Burn (Breathless #3)(70)

Brittany blinked in surprise as she stared back over at Josie.

Beside Josie, Ash had retaken his seat and he curled his fingers around hers, squeezing as she issued the invitation. She chanced a peek up at Ash and saw warm approval—and appreciation—glowing in his eyes. She smiled encouragingly up at him, as if to say, It’ll be all right.

“I don’t know,” Brittany began.

“You should go, Britt. Josie is going with Mia and Bethany and their girls. You’ve already met Bethany. They’re solid. You’d like them. No better women anywhere,” Ash said.

Brittany’s cheeks turned pink but delight simmered in her eyes.

“I’d like that, Josie. Thanks. Tell me when and where.”

Josie glanced up at Ash because she didn’t know the when and where. Only that she was going Wednesday night and that she and Ash were shopping for a dress and shoes after lunch with Brittany.

“I’ll send a car for you,” Ash promised. “I’ll warn you, though. They take girls’ night out pretty seriously. You’ll need a sexy dress and some to-die-for heels. It’s the dress code, or so I’ve been informed.”

Brittany laughed. “Well, I have plenty of those. Thank God I’ll have a use for them. I took a look the other day and thought to myself that I’d never have a need of them again.”

Ash smiled at his sister. “Be ready at seven. It’s Jace’s turn to ride herd so he’ll be around in a car. I’ll let him know to pick you up and to drop you back off when you’re done.”

Her eyes glittered with excitement. In that moment, Josie was glad she’d issued the impulsive invitation.

“Thank you for inviting me, Josie. It sounds like fun!”

Josie smiled warmly at Ash’s sister and then reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “Us girls have to stick together, right?”

Brittany grinned back. “Yep. And with guys like Ash around, it’s even more important not to let them get one over on us.”

“Hey,” Ash defended.

Josie elbowed him in the gut and he pretended to double over in pain.

“Let’s finish eating. Not going to let that bitch ruin the meal for us,” Ash proclaimed. “You have to get back to work, Britt, and Josie and I have some shopping to do.”

Brittany’s eyes rounded. “Shopping? You?”

Ash glared at her. “Some things are worth going shopping for. Like the results of this shopping trip.”

Josie elbowed him for real, her face flaming with heat.

Brittany laughed and Ash grinned. Josie relaxed. The awkward moment was over and Ash and Brittany hadn’t let it ruin their day.

Fifteen minutes later, Ash was guiding Josie into the car and they rode off toward the stores Ash was taking her to.

He pulled her against him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He kissed her temple and left his lips pressed to her skin for a long moment.

“Meant a lot that you’d invite Britt on your girls’ night out,” he rumbled. “That was sweet of you, baby. I won’t forget it.”

Josie smiled and then sobered. “You don’t think Mia and Bethany will mind, do you? I didn’t even think about asking them first.”

Ash shook his head, pulling back from her temple. “No, they’re the best. They won’t mind a bit. Especially if I put a bug in Mia’s ear about Britt. It was a nice thing to do, baby. It was something you didn’t have to do, but I’m really happy that you’re including Britt in your girls’ stuff. She needs that. She needs good friends.”

“I was happy to do it,” Josie said softly. “Everyone needs friends. Brittany probably more than most. She looked so miserable and embarrassed when your mom showed up.”

Ash’s face darkened and he went stiff next to her. “I’m sorry for that. Sorry she ruined our lunch.”

Josie shook her head. “She didn’t ruin it, darling. You and Brittany didn’t let her. I don’t know the woman. Don’t care what she thinks about me or that she doesn’t think I’m good enough for you.”

He went utterly still, his eyes blazing across her face. “You called me ‘darling.’”

She blushed and looked away. “Sorry. It probably sounds stupid.”

He took her face, not too gently, and forced her back to him. “I liked it. Liked it a hell of a lot. You’ve never called me anything but Ash.”

“You do?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Don’t give a f**k what other men like or don’t like or what anyone thinks because you call me something sweet. I like it. Makes me feel like I mean something to you, so yeah, I like it a whole lot.”

She smiled. “Okay then, darling. I’ll remember that.”

He kissed her, hard, long, breathless. His tongue pushed in, roaming through her mouth with sensual familiarity. When he finally dragged himself away, his eyes were dark with desire. He stroked her cheek, palming it with one hand as he stared back at her.

“Don’t give a shit what my mother thinks about you either, baby. As long as you remember that it’s bullshit you not being good enough for me. Don’t want that ever on your mind. Doesn’t even need to cross it. You’re f**king perfect for me and you need to always remember that.”

She smiled again and leaned up to kiss him, savoring the sweetness of his mouth against hers.