“I did not bring you down here to make out!”
“From the look on your face, you brought me down here to murder me. But I caution you to think it through. It would be difficult to hide my body, and I think Libby’s too busy with Noah to help.”
“Why is your brother flirting with my best friend?”
“She’s a beautiful woman, Megan.” He put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. “But not nearly as beautiful as you.”
“Cut the bullshit, Josh.”
“I really do think you’re beautiful—” his voice lost its teasing tone, “—and I don’t know why Noah is so taken with Libby, but she seems like a smart girl. She can handle herself.”
She jerked up her head to look him in the eye. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means my brother is not a one-woman kind of guy, but when Libby made it obvious she was interested in him, I mentioned that fact to her. She told me not to worry. She knew what he was.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “When did you talk to Libby about your brother?”
“After I came home this evening and went upstairs to find you. Libby was in your room. You were in the bathroom.”
“Hmm.”
He was still holding her close, resisting the urge to kiss her. Although he suspected it would distract her from the next topic she was sure to bring up, he didn’t want to play her that way.
“What are you doing, Josh?”
“I’m standing in your basement, waiting to see if you’re going to murder me or not.” He made a show of spinning his head to take it in. “I’m surprised it’s unfinished. And that your mother didn’t ask your father to set up his man cave down here rather than upstairs.”
“You can’t change the subject. Why aren’t you trying to break up with me like we discussed?”
“You haven’t given me much opportunity.”
She pulled out of his grasp. “We’ve been out there for two hours!”
“Really?” he asked in what he hoped was believable surprise. “I guess I was too busy having a good time. I like your dad’s family.”
She shook her head, as though trying to clear her confusion. “I like my dad’s family, too, but you have to stick to the plan.”
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, spreading his hands. “I’ve never purposely acted like an asshole before.” She snorted and he gave her a look of surprise. “Are you suggesting I’m a natural asshole?”
“No . . . I don’t know.” She scowled. “But we have to do something, Josh. We have to end this tonight. This is getting bad.”
“I know. You’re right. How about I start drinking a lot? Then I can act like a sloppy drunk, giving you a good reason to break up with me.”
She pursed her lips, deep in thought, before nodding and looking up at him. “Yeah. That’s good. If you just start acting like a jerk now, my family will wonder why you’re like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
“Okay, so I’ll start getting drunk. Let’s get to it.” He took her hand, surprised when she didn’t protest, and led her up the stairs. When they were in the kitchen, he stopped and dropped his hold on her. “But first I need to visit the restroom before I go back outside.” He patted his stomach. “That pulled pork isn’t quite agreeing with me.”
The look she gave him said she didn’t quite trust him, but the request was too reasonable for her to deny.
“You don’t have to wait for me. In fact, it might be safer for me to go upstairs.” He grimaced.
She released a nervous laugh. “Don’t let Dad hear you say that. He loves Gate’s barbeque. He’d call that blasphemy.”
“From all the dogs barking outside your fence, I’d say they like it, too.” The sound seemed almost appropriate given the laid-back vibe of the evening, but he knew it had to be driving Nicole crazy.
A sly grin spread across her face. “Those are the Murphys’ dogs. Mom is furious they got loose. In fact, she called animal control, but apparently they haven’t shown up yet.”
“You really do take a perverse pleasure at your mother’s aggravation.”
She laughed. “I guess that makes me wicked.”
He liked the thought of her doing wicked things, but not the kind she currently had in mind.
“You go on back outside,” Josh said, heading for the stairs. “I’ll be out as soon as I’m fit to be seen in public.” He bounded up the stairs two at a time in his attempt to get away from her. He wasn’t so sure how convincing his gastrointestinal issue was, but he had to talk to Noah. And maybe he could find Bart’s home office while he was upstairs.
He opened the first room on his right, finding what appeared to be Kevin’s room. Eliminating Megan’s and her grandmother’s rooms, that left one possibility. He pushed open the door, relieved to find a desk with a desktop computer and a credenza and printer. Pulling out his phone, he texted his brother. I found Vandemeer’s home office.
Seconds later Noah responded. I found it first. I’m sleeping there, Sherlock. Josh could practically hear his sarcasm.
Sure enough, there was a bag on the loveseat on the wall opposite the desk. Have you checked it yet?
Not thoroughly, but I have all night. As long as you don’t screw this up now.
Josh released a heavy breath. She wants me to break up with her tonight.
Obviously you can’t. Figure something out.
Figure something out. Sure, no problem.
He went back downstairs and grabbed a bottle of beer from the cooler by the back door, taking a long drag from it before he searched for Megan. She was standing with a group of her cousins and aunts. She looked nervous, and he hated the knowledge that he was to blame, but he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Not yet. Now that Noah was here, they could get what they needed to save the business, and he’d break up with her tomorrow night at the rehearsal dinner. He could pretend to get drunk tomorrow night, then put the moves on Blair. He almost choked on his beer at the very thought of it, but it was a good plan. Blair would raise holy hell, and no one would condone Megan marrying him then.
But he couldn’t tell Megan his new plan. He’d drink a lot tonight to pave the way to the big finale tomorrow and figure out a way to appease her in the meantime.
His other problem—how to appease his own hurting heart once she found out what he was about—was entirely his own cross to bear.
He took another draw off the bottle, trying to chase the feeling away. How could he already be so attached to Megan? He hardly knew her, but he knew enough not to want to let her go. He finished off the beer and grabbed another. Fuel for the performance.
Megan turned and saw him, her face momentarily lighting up . . . then fading. He lifted his bottle in salute to show her he was on task.
He walked toward her, and a black cat shot out from a bush, darting across his path. He stumbled to keep from tripping on it, and he was sure it made him look drunk, although anyone who had been paying attention would realize it was far from true. He couldn’t face Megan at the moment, so he made his way over to Noah, who was sitting at a small table with Libby. They were deep in conversation and laughing when he sat down across from them.