“You’re welcome.” She forced a tight smile as she climbed out of the cab and rushed into her building.
I came home on a mission of redemption—to right all the wrongs, show everyone I’d made something of myself. But I never cared about everyone. I cared about her. Ilovedher. But I’d hurt her, too—more than I ever realized. I had a lifetime to make up for, and I intended to start as soon as possible.
Brianna
“JUST A MINUTE!”I called out as I fastened my earrings.
This was a bad idea. An awful idea. But I agreed because Josh wanted me there. His green eyes pleaded with me before I could jump out of his truck, and as usual, I couldn’t tell them no. Distance didn’t ever apply to Josh’s hold on me.
I grabbed my coat, purse, and keys and jetted for my door.
“Ten minutes early?” I scoffed. “Do you know me at—”
My jaw dropped as I took in the sight in front of me. Josh was in a dark suit with a white shirt. Everything about him was gorgeous. My eyes glossed over him, and the rush of feelings gave me physical pain. I yearned for a man I wasn’t supposed to want.
“Something wrong, Cupcake?” He leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to my cheek. My coat was half on as I shut my eyes. He smelled pretty damn good, too. This favor he asked felt more and more like a date as the seconds ticked by.
“No . . . I . . .” I stammered as his gazed pinned me to my stoop. “I feel underdressed now.” I smoothed my red sweater dress over my thighs. “Maybe I should go change?”
“Don’t you dare. You’re beautiful just as you are, Cupcake.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Ready?” He reached out his hand. It was a loaded question I didn’t have an answer for, but I slid my hand into his anyway.
“You should have some kind of coat on. It’s freezing tonight.” I let out a nervous laugh as I followed him to his truck. Josh was one of the few people that didn’t make me nervous. I couldn’t process being so jumpy in his presence. “Aren’t you cold?”
He held the door open and shook his head. “Not even a little.” The half-smile on his lips made my heart pound. This night was about to be a game changer, whether I wanted it to be or not.
“Thank you, everyone. This has been an amazing four months, and I think we’ll have a fantastic New Year!” Josh raised his glass of champagne and the rest of Falco Custom Bikes nodded and raised theirs in kind. It was surreal to gaze at him now, the self-assured, level-headed businessman. His muscular chest stretched the confines of his white button-down shirt as his ink peeked out from beneath his open collar. My eyes traveled to the tattoos on his wrists. Why did I find those sexiest of all? His arms and—from what I could tell from the shirts he wore—most of his chest, were lined with multi-colored designs, but his wrists drove me crazy. My eyes darted to my plate, ashamed to be caught ogling my best friend’s hands.
“If I may.” Josh’s Uncle Billy rose from the table. He gazed around the table at the handful of mechanics Josh employed at the small Queens-based shop and turned to his nephew with eyes full of pride. “To my nephew, the boy who turned his life around and became a success. No matter what happens, I’ll never be prouder of anyone than I am of you right now. To Josh.”
Josh smiled at his uncle as his eyes glossed over.
“Me neither,” I whispered as I dropped my hand to his forearm and squeezed. He covered my hand with his and met my gaze.
“So, enough with the mushy bullshit.” The deep rumble of laughter from the guys filled the room. “Happy holidays and let’s eat!”
The rooftop restaurant with its surrounding terrace had gorgeous views of the entire city. The red and green lights from the top of the Empire State Building illuminated the entire room. The crowd was small—only the workers with their spouses and his uncle. His uncle was returning home the next day, and I invited Josh to spend Christmas with me and my family, although I was sure it would be awkward as all hell. Scott hated even the mention of Josh in his presence now, and I had the impression Josh wasn’t Scott’s biggest fan either. And, of course, there was the whole on-the-brink-of-having-an-affair-with-Josh thing that added to the surmounting tension.
“Want to walk outside and see the view?” He nodded his scruffy chin to the outside terrace.
I pursed my lips and shook my head. “It’s like twenty degrees, and you think it’s the middle of the summer.”
“Oh, come on.” He stood and grabbed his suit jacket off the back of his chair. “Put this on. We won’t be out long. Seems a shame to be here and have no one go outside.”
I sighed as he pulled me from my chair and dragged me out to the terrace. The subfreezing bite of air hit me before Josh could drape his jacket across my shoulders. Shivering, I rubbed my hands together as I made my way toward the railing.
“It is beautiful out here. You should get a jacket.” I cursed myself for wearing a sweater dress with only a nylon barrier between my legs and the December chill. New York City was its most beautiful at night, especially during Christmas. It was a shame the buildings at Rockefeller Center covered the lights of the tree, but we had a great view of the Fifth Avenue snowflake.
“Geez, Cupcake. Is your blood that thin?” He snickered as he rubbed his hands up and down my arms, but my shivering didn’t cease. I wasn’t only shaking from the cold. My constant and lifelong pull to this beautiful boy, now a gorgeous man, was becoming too all-consuming to ignore. Being all alone, together, the air pulsed with it.
“No, it’s justthatcold. I don’t have muscles to keep me warm the way you do.” I narrowed my eyes at him and turned to focus on the view of the skyline, the stars, anything to distract me from what was making my body shake like a leaf.
Josh wrapped his arms around me and kissed the back of my head. “My muscles keep me warm? I thought it was the pretty girl wearing my jacket.”
“You’ve known me far too long to throw lines at me, Falco.” I turned my head and the heat of his gaze pinned me to the railing.
“Your uncle is so proud of you.”
“Just my uncle?” The sexy curl of his lip as he smirked at me was almost my undoing.
