There were a million things involved in running a successful chain of upscale restaurants, and that was before adding in a brand-new opening. Reese could no doubt find something for his father.
Josie came back through wearing a one-piece black bathing suit that shouldn’t have his body revving up again, but...well, it did.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Reese told his mother without taking his eyes off Josie. “Could you and Dad come to the house tomorrow?”
“I’m sure we can. Everything all right?”
Reese tore his eyes from Josie. He hadn’t meant to just blurt out that he needed to see them, but now that he had, he’d follow through. As uncomfortable as this conversation was going to be, he wanted the truth.
“I’m fine,” he assured her. “I just have something I don’t want to discuss over the phone.”
“Well, I’m intrigued. We’ll be there around one if that works for you.”
“I’ll have Frisco prepare lunch. Have a safe flight. Love you, Mom.”
He hung up and clutched his cell at his side. Should he just leave this letter alone? He and his parents had a great relationship; there was no reason to pull all of this past out in the open.
But he had two half brothers that he wanted to pursue a relationship with and he had to be honest with his parents about the events that had happened since they’d been gone.
“Are you skinny-dipping or putting on trunks?”
Josie’s question pulled him back to the moment. He glanced toward the glass doors overlooking the sparkling ocean and back to the woman who expected him to follow through on this birthday celebration.
She deserved it all, and he wasn’t going to let this unexpected bomb in his personal life affect her day.
“Do you have a preference?” he asked with a wink.
She merely laughed and shook her head. “You sounded serious with your mom. If this fake engagement is getting to be too much, you can go ahead and tell her the truth.”
“What? No, that’s not it.” He sat his clothes down on the curved sofa and pulled on his boxer briefs. “I just have something to discuss with them that I don’t want to wait on since they’re coming home early.”
Josie tipped her head, her ponytail sliding over one shoulder. “Is it the restaurant opening? You haven’t acted like you’re worried about it.”
“I’m not,” he assured her truthfully. “My team is on it and I was just up there. I know that night will be perfect.”
Her brows drew in. “Oh, I didn’t know there was something else bothering you. I just assume if something is wrong that you know I’m always here to listen.”
Well, now he felt like a jerk.
Reese stepped forward, wanting to console her, but selfishly wanting his hands back on her body. He found the more he was with her, the more difficult it was to keep his distance...especially now that he knew exactly how she felt and how she trembled beneath his touch.
“I do tell you everything,” he assured her. “You’re my best friend, Jo. Let’s just enjoy your day and talk tomorrow. Deal?”
He really needed to talk to his parents before he opened up to her. He owed them that much, giving them the courtesy of explaining their side and listening to what they had to say.
Josie reached up and patted his cheek. “Ignore me. You don’t owe me an explanation. I just want you to know I’m here anytime.”
His settled his hands on the dip in her waist and pulled her closer. “I’m well aware you’re here. But today, let me pamper you. Now go out and lounge on the sundeck. I’ll get changed and we’ll take off. I’ll join you in a bit.”
She looked like she wanted to say more, but she nodded and stepped away. When she hit the steps leading up, she turned back.
“Hurry. I need someone to rub sunscreen on my back.”
That was an invitation he couldn’t ignore. For now, he was just going to focus on Josie. He wasn’t going to think about the father he’d never met, telling his parents he knew the truth and he certainly wasn’t going to think about the way the words b
est friends sounded wrong when he’d said them because they were more.
He just had to figure out how the hell to keep both of them from getting hurt when this all went back to platonic, because after he had his opening in Manhattan when they needed to be seen arm in arm, they would have to face reality.