dan kicked back, his feet crossed at the ankles and resting on his desk. His brother motioned toward one of the big leather chairs that sat before the monstrosity of mahogany wood and mouthed, “Just give me a sec,” before continuing his conversation.