“Don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I can’t contradict you,” I teased.
“Well, I’ve got what I came for anyway.”
“Giving me white hair,” Hunter said in a grouchy tone. Ryker laughed. Even I laughed.
“I haven’t seen him in such a good mood in a long time. Someone’s in love.”
Ah... if only.
Ryker rose, kissing my cheek, then trapping my right hand between his palms. “Josie, you’re my only hope. I need you on my side on this.”
“You charmer, you.”
“Hey, I’m The Flirt, and proud of it. Don’t you get me mixed up with Cole.”
I laughed, shaking my head.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I can flirt just to prove I’m worthy of my nickname.”
“Go ahead.”
Hunter’s eyes snapped fire.
“Or maybe not. Someone’s jealous.” I batted my eyelashes at Hunter. “What? I’m not marrying Ryker, am I?”
I winked at him before focusing on Ryker.
“Hunter wants to have the bachelor party the night before the wedding. I have big plans, and I don’t think that would be wise,” Ryker said.
“We’re just going to have some drinks,” Hunter grumbled. Ryker smirked. They were definitely not just going to have some drinks.
“Are you going to return him to me in one piece?” I asked Ryker.
“I cannot promise that.”
“Without a hangover?”
“Also can’t promise that.”
I turned to Hunter. “So, since you’ll probably be hungover and in bad shape, I can’t have that on our wedding day. You should have your bachelor party the weekend before.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes. “You were supposed to come here to rescue me.”
“Yes, but Ryker’s case is so much more convincing than yours.”
“Thank you, Josie,” Ryker said jovially.
Hunter still looked grouchy as Ryker bid us goodbye. I slid into the chair he’d just vacated.
Hunter asked one of the waiters to bring the moussaka he’d ordered for me. I was so hungry that I’d completely forgotten why I’d wanted to see him in the first place, but I remembered after a few mouthfuls, once the couple next to us asked to pay.
“I got a call from my bank,” I said.
A grin appeared on his face.
“Of course. As we agreed.”
“I don’t remember the agreeing part.”
His grin broadened. “I suggested it, you gave me shit. I persisted. You said I was very convincing.”
Damn it, this was where I was supposed to have a smart comeback. Instead, I was lost in those blue eyes. I couldn’t look away from his lips. They were so full. They always had been, but after knowing how they felt against mine, I couldn’t unthink it anymore.
“Tess called today to inform me she wanted you all to herself one afternoon this week to go dress shopping for the wedding. You will need that money.”
“Has it ever occurred to you that Tess will never believe I’d let you pay for my wedding dress? Or let you give me money, for that matter? She knows me too well.”
“She also knows me well, and I have no doubt that she’s sure that if you were really mine, I would make sure you’re taken care of and want for nothing.”
God, that was sweet. A bit tyrannical, but sweet.
“You’d have a hard time convincing me.”
“I remember you saying my kiss threw you off your game. Want to test that theory some more?” Hunter moved from the chair opposite me to the one next to me.
He was slightly towering over me, and by the delicious glint in his eyes, I could tell that if I pushed, he’d kiss me just to prove his point.
I shook my head. “This is insane.”
“I know.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him, but he seemed unfazed.
“I didn’t authorize the transfer. Aside from my personal reasons, it would be a huge red flag for the immigration office, Hunter.”
His smile fell. “I didn’t think about that.”
“It would look as if you’re paying me to marry you.”
“You’re right.”
“So... this arrangement will have to work differently. I will deal with my wedding dress. As to all the other dresses I’ll need for functions and so on... you and I can go shopping before every event. It would make me feel better than having a joint account or credit card.”
He stared at me. “That’s my punishment, right? I hate shopping.”
“Right. Of course, you do.”
“You can bribe me into coming.”
“How?”
“Promise me a peek while you’re changing.”
His eyes smoldered. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t have a comeback. Was he joking? But that heat in his eyes... Oh, God, he wasn’t joking.
There were two sides to Hunter. One I knew: my friend, my rock. The other: the man. Pure masculinity. Pure testosterone. I was more aware of that now than ever. My body reacted to it on a primal level.
“Cat got your tongue?” he whispered playfully.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Just tell me what you want.”
He placed his hand over mine. Holy shit. My skin sizzled everywhere he touched me... and everywhere he didn’t, as if my entire body was anticipating his touch—craving it.
“Shopping. Tomorrow” was all I managed to say.
Hunter’s grin turned triumphant. Damn, I loved making him smile. “We have a deal.”
***
Hunter
The next afternoon, we headed to a shop Tess recommended on Fifth Avenue. The street was packed, but there were only a few other patrons in the shop. The salesperson led me and Josie to a changing room all the way at the back.
There was a leather armchair directly in front of the changing rooms, and on the small coffee table next to it there was a bottle of water and a glass. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
Josie turned to me. “The Ballroom Galas only start in September, but we’ll be attending other functions in the meantime, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are they as elegant as the galas?”
She’d come to a few over the years.
“I don’t know how to answer that. I always wear a tux.”
She laughed, patting my shoulder. “Okay, I can handle this.”
She went directly to a salesperson and they spoke about lengths and styles and God knows what else before the woman disappeared. Josie closed the curtains.
I poured water in my glass and nearly toppled it over when I heard a zipper. She was undressing. I drew in a sharp breath, focusing on my glass.
The woman—Honor was the name on her badge—brought a handful of dresses, handing them over to Josie. When Honor left, she didn’t draw the curtains to the changing room all the way together.
I played with the rim of the glass, determined not to look.
Five seconds later, I lost the battle with myself and glanced up. I was getting more than an eyeful. Was she doing this on purpose? To torment me? No, that wasn’t her style.
The right thing to do would have been to tell her that I had a direct view, but as of late, when it came to Josie, I couldn’t seem to be able to do the right thing.