Entice - By Ella Frank Page 0,33

but to Josh, the fact that he couldn’t see anything just made it that much sexier. Damn, damn, damn!

Finally, she stopped in front of them and her eyes boldly latched onto his as she asked, “Playing with your tool so late at night, Josh?”

Feeling his mouth curve into a wicked grin, he was about to reply, but then Lena snapped at her.

“Shelly!”

Lena turned to face him quickly with apologetic eyes, and he saw Shelly behind her, giving him a thorough once over.

The woman is insane.How am I supposed to just stand here, letting her drive me crazy, and keep everything a secret? Hell, who knew, maybe she gets off on the thrill of being caught.

“Don’t worry, Lena. It’s okay,” Josh told her.

Looking back at Shelly, he returned her smug smile and replied, “I was cleaning up for the evening actually. I played with my tool a little earlier today.”

Lena shook her head and muttered, “You two are both idiots. Can we go and eat? Or are we going to start talking about secret gardens next like we don’t know that we’re alluding to a...” she trailed off, not brave enough to say it.

Shelly looked at her friend and asked sweetly, “Alluding to what, Lena? I don’t have a garden. Mine’s just a nice bare patch. What about you? Does Mason prune your garden?”

Josh choked on a strangled groan as Shelly looked at him with an evil smile full of pure mischief. That was when Lena threw her hands up and groaned, turning to stomp away. Josh looked at the sassy woman in front of him as she glanced quickly behind her to see that Mason had come out and was now talking to her Dr. Date.

“Did you do that on purpose?” he asked.

Josh watched Shelly’s eyes stray down to his mouth, and then come back up to meet his own.

“Do what? Embarrass Lena? She’ll be fine,” Shelly reassured.

“No. Run her away?”

She bit her bottom lip, and it immediately brought to mind other activities her mouth had been involved in earlier.

“Now, why would I do that?” she asked a little too innocently.

Leaning over a little closer so he could smell her—hmm, apples again—he said in a low voice, “So, you could be alone with me.”

Turning her head just an inch, he watched the corners of her mouth tilt up.

“And why would I want to do that?”

Josh stood back slowly and said in a soft whisper, “Because I owe you.”

He watched with complete satisfaction as her eyes clouded over.

She reached out to grab the back of a chair. “Do you?”

He moved around the table and was about to brush past her when she stepped in front of him. Looking down, he noticed her head tilted back, her eyes locking on his.

What kind of game is she playing with me?

She had a date here, and now, she was looking at him like she wanted to take him out the back and show him what was underneath her skirt.

Suddenly, Josh realized he didn’t like this deal anymore.

Leaning down slightly, he whispered, “New rule to our deal. You’ll get what I owe you, but first, you have to tell me something about yourself.”

He watched as her mouth fell open a little, and then she responded with a soft whisper, “That causes strings, Josh. I said no strings.”

He shrugged. “Then, I say I don’t owe you a thing.”

And, for the second time today, he walked away from her.

***

Shelly had just taken her seat next to Roger when Mason came in, carrying a huge bowl of pasta and a basket of garlic bread. He handed it to Lena who dished out her own, and then he sat down at the head of the table and started to pass the food around. The meal smelled absolutely amazing. The only problem, as far as Shelly could tell, was the immediate company.

To her left sat Roger, who was now chatting with Wendy and her husband, who’d arrived around fifteen minutes ago. Directly across from her was Lena, who was seated beside Josh, who was currently watching every single move Shelly made.

Oh, he’s being subtle, but she could feel his eyes tracking her like a predator tracking his prey. He needs to back off, or he’s going to get a punch in the gut—by me.

“Hey, everyone! Sorry I got held up,” Rachel said as she moved in behind Lena and Josh, taking the vacant seat beside him.

Shelly smiled over at her and asked, “Hot date?”

Rachel pulled her chair in laughing. “Ah,