Entice

Chapter Nineteen

May

Shelly had been on her feet for the past eight hours, and she saw no end in sight. She was currently bedside in the ICU, preparing to perform a bronchoscopy procedure.

She was tired—exhausted actually.

Over the past couple of months, she had been working extra shifts and doing everything she could to avoid having to examine her recent life choices.

Her mother had been calling her every weekend to see how she was doing and when she would be coming back to talk.

Honestly, all Shelly wanted to do was forget that they had ever talked in the first place. However, she knew the time would come when she would have to see them both, and she felt it would be better if she did it sooner rather than later.

Then, there was him—the man that had somehow imprinted himself on her mind and body after such a short amount of time.

How is it that Josh is still always on her mind?

It had been over a month now since she had last seen him, and that had been so emotionally gut-wrenching that Shelly didn’t think she would ever recover.

So, what do I do?

She had worked herself into the ground to avoid dinners at Exquisite, skip late nights out with Mason and Lena, and evade working out with her friend. She had essentially disappeared. After all, that is what Josh had accused her of wanting to do. So why not live up to it?

Shelly woke up to the sun streaming through her window and across her pillow. It was hitting her right in the eyes. As she blinked them open, she raised her hand to her face, trying to block the intruding rays. She groaned, “Oh god.”

“Head hurts, huh?” a voice asked from the corner of her room.

Squinting over at the comfy reading chair that she had placed under her window, she saw Josh sitting in his—wait, T-shirt and boxer shorts?

Looking down at herself, she noticed she was in the bed with the sheet over her. Turning away from him, she slowly lifted the sheet and peeked under.

Naked except for panties.

She knew she must be a total mess, which didn’t help her disposition—not to mention, her throbbing head. Just as she was about to speak, Josh beat her to it.

“Before you even start, you wanted it too.”

Shelly bit her lip and reached up to run a hand over her, apparently, bird nest of hair. She frowned and cleared her throat.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Because, honestly, she couldn’t remember.

Images kept flickering through her mind of him above her, inside of her, but she was too embarrassed to clarify if it had been real—or worse, if it had been a fantasy.

Josh quietly accused, “Now, that seems more like you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shelly snapped as dignified as she could while hung over.

Josh stood then and walked to the end of the bed. He looked around at the outlandish décor, and then back to her. He placed his palms on the comforter on each side of her covered legs, and then made his way up and over her.

“It means you never say what you actually mean,” he told her as he hovered above her.

Shelly clamped her mouth shut, not wanting him anywhere near her after the things she had drunk the night before.

He didn’t smile. He merely held himself up with strong arms as he looked over her face.

“I think you are the most amazing woman I have ever met, Shelly.”

Shelly clutched the sheet tighter to her, gnawing hard on her lip.

“And that completely terrifies you for some reason. It makes you want to just disappear from the moment,” he told her, his eyes locking with her own.

Lowering himself down, he lay on his side next to her, reaching out to gently stroke her hair. “You got upset last night when you came to see me.”

Finally, Shelly had to say something. Swallowing once, she asked. “What did I say?”

Josh leaned in, and she tried not to even breathe as he laid a gentle kiss on her cheek.

He whispered in her ear, “Nothing I didn’t already know.”

Then, he rolled across the bed and got up.

“What does that mean?” Shelly demanded, sitting up fast.

She clutched her head, wincing, and then remembered the sheet, which had now fallen down in her lap. She used her other hand to slowly pull it up—although why she bothered, she didn’t know. When she finally looked back at him, he gave her a sad smile.

“You’re not ready for me, Georgia,” he told her softly. “And that’s a real shame.”

Then, he turned and walked out of her life.

Shelly finally made it into her office as the phone was ringing.

Pushing aside memories that continued to haunt her, she picked up the phone and was not surprised to hear Lena on the other end.

“Okay. I don’t care what excuse you think you have or can look for or what the hell else you do whenever I’ve asked you out lately. You are coming to Mason’s tonight, and then we are all going to go down and watch the fireworks.”

Shelly groaned and sat back in her chair.

She was definitely in a funk. She hadn’t even started her new dating campaign. Maybe Lena was right. She just needed a night out with friends.

“Will Josh be going?” she asked hesitantly.

She reminded herself yet again that this was why she had avoided getting involved with him in the first place.

“Mason had asked him to go. I don’t know if he’ll show.”

Shelly shook her head against the chair and shut her eyes. Am I really going to do this to myself?

“Okay, I’ll be there.” She paused, thinking, I can do this and be an adult. “What time?”

“We’re meeting at seven for drinks,” Lena told her. “Shelly, we’ve missed you.”

“I know. I’ll be there,” she promised, and then hung up the phone.

Josh was on his way home to get ready for tonight.

When Mason had first asked him to come along, he had been unsure. He hadn’t seen Shelly for nearly two months, and now that it was the start of all the holiday festivities, he knew it was more than likely that they would start running into one another.

Chicago had a hidden secret—well, not that hidden to the natives. Every Saturday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the city let off fireworks from Navy Pier.

Tonight was the first night. They were all going to meet at Mason’s for drinks, and then go across the park to watch.

Josh had kept himself busy over the past weeks, working on the restaurant expansion for Mason and getting a few minor details ready on his house to make it more buyer-friendly. Around a month ago, he had decided to put his house on the market.

It had been one night after a few too many beers when an idea had come to him of what his next project should be, and it sure as hell didn’t involve restoring the house he was currently living in.

Mutley looked over at him, and Josh nodded. That’s right, buddy. Once things are tidied up at the restaurant, I have a new project and some direction for my life to go in.

First though, he had to get through tonight. Since Shelly never went anywhere alone—and God only knows who her exciting date will be tonight—Josh was going to ask Jenny.

She was a nice girl he had met recently and had a few coffees with. A nice, sweet girl who had no baggage and seemed to want something permanent. Unfortunately though, nothing seemed to erase those big blue eyes and perfect blonde hair from his mind.

Seven o’clock rolled around, and Shelly was now standing in the lobby of Mason’s, waiting for the elevator. She had pushed the button and was tapping her foot when she heard a pair of heels clicking behind her. When they stopped, she glanced over her shoulder and felt her heart skid to an abrupt halt.

Standing behind her, looking as gorgeous as she remembered him, was Josh—and beside him was a small woman in a yellow sundress and strappy white heels. The lady had honey brown hair, and as she smiled at Shelly, all she could focus on was Josh’s hand on the woman’s back. Lifting her eyes to his, she thought she detected a moment of discomfort before he made himself smile.

“Shelly. It’s been a while.”

Shelly was trying to remember how to talk.

Open mouth. Project sound. Nope, it’s not working.

Luckily, the elevator pinged, and the doors swooshed open. Shelly almost ran in and pressed herself in the back corner.

The little woman next to Josh looked up at him and smiled, probably at Shelly’s odd behavior, and then stepped in, standing on the other side of the elevator. Josh moved inside, pushed the button, and then leaned back between the two of them. As the car lurched and started to rise, he turned to look at Shelly.

“This is Jenny.”

Shelly looked up at him and knew her eyes must have been screaming something—maybe, What the hell are you trying to do to me?

But, really, she had no recourse. This is what she had done to him.

Telling herself to act like an adult, Shelly looked past him and smiled at the lady holding his hand.

“Hi. I’m Shelly. I work with Lena.”

Jenny’s face lit up as she nodded. “Oh, yes, I’ve heard Lena and Mason talk about you. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

What the hell? Shelly thought as the car came to a jolty stop. They have been double-dating with Lena and Mason?

Oh god. She felt ill. All of a sudden she wanted to throw up.

As the doors opened, Jenny got out first, and Josh turned to look at her where she was plastered up against the wall.

“It’s good to see you, Georgia. You look great,” he told her.

Then, he got out and walked over to Mason’s front door, leaving Shelly and her emotions shot to shit.

When Mason opened the door, Josh could tell he was shocked to see all three of them waiting in the hall.

His friend looked at him, and Josh knew his face must have looked strained. He was trying really hard not to let it show because he didn’t want Jenny to be uncomfortable, but standing so close to Shelly after all this time had him all kinds of wound tight.

“Hi, guys!” Mason exclaimed with a big grin, letting them all in.

As Josh moved past him, Mason whispered, “What the hell, man?”

“Don’t ask,” Josh mumbled back and moved forward, following his date.

That was when he heard Mason say softly, “It’s so good to see you, Shelly. You look beautiful.”

Oh and she does, Josh thought as he walked into the kitchen to grab a beer.

His eyes found hers as she moved over to Lena.

Tonight, she looked absolutely stunning, wearing a white gauzy dress that seemed to float over her body as she moved. It was a halter dress that dipped down into a low V-shape between those beautiful breasts with the waist cinched by a taupe satin ribbon.

However, that wasn’t the kicker—that was the back of the dress, or should he say, the lack of one. The whole creamy expanse of her back was on display, and the material started up again at her waist, extending to the flowy skirt.

She had a frown on her face, and he noticed her eyes kept darting over to Jenny.

Great. Josh had really thought she would bring somebody. What a fucking mess.

That wasn’t the biggest part of this mess though. The biggest part was he wanted to touch her.

Shelly stood in front of Lena and thought it was pretty spectacular for her to have even walked into the condo.

“You didn’t tell me he was dating someone,” Shelly accused softly.

“Well, you never asked,” Lena pointed out gently. “You have hardly talked to me for me to tell you.”

Well, she had a point, Shelly thought, silently hating her for it. “I hate that you’re right.” Okay, maybe not so silent.

Lena leaned over and told her softly, “Would it help if I told you that you look beautiful, and he hasn’t taken his eyes off you?”

Shelly looked over to the kitchen and locked eyes with the man she had said she wouldn’t and couldn’t love. She tried desperately to think of what her reasons for that had been again.

He was dressed casually tonight in a white button-up shirt and jeans, and he looked sexier than she ever thought he had. He didn’t look away and didn’t hide the absolute raw emotion that filled his eyes as he ran them down over her.

As Shelly felt her body respond, she pointedly looked away from him to his date, the lovely Jenny. This time when she looked back, he had moved over to chat with Mason.

Turning back to Lena, Shelly told her, “No, that doesn’t help, and I need a very stiff drink.”

Lena nodded and moved away to get it.

So, Jenny was nice, which made Shelly even more miserable.

She was an elementary school teacher and was so sweet.

Shelly was feeling ill. What is the matter with me?

She was the one who had ended things with him after his ex had turned up that morning months ago. She had panicked and sent him away.

Shelly knew it had been for the best because she had been and still was way too raw over the whole mess with her parents to even think about getting into a relationship.

However, whenever she looked at him or heard him talk or laugh, her heart clenched, and her body throbbed.

She had never been a believer in an instant connection, but that weekend, whether it was because she had been raw with emotions or just because it was the right man at the right time, she really thought she had fallen for him.

Maybe she had for a day, before reality had come back to slap her across the face. But now, she had to stand here with this kind, sweet woman and watch her as she discovered that he was in fact very possibly the perfect man.

Several hours later, after all the fireworks had gone off, they walked back through the park to catch a cab home.

Lena and Mason were at the front of the group, holding hands and laughing together, and Josh found himself beside Jenny, wondering about the woman a couple of paces in front of them.

He was listening to what Jenny was telling him and answering in response correctly, but his eyes and mind were on the naked back of the woman walking ahead of him.

She had been so subdued tonight, not the usual man-eater he was accustomed to or the sweet Georgia for that matter. She was just quiet.

Almost sad.

He knew she had to still be dealing with her parents’ revelations, and he figured that him showing up with Jenny tonight probably hadn’t helped either. It pained him to see her that way because she was usually full of life. Tonight, though, she just looked so tired.

When they all reached the road, Mason hailed a cab, and Jenny was the first one in because she lived across town. She leaned up and kissed Josh gently on the lips as he wished her a good night. She really was a good girl, but he was pretty certain she knew that they weren’t a forever match.

As the cab pulled away, Mason chose that moment to clear his throat.

“I’ll let you get Shelly a cab. We’re going to call it a night.”

Josh saw Shelly roll her eyes and shake her head as their friends went to cross the street.

From the other side, Lena yelled, “I’ll call you tomorrow with the time for the dress fittings, okay?”

He saw Shelly nod as Lena then turned, taking Mason’s hand as they walked into the lobby.

Josh had to envy them. They had found each other and loved one another so much that it made him smile just to look at them.

Turning, he saw that Shelly had taken a seat on a bench that edged the park.

Josh put his hands in his pockets and moved over to stand in front of her.

“Jenny seems nice,” she told him, finally looking up at him.

He nodded. “She is nice.”

He watched Shelly look down at her lap and pick at her skirt. “What’s going on, Shel?”

This was not the woman he had met a few months back. He moved and took a seat beside her. “Talk to me. Is it your parents?”

She turned her head, and her blonde hair spilled over her shoulder. He reached out and pushed it behind her ear. She sucked in a breath and bit her lip.

“Why do you think I’m such an idiot?” she asked.

Josh felt the side of his mouth quirk up. “Idiot? You? Now, that’s not something I would ever accuse you of being.” He paused, raising an eyebrow. “Stubborn maybe, but not an idiot. Why would you even think that?”

She looked away, and Josh felt his heart tighten in his chest.

He didn’t want to feel like this for her, not for a woman who didn’t want him. But as she sat there, looking like a young girl lost, he couldn’t help but reach out, stroking the back of his finger down her cheek to her chin.

He tipped her face up toward him, and as her blue eyes blurred with tears, he let his emotions show as well.

Shelly watched as his eyes roamed all over her face as though he was memorizing every little feature. She couldn’t help the tear that had slipped from her eye, falling down her cheek.

“Talk to me,” he told her.

Shelly wanted to. She wanted to tell him everything she was thinking. How much it had hurt to watch him with Jenny. How much she had wished it was her. How every time he had touched his date tonight, Shelly had pretended he was touching her instead.

But, as he looked at her so intently, she knew she couldn’t do that to him.

He had moved on. He was dating a wonderful woman, who really was the sweetest woman Shelly had probably ever met.

So, instead of telling him everything in her heart, she whispered, “Mason was right, huh? Blondes really are your type.”

Josh dropped his hand and took a deep breath before standing. Shelly stood beside him as he raised a hand for a cab.

When one pulled up, he stepped forward, opening the door for her. Shelly took a step and was about to get in the cab when he gripped her arm gently.

She turned as he softly said, “She is the imitation of what I want. Unfortunately, the original is not available.”

With that, he let go, taking a step back onto the sidewalk.

Shelly looked him over, feeling another tear slide down her cheek, and then she slid into the cab’s back seat.

As it pulled away from the curb, she turned around inside the cab and watched as Josh faded away into the night.