Josh glanced over at Becca as the rich tunes of the Miami Symphony Orchestra filled the Arsht Center. She was completely enthralled with the performance. Josh didn’t think she’d so much as blinked since they’d arrived.
When he’d heard her briefly talk about how much she missed playing the violin and had seen the look of longing in her eyes, he’d known in that moment that he wanted to take her some place that might help her get that spark back.
Becca was so acutely focused on the performance that all Josh could do was watch her in complete awe. He’d gotten the best box seats he could find, wanting her to have the best view possible. Her features were relaxed as she listened to the soloists move from one piece to the next flawlessly.
Josh sat a little straighter in his seat as he tried to concentrate on the piece that was currently being performed. His mind wandered to dinner at his mom’s place earlier. Everything had gone better than expected and by the time his mom and Becca had finished preparing dinner, they had been like two peas in a pod. Even his brothers had commented on the fact that they hadn’t seen their mom smile quite like that in so long.
He wasn’t surprised that by the end of the dinner, Becca had his entire family eating out of the palm of her hand. She may claim that her social capabilities fell short of her other attributes, but Josh had to disagree. Seeing Becca with his family was simple. Easy. She fit in so perfectly that Josh had spent most of the night just watching them all interact, amazed that this woman had brought a brilliant light to his life that he hadn’t even known was missing. She was remarkable. Truly and utterly remarkable.
“That was amazing,” Becca said, turning to him before standing.
“Huh? What?” It took a few seconds for him to register that everyone was giving the musicians a standing ovation. Josh immediately stood to join in on the excitement.
After the performance, they stepped outside into the warm July night. Becca was still on cloud nine. “Thank you so much for taking me. That was amazing. The entire night was amazing really.”
Josh smiled. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. It was nice seeing you so captivated by the performance.”
“I was beyond captivated.” She clasped her hands together. “It was truly outstanding. Fantastic. Magnificent.”
He laughed when she did a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn on the sidewalk. “Glad to hear it.” He glanced down the street at a jazz lounge he’d been to a few times. “Are you up for a little jazz? Or do you want to call it a night since we have work in the morning?”
“I’m game to continue the night if you are.”
“Great.” He took her hand in his and began walking the short distance to the lounge. Her eyes were focused on their enclosed hands and more than anything, he wished he knew what she was thinking. Unable to resist, he asked.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
Becca looked up from their clasped hands. “Nothing.” Her mouth may have been saying it was nothing, but her eyes were saying something else entirely.
“Doesn’t seem like nothing.” Josh stopped walking and rubbed the side of her cheek. “Sure you don’t want to talk it out?” Her eyes dropped to his lips and he felt that same kick in his gut he felt every time she looked at him like that.
“I was thinking about the fact that I’ve never made it past the first level of your yacht. I’d love to see more of it sometime.”
“I’d love to give you a personal tour whenever you’re ready. Maybe if you didn’t look so sexy, we’d make it off the top level before the sun came up and we had to go to work.”
Becca giggled. “I love my condo, but yes, I was thinking we need a change of scenery.” Her hand rose to rub at her earlobe.
And that’s when he knew. “That’s not what you were thinking. You may want to see more of my yacht, but that’s not what you were just thinking about.”
She knit her brows. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because you just rubbed your earlobe. You always rub your earlobe when you’re lying.”
“I do not.” She playfully hit his arm. “I was playing with my earring. I really do want to see the rest of your yacht.”
“Tell you what.” He placed his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to him. “I’m overdue for a few days off. I was planning on taking a mini vacation after the gala next month, but why don’t we both get away for a little while? Could you spare a few days away from the foundation?”
“I’m sure I could, but where would we go?”
Josh smiled slyly. “Leave that up to me.”
“I don’t get any hints? How will I know what to pack?”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right. Well, all I’ll say is that it’s on an island.”
Becca grinned. “Sounds like my kind of vacation. Although I’d enjoy going anywhere with you.” Her face grew serious. Josh assumed she’d said more than she wanted to say.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. I always enjoy being with you, too.” Her body relaxed at his words.
As it was most of the time he was with Becca, he didn’t hear the voice calling his name until it was a couple feet away. Josh lifted his forehead from Becca’s and saw fellow Prescott George member Daniel Cobb standing outside of the jazz lounge.
Josh waved as Daniel walked over with Angela, his fiancée.
Josh remembered meeting Angela for the first time at a Moguls event. He’d known the minute he met her that Daniel was a goner. It had been in the way they’d interacted with each other. The way they’d flirted with one another when they thought no one was paying attention. He was glad to see that Daniel had come to his senses and proposed. They were perfect for one another.
Josh couldn’t help but turn to Becca and wonder if they would end up as happy as Daniel and Angela.
“Hey, Daniel.” The men dabbed fists before Josh turned to hug Angela. “Angela, it’s good seeing you again.”
“You too,” Angela said, returning his hug.
“Daniel, I don’t think I had a chance to introduce you at our last meeting, but this is Becca Wright, director of public relations for The Aunt Penny Foundation. Becca, this is Daniel Cobb, and this beauty on his arm is Angela Trainor.”
“Nice to meet you.” Becca shook their hands. Daniel and Angela returned the sentiments. All four of them walked into the lounge and got a seat together in a booth in the corner. The jazz session was in between sets, so the place was pretty quiet.
“Were you both at the Arsht Center, as well?” Josh asked.
“Yes, we were,” Daniel said. “I assisted one of the soloists in purchasing his latest home a couple months ago and he invited me to tonight’s performance. I’m actually glad we ran into you both. Josh, I’ve been meaning to catch up with you.”
“Me too, man, but we’ve both been busy.”
Both Josh and Daniel looked at Becca and Angela.
“It’s fine.” Angela waved her hand. “Why don’t you two go to the bar to chat, and Becca and I will stay here and get to know one another.”
Josh looked from Angela to Becca. “Would you mind?”
“Not at all,” Becca said with a smile. “I’ll still be here when you’re finished.” On instinct, he leaned down and kissed her before getting out of the booth. Had they not had an audience, Josh may have gotten carried away with the kiss.
Once they were at the bar and had ordered Scotch on the rocks, Josh finally noticed that Daniel was wearing this silly grin on his face.
“What’s that look for?”
“I’m not sure I believe what I see,” Daniel said, glancing back at the women. “Bad-boy rebel Joshua DeLong who was voted Most Likely to Never Marry by the Moguls is completely head over heels for a woman? I never thought I’d see the day.”
Josh grinned. “Man, she completely took me by surprise. We haven’t even talked about what all of this means.”
“Wait a minute. You were the one who told me that men need to be up front with women regarding their intentions when I was all up in arms about Angela. Not taking your own advice, DeLong?”
“I know, man, I know. We’re heading out of town for a few days and I’m hoping to have a conversation with her soon.”
“Well, don’t take too long,” Daniel said. “I was impressed by Becca’s presentation at the meeting and I know a lot of Moguls felt the same way I did. I’m sure you didn’t miss all the eyes that were on her. You don’t want to wait too long to tell her how you feel.”
Josh took a swig of his Scotch. “What if I’m still trying to figure that out? I mean, I’m pretty sure I know how I feel. Or how I could feel. But telling her... I don’t know, man. We were both pretty clear about our views on relationships.”
“Look, I don’t know how your talks have gone, but take it from a man who spent weeks in denial—you and Becca are already in a relationship. Whether you label it or not, that’s what it is. And from the possessive glances you keep shooting her way—the same possessive stares you were giving her at the PG meeting—I’m sure that you already know where this is headed. Everything else is just protocol.”
Daniel looked at Angela. “And trust me, once you accept the fact that this woman has stolen your heart and will never return it back to you, you can focus on building your future together. Being a bachelor is overrated and now that I’m engaged to Angela, I can’t imagine how I ever got through life without her.”
Josh looked at Becca again, who was laughing at something Angela had said. “I know the feeling.”
“Okay, now that we’ve settled that, let’s get down to business.” Daniel’s voice grew serious. “Regarding Ashton. We have several key members on board with dethroning him from his presidency, but as I’ve stated before, this won’t be easy. With Ashton getting wind of our plan and being on the defense, it’s now more important than ever that our strategy is foolproof.”
“I agree.” Josh took another swig of his Scotch. “I was able to recruit several more members, as well. I think a few others may join our movement, but right now, they’re still afraid of going against a Rollins. A meeting with all the members on board with our strategy will strengthen our united force and prove to those stragglers that now is the time for them to pick a side—that when all the Rollins cards fall, they’ll want to be on the right side. Our side.”
“That sounds good. Let’s set up the meeting.”
“I’ll get on it tomorrow. You reach out to any members whose support we have who have been talking to you directly. I have a feeling in my gut that Prescott George will be turning over a new leaf very soon, and my gut never steers me wrong.”
Josh tried his best to stay focused as Daniel continued discussing business. On their own accord, his eyes made their way to Becca’s once more. She smiled when she caught him staring. Yeah, I’m in trouble.
* * *
“You have it so bad.”
Becca turned to Angela. “Hmm, what?”
“You already know what I’m talking about. We may have just met, but take it from a woman who fell in love with a Mogul. Once you start falling, you might as well face the inevitable because there is no way that you can reverse the process.”
Becca laughed. “Am I that obvious?”
“It’s not just you, Becca. I actually think Josh is even more obvious. I haven’t known him for that long, but I can tell he’s really taken with you. I think it’s adorable.”
Becca leaned her head back in the booth. “I feel like I’m in way over my head. Like I’m not even the same person I was a month ago. I used to be so focused on work and ensuring that the foundation is successful. Now I feel like Josh has hijacked most of my thoughts. It’s like my entire world is consumed by him right now.”
Angela placed a hand on her arm. “I know that it must feel like falling for a man like him is somehow taking over your identity, but that’s just what happens when two people are in love.”
“We’re not in love.” Becca answered a little too quickly. Judging by the skeptical look Angela was giving her, she didn’t believe her.
“Whether you’re in love, headed in that direction or still feeling each other out, my point is that you are still the same person you were before you met Josh. Tell me this—when you’re together, does he ask you to be anyone but yourself?”
Becca reflected back to the time when he made himself look crazy dancing just so that she wouldn’t feel awkward. “No, he always allows me to be myself.”
“Does he ever seem to want to take away from the things you feel are important in life?”
She thought about Josh’s devotion to the foundation. “No, he never seems that way.”
“And lastly, does he include you in important aspects of his life, or does he keep his worlds separate?”
Becca reflected on the time they spent in the animal shelter and earlier today when they had spent time with his family. “He includes me.”
“Then, hon, you can’t look at it as if you are losing yourself in the process of falling for a man like Josh. Think of it as gaining an ally. A partner. Someone who understands you in ways no one else does. Being together is making your lives better, more complete. Not the opposite.”
Becca let Angela’s words sink in as her gaze found Josh’s for the fifth time in the past thirty minutes. She was right. Becca had to focus on the positive and not allow past experience to impact her and Josh’s relationship.
“You’re a smart woman,” Becca said, sipping the martini she’d ordered. “You’ve managed to put everything in perspective.”
“I only said what you had already figured out but didn’t want to acknowledge. Plus, I just went through this with Daniel. I didn’t want to admit my feelings for him and in our case he was my boss at the time, so I was really going through an inner struggle.” Angela looked at Daniel from across the lounge. “Now when I look at that man over there I can’t imagine what my life would be like without him in it.”
Becca smiled as she watched Angela and Daniel look at one another, love prevalent in both their gazes. It was so easy to imagine her and Josh hanging out with the happy couple way past the gala celebration. But first, she needed to talk to Josh and figure out where his head was at. She had a feeling their mini vacation would be the perfect time to do so.