Burn (Breathless #3)(42)

Jace threw back his head and laughed. “Okay, now that we have that squared away, when do I get to meet Josie?”

Ash huffed out a breath. “Soon. I want you and Bethany both to meet her. After I get this shit with her ex taken care of then I can breathe a little easier. Maybe we can have dinner Sunday night.”

Jace nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

“She knows about Bethany.” Ash made a face. “I told her everything. Didn’t want it to catch her off guard, not that I think it would ever come up, but I didn’t want to take any chances.”

Jace winced. “How she’d take it? I can see how that would be awkward as hell when we’re all together. Especially now that she knows.”

“She was cool about it. I doubt any woman loves the idea of hanging with a woman her man slept with in the past. But I assured her that you had no intention of ever sharing Bethany with anyone ever again, and that furthermore, I wasn’t going to be involved in any threesomes and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have a threesome with her and another guy.”

Jace scowled. “Fuck no I’m not sharing Bethany with anyone. Bad enough there was that one time with you.”

Ash held up his hands. “Don’t get all worked up. I didn’t bring it up to piss you off. I just wanted you to know that Josie knows. I was straight with her about everything regarding my sexual history.”

“Bet that took a while,” Jace said dryly.

“About as long as it took you to explain to Bethany,” Ash shot back.

“Touché,” Jace said with a grin. Then he stood, heading toward the door. “If that’s everything, I’m going to get to work. I have calls to make and a conference call in half an hour. You got lunch plans?”

Ash checked his watch. “No, but I plan to head home early today. Didn’t like leaving Josie on her own so quickly after I got her moved in. I have people bringing her shit over to my apartment and I told her I’d help her sort it all out when I got home. So I’ll probably skip lunch, get my desk cleared and then head out around two.”

Jace nodded. “Okay. Keep me posted. Especially about Friday night. We need to get our stories straight.”

“Will do,” Ash replied.

Chapter fifteen

Josie put down her paintbrush and scrambled to wipe her hands before picking up her ringing cell phone. They shook slightly as she saw it was Ash calling. A flutter began in her belly, rising up into her throat.

“Hello?”

“I’m on my way home.”

Ash’s simple words sent a tingle down her spine.

“Okay,” she murmured. “I’ll be ready.”

“Good. You didn’t forget, then.”

“No,” she said softly. “I know what your expectations are.”

He paused. “But is it what you want, Josie? Or are you only catering to my desires?”

“I want it too, Ash. I’m a little nervous, but it’s because this is all new and we’re still getting to know each other. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. No matter what kind of woman you think you hustled to your apartment, I’m not her. I’m not weak or spineless. Granted, I didn’t handle the situation with Michael like I should have, but I’m not easily walked over.”

He chuckled, the sound warm and vibrant in her ear. “I never thought for a moment that you were weak or spineless, baby. It takes a strong woman to take on a man like me. Never doubt that.”

A broad smile attacked her face and her belly clenched in delight at the soft endearment. It wasn’t the first time he’d called her baby, and she’d loved it then. There was something about this man’s voice softening, the tenderness when he used the pet word, that made her heart skip a few beats.

“I need to go if I’m going to be ready for you when you get here,” she said. “I don’t want to disappoint you on your first day home to me.”

There was another pause and then his voice low and sweet, sending a brisk thrill coursing through her veins.

“You won’t disappoint me, Josie. Don’t want you thinking that. Don’t even want it in your head. If you’re there when I get home, naked and waiting for me, I’m not going to be disappointed. I’ve looked forward to it all day. I’ll let you go so you can get ready. See you soon.”

“Bye,” she whispered.

As soon as she ended the call, she surged to her feet, frowning when she saw the scattered supplies all over his living room. She knew his housekeeper was coming in the morning, but she didn’t want to be an added burden. For that matter, all her stuff was in boxes, neatly stacked against the living room wall. She hadn’t bothered unpacking them yet because she’d wanted to work, eager to get more of her paintings to the art gallery.

Hopefully Ash wouldn’t be annoyed at the mess and at the chaos she’d brought into his immaculately kept apartment.

She rushed to the bathroom, wondering if she had time for a quick shower. But she’d taken one this morning. She was clean. Just her hands and her arms had paint splatters and she could clean those off in short order.

Still, she paid careful attention to her appearance. She brushed out her long, blond hair and surveyed her reflection in the mirror. No makeup today, but then she rarely wore more than lip gloss and mascara.