She nodded and smiled. “Tell me when to be ready and I’ll be there.”
Once the yacht was secure and he’d assisted her off the dock, Reese blocked her path to head back to the house. He framed her face with his hands and leaned closer.
“You said I would spoil you, but I think it’s the other way around,” he murmured against her mouth. “Maybe I’m the one getting spoiled because I don’t deserve all I want to take from you.”
Reese wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest and claiming her lips. He didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to think, didn’t want to consider tomorrow or even the day after that. Right now, he wanted to take Jo back to his bedroom and show her just how much he ached for her.
Because their two weeks were slowly coming to an end, and he wasn’t quite ready to let this physical relationship go. And maybe there was more, maybe there was something beyond the physical. Reese wasn’t sure if he was getting the friendship bond confused with something more or not...he only prayed nobody got hurt in the end.
Twelve
“Darling, you look so happy.”
Reese cringed when his mother wrapped her arms around him and then stepped back to examine him and Josie, who stood at his side.
“I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that the two of you are together,” she went on. “I’ve known for years you were the one for my son.”
Josie’s eyes darted to his, but Reese merely smiled. He had bigger things to deal with right now than this fake engagement. He was about to crush the two people who loved him more than anything, who’d raised him like their own, who’d given him the life he lived today.
But they all deserved for the secrets to come out so they could move forward. He’d had time to deal with the truth. He knew his parents were good people and they likely had done what they thought was in his best interest.
“Can we at least get inside before you start smothering them?” Martin asked as he stepped into the foyer.
Reese stared at the man he’d always thought of as his father. He’d never given it much thought, but other than the fact that they were both tall with broad shoulders, there were no other similarities.
Laura reached for Josie and wrapped her arms around her, too. Reese hated the guilt that layered in with his anxiety. He’d never held on to this many secrets at one time in his life.
Between the engagement and the news about his biological father, Reese had to get something out in the open before he drove himself mad. The only saving grace in all of this was that Josie was finally in his bed, where he’d wanted her for longer than he cared to admit. Granted, now he didn’t know how to take a step back with her into that friend territory. He honestly wasn’t sure he wanted to, but they’d agreed that after his opening, they would make an announcement that they were better off as friends and call off this fake engagement.
What did it say about him that he wasn’t ready for that announcement?
“Oh, my word, that ring is gorgeous,” his mother declared, holding Josie’s hand. “So unique and perfect.”
“It’s really beautiful,” Josie stated, but Reese didn’t miss the tightness in her tone. “Why don’t you guys come on in? Frisco set up lunch out on the back deck.”
Reese was thankful Josie took over and turned the attention away from the engagement, but that meant the next topic was another he didn’t want to get into.
Lunch flew by with chatter and laughter, but Reese knew time was ticking and he’d have to just pull the letter from his pocket and share.
Josie’s fingertip drew a pattern over the condensation on her water glass and he knew she was feeling all the nerves as well. He met her gaze and she offered him a reassuring smile.
“I’m glad to see you guys,” Reese started. “But there’s something I need to discuss.”
His mother sat back in her seat and shifted her attention. “Yes, you have me intrigued. Is this about New York? You’re not moving, are you?”
Reese shook his head. “I love it here and I’m fine with traveling wherever I need.”
“Is something wrong, son?” his father asked, resting his elbows on the arms of the dining chair.
Reese reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. He passed it to his father.
“I received this right after you were released from the hospital and I didn’t want to bring it up,” he added. “And then I wanted you guys to enjoy your trip, so I kept it to myself until I could sort things out.”
Martin Conrad’s eyes darted from Reese down to the folded letter. He opened the paper and started reading. It didn’t take long for the color to drain from his face.
“Martin, what is it?”
His father remained silent as he finished reading, but ultimately he handed the letter across the table.