The Wedding Pact Box Set - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,82

believe that for a second. Everyone has dreams, no matter how preposterous or stupid someone else might think they are.”

“And what’s your secret dream?” he teased, taking her hand in his. “If you’re so eager to hear mine, tell me yours.”

She gave him a wicked smile.

“You want to win American Idol.”

She laughed. “I have no such delusions. I can hardly carry a tune.”

“You want to climb Mount Everest.”

She shivered. “No way. That sounds like a nightmare. I hate the cold. One of the benefits of living in Seattle. Despite all the rain, it hardly ever snows.”

“I give up. Tell me.”

Her smile softened. “It’s stupid.”

“If it’s your dream, it can’t be stupid.” His fingers squeezed around hers in encouragement.

She swallowed, looking nervous. “I want my mom to accept me for me instead of trying to change me into what she wants me to be.”

“How can that be stupid, Megan?”

“Because I shouldn’t have to want it in the first place.”

He looked into her eyes for several seconds. “I told you that my business is in trouble, big trouble, and now I find myself facing a very difficult decision. I have two choices, neither of them good. If I make one decision, ten employees lose their jobs—two of whom will have a very difficult time finding new ones—but if I choose the other, someone very important to me will probably get hurt in the process.” He sighed, not looking happy.

“You’re in a real catch-22, huh?” Someone important to him. Noah? Could this be why his brother had shown up?

“Yeah.”

“So is that why you’re hiding out with me? Avoiding the decision?”

He watched her for a moment. “No. There’s really nothing to be done at this point except for me to decide. Unless I get a miracle.”

“And you have to make your choice this weekend?” When he nodded, she asked, “Have you made a decision yet?”

“No.” His voice was gruff, and she covered his hand with her own, her thumb rubbing back and forth over his knuckles. “Like I told you, I’m leaving this trip up to fate. You’re the answer I was given. I can’t help thinking that has to mean something.”

Horror washed through her. “Me?”

“There’s absolutely nowhere else I’d rather be than with you. You were my gift from fate.” When she started to protest, he stopped her. “Let’s make a deal. We’ll avoid talking about your mother and my business so we can make today as happy as possible.”

She made a face. “Avoiding any talk about your business is a whole hell of a lot easier.”

He gave her a wicked grin. “Ha! You definitely have the home court disadvantage.”

“Just for that, I’m not going to take you to get a new phone,” she said smugly.

His voice softened. “Who am I going to call? The only person I want to be with is here with me.”

“Let’s get out of here, Romeo,” she said with a small smile.

“But we have to pick up the tuxes at eleven.”

Her smile stretched into a grin. “I know.”

Josh paid the bill and they walked out of the restaurant, his arm around her waist, holding her hip to his. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, “Do you know how distracting it was sitting across from you knowing you weren’t wearing underwear under your dress?”

She laughed, but a wave of lust washed through her. “We need to shower and change clothes.”

“Your mother mentioned she was going to pick up the flowers and check on the cake this morning before stopping by to make sure everyone’s tux looks okay.”

“So . . . we have an hour and a half in an empty house to go back, shower, and change?”

He stopped next to her car, pulling her to his chest. “And other things.” He kissed her with more intensity than she’d expected, but she wasn’t about to complain.

“Definitely other things,” she murmured against his lips.

He broke free and opened her car door. “Tell me we’re close to your parents’ house.”

“Define close.” He released a long groan and she laughed. “Ten minutes. Tops.”

“Paybacks are hell, Megan Vandemeer.”

And they were, but deliciously so. He took advantage of the fact that she was stuck behind the wheel and pantyless by skimming a hand along her thigh, lifting the hem of her skirt, and shifting higher.

“God, you’re so wet,” he groaned.

She let out a soft gasp as his fingers began to coax her close to a climax but never quite there. By the time she parked in the driveway, she was hot with desire