Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(122)

“Joe’s a friend, he’s one of the group. What’s the big deal? Besides, Ian’s been here since day one,” Jared comments.

“Ian doesn’t count, he’s happily married with a baby on the way. Having Ian here is like having you or Nathan over,” I express maintaining my cool. “Next you’re going to tell me that you invited Chris too.”

“No. No,” he reassures. “I would never invite Chris. I know where things are with him. Is it really a big deal with Joe here? If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll ask Joe to leave.”

“No. It’s fine. He’s here and I don’t want to make a scene,” I reply.

I guess this was going to happen at some point. I was just hoping that it would be way off in the distant future.

“Is it because he likes you that makes it weird?” Jared checks.

“What?! No,” I quickly respond. “Does he really like me?”

I know Joe likes me, but I’m trying to downplay my awareness of it. No need to lead on to anything.

“Not to make it more uncomfortable, but yeah, he likes you. A lot,” Jared verifies. “I’m surprised he hasn’t made a move yet, especially after claiming you kissed him that one night in Hawaii.”

“Thanks,” I sarcastically say.

If Jared only knew. I’m extremely happy to know that Jared doesn’t seem to know what’s been going on. I don’t want to lie, but I don’t want to tell. This is just so weird and strange for me.

Back to the group, Jared rounds up the team to start the first video and Joe walks over to greet me. “Hey beautiful,” he says with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey,” I return.

“Is it okay that I’m here? Jared said it wouldn’t be an issue, but if it is I can leave,” he offers politely as if he heard what Jared and I were just talking about.


“No, it’s fine,” I encourage. “Just as long as I don’t find you snooping in my underwear drawer, you’re good.”

With a wicked smile, he asks, “What about other drawers?”

I punch him in the arm. “Very funny.”

The rest of the day moves fast with shot after shot of video episodes and topics. At one point, I’m able to let the team do their thing and I show Joe the current standings of the new software program for Raven. He seems pretty impressed at the speed with which it’s all moving along and is eager to help in any way he can.

By five-thirty, our day is finished and we head out to dinner. I always treat the team to a celebration meal after a long day of hard work. Just sitting down at the table, I get a phone call from Maggie freaking out over still not finding a wedding venue even with Amelia’s help. Excusing myself, I head out to the street to calm her. I encourage Maggie to stay focused on the positive and that the engagement party is already planned and everything is going to work out just fine. Reminding her about tomorrow helps too — when we’re to start the adventure of wedding dress hunting.

For the next few hours, I dine with my crew, a few of their spouses and my friends at the Parkway Grill. Conversations are light and friendly as everyone celebrates a successful day and toast early to Jared’s upcoming birthday which is in just two weeks. My mind gets distracted from some of the conversation by thinking about the to-do lists, but I force myself to stay in the present. Once we have full bellies and there’s less traffic outside, everyone heads home for the night.

Joe walks me home from dinner and asks, “How’s the wedding planning going?”

My eyes widen and dart to him, suggesting many different meanings.

Laughing, Joe replies, “That bad?”

“Only when you’ve never been to a wedding or been a part of one, have roughly three months to plan what usually is done in twelve months and a date and venue have yet to appear. Yesterday, we just sent out the one hundred and fifty invitations for the engagement party that is taking place next weekend and I’ve got a bride who is getting opinions from everyone on what she should do, causing her to question everything . . . I have three friends with birthdays that will be occurring the entire time on top of my businesses . . .” I answer in one long breath.

“Wow,” he reflects. “Well, if you need any help, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“What do you know about weddings and planning them?” I contend with amusement.

“Enough. To start, I have three married brothers, remember?!”

“Touché,” I admit.

“Sounds like you need some down time already,” he suggests.

“Yeah right. That won’t happen until Maggie and Henry are on the plane for their honeymoon,” I retort.

“I can help a little tonight if you’d let me,” he mentions.

Flattered, I remark, “I’m not sleeping with you. I’m not that desperate to just throw my rules out the window, but thanks for the offer.”

“I wasn’t offering sex, but it’s good to know you were considering it,” he teases. “I was going to suggest that we get Sadie and head back to my place for a movie and maybe some snuggling.”

His recommendation gets a smile from me which in turn gets him to do the same. I definitely need a break and Joe could be a really good distraction.

Twenty minutes later, Sadie, Joe and I are at Joe’s penthouse. “Where’s Anna?” I search.