Mad About You (14 page)

“No, Bull.” Nicole hurried from across the room. “That’s Scott, my investor. Remember? I told you about him.”

“Oh yeah. Just the man I wanted to see.” The man’s expression changed from looking like he wanted to pound him to being impressed. “You’ve got good taste, dude, investing in our girl here. Come on in.”

He held out his hand. “Scott Wright.”

“Bull Torres.”

Scott studied him. “The fighter?”

“Yeah, though I’d rather be a lover.” The big man sighed unhappily.

“Excuse him.” Nicole gave Scott a welcoming hug. “The woman he wants is giving him fits.”

“I belong to the same club,” Scott confessed. “That’s why I came here.”

Nicole groaned. “I only deal in romance. If you want relationship help, you should download my friend Valentine’s matchmaking app.”

“Actually, I came to ask how well you know Julie Miller.”

“Julie, from Back to the Fuchsia?” Nicole shook her head. “I know her in passing. Grif buys flowers from her. I’ve seen her with Sophie Martineau though. I think they’re close.”

“The actress?” Scott had a hard time believing that. Sophie Martineau oozed glamour. One of the things he loved about Julie was that she didn’t even bother to put on lip gloss.

“Yeah.” Nicole shrugged. “But I hooked up with a rock star, so go figure.”

But he knew Nicole and Griffin Chase had known each other for a long time, before he was a rock star. Maybe Julie and Sophie were the same way. “You wouldn’t happen to know how to get a hold of Sophie?”

“Sorry.” Nicole shook her head. “Can’t help you there, but I see her around the neighborhood. I think she lives in Laurel Heights part-time.”

“You’re attacking from the sides,” Bull said suddenly, looking at him with increased respect. “Smart. If only I knew who had Josephine’s confidence.”

Nicole turned to Scott. “Bull isn’t very lucky in love at the moment, either.”

“Or in business.” He faced Scott, his gaze shrewd. “I wouldn’t mind going over some ideas with you, if you’re up for it. No strings, man.”

“I’d be happy to try to help.” Scott clapped his hand on the big man’s shoulder. “Over a drink?”

Bull gaze narrowed. “You drink wine?”

“Whiskey would be my choice.”

“I knew you looked trustworthy. Let’s rock.” Bull nodded and kissed Nicole’s cheek. “Later, kid. Thanks for nothing.”

“I told you I can’t give out more information on her.” Nicole walked them to the door. “But I provided you a drinking partner. That’s got to count for something.”

Scott winked at her as he and Bull walked out. “We’ll make it count. Thanks, Nicole.”

Scott and Bull only had two drinks each, but in that time they’d talked about hardheaded women and the smoothie business. They’d also come up with solutions for all three problems: Julie, Josephine, and Bull’s stalled business.

He asked Bull for a prospectus for the smoothie line. It wasn’t up his alley, but it was definitely up Megan’s. A man learned a lot about someone’s character sipping whiskey, and what Scott had learned impressed him. Bull was a man of action, and he’d decided to take action with the woman he loved. Scott wasn’t sure he agreed that the action Bull wanted to take was prudent, but if anyone was going to pull off that plan, it was the fighter.

Scott came up with a plan to get Julie back, he was going to track down Sophie Martineau and appeal to her to help him win Julie over. He’d already sent a text to a friend who was in entertainment, to get Sophie’s contact info.

Not in the mood to deal with anyone, he took care not to make noise as he let himself into the house. Surprisingly though, even with the imminent wedding and a house full of people, but there wasn’t a peep downstairs. It was late—everyone had probably gone to bed.

Relieved, he jogged up the stairs, and was almost to the third floor when he heard, “Prescott darling?”

Stifling a curse, he turned around and headed back to the second floor landing. His mother stood at the bannister, looking up at him, her brow pinched. “Why aren’t you asleep, Mom?”

She lifted her face for a kiss on the cheek. “I’m a little wound up about Saturday. I thought I’d raid your bar for the sherry I like.”

He rubbed her back reassuringly. “The wedding is going to be beautiful. Alexis and Rob are going to have a happy life together.”

“They will, won’t they? It’s all I’ve ever wanted, for the two of you, for you to be happy.”

“I know,” he said softly. He wanted the same for her, but she never listened when he brought it up. She’d given up on herself a long time ago, putting her energy into them instead.

“Which brings me to you.” Her gaze hardened. “What’s going on between you and Julie?”

He crossed his arms. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

She crossed her arms, too. “When my florist, who I quite like, storms out of my house in tears, I think I have a right to concern myself.”

He winced, hating the idea of Julie in tears. He couldn’t contact her to see if she was okay—she wasn’t taking his calls. He’d even gone to her apartment once, but she hadn’t answered the buzzer.

His mom put a hand on his arm. “Are you dating each other?”

“We were.”

“What did you do?”

He smiled ruefully. “Thanks for your faith in me, Mom.”

“It’s nothing personal, darling.” She squeezed his arm. “Men are just clueless at times.”

“Truthfully, she entered some flower competition that you’re judging and she didn’t want her entry to be judged unfairly one way or another.”

His mom blinked, her hand at her throat. “Does she think I’d score her poorly because she was dating you?”

“I don’t know what she thinks. She won’t tell me. She’s more than a little annoyed by Zoe’s presence, too.”

Elise had the grace to wince. “That may have been poorly planned on my part. However, in my defense, I had good intentions.”

“Is this the part where I can point that you shouldn’t meddle in other people’s lives?”

“Of course not, darling. I’m your mother. Your birth certificate grants me to right to meddle in your life.” She touched his arm and tentatively asked, “Do you love her?”

“She’s going to be my wife.”

Gasping, she covered her mouth with her fingers.

He pointed at her. “And you’ll be accepting of her.”

“Of course I will be.” She looked completely affronted. “I
like
her.”

“Good.” He studied his mother, who’d started thinking, which made him very nervous. “What are you plotting, Mother?” he asked warily.

“Nothing.” She waved her hand. “It’s just that I won’t be able to bully her about the flowers for your wedding. Julie will have definite ideas, and I’ll have to respect them. Oh well.”

He smiled. “I like how you’re making the best of a less-than-ideal situation.”

“I try, darling.” She patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to her before Alexis’s wedding.”

“You will not.” He put every ounce of forcefulness he had into the command. “
I’ll
work this out, Mom. Stay out of it.”

“You’re right. Before the wedding isn’t the time.” She nodded absently, squeezing his arm before heading back to her room.

“Weren’t you going to get some sherry?” he called after her.

She smiled over her shoulder. “I’m much better now, knowing that you’ve found love. Good night, darling.”

He wished he could feel the same. “Good night, Mom.”

Chapter Twenty-one

“Mommy, why is that man wearing a red bow? Can I have one?”

Bull winked at the little girl, who was the only person bold enough to ask why he was sitting on a bench in the Asian Art Museum with a floppy ribbon tied around his neck.

The girl’s mother looked at him askance as she said, “We’ll get you a bow when we go home.”

He nodded to them as they passed, drumming his fingers on his leg. The bench wasn’t comfortable, and the bow was strangling him, but he was determined to do this. He was determined to show Josephine Belle once and for all that she should give him a chance.

It turned out that when a man showed up at the museum wearing a tuxedo and a ribbon tied around his neck, the information desk wasn’t enthusiastic about escorting him to their curators. But there had been one kindly woman who pointed out the secure door behind which Josephine’s office supposedly lay.

Now he just had to wait. His favorite thing.

He made a face.

Talking to the venture capitalist that Scott worked with had been infinitely easier. He’d had a meeting with Megan Steiner that morning, and she was awesome. She was knowledgeable about food lines and distribution. She needed to look over his prospectus, but he had a good feeling about it. His gut feelings were never wrong.

Which is why Josephine Belle’s resistance chapped his hide. He
knew
they’d be good together. If only he could convince her to give them a chance.

The inconspicuous door opened, and Josephine stalked toward him, her heels clacking with purpose. Her eyes were narrowed, and her face was flushed with probably anger, though he liked to think some of it was pleasure at seeing him.

Adrenalin shot through his system, just like before a fight. Picking up the package next to him, he stood up, ready to state his case. “Before you say anything,” he began when she stopped in front of him, “I think you should hear me out.”

“You’re making a scene,” she said, her voice a low hiss.

“No, I’m just here to give the woman I want a gift. Me.” He showed the package in his hand. “Since the corset wasn’t doing it for you, I thought maybe I might.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Before you say anything, I’d like to state that if you were serious about not liking me, you’d have sent guards to escort me off the property.” He pointed a finger in her face. “You wanted to see me. You can’t deny it.”

She grabbed his finger and pushed it out of her face, but she didn’t let it go. “I did not want to see you.”

“Your delicious lips say one thing and your eyes say another.” He stepped toward her. “Come on, Josephine Belle. You know you want to unwrap me.”

For a moment she looked like she was going to give in and say yes, but then her stubborn chin lifted and she shook her head. “You won’t get me to play along with your craziness.”

“Okay.” He nodded, pretending to be way more nonchalant than he was feeling. On the inside, he was seething with frustration. “I admit it. I’m crazy. I’m crazy about
you
, Josephine Belle. I want to laugh with you, cry with you, hold your hair when you’re puking, and generally annoy you for the rest of your life, because I have no delusions about that. You’re going to get annoyed with me sometimes, just like you are now.”

He stepped up to her, touching her face. “But I want to love you for the rest of your life, too. I want to give you presents like this corset. I want to give you kisses and the best loving you’ve ever had. I want to learn every inch of that gorgeous body of yours, until I know it blind. I want to listen to your dreams and encourage you to go for them. I want to tell you my dreams and know that you’ll have my back, too.

“I want to worship you, Josephine Belle. You may think I’m crazy, but I’m only just crazy about you. If you don’t get that,
you’re
the crazy one.”

She blinked at him, her mouth gaping. In her eyes, there was a glimmer of hope.

He felt an echo of it in himself. He took a step closer to her, willing her to reach out and take the corset—willing her to give them a chance.

But then something that looked an awful lot like fear shuttered her gaze, and she shook her head. “You’re mad. No one does this.”

“No one is us, and I’m only mad about you.” Hurt, feeling like a two-hundred pound weight had crashed on his chest, he smiled bitterly. “But I get it. You don’t want this.”

“I—” She stammered, shaking her head.

“No worries, babe.” He stepped back, tossing the corset down between them.

She opened her mouth a couple times like she was searching for what to say. Finally, she gestured to the package. “Don’t leave that here.”

“Why the hell not?” He shrugged. “I bought it for you. If you don’t want it, what do I need it for?”

“Another woman,” she said, as if it were such an obvious answer.

Okay,
now
he was pissed. He pointed at her, trying to keep his cool but knowing he was one step away from grabbing her and kissing her into submission. Not that it would work, but it’d be a lot of fun. “If you think I’d give that to just anyone,
you
are the crazy one. I’ve only ever wanted you. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the woman for me. You’re smart, you’re feisty, and you’re hot. At least I used to think you were smart. Now I’m having doubts.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t go all prissy on me, like you’re offended. You heard me. I’ve laid myself all out for you. I’ve promised you loyalty and love forever, and you’ve done nothing but toss it back in my face. I’m starting to think you aren’t as smart as I thought. And, you know what? Maybe I don’t want to date crazy either.”

Her back stiffened visibly. “
What?
”

“You’re obviously bat shit if you’re turning down the best man who’s ever turned up in your life.” He leaned, in her face. “And you know what, Josephine Belle? I think you know that. I think you know what you’re giving up here, but you’re too scared to take a chance. And that’s the craziest shit of all. You’re going to throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to you because you’re a little afraid that it may be too good to be real.”

Shaking his head, he turned around, for the first time seeing all the people gathered around them staring.

Whatever—let them stare. He held his arms out. “She gave all this up, to be safe. Well, now she can stay in her ivory tower all by herself.”

As he strode down the hallway, he heard one woman say “I’d totally unwrap him.”

Old Bull would have stopped and let her. Current Bull only felt the pain of his heart being stomped on by a librarian-looking woman in heels.

Chapter Twenty-two