chapter Six
On Saturday morning, Josh was flat on his back in his office. It wasn’t really his office. He’d converted the small space into a homemade gym that had a treadmill and bench press. Currently, he was on his back, lifting weights. He had to admit that last night he’d slept like a baby. It probably had something to do with the spectacular orgasm he’d had in the parking lot. He was still mulling over the rest of the night though, trying to decide how he felt about it.
After Shelly had left him in the lot, he’d taken a moment to pull himself together before making his way back inside, passing the gigantic bouncer who’d looked down at him with a huge smirk. Josh knew the a*shole had probably heard Shelly’s scream as she’d shattered all over his hand, and for some reason, that had completely pissed him off.
Shaking off the memory, he went back to thinking about what had happened once he got back into the club.
Shelly had been sitting at the bar next to Paul, who had his hand resting on her bare knee, and Rachel had pulled him straight out onto the dance floor. Knowing he’d owed Rachel, Josh had gone reluctantly, considering all he’d wanted to do was get close enough to Shelly to smell her. Or to smell myself on her.
However, no such luck. For the rest of the night, which had been three more excruciating hours, she’d managed to completely avoid him and spent the whole time pretending to be interested in Paul.
Just sex, he kept repeating to himself. It’s all about sex. Great sex, but just sex.
He gripped the bar above his head and did five reps before placing it back.
I can do just sex, right?
Granted, he’d never done it before, and honestly, he had never even thought of it as a possibility. After all, how can two people be so close with one another yet remain uninvolved? And how does this work anyway? Am I supposed to just dial for a booty call? Or is she going to call me? The hell if he knew.
Staring at the ceiling, he was about to reach up and grip the weight again when the phone rang beside him.
Reaching out, he grabbed it, answering, “Daniels.”
“Joshua, its Cole,” his lawyer and friend announced, even though the stern tone at the other end could never be mistaken for anyone else.
“Hey, man. How’s it going?”
“Good. I have no reason to complain. I just wanted to touch base and let you know that the disgruntled—”
“A*shole?” Josh injected.
“Well, yes, I was going to say employer, but a*shole will work. He called and dropped the case. He’s going to pay you the full amount.”
Sighing a huge breath of relief, Josh asked, “How’d you get him to change his mind?”
“Threats and lies. All threats and lies,” Cole told him in an almost sinister tone, which was only lightened by the dark chuckle he added on the end.
“Ahh, just the kind of lawyer I want on my side.”
“That’s right. Now, tell me, are we all still going to your brother’s for poker?”
Josh sat up, grabbed the towel he’d slung over the end of the bench, and wiped his face.
“Yep. Jeremy told everyone to come by at noon.”
“Okay, I’ll be there. Should I bring anything?”
“Maybe some beer? It is poker, sooo maybe some luck? Last time you played, we killed you.”
Josh got the reaction he’d been waiting for in the ever so serious tone he’d become accustomed to from Cole.
“Be careful, my friend. I read up on it and now know all the rules.”
Laughing, Josh threw the towel into the dirty clothes basket. “Is that right? Could you sound any more like a nerd? Or a lawyer?”
“I’ll have you know, Daniels, this nerd just saved you ten-thousand dollars.”
Conceding this round to his friend and business associate, Josh nodded. “You sure did, so I’ll go easy on you.”
“How accommodating of you.” Cole laughed, good-naturedly. “See you soon.”
“Yep. I’ll be the one taking all your money.”
***
Shelly was standing outside the door to Mason and Lena’s home. It was strength training day, and every second Saturday, they went down to the local gym to do an hour of weights. Shelly had been let into the building by Ed at the front door and had now knocked twice. Still, there was no answer. She moved closer and pressed her ear up to the door.
That was when she heard Lena giggle and say emphatically, “Mason, stop.”
Shelly moved back just as the handle twisted, and the big door was pulled opened by a flush-faced Lena.
“Getting in some early morning cardio?” Shelly asked with a raised brow.
Mason strolled forward in a white T-shirt and some low-riding sweats, placing a hand on Lena’s shoulder. “I was trying, but she’s conserving all her strength for you,” he told Shelly with a smirk.
Poking her tongue out at him, Shelly strolled into the loft. “Lucky me.”
Stopping at the kitchen, the usual OJ was sitting on the counter. She picked it up, taking a sip. “Oh, Mason! Forget Lena. Come live with me and squeeze my oranges.”
Mason let out a loud laugh as Lena punched her lightly on the arm.
“That did not sound right,” Lena muttered. “He better not squeeze anything of anybody’s, except mine.”
Smiling, Shelly took another sip and shrugged at her friend. “Hey, it was worth a shot.”
“Yeah, well, you can forget it. This chef, playboy, and charmer is all mine.”
“Ahh, ladies? I’m still in the room. Although I have to tell you, being fought over is kind of hot. Can you maybe start pulling hair? Ripping clothes?” Mason pretended to look around, and then opened the fridge. “I’m sure I can find some Jello for you to both roll in.”
They all started laughing.
“Perv,” Shelly told him as she finished the glass of OJ.
She watched Mason move around the kitchen, cooking them breakfast. This had become a ritual for them. She would come over to pick up Lena, and Mason would cook them a healthy and scrumptious breakfast, and then send them on their way. The man was a genius in the kitchen, so it certainly wasn’t a hardship to eat his food. He also wasn’t hard to watch.
Shelly bet he and Josh had broken hearts all through school. Two good-looking guys—one a complete charmer, all polished and smooth around the edges, and the other a little wild with sharp, jagged edges—who were the perfect good boy and bad boy. And they just happened to be best friends.
Hell, if her friend wasn’t engaged to the pretty boy, Shelly may have found herself entertaining a hot ménage à trois scenario. However, her friend was in love with him, so that was an automatic no-go fantasy. So, she settled for being friends with the sizzling hot chef, who was currently wrapped around Lena, kissing the hell out of her.
Clearing her throat, Shelly watched with amusement as the two lovebirds pulled apart. They were so happy with one another; it was hard not to envy what they had. Shelly was woman enough to admit to feeling a small stab of jealousy.
“Hello? I’m still here. Wait until I leave to get naked, please,” Shelly teased with a grin.
Lena moved away from Mason and came over to the counter, leaning up against it.
“So?” she asked, and then paused. “Where’d you disappear to last night?”
Busted, Shelly thought with a wince. “Nowhere. What do you mean?”
Lena’s mouth pulled up in a smug I-got-you smirk. “It means that while we were dancing—”
“And making out,” Mason injected into the sentence.
“Yes. Thanks, babe. While we were dancing and making out, we noticed you had disappeared. Did you have a fight with Paul?”
Shelly thought about it for all of two seconds before she latched onto that excuse. “Yeah, he was annoying me. Not even having one drink. And then, did you see the way he danced?”
“Yep,” Mason said, looking over his shoulder at her with a grin. “Boy cannot move.”
Shelly nodded, feeling bad for throwing Paul under the bus. When he’d dropped her off last night, they’d decided that theirs was a relationship better left in the past. Way in the past.
“Yes. So, anyway, I went to the little girls’ room for a breather.”
Lena picked up a slice of apple from a fruit platter in front of them and bit down into the crisp segment, nodding.
“Huh, well, that’s too bad. I was hoping it’d work out for you,” she stated, moving away from the counter to walk over to her bedroom. “I’ll be right back, just going to put on my shoes.”
Shelly grunted an unintelligible answer as she watched Mason plate the eggs he’d been scrambling. She stood and moved around the bench, making her way to the stove. When she got there, she reached out to take the plate he was offering. But, when she gripped it, he held onto the edge, making her look up at him.
“Funny thing. Josh was gone right at the same time you were,” he pointed out with a curious expression on his too handsome face.
Shelly felt every muscle in her body freeze. She tried to remain calm and not give herself away. As she stood there, her gaze locking with Casanova’s, she felt like maybe her poker face was crumbling.
“Huh. Yeah, that is funny. I don’t know where he was. Probably off in a dark corner somewhere.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed, and he nodded as he let go of the plate. Shelly felt like he could read her mind as he stood there staring at her. God, she hoped not because it was currently screaming, I’m lying! I’m lying!
“Yeah, probably. Josh never had a problem getting a woman into a dark corner.”
I bet, Shelly thought to herself. He’d had no problem getting her in an open-spaced, dimly lit parking lot.
“Typical,” she responded just to say something while she spun away from Mason’s probing stare. When she was seated at the bench, she watched him move over to the counter with a hand towel, wiping his hands.
“What do you mean typical? He’s a good guy, got a good job. Why not give him a chance?”
Shelly lifted a fork, stabbing into the eggs like they were her mortal enemy, and then raised them to her lips, grinning. “Because I gave a guy like him a chance once, and he used it all up for every other guy like him.”
Mason threw the towel on the counter as Shelly heard Lena come out from the room behind her.
“What do you mean guys like him? And that doesn’t seem real fair, does it?” Mason paused, watching her. “I didn’t think you were such a snob.”
Shelly let her fork drop down on the plate with a clang. “And I didn’t think you were such a gossipy woman. Geez, Mason, let it go. Why do I need to be banging your friend?”
Lena stopped at the end of the counter, looking back and forth between Shelly and her fiancé. Mason very rarely got upset or annoyed at anything, but right now, he looked a little bit ruffled.
“You don’t, Shelly, although it might help with the bitchy attitude.”
Sighing, Shelly picked up her fork and looked at the man opposite her—a man who had surprisingly become a really good friend.
“You’re right about one thing. I need to get laid. But not with Josh, okay? It’s just too complicated and messy with us all knowing each other.” She paused, thinking that if she were Pinocchio, her nose would have grown past Mason, through the kitchen wall, and back out into the hall. “I had a bad experience with a man, and guys like Josh remind me of him. So, I just try and steer clear.”
Mason reached over, putting a hand on hers. “Okay. I’ll lay off.” He paused, his killer smile and twin dimples appearing. “But, for God’s sake, go and find someone to jump. You’re turning into an old-frustrated broad.”
Lena gasped, and Shelly giggled.
“Are you telling me to get laid, Langley?”
“Yes! Go and find a willing man, which I know will be extremely easy for you, and ride him home.”
Shelly looked at Lena, who was staring at Mason with a what-the-f*ck-did-you-just-say look. Then, she turned back to Shelly and shrugged.
“Okay, okay! You’ve convinced me. I’ll go and find a man to—what did you say—ride. So, I no longer act like a bitch to my two closest and dearest friends.” Pausing, she lifted the fork, shoveling the eggs into her mouth. “Damn, the things I do for you two.”
With that, the three of them burst out laughing.
***
Josh arrived at his brother’s house a little after 11 a.m. Parking near the side of his place, Josh got out and made his way through the back door and into the kitchen. He found his brother, Jeremy, standing at the counter putting a bag of chips into a bowl.
“Hey, Martha Stewart,” he greeted him from the doorway.
Josh’s younger brother turned and flipped him the finger. “Up yours, Josh. How you doing?”
Strolling into the kitchen, Josh grabbed a chip, crunching down onto it. He leaned up against the sink and shrugged. “Not bad. You?”
“Same,” Jeremy answered as he turned to the fridge. Opening it, he searched around, and then came back with a jar of salsa.
Jeremy was two years younger than Josh, had blonde hair that was longer than usual, and almost looked like a “surfer dude,” except for the fact that they lived in Chicago.
“So, who’s coming today?” Josh asked, reaching for another chip.
“Vince and Cole.”
Nodding, Josh picked up the two bowls and followed his brother through the house to the game room.
Vince was his Crew Manager and now friend. He’d hired him around two years ago with his tough but fair attitude, and he’d been running things in Chicago when Josh had been in L.A. Physically he was short, stocky, and as some of the other guys called him, scary as hell.
Jeremy had set up the usual poker table, and Josh put the chips and salsa on the side table where the cooler sat beside it.
“I can’t believe Cole agreed to come. Last time he was here we cleaned the floor with him.”
Josh laughed at his brother, moving to the stereo. “I know. I just told him the same exact thing today, but he has informed me that he has ‘read up on it and now knows all the rules.’”
Jeremy looked over at him, and they both started to laugh.
“God, that guy is something else. He’s such a suit and yet so flippin’ scary cool at the same time. I don’t know how he pulls it off,” Jeremy said, shaking his head.
Josh finally found what he was looking for—ahh, classic Pink Floyd—and put the vinyl on. “No one knows what makes that guy tick, and shit, I’ve known him for years. He never gives anything away either.” Josh smiled as the doorbell sounded. “I’ll go let them in.”
“Okay, I’m just gonna get the rest of the food,” Jeremy answered, walking back into the kitchen.
***
Two hours later and several beers in, Josh was down twenty bucks but was almost positive he was about to win fifty. Sitting across from a stoic-faced Cole, Josh was starting to think the guy was up to something.
Cole had been kicking everyone’s ass tonight. He’d walked in dressed in a three-piece suit from an earlier meeting in the office—yes, on a Saturday—acting like he’d just read up on how to play last night. Then, he’d sat down and proceeded to clean house.
The guy was playing them and playing them well, but Josh felt like he had this one. After all, he had a straight flush. There he sat, staring at his five hearts, as Cole slowly smirked at him like a cool seasoned pro.
“You know this I’m-better-than-you smile makes you look real ugly, Madison.”
Cole just smiled wider. “Does it? I thought it made me look…” He paused, cocking his dirty blonde head to the side as the other two sat back watching. “Rich?”
Josh shook his head and picked up his beer, taking a swig. “Nope, sorry, just ugly.”
Cole nodded and asked him, “So, what’s eating you? Usually, you’re a much better loser when these other guys win. Is it because it’s me kicking your sorry ass?”
Josh laughed a little and ran a hand up and through his hair, thinking about a certain blonde. “Nah. Not that I’ve lost,” he stressed. “You going to show your cards or keep talking shit?”
Cole casually put down his five cards. Sitting up and leaning across the table, Josh and the other two men stared in complete shock at Cole’s beautiful royal straight flush.
Josh shook his head, throwing his cards down on the table. “How in the hell, Madison?”
Cole leaned over and picked up the cash. “I told you. I read up on how to play.”
Jeremy chuckled in the background, and Vince let out a loud bark of laughter, too.
“You read a f*cking book, and then just beat us all and took our money?” Vince questioned in disbelief.
Cole folded the cash and pulled out what appeared to be a money clip.
The guy has a money clip? Who even knew they still made those?
Clipping his money and tucking it away, Cole nodded. With that same annoying as shit grin, he told them all, “Yes, that is exactly right.”
“Not cool, man. Not cool,” Josh said, shaking his head.
“Sorry, just the way it goes.”
They all sat back, shaking their heads.
Then, Jeremy asked, “You have been in a funk today, Josh. What gives? Woman trouble?”
Is that the reason I’ve been kind of pissy and irritable today? Because I don’t know what the deal is with Shelly? Josh reached up, scratching his head. It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s supposed to be a secret. Well, it could still be a secret if they don’t know her name.
“Well, yeah, actually. I met this woman.”
All of a sudden, the guys sat up, moving slightly forward. It was like a bad scene from a movie. Tell me more, tell me more. Anyone?
Josh sighed and again found himself running his hand through his hair.
“So? What about her? Why’s it bothering you?” his brother asked.
“Well, it’s complicated.” Josh paused. Relaxing back in the chair, he grabbed his beer as Jeremy, Cole, and Vince stared at him.
“Why? What’s so difficult about the woman? And if it’s such a f*cking pain in the ass, kick her to the curb.” Vince suggested.
Josh thought about that, rubbing a hand over his stomach, and then blurted out, “She’s f*cking hot. I’m not kicking her to the curb. I kind of want to haul her to my bed.” And keep her there, he thought right before Jeremy jumped in.
“So, what’s the problem? She won’t let you?”
Josh laughed, took a gulp of beer, and then put the bottle down. “Oh, no, she wants to, but that’s all she wants.”
The table went quiet. Cole, Vince, and Jeremy stared at him with bewildered looks.
“Forget it,” he told them with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Jeremy’s mouth was the first to fall open. “Ahh, I don’t understand what the problem is here. Hot chick just wants sex. What’s your issue? You feeling degraded?”
Josh glared at his brother. “Shut the f*ck up. Her and I? Well, we both know the same people, and she came up with this deal about sex and secrets. She’s so insanely sexy, but I know she’s trouble with a huge neon T blazing. I don’t know the rules for this kind of game—” Suddenly, Josh realized how much he’d said and shut up real quick.
Cole was the first to speak. “There are rules?”
Josh nodded. “There’s one. It’s a secret. That’s the f*cking rule.”
Cole blew out a breath, reaching up to scratch his head. “She’s hot, you say?”
“F*ck yeah.”
“She worth the trouble?” Vince queried with a raised brow.
Josh paused, and then shrugged. “I have no idea.”
The room fell silent before Jeremy asked, “Can you do that? You’re not real good at just walking away. Look at Melissa. Five months later-”
Josh glared at his brother. “Sure. If she can do it, so can I. After all, she doesn’t want feelings. She just wants sex.”
And that, Josh thought, is what I’ll give her.