Scandalous Engagement

“No. Should I?”

Her hands went to the buttons of his black dress shirt and she had him out of it before he could answer.

“There’s a hot tub,” he told her, firmly settling his hands at the dip in her waist. “There’s also a flatbed swing. Both perfect for stargazing.”

Josie smiled, raking her fingertip over the lines of his abs. “Is that what you’re undressing me for? Stargazing?”

“You shouldn’t get into the hot tub with your clothes on,” he said.

Josie let him lead her outside, where she finished undressing him. The wide deck did provide a spacious hot tub and on the other end, a wide bed on a swing, perfect for lounging with your lover.

And that’s the word she’d been looking for all this time. Reese had moved from best friend to lover, but she wasn’t sure where his head was with all of this. What would happen once they decided to publicly call off the engagement? Would they still sneak a rendezvous here or there? Would he still want this physical intimacy? Because she wasn’t sure she could give this up now that she’d experienced Reese.

“You’re letting your mind take you away again,” he accused.

Before she could defend herself, he picked her up and hauled her over his shoulder like she was nothing more than a blanket. Mercy, his strength was sexy.

He climbed into the hot tub and gently set her down. The warm water instantly had chill bumps popping up. He reached over and tapped a button, instantly turning the jets on...as if she needed more stimulation to her already-aroused body.

When he turned back to her, he had that look again, the one that promised she was in for a good time.

“About that kiss earlier,” he started as he reached for her. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, giving her no choice but to straddle him. “Want to tell me why you’re kissing me when nobody was looking?”

Yeah, about that. She’d told him he looked like he needed it, but in reality, she’d just wanted to. The pull toward him was growing stronger and stronger. She’d had to make up something quick because she didn’t want to reveal her true feelings...basically because she wasn’t even sure what her true feelings were.

“Maybe I like kissing you,” she said, looping her arms around his neck. “Maybe I’m enjoying myself with you, despite all the chaos around us.”

His hands eased up her thighs and around to cup her backside. “We do seem to draw the attention to us, don’t we?”

She leaned into him, her breasts flattening against his chest. How could he keep carrying on a conversation? Her body was ready to go and he seemed to be taking his time.

Josie shifted a little more until she settled over him at the exact spot she ached to be. With her eyes locked onto his, she sank down, smiling when he moaned and closed his eyes.

Being in control where Reese was concerned wasn’t an easy task. The man thrived on staying dominant at all times. But now his head dropped back against the edge of the hot tub and Josie braced her hands on his shoulders as she began to move.

Reese lifted his head and closed his mouth over her breast. She bit down on her lip to keep from crying out. Between his hands, his mouth and that rock-hard body moving beneath hers—oh, and those jets—Josie wasn’t going to last.

When his lips traveled up to her neck, Josie dropped her head back and arched her body into his. He murmured her name over and over as she rocked against him.

All too soon, her body started climbing. As much as she wanted to make this moment last, she was fighting a losing battle.

Reese kept one hand on her backside and gripped her neck with the other, easing her down so he could claim her lips. She threaded her fingers through his hair and let every wave of emotion wash over her, through her.

His body tightened beneath hers as he joined her. Josie kept herself wrapped all around him, taking in the passionate kiss as her body came down from the high.

Reese’s hold lessened as he nipped at her bottom lip, then rested his forehead against hers. The water continued to pulse around them, relaxing Josie even more. She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to face reality. She only wanted to stay in this moment that seemed so right because all too soon she would have to face the fact that she had to let Reese slip back into that friend box.

But for now, for tonight, she was in his arms.

Tomorrow he would meet his biological father and Josie wanted to give him as much comfort and peace as possible...and she prayed she could keep her heart from tumbling into love for her best friend.

Fourteen

“Are you ready for this?” Sam asked.

The three brothers stood outside the Lockwood Lightning Distillery. The sun was just starting to set behind the mountains, the tours had all ended, and the place was closed. Rusty was expecting them and Reese had a ball of nerves in his gut.

“Are you ready?” he countered to Sam. “Rusty isn’t aware that you’re his son, either.”