Entice - By Ella Frank Page 0,72

opened the possibility in her mind that they could have a real shot at this.

Everything had happened so suddenly between them, but for Josh, it felt so incredibly real. He couldn’t explain why, but he just knew this was meant to be. He knew he had to come clean and tell her he owned the construction company. She would probably be pissed at him, but it was nothing they couldn’t get past. He was sure of it.

As they rounded the final street, Josh couldn’t help but feel completely excited about the next day and a half. Shelly had agreed to spend that time with him at his house and in his bed. Hell yeah. Can anything be better than that?

He pulled the truck to a stop at the curb of the street, got out, and walked around to Shelly’s side where she was now sleeping. The sun was just starting to come up, and it was going on 7:00 a.m. Josh had plans, and they involved carrying the sleeping doctor inside, cuddling up with her, and then waking in a few hours to make love to her.

***

Shelly heard her door unlock, and she opened her eyes, noticing the truck had come to a stop. She turned her head and saw Josh outside her door, smiling at her through the window. Sitting up, she let him open the door. He placed his hands on the roof and leaned in to kiss her.

“We’re here.”

Josh moved back from the truck, allowing Shelly to get out. Once she was free, she stretched her arms over her head, yawning, and then stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck.

“I believe we have specific plans for the next couple of days,” she told him, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

He grinned and hugged her tightly before humming against her mouth. “Hmm, I believe you may be right. You and me naked in my bed sounds familiar.”

That was when Shelly looked over Josh’s shoulder to the house behind them. It was a nice house that looked like he had bought it with restoration in mind, knowing his background. As her eyes moved to the driveway, they stopped and zeroed in on a blue Ford Fusion and a tall brunette woman, who was leaning against the driver’s side, staring at them.

“Josh?” Shelly questioned as she pulled away from him.

He looked down at her. “Yeah, Miz Monroe?” he asked in a deep voice, sweet-talking her.

But Shelly had left the sexy thought process behind. Suddenly, she had a new one.

Who the hell is that woman?

***

Josh noticed Shelly had stiffened, and he moved a step back, wondering what was going on. He was about to ask when he heard a familiar voice call out.

“Joshua!”

Now, it was Josh’s turn to stiffen. He saw Shelly’s eyes narrow and her shoulders straighten, and he wanted to explain something, anything, but he was interrupted when he heard his name being called for the second time in that annoying high-pitched voice. He pivoted on his heel and saw the last person on earth he wanted to see.

“Melissa,” he replied in a tone so defeated he didn’t even know where it had come from.

He just knew Shelly was thinking the worst, and right at this moment, he didn’t blame her. But she needs to let me explain. She has to, right?

As he watched his ex-girlfriend strut down the driveway and make her way toward them, he felt Shelly retreat further back, as he turned to look at her. Her eyes were so glacial that they pretty much froze him on the spot.

“I can explain,” he told her quietly.

“Why would you need to?” Shelly asked coolly.

Josh wanted to scream. Because you are jumping to the wrong conclusion! He looked to Shelly and then to the woman fast approaching. What the hell is she doing here?

“Melissa is her name, huh? The woman who did a number on you?” Shelly queried, regaining his attention as she climbed back into his truck.

“What are you doing?” he asked without answering her first question.

“I’m going to wait in your truck until you do whatever you do to get rid of a woman, and then you are going to drive me home because I don’t have a car.”

“Shelly...” Josh tried again.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she told him before slamming the truck door shut between them.

Josh was staring at the side of her perfect, angry face when Melissa stopped in front of him.

“Where have you been? I have been