Bad Boy's Bridesmaid (67 page)

Her gaze lowered. Quickly. Almost embarrassed.

“Just know that I love you, okay?” She whispered. “And
everything I did or will do is because I love you.”

“Nothing you do will ever change how I feel, Josie.”

Her lip trembled. I kissed it away and let her rest
against my chest, held in my arms and safe.

Why did it feel like she didn’t believe me?

Chapter Fifteen – Josie

Secrets.

Maddox had too many to count, and so many more I wished I
hadn’t learned. His past. His family. How he earned money. What he did to
survive after his parents were jailed and his foster family nearly beat him to
death. He made a life from any scraps he could find, and when he returned home
hardened by circumstance, the town turned on him.

Maddox had too many secrets.

I had just one.

And I’d lose everything if he learned the truth.

I nibbled on the end of my pen and counted the minutes
until five o’clock. Office jobs bored me to death. I never used to stare at my
phone when I worked at the candy shop. Sweet Nibbles took a big bite out of my
spare time. We always had dough to knead, cakes to bake, candies to boil, and
tables to wipe down. We stayed open until eight, but we left the doors unlocked
until ten because I didn’t have the heart to deny anyone a cupcake after a bad
day, date, or news.

Now?

Part-time work as an office gopher for the Saint Christie
Reporter wore on me. Papers to file, emails to send, ads to invoice, and
highlighters to doodle hearts in the corner of scrap paper. Too little hours
for too little money, and I knew what would come of it.

At four thirty, my boss let me go for the day. Sean knew
I had to get to Willowbend to see Granddad, but kicking off early meant he
didn’t have to pay me for another half an hour. The newspaper strained enough
from carrying me on the payroll for a year, even part-time.

I had to find something else in town, but no one could
afford more than a few hours a week at a wage high enough above minimum that
they wouldn’t insult me or my family. I understood. I’d owned a small business.
I worked every day open to close just to spare the couple bucks for additional
help until it was absolutely necessary.

Anything extra went to savings. And anything in savings
eventually paid Granddad’s medical bills and extensive debts—money we didn’t
know he owed until after the fire.

That was just the beginning.

The administrators at Willowbend didn’t give me good
news. I grew up with Cassie Miller’s daughter, and Granddad stayed in the same
hall as Cassie’s mother.

“Josie…” Cassie exhaled. “You know how much I love your
family. I want to do everything I can, but Matt needs a bit more care. His lung
function will only decrease, and we feel it’d be best to move him to an area of
Willowbend where he’ll receive more direct nursing care. Someone to handle his
medications and help him with his everyday activities.” She cleared her throat.
“A few days ago, Matt went for a walk. He was gone for hours.”

I frowned. “Sneaking out to smoke again?”

“Probably. But we worried when he didn’t return. He’s
never been gone that long, and anything might have happened. It’s time to get
serious about his condition. We have options, but…”

I didn’t like
buts
.
Buts
were expensive.
“What’s the problem?”

“I’m sorry, Josie, but if we move him, we can no longer
negotiate his care for the agreed upon price. It’s…going to get more
expensive.”

I hated having to ask. “How much more?”

“About four thousand—”

“Oh.” That wasn’t so bad.

“—
more
a month.”

My heart sank.

“Because he’s Matthias—he helped my husband to build this
place—we can move him for the first two weeks, no change. After that…”

“I understand.” I nodded. “I appreciate that.”

“I wish there was more we could do.”

Me too. I shook her hand and snuck upstairs to visit
Granddad. He was sleeping, but I gave him a kiss on the forehead. That made the
decision easy.

Whatever I had to do to make him comfortable, to help
him, I’d do.

Even if it ruined me.

I went home, cell phone in hand as I paced the living
room. The decision gutted me, and my stomach turned, sickly and gross. I hated
this, that moment when everything sweet turned sour, and what had been once
only a sticky life suddenly sucked me down into the mire.

This wouldn’t be easy, but shame never was. Still, I’d
rather it be my disgrace than Granddad’s, especially as his pride suffered
enough from the illness and the town’s gossip about his debts.

I dialed the number.

And waited.

Nolan answered with a smile echoed in words that dripped
pretention. He knew I’d call, and I knew what he’d want in return.

“Josie…” My name buttered on his tongue, and I worried
where it would spread. “Your voice brightens a bad day. How are you,
Sweets
?”

He wasn’t worth my temper. “Nolan, I wondered if we might
talk about…your offer.”

“On your property?”

Like he didn’t know. “Yes.”

“Reconsidering my terms?” His laugh wasn’t at my expense,
just a graveled chuckle in a moment of victory. “But, Josie, you realize that particular
arrangement was unsatisfactory to you?”

“I remember. But that was…then.”

“Business moves so fast these days,” Nolan said.
“Unfortunately…that particular contract was a
one-time
offer. I warned
you then, I’d be unable to negotiate the same amount a second time.”

“I’m willing to deal now.”

“As am I, Josie.” Nolan grunted, a rutting sort of sound
I never wanted to hear again. “I don’t conduct business over the phone.”

I anticipated that. “Fine.”

“You will meet me for dinner.”

A flash of goose bumps prickled my neck. “I’m not
hungry.”

“Get hungry, Josie. You will meet me at Jackson’s in an
hour, and we’ll discuss this arrangement.” His voice lowered. “Come alone.”

“Like I would trust you around Maddox.”

“You can trust this, Josie. If I wanted Maddox dead, he’d
be buried by now.”

“I’m tired of your threats, Nolan.”

“Meet me at Jackson’s or it won’t be a threat any
longer.” He paused. “And Josie? Wear that pretty pink dress for me.”

Nolan hung up. I wouldn’t give the creeper the
satisfaction of getting under my skin.

Or under my clothes.

The pink dress looked good on me. I’d wear it tonight and
then burn the damn thing. The material clung to my curves, and I hoped Nolan
would be too preoccupied with the plunging neckline to refuse the offer.

Only one thing left to do. I texted Delta, pulling the
best friend card.

If Maddox asks, I’m with you tonight
.

The reply came instantly.
Yeah right. What will he
do if he knows I’m lying? What will he do to you?

I hesitated.
He’ll understand. Eventually.

Delta was the type to talk me out of any bad idea—like a
hyperactive conscience who refused to let me take a step without clearing the
way first. I ignored her texts and shoved my phone in my purse. Maddox would be
harder to deter. I scribbled a note and stuck it to the fridge.

Under his message.

Found a lead on a job—checking it out.

I wished I could give him that time. Maybe if he hadn’t
gone to jail, maybe if we both had worked and made the money to ease Granddad’s
debts…maybe if the shop was rebuilt. We might have already been married, had a
baby, made a good life. Too many maybes and not enough certainty.

It wasn’t worth mourning a past we never had when I still
struggled to build a future worth living. I grabbed my purse and hid the dress
beneath a light shawl.

And then I left to sell a piece of my soul to the devil.

Nolan met me in the corner of Jackson’s, an intimate and
familiar little booth in the best restaurant in Saint Christie. The same
restaurant where we met a year ago, the night of the fire.

He ordered me red wine and gestured to toast as I sat
down.

“You look lovelier than I imagined.” Nolan licked a
droplet of wine from his lip. “And I have quite the imagination.”

Gross.

I let the glasses clink, but I didn’t drink. I wasn’t
about to split an appetizer and chat about our favorite cuts of steak. My voice
lowered, too humbled for my stubborn façade. “Nolan, I am willing to negotiate
on prices, but—”

“Easy, Josie.” He opened his menu. “We have all the time
in the world to discuss this.”

“I’d prefer to get this done quickly.”

“These things can’t be rushed.” He hummed over the
specials. “This transaction might be fairly involved if we expect to sort all
the details out.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.”

He met my stare. “If you want this sale, I foresee many,
many long nights ahead of us.”

This wasn’t going the way I hoped. I anticipated it, but
I would only agree to numbers on a page, not bodies between the sheets.

Nolan smiled like a true gentleman. I saw through it.
“I’m ordering us both the Pasta Diablo.”

“I don’t like spicy food.”

“You’ll love this.”

“I’m really not hungry.”

I stilled as his gaze traced over my bare shoulders, the
neckline of my dress, the secrets beneath.

“Josie, I’d prefer it if you were amenable.”

“This is business we’re talking about.”

“Business is my pleasure.” He arched an eyebrow. “And it
could easily be yours.”

“I’m only interested in selling my property.”

“And I am very, very interested in what is
on
that
property, what comes with it, what I might do to replace what was lost.”

“What you
burned
,” I said.

He sipped his wine and motioned for me to do the same,
but I refused. “You still believe I set fire to your shop?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To frame Maddox. To punish me for refusing you.”

“Josie, Maddox is a momentary distraction in what will
become our life.”

“
Our
life?”

“He’s a wild oat, something which will complicate our
vetting when I run for a higher office.”

“What are you talking about?” Nolan hadn’t let me in on
the joke yet, and that’s what it had to be. A joke. A bad nightmare.

“Sell your property to me, rid yourself of the convict,
and take the life I’m offering. You know I can give you
everything
you’ve ever wanted.”

This was getting out of control. I pushed from the table.
“Nolan, I’m here to talk about my land.”

“And I’m talking about our future.”

“We have no future!”

I lowered my voice as the waiter crossed behind us. God,
since when was Jackson’s this busy on a Thursday night? I avoided the gaze of
Mrs. Greentree as she and her husband greeted the server. The gossip would
spread about this tonight. I had to get out before word got back to Maddox.

“Do not confuse this for what it is,” I said.

“And what is it?” Nolan folded his hands and held my
gaze. “Why should we restrict our interests to your property?”

“Because that is our only common interest.”

“If you give me the chance, I could make a good life for
you. Your property is worthless without your candy shop. I’ll rebuild it. Your
grandfather’s debts are known to the town. I’ll arrest his bookie and debt
holders. His medical bills? Paid. Do you understand what I’m offering you? This
isn’t just a property sale.”

I swallowed, hard. “No. You’re buying me.”

“I’m giving you an
opportunity
.”

“You aren’t that noble. You’re after more than
charity
.”

Nolan grinned. “Is it a crime to want you?”

“Don’t speak to me like that.”

“Why? Maddox does worse.” His words edged, but it was his
fingers that worried me, digging and twisting and ripping the cloth napkin.
“Maybe I’ve been chasing you wrong. I’ve been kind, I’ve been logical. But you
don’t want those things, do you?”

I leaned away. “You have no idea what I want.”

“Do you like danger? Excitement?”

“Stop it, Nolan.”

“Maybe you’d like to be bent over the table like a filthy
whore?”

“Don’t you
dare
speak to me like that.”

Nolan imagined it, and I couldn’t stop those foul
fantasies. The thought rooted in him. If I ever gave him the chance, if I
ever
trapped myself alone with him…he’d take what he wanted.

“I’m offering this
once
, Josie,” he said. “If you
agree to this sale, everything is yours. I’ll rebuild the shop, take care of
Granddad, and give you a life of luxury and fame. I’ll need an honest,
beautiful woman on my arm to propel myself into politics. You are that woman.
We could be
happy
.”

“I don’t love you.”

“Maddox can’t give you those things.”

“This isn’t about him.”

“Of course it is! You’re obsessed with that man and can’t
see him for the demon he is. It’s time you realize he can’t support you.”

“He’s trying,” I said.

His voice chilled. “And if something should happen? If he
returns to jail? If something else—”

“Threaten him once and the negotiations end.”

Nolan leaned back, swirling his wine. “This is my only
offer, Josie. I want you. Let me prove myself worthy of you.”

“How?”

“One night.”

I stiffened, and everything inside me turned to ash.
“What kind of night?”

“You aren’t that naïve.”

“You aren’t that perverted.”

“I want one night with you in my bed. Then you’ll see we
have a connection. We’ll make a deal and begin planning for the future.” Nolan
leaned closer, smiling over his wine. “No one will know. I won’t tell Maddox.
You won’t tell Delta. It’ll be our little secret.”

Those were the secrets that consumed people, tore them
open and bled their conscience dry.

This wasn’t what Granddad wanted for either of us. Losing
our property was horrible enough. Losing myself to…letting Nolan…

I couldn’t, but I couldn’t afford not to. I reached for
the wine. Nolan grinned.

“How long do I have to decide?” I asked.