Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,213

how important it is to me!”

Josie tossed up her hands, well aware that was her mother’s gesture. “Why? Why on earth is that so important to you? Jack and I are getting married, Mom. Planning our lives! Don’t you think there should be something a bit more important about our wedding than whether or not we have a flower girl?”

Josie’s mom took a deep breath. “You wouldn’t let me invite the Solomans either.”

“I don’t even know the Solomans.” Josie bit her tongue to keep from shouting. “I’ve never even met them. And to tell you the truth, I don’t really care if they invited you to their grandson’s bar mitzvah, Mother. They don’t know me, and they don’t know Jack.”

“You and Jacob are practically breaking our hearts with this wedding,” said Ava, sounding like she was ready to cry.

Oh, shit. Not only was she being called Josephine, but Jack had been upgraded to Jacob. That was really bad. Josie tried to soften her voice, to soothe her mom. “We’re not trying to.”

Her mother sniffed. “I don’t understand either one of you. We’ve given you everything, Francine and I. Honestly, I think she’s spoiled him. Maybe that’s why—”

“Don’t you dare.” Josie got up from the table, too. “Don’t you dare blame Jack for any of this. If you want to be mad at me, fine. But don’t you dare accuse Jack of being spoiled!”

“I think I’d better leave.”

“I think you’d better.” Josie could tell her mother had expected a different answer, but the truth was, she was as angry as her mom. Probably more. “I’ll call you.”

“Will you?” Ava paused in Josie’s doorway, looking back at her daughter.

“Of course I will.”

“And won’t you just—” she broke off when she saw Josie’s expression. “Fine.”

“Fine.”

“You’re too stubborn,” said her mom.

Josie raised an eyebrow. “Wonder who I got that from?”

That, at least, cracked a smile from her mom. “Your father.”

“I’ll call you,” Josie said again, and closed the door behind her mother. Then she went and took a long, hot bath.

Chapter 5

Josie was still in the tub when Jack got home three hours later. She’d refilled the tub twice in that time, depleting their supply of hot water but not caring. Soaking in the tub with a warm washcloth on her face and the scent of lavender and peppermint mingling, the bathwater slick with oil, she tried, without success, to relax. The tub was one of the best things about their apartment. An old, cast-iron claw foot, it was big enough to hold two and kept the water hot longer than newer tubs did. Filled to the rim of the overflow spout, it was deep enough Josie could submerge to her chin and float. It was the only thing she’d miss when they moved from their apartment.

If they moved, she reminded herself as Jack came into the bathroom, stripping off his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. So far, they hadn’t even begun looking at houses. He tossed the shirt toward the hamper, but it missed. Leaving it on the floor and hanging his tie on the back of the chair, he knelt next to the tub to kiss her.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“It was so not worth taking a personal day to stay home.” Josie sank down more into the hot water. “I thought I’d work from here, but my mom’s visit totally blew that.”

“That bad?” Jack made a sympathetic noise and dipped his hand into the water rub her stomach. “What was it about this time?”

“What wasn’t it about?” Josie closed her eyes, relaxing under his skilled touch. “I’ve been living on my own for years now. I mean, holy hell, I plan events for a living, Jack. I think I can manage to plan this wedding.”

“They need to know ahead of time so they can analyze it five hundred ways. Preachin’ to the choir, babe. I know.”

And it’s worse for him, she thought. With no brothers or sisters to diffuse the situation, Jack got all of his mother’s attention. Josie sighed. Jack grinned.

“I’ve been in the tub since one o’clock,” she confided.

He lifted her hand. “Wrinkled fingers.” He kissed each one, drawing the forefinger between his lips to suck it gently. “Nice and clean.”

“I thought you liked it better when I was dirty,” Josie breathed, his mouth sending instant arousal flooding through her.

“Just one more thing I love about you,” Jack said, doing the same nibble-suck to her next finger. “How well you know me.”

“The water’s still warm. Want to join