Twisted Arrangement 4 (19 page)

Perversely, she almost hoped he’d come after The Watch. Technically, Emma hadn’t fulfilled her end of the bargain. But she didn’t think that he could go to the police now, not with the scandal about their marriage unravelling in the public eye. But he could still demand The Watch back. Not that she’d give it over... But she’d get to see him again. Jagged fragments of her heart shifted in her chest at the thought.

Thank god for Todd. He’d been holding all the pieces of her shattered self together for the last two days. He did the dishes, tried to cheer her up with TV shows and games they’d played as children. Not that it worked, but he was relentless. He’d barely left her side. He hadn’t gone back to his job as Josh’s PA, even though he loved it. His cell phone had been ringing practically off the hook since the moment he’d driven her off the set. For once, she couldn’t blame this lost job on him.

“It just got... taken away, T-rex,” she’d said as he led her into the house.

“What’s that, Emmaceratops?” He folded her gently onto the couch, sitting beside her and stroking her hair.

“My future.” It was barely a whisper. Todd had gathered her against his chest and held her.

Thinking she couldn’t see a future with Josh, that had been just another denial tactic. She’d purposely pretended that Todd had meant that they had a future together when he’d said that he knew she could see her future when she looked at Josh. Josh wasn’t
a part
of her future. He
was
her future. Whatever else was there, Emma wouldn’t have cared. As long as Josh was with her.

But he wasn’t going to be. Not now. Everything had gotten so screwed up. It wasn’t completely her fault. Emma knew that. But enough of it was to make her want to scream. Instead, she used a wad of toilet paper to mop up the last of her tears. The last of them for now, anyway. She had no doubt there would be more later.

She tossed the soggy ball into the toilet and flushed before going to the sink to splash some water on her face. She didn’t need to look in the mirror to know she looked terrible. This had been one hell of a week. She looked anyway.

Her normally smooth dark hair was wispy and flyaway, the clip barely containing it. She wasn’t sure if she’d used conditioner this... Had she even showered this morning? She didn’t know. Her cheeks were pale except for two bright circles on either side of her nose, obscuring the freckles there.

Her nose practically glowed, it was so red. Her eyes shone, glassy and bloodshot, the skin beneath them dark and puffy from lack of sleep. Her lips were chapped. There was a tiny white stain – toothpaste maybe? – on the lapel of her grey suit jacket. Her blouse was wrinkled. Threads were unravelling from the hem of her pencil skirt.

Well, she supposed it was only fitting that she looked as much of a mess on the outside as she felt on the inside. No use pretending.

“Not anymore,” she murmured to her poor reflection. Emma patted her face dry and made a haphazard attempt to smooth her hair into a neater chignon, but it was hopeless.
She
was hopeless.

Emma sighed at the sound of a soft tread on the other side of the bathroom door. Clarice, coming to check on her. Again. Her boss hadn’t uttered a single word of reproach or asked a single question other than ‘Is there anything I can do?’ She’d given Emma her job back with no hesitation, and even told Emma how thrilled she was to have her back.

Clarice had gone out of her way to make sure Emma was protected from the media vultures too, even burning a few bridges with some overly pushy business contacts by refusing them access to Emma. Emma would never be able to repay the older woman.

Forcing her shoulders back and her chin up, Emma took a deep breath and pulled open the bathroom door. “Clarice, I’m fine, I swea –” Her breath clogged in her lungs at the sight in front of her.

Josh looked more impossibly handsome than she’d ever seen. His honey blond hair was slicked back, curling slightly around the tops of his ears. He was clean-shaven, the smooth skin of his sculpted cheeks tan and beautiful. He wore a blue button-down shirt that complemented his blue-green eyes perfectly, and black slacks. His hands dug into his pockets, and he was staring at her.

“Emma.” His voice, rich and deep, slid over her skin like warm water, making her shiver. “Can I talk to you?”

Unable to speak, Emma stepped out of the bathroom and gave him a jerky nod. She spun on her heel and walked, her movements robotic, to the conference room. The conference room where Clarice had thrown her bachelorette party/wedding shower. The memory speared through her like a lance. She sucked in a painful breath, but pushed open the door.

Josh followed, silent as well. The slightly spicy, woodsy scent of him wafted to her as he walked. It made her heart hurt and her belly heat up. Even as pained as things were between them, her body still reacted to him, damn it.

She had to gather her strength around her before she turned to face him again. He leaned in the open doorway, hands still in his pockets, eyes on her, searching for something in her expression. Emma didn’t know what.

“How’s your father?” she croaked. “I sent flowers.” She liked Cam and Kara Owens a lot, though she figured they probably didn’t feel the same way about her anymore. One corner of Josh’s mouth quirked up, revealing that devastating dimple. Emma’s knees gave out at the sight. She caught herself on the back of a nearby chair, pulling it out and sinking into it. Josh stayed where he was.

“He’s better. Not out of the woods yet, but awake. Thank you for the flowers.”

“That’s good. I mean, you’re welcome.” She curled her fingers into a fist, digging her nails into the palm of her hand to keep from reaching for him. Why was he here? Was he going to ask for The Watch back after all?

He sighed and ran one hand through his hair. He always did that when he was frustrated, turning the problem over in his head. The sight of his rumpled locks made Emma’s fingers itch to sift through them.

“I think I’m probably going to screw this up.” He chuckled. Emma blinked as he took a step into the room and squatted in front of her. Behind him, filling the hallway, she vaguely registered the faces of her coworkers. But all her attention was on Josh.

“S-screw what up?” Her throat was tight, almost trapping the words. When Josh took her left hand in his right, the spike of heat at the touch raced up her arm and made her gasp. Josh’s sculpted lips curved into a smile.

“I didn’t think even for a second that you were the one who went to the tabloids.”

Emma blinked, brows rising. She hadn’t been expecting that. Seeing her incredulous expression, Josh tipped his head slightly. “Okay, maybe a split second, when William first showed it to me. But that was it, I swear. As soon as my ridiculously exhausted brain processed the thought, I threw it out. I trust you, Emma.” He squeezed her hand.

“What?” That was even more unexpected. “But... you were so angry!”

“Oh, I was. At Ransler. He’d just been spouting off about us playing him and me not having any respect for you. But I do.” Josh rubbed his free hand over the back of his neck and then stuck it back into his pocket. “I’d barely gotten any sleep the night before, and I was so worried about Dad that I really wasn’t thinking straight. If I had been, I would have assured you right then and there that I knew you didn’t go to the papers. I’m sorry.”

Emma felt fresh tears pricking her eyes and blinked them back. “No apology necessary. You were under a lot of stress. I understand. I’m... I’m sorry if I added to it.”
With my stupid confession of love
, she didn’t add. Josh’s thumb stroked the back of her hand and sizzles skittered along her nerve endings. She tried to tug her hand away in embarrassment, but he tightened his hold on it.

“You didn’t. I... Oh hell, Emma.” His jewel-bright gaze locked onto hers, stealing her breath. “In the hospital, when Dad was in the coma, I pushed you away because I realized how much I needed you and it scared the hell out of me. I thought I couldn’t deal with having you that close, so I sent you away. But I wanted you there.”

“You did?” A spark of something she was afraid to name ignited in her chest. Something bright and crackling, like a tiny flame.

“Christ, yes. I needed you there. But I was too stubborn and afraid to ask you to come back. To tell you I love you.”

The words detonated in her chest like a bomb. Her cheeks were wet, though she hadn’t even realized she’d started crying again. “You do?”

“I love you,” he repeated, making her quiver. “And I never want to lose you again. Will you marry me, Emma Andromeda Ness? Again? For real this time?” He pulled his hand from his pocket, her wedding and engagement rings lying on his palm. She’d left them beside the bed when she’d taken her stuff from the house. Gasping, Emma touched them with trembling fingers.

“I thought...” She’d thought his silence had spoken pretty clearly.

“I know. But in my defense, you did sort of spring it on me and then walk away. I would have been here as soon as my brain caught up with itself if it hadn’t been for Dad. It was touch-and-go there for a bit.” He stroked her hand again, running the pad of his thumb over the groove where her rings would sit when she wore them.

When.

Bright, burning, glorious joy, as gorgeous as the sun – as gorgeous as Josh’s smiling face – unfurled in Emma’s chest.

“So, what d’ya say, Emma? I know I might deserve it, but I’m actually proposing for real this time, so please, don’t leave me hanging here.” He held up the engagement ring.

Emma thought she might feel the corners of her mouth touch her earlobes, she was grinning so wildly. “Yes! Of course. I love you. Of course I’ll marry you!” Josh slipped the ring back onto her finger before the first ‘Yes’ was completely out of her mouth and then she threw herself into his lap.

There were cheers from the hall, but she ignored them as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and peppered kisses all over his face. Josh hugged her tightly to his chest as he rose to his feet. His mouth found hers, tongue teasing and stroking for a long, deep, drugging kiss. “I’ll need to hold onto the other ring until the ceremony. But you’ll get it back too. I promise,” he murmured against her cheek.

“Does this mean we have to plan another whole wedding?” she asked, her eyes wide. Josh chuckled.

“It does. Whenever and wherever you want. Just as long as it doesn’t interfere with the shooting schedule.” He winked.

“Oh! Does that mean... did William...” She’d been so studiously avoiding all news outlets that she hadn’t heard if Ransler had left the project. Josh ran his lips against the edge of her jaw, nipping gently.

“William and I reached an understanding.”

Emma pulled back just a little to study Josh’s face. “What do you mean by ‘an understanding’?” There was a devilish gleam in Josh’s blue-green gaze.

“He promised to forgive me my deception and stay on the picture, as long as I told you how I really felt.”

Emma blinked in surprise, her lashes, and her heart, fluttering. “Oh. Does that mean you wouldn’t have if –”

“Don’t even finish that sentence.” His tone was stern, but he was smiling. He took her mouth in another kiss, sucking at her lower lip. “I’m here for you. For
us
. Not him.”

The words made her insides quiver. She stroked her fingers along his shoulder as he strode to the doorway and began pushing through the crowd in the hall, carrying her toward the front door. “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.” His smile held a wicked promise.

Heat shimmered through Emma’s blood and love burned in her heart. She twined her arms around Josh’s neck and nuzzled against the warm skin of his throat. She brushed her lips against him, breathing in his scent, her entire body rejoicing that she was back in his arms. She reached up, tracing her fingertips along his strong jaw and the curve of his luscious lips. Josh glanced down at her, his eyes glittering with happiness... and love. Josh loved her! He kissed her fingers, one brow rising.