“What do you mean?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
That long, silky black hair fell down her back and he had the strongest urge to reach up and feel those strands slide between his fingertips.
“In your closet the other day,” he reminded her. “The one with the leak. Who were you referring to when you said you couldn’t be like her?”
Her eyes darted down, but even from her silhouette, he could see the sadness in her expression. Reese eased closer, but didn’t touch her. He still didn’t know where they’d landed in this postcoital moment, and he didn’t want to make things awkward. He wanted her to feel comfortable enough to answer his question.
“My mother,” she murmured. “I don’t remember much about her, but I do remember her always wearing bright colors. She loved blues and reds. She always had on red lipstick, too.”
Reese had never met Josie’s mother, and actually hadn’t seen many pictures of her, either. But he did recall seeing one photo, years ago, and Josie looked exactly like her mother. The long, dark hair, the doe eyes, the petite frame and the flawless, light brown skin tone.
“I remember Dad saying that when he first met mom during his travels to the Philippines, when he first joined the army, he fell in love with her on the spot. He loved how bold and vibrant she was. She challenged him and made him work for her affection. They were so in love.”
Reese wanted to erase that sorrow from her tone, but he wasn’t sorry that he’d asked. This was a portion of Josie that she’d kept locked away from him. They’d been friends for so many years, yet he’d never heard her talk of her mother this way and he sure as hell hadn’t had a clue that she’d kept a shrine to her in her closet in the form of unworn clothes.
“Were those clothes hers?” he asked.
“No.” Josie came to her feet and slid back into her chemise before settling back down and turning to face him. “I buy them thinking I’ll take the plunge one day and just step out in something bold like she always did. But I’m not her. I’m boring, predictable and more comfortable in black. Besides, that’s how my readers know me—classic black. Any photo I’m in or any event I attend, I’m always in black. It’s my signature look now.”
She attempted a soft smile, but that sadness still remained in her eyes. Had she always had that underlying emotion? Did he just take for granted that she was okay with how her life had turned out? He couldn’t imagine losing his mother, but he doubted Josie would ever feel whole with that void in her life.
He was still trying to figure out how he felt regarding the fact that he was adopted. Now he had three parents and his world was all over the place. Even so, this was nothing like what Josie had gone through.
“You can wear whatever you want whenever you want,” he informed her. “Be yourself. If that’s a bright red dress, then do it.”
She gave him a sideways glare, that typical Josie look when he suggested something she thought was a completely moronic idea.
“I’m serious,” he urged. “There’s no dress police. Maybe that could be your next article. How to revamp yourself—or some clever title you’d come up with.”
Josie laughed and relief washed over him. He always wanted to hear her laugh, to see her wide smile and know she was happy.
“I wouldn’t use something so trite as the word revamp in my title. I’m beyond college days when I was too tired to come up with something catchy.”
She came to her feet again and smoothed her hair back from her face with a sigh. “Besides, I’m not getting the equivalent of an adult makeover, so this plan is irrelevant. I’m fine with who I am, I just sometimes wonder what it would be like. That’s all.”
Reese sat up in bed, the sheet pooled around his waist. He kept his eyes on that body he’d worshipped nearly all night. He wanted to know if she’d join him again tonight, because one night wasn’t nearly enough, but he wanted to leave that next step up to her. He wasn’t ready for a long-term commitment and he didn’t want her to misunderstand what was happening here. It was up to her to continue what they’d started. She’d come to him once before...he had to believe she would again.
“I’m going to get ready,” she told him. “If we leave early, we can swing by Rise and Grind. I haven’t had an iced mo
cha latte in forever.”
“You had one last week. I picked it up for you and brought it to your house and even delivered it into your home office.”
Her brows drew in as if she were trying to remember, but then she shrugged. “Well, a week is too long.”
Reese shoved the covers aside and rose. Josie’s eyes immediately landed on his bare body and then darted away.
“You’re not going to act embarrassed, are you?” he asked, purposely not grabbing his clothes.
“No, no.” She glanced anywhere but at him. “Nothing to be embarrassed about, right? We’re both adults and last night was...it was...”
Reese bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at her stammering and her focus darting all around the room like she was trying to find something to land on other than him or their night together.
He rounded the bed and came up behind her. Not touching her took a considerable amount of willpower, though.
“No regrets,” he told her.
Josie jumped, clearly unaware he’d moved closer.