Three

Rose was soaked. Not in a super-fun way. Not entirely, anyway. If only she could manage to get comfortable.

“Your gearshift is jabbing my knee,” she said.

“Well, it would help if I could figure out how to get this seat ba—ack!”

Josh’s arm jerked. She squealed as the seat gave way beneath them, sending them both flailing. “Shit.”

“That was embarrassing,” Josh mumbled. “Sorry. It’s a rental. You’re okay?”

Raindrops splashed from her hair when she nodded. “I think so.”

Hard to be sure Rose was even in her right mind. She still wasn’t quite sure why she’d kissed him. Except, well…

It was Josh. He’d always been her kryptonite.

She’d marched down that hall ready to rip him a new one, and then she’d gotten a good look at his face. At the way his eyes were still that striking steel gray and his hair—while shorter—still looked as if he’d recently rolled out of bed. That full-lipped smile of his put a slow simmer in her panties just the way it always had.

It had been a long week.

So. What to do when one was both enraged by past wrongs and horny as hell? She’d put her tongue in his mouth.

They’d kissed against the supply closet door until a café employee had inserted himself between them, awkwardly mumbling about needing to mop up some spilled salad dressing. Finding her nipples and her lady parts sufficiently perky from the hungry moans and confident tongue-play of her kissing partner, Rose had suggested they get the hell out of there. So they had.

No sooner had they dropped cash on both their tables and hustled out the door than the sky opened. When he’d grabbed her hand and yelled “This way!” she’d simply followed, because her lady parts demanded satisfaction. They knew Josh could deliver, old grudges be damned.

Beneath her, Josh groaned and shifted. Her knee hit the emergency brake. “Ow.”

“Sorry,” he murmured as he swept a palm over her afflicted knee. Attempting to turn his head resulted in the side of his face smacking the window. “Fuck. This is awkward.”

Rose pulled back. “You know, maybe we should just—”

She lost track of her words when his strong hands gripped her hips. Her damp skirt crept up to bunch around the tops of her thighs, exposing the cotton and lace between her legs. Just when she thought his fingers, the ones brushing her abdomen, might slip down and stroke the heated flesh between her legs, he pulled her forward and kissed her again.

Damn. She’d forgotten how he could practically suck a girl’s tonsils out and she’d beg him to do it all over again. And she thought she’d remembered everything. It’s too bad there’s no room in here to get on my knees.

“God, yes. I miss the way your lips felt around my cock.”

Damn. Had she said that out loud?

He grinned. “I used to get stupid-crazy when you got on your knees for me. Could’ve used my dick as a leash.”

Rose, however, hated that he had the power to make her want so much. To make her so out of control. One benefit to dating younger guys, after all. They were usually content to let her take the lead. Rose liked being in the lead.

She cleared her throat. “Yeah. Well…” Her lower back bumped the edge of the steering wheel. “This may have been a bad idea.”

“Disagree. Best idea ever. I have another way,” he said. His hands came to her shoulders and squeezed briefly before trailing one finger, two and then three fingers, across the tops of her breasts.

Oh. This was promising. Her lady parts agreed, throbbing and needy for his attention.

“Would it be all right if I…?” He raised his eyes in question, though he hadn’t finished asking.

“If you…?” She grinned, raising her eyebrows in return.

Josh chuckled. His thumb brushed over one nipple. Enough to feel it and make her shiver. “Your chest is all wet,” he murmured. “I want to suck the rain off your tits.”

Rose struggled for breath. The nipples in question stood at high alert. “You always did have a gift for the filthy talk.”

His eyes went wide. Almost as if she’d surprised him. But their chemistry had been explosive, so of course his wicked dialogue had turned her on. Why wouldn’t it?

“Women are allowed to want that stuff in bed, too.” Or in a car. Occasionally in a coat closet or a department store dressing room. Wherever.

“Damn right,” he murmured.

Rose’s body heated. She braced her hands on each of his arms, wanting to move closer but also wanting to drink in the sight of him. Part of her had hated Josh for so long, and yet the second she’d seen his face all she could remember was the way nobody’s kiss had set her on fire like his.

He resolved the matter for them both by pulling down the front of her wrap top and exposing her bra. One thumb and then the other swept over the sheer blush material, making her gasp.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re fucking perfect. I forgot how perfect.”

Empty compliments to butter her up? Maybe even outclass the douche who’d been telling her to watch the size of her ass. As if she didn’t already know her ass was exquisite. But history had taught that she couldn’t trust what came out of Josh Hale’s mouth. Hearing his whispers now, though, in a husky and almost reverent tone…it felt a little too real.

Speech wouldn’t come. Her reply, a simple thank you, jammed right in her throat. Instead, she did the only thing she could think of and unsnapped the front clasp of her bra.

The heat of his mouth on her breasts sent electricity straight to her core. His teeth scraped her flesh gently, and then harder, until she gasped from the pain and pleasure. She’d always liked it a little rough. He remembered.

Needing more, she drove her hips downward, pressing the thin fabric of her underwear against his khaki-covered erection. The feel of him was not enough and far too much all at once.

“What are the chances…” Her breath pushed out in great, hot gasps. “That we could fuck in here…without getting caught?”

She’d said the same words to him years ago. More than once. In the supply closet at a bar. The unlocked office in the back of a church. The coat room at Dave and Victoria’s wedding reception. It had kind of been their thing.

They hadn’t gotten caught yet.

A wicked groan vibrated against her chest. Burning puffs of his breath set her on fire. “The lot is pretty well-lit. We’re at the far end. Nobody on either side of us. I don’t know. Fifty-fifty?”

“Good enough for me.” She reached for the buckle of his belt.

His hand came over hers. “Hey. I didn’t exactly plan for this. I don’t have a condom.”

“Hang on…” She reached a flailing arm for her purse. It lay, delicate chain straps and faux leather tassels tangled in a sad heap, on the passenger seat of his rental car.

“Here.” She grabbed his hip with one hand. With the other, she struggled to open her bag.

She fished in the inside pocket and pulled one out. “Always be prepared.”

His full lips turned up. “I can learn a lot from you.”

Oh. Hell. That smile. She could almost forget she hated him when he flashed that grin.

“Damn right, asshole. Now unzip those pants.”

“I was kind of hoping you could verbally abuse me some more first.”

She gave his arm a playful slap. “Get that belt off.”

He moved, eyes burning. “Yes, ma’am.”

The slide of leather over fabric sent her brain into whiteout territory. Fear of exposure and excitement sped her movements. She struggled her thong off over her heels while he pushed his pants down…exposing one eye-popping erection.

Seriously, had it gotten bigger? That thing was so veiny and thick and pumped-looking, she half expected to see it hoisting a barbell and—

Ding!

“Sorry. Ignore that,” she murmured.

“That your phone? You can get it if you need to. Could be important.”

“That’s really sweet but—” Oh. Hell. What if Victoria had gone into labor? But her friend would call, not text. Right? Maybe not. Victoria was the type who didn’t like to worry people, so sending a “not to bother you but I seem to be having a baby” message was exactly the sort of thing her friend would do. “Actually, let me just check…”

He pressed himself against the seat, breathing heavily and managing to look large and sexy and relaxed under the awkward tension of waiting while Rose checked the text message. She sort of wanted to sink her teeth into him.

Not sort of. Biting was definitely on the to-do list. “It’s probably nothing. Just give me one second and— Shit.”

It was from her sister. The terse message, We need to talk, had Rose fixing her bra and scrambling for the door.

“Sorry. I need to—I have to go.” In a tangle of knees and elbows, Rose vaulted from Josh’s lap and grabbed her purse, clutching her phone for dear life. She climbed over to the passenger side of the car and paused with her hand on the door latch, glancing back at his bewildered stare.

He sat there wide-eyed and lips parted. Still breathing like he’d run a marathon. Still with his dick hanging out.

“I’m really sorry,” she said. Leaving him this way didn’t feel right. Her lady parts screamed in protest. But after months of no contact with her sister, she needed to call now, when she knew her sister was there and willing to talk.

He sat up and pulled her close, sliding his tongue between her lips. In that second, she nearly forgot her mission. Nearly.

Someone moaned. Was that her?

Her phone chimed again. “Damn. I really do have to go. I’m so sorry.”

Chilly air slapped her as she pushed open the passenger door. At least the rain had stopped. At least she hadn’t promised she’d call, the way he had.

This was for the best. If Josh was in town for Victoria and Dave’s upcoming birth, he was probably staying with them. Avoiding him might be tough, but she couldn’t let herself get herself hung up on him again. She wouldn’t be silly enough to make what just happened anything more than physical. Fool her once, and everything.

She leaned back across the console for a quick kiss. “Thanks for everything,” she murmured against his lips.

When she scrambled out into the cold, she tried not to look back.

“She literally left you there with your dick out?” Over bagels and cream cheese in Victoria’s sunshiny kitchen, Josh’s brother looked as if he didn’t know whether to explode with rage or double over with laughter.

Josh’s very pregnant, sort of sister-in-law froze mid-stride on her way back from her seventeenth bathroom break that morning. “I guess I missed the joke but arrived in time for the punch line.”

David aimed the sugar spoon at Josh. “Joshie had a one-night stand.”

For fuck’s sake. “It wasn’t— I didn’t even— We didn’t… It was nothing. Nothing happened. Also, I’m not twelve. Don’t call me Joshie.”

Victoria blinked as she struggled to perch on top of a tall stool near the center island. “Nothing happened. Except the part where she left you with your dick out?”

“Except that.” He hadn’t meant to reveal any details to his brother. “There was no sex. She didn’t spend the night. I don’t even know her name.”

Lies. He knew everything about Rose, from that tiny cluster of moles on her thigh to the way she sounded when she…

Well.

Given their history, he wasn’t sure Rose would want him to spread around that they’d been together. For that matter, Josh wasn’t sure himself. Things could get complicated, especially with Harrison in the picture.

Josh slurped his coffee in a rush to occupy his mouth before he said something even more stupid. “Blgah!” His tongue spasmed. He’d been so busy talking to David he’d forgotten to add his usual ten teaspoons of sugar and cream.

He was a man’s man that way.

“Well, damn. Your balls must be black and blue this morning,” Dave said with a chuckle. “Did you even get any work done?”

Actually, I came back and took a shower in your guest bathroom, stroking myself off to old memories of Rose bent over a desk with her dress around her waist, like the guilty perv I am. Then I worked into the wee hours of the morning and stumbled into bed for what barely qualifies as a nap. Jerked it again in the shower thirty minutes ago and then stumbled down here for breakfast, which is why I probably look like a damp zombie.

Could be TMI.

Josh pretended at calm and casual as he poured sugar into his coffee. How one poured granulated crystals casually, he wasn’t sure. Probably involved excessive interest in the stirring part, or at least that was his current strategy.

“Uh. Yeah. Stayed up late,” he mumbled.

Sleep wouldn’t have been an option anyway. It still wasn’t. Soon he’d have to pick up Harrison, likely hungover from an evening of sugar and superhero movies.

He should never have said a thing to David about the “mystery” woman from the café. He’d been processing aloud, weighing his disappointment about the way things had gone. Or hadn’t gone. Was he disappointed that he and Rose hadn’t talked more, or just angry at being left with blue balls?

Both. Definitely both.

Not that it mattered. No doubt Rose still held a grudge, and he wouldn’t be able to date women anymore after he got thrown in prison for strangling his brother. Dave was having way too much fun with this.

“Maybe she got a good look at you in full light.” The asshole in question laughed harder. “Hey. I know. Maybe you could put up some fliers with your picture and see if anyone calls.”

Josh took time to wipe a splash of creamer from the dark granite countertops. He may be itching to punch his brother, but Victoria shouldn’t have to clean up after a couple of Neanderthals.

“I get it,” Josh grumbled. “I look like a truck ran me over. Ha-fucking-ha. Do me a favor and get back to me after your kid is born and see how good you look in the mornings.”

Not that Rose had seemed to mind. Even as her eyes had flashed with anger, she’d made it abundantly clear that she remembered their chemistry as well as he did. That she still wanted him.

“I just can’t fucking believe Joshua ‘Mister Responsible’ Hale had a one-night stand.” The scrape of David’s chair told Josh that his brother had just burst to his feet in an excited explosion reminiscent of their late father, but he refused to turn his head.

“It wasn’t even—” Josh sighed. “I told you. We didn’t even get that far. And anyway, it’s not as if you never fucked and ran.”

He slung the accusation to deflect the insinuation that he’d done something irresponsible. He had. They weren’t kids anymore, and God knew what would have happened if they’d been caught. He and Rose had always been a reckless and wild combination. Apparently, she could still bring that out in him.

Dave’s very pregnant ex-wife (and current girlfriend. How fucking weird) cleared her throat. As she buttered a bagel across the kitchen island, she gave the father of her child the side-eye.

Josh grinned, glad to have the spotlight aimed elsewhere. Let’s see how he likes being in the hot seat.

David grumbled uncomfortably. “I’m only saying. You have a child to think about.”

“Irresponsible would be leaving my kid in the car while I go and get blown in the park. Marina had Harrison, and he was in no way affected by what happened.”

“I just feel like you need to think that sort of thing through. Not thinking things through was how you wound up with Harrison in the first place, and—”

The back of Josh’s neck caught fire. He slammed his travel mug on the counter. “I swear to God you’d better not finish that sentence.”

The fact that Harrison had been the very definition of unplanned did not keep Josh from loving his son more than his own life. Fuck anyone who insinuated otherwise.

Victoria stood. “Josh, he didn’t mean—”

“Vick, Dave and I have been fighting for a long time before you showed up, and I don’t need your help interpreting his judgmental bullshit.”

David pointed a finger. “Don’t you talk to her that way. You’ve got no fucking right.”

“And you have no right to tell me how to live my life!”

David threw a hand in the air. “Who even fucking cares? You haven’t listened to me in thirty-two years, so why start now?”

“Guys.” Victoria had her hands up as if they were both a couple of unruly animals. She wasn’t wrong.

Josh didn’t let her attempts at diffusing things derail him. “Oh, I’m listening to you, asshole. You’re just so full of shit you can’t even—”

“Full of shit? That’s fucking rich. You were the world’s most spoiled brat until Harrison came along.”

Josh jammed his finger into the counter. “At least I grew up. I’m not the one who’s about to have a child with his ex-wife and still doesn’t know what real commitment means. I feel sorry for Victoria having to put up with your arrogant ass.”

Victoria dropped her butter knife. “Guys, please. Everybody calm down.”

There was no calming Josh. Questioning his parenting always pissed him off, and Dave had gone as far as pushing up his sleeve and crossing the pristine kitchen to poke his finger in Josh’s chest.

“Don’t act as if you were some kind of model husband,” David growled. “For chrissakes, I’m not the one who got dragged down the aisle kicking and screaming. You dumped Kara, started fucking around with Rose, and then went back to Kara once she found out she was expecting. I can’t even count the number of lives you flipped upside-down with that slick move.”

Josh’s vision went red. Nobody needed to tell him he’d made a mess of things back then. He didn’t need it thrown in his face.

He poked David back. Hard. “You shut the fuck up, or I swear to God I will—”

A crashing sound came from the opposite end of the kitchen. “Guys!”

Victoria stood amid a clutter of silverware and shards of glass. A sad half of a bagel rolled across the floor. Bent forward with her eyes squeezed shut, she held one protective hand over her belly. The other she braced on her thigh, as if she wanted to straighten but couldn’t.

“Shit,” Josh murmured.

David’s face paled. “Baby, you okay?”

Victoria drew a slow breath. “That’s the thing. I don’t think I am.”