“Ryker, don’t start,” Cole said.
“Why not? Need to understand what changed his mind.”
“Why?” I asked.
“So I don’t run the same risk.”
I laughed, twirling the empty glass.
“When you know, you know, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Ryker looked glum at my explanation but didn’t pry any further. I couldn’t help wondering what Tess, Skye, and Josie were up to. I’d been wondering for the better part of the day, but every time I took out my phone, I shoved it right back in my pocket.
I lost the fight after the third round of tequila and excused myself from the group.
The music was loud enough that I had to step outside to make the call. My vision was blurry when I looked at the screen, but I somehow managed to pull up Josie’s number.
Only it wasn’t Josie who answered. It was Skye.
“You’re one lovesick fiancé,” she remarked.
“Can I talk to Josie?”
“Nope. It’s a no-man zone tonight. If you speak to her, you’ll convince her to bail on us.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Because you sound like you’ve had just enough tequila to want to bolt on Ryker and convince Josie to bolt with you, and we can’t have that. We still have plans. You’ll have your fiancée all to yourself tomorrow, but tonight, she’s ours.”
“What exactly do those plans entail?”
“You know. Just fun.”
That wasn’t reassuring at all, but Skye refused to tell me anything more. My thoughts were running amok as I headed inside, back to the guys. Ryker had suggested a strip club, but I’d firmly put my foot down. Not my style.
But what about Josie? Had my cousins gotten her a stripper? The thought drove me insane. I didn’t want any man to put his hands on her, let alone other body parts.
Fucking hell. Why was I feeling possessive? She was my friend. She was helping me out. That was all.
I was lying to myself, and I knew it. This past week, it had become clear just how close to each other we’d be over the next few years, and this morning... fuck. We were going to live in the same house.
“There you are. Tell me you haven’t called Josie,” Ryker said.
“I haven’t called Josie.”
“You’re a shit liar.” He dragged a hand over his face dramatically. “Skye will hand me my ass.”
“Why?”
“Because we were supposed to keep you entertained enough not to call Josie.”
The corners of my mouth twitched. “Skye was the one who answered the phone, so you’d better be thorough in preparing your defense.”
***
I arrived at the house at three o’clock in the morning. Josie wasn’t there yet. Despite the long day, I felt full of energy. The light buzz from the alcohol had evaporated, and I was too restless to sleep.
I heard noise at the front door about an hour later. It sounded as if someone was scratching the lock. I didn’t see anyone through the peephole but opened anyway. Josie was bent, holding the key in her hand. She straightened up, batting her eyelashes.
“Umm... had a little trouble finding the lock.”
“They got you drunk.”
Josie pouted, lacing her arms around my neck as I scooped her up in my arms. “They invited all my closest friends. We were twelve. It was crazy. And Tess and Skye were merciless, Hunter. Merciless. I thought I was safe once we’d gotten to the club, but then after we had a few shots, they were at it again. I made a fool of myself.”
“What did they ask?”
I laid her on the bed in the guest room, sitting at the edge. “Why I fell for you, what I like best about you, how I knew you were the one.”
“What did you tell them?”
She wrinkled her nose, turning on one side with her face to me, hugging the pillow. “That you’re probably the person who knows me best and you’ve charmed me since you were a teenager, and that I’ve dreamed about having mini Hunters forever.”
“Fuck, you’re sweet.”
“My head’s swimming.”
“Close your eyes. Go to sleep.”
“I should probably change....”
“I’ll help.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not drunk enough to get seminaked in front of you.”
She was out in a few seconds, but I didn’t move from her side. Had she meant any part of what she’d told my cousins? Or did she just tell them that to appease them? It was probably the latter, but her words tugged at me for reasons I didn’t understand.
The warmth of a home and the love of a woman were things I hadn’t even let myself think I might have one day, because they’d always felt so far out of reach.
I honestly couldn’t see myself in that position. A father. The head of a family. Did Josie see me in a different light?
When Josie turned on the other side, her dress rode up higher—and then even higher when she rolled onto her stomach. Holy fuck. She was wearing a thong that basically covered nothing. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t not look.
I had to get out of there. Now.
I darted out the door, taking refuge in my own bedroom. Jesus Christ. This was my life from now on. This gorgeous woman would be living with me for three years. I’d be tempted every single day, and I’d have to fight that temptation.
No matter how close she was, Josie was out of reach.
***
I slept like a rock. Next morning, I was surprised to find Josie was already awake... mostly. She was lying on the couch, knees pulled up to her chest, staring into space. She looked cute, in long pajama pants and a top. I couldn’t erase the image of that perfect ass of hers from my brain.
“Morning, drunk girl.”
“My head feels like it weighs a ton. Took a shower, but it didn’t help.”
“Alcohol will do that to you.”
“Why are you so chirpy? You had your bachelor party.”
“But I came home earlier.”
“Boo, that sounds like a boring party.”
“Want to take a grand tour of the place?”
She groaned. “I should, right? But I just want to stay like this forever.”
“You need water.”
I brought her a large glass from the kitchen. She reluctantly pushed herself to a sitting position, crossing her legs on the couch.
“I know the house anyway,” she mumbled. “The agent gave us a tour.”
“Yes, but it didn’t have any furniture back then.”
“You’re right. Okay, let me finish this up and you can give me a tour of the kingdom.”
I chuckled, helping her up after she emptied the glass. We covered the rooms where Leonie had set up home offices for us, then the guest room she was sleeping in and the one where I’d put the treadmill once it was delivered before coming to the master bedroom where I’d taken up residence.
“Wow, this room is even bigger than I remember,” Josie said in wonder.
“I sleep on the left side of the bed... not sure if you’ll ever need that detail, but there it is. So the right side would be yours.”
She met my gaze, then quickly looked away. Damn, she was blushing, and she looked gorgeous. This was intimate information, and as a friend, she wouldn’t know.