Burn(88)
“You undo me, Josie,” he murmured. “Completely and utterly undo me.”
chapter twenty
When Josie saw the restaurant where she and Ash were meeting his friends, unease gripped her. It was a restaurant that Michael frequented with regularity. It was his favorite place to eat, a place he’d taken her many times.
Shaking off her momentary hesitation, she settled into Ash’s side, his arm wrapped securely around her as they walked in. If she ran into Michael, and it seemed likely she would since he ate here almost every Sunday evening, she’d not act as though she was ashamed of anything. Certainly not of the fact that he’d attacked her. And she certainly wasn’t ashamed to be out with Ash, no matter how quickly she’d fallen into a relationship after she’d broken things off with Michael.
“Is something wrong?” Ash murmured as they were shown to their table.
She shook her head and smiled brightly.
“Not nervous are you? Relax, darling. They’re going to love you.”
This time her smile came more easily. “I’m not worried, Ash. Really.”
He squeezed her to his side. “Good. I want you to have a good time.”
When they arrived at their table, situated in the far corner where they’d be afforded quiet and privacy, Josie saw that his friends were already there.
She blinked when she took in the two men who rose when she and Ash got to the table. Holy hotness factor. Individually, each of the three were gorgeous. But together? They were the epitome of rich, arrogant and devastatingly handsome.
She looked right past the two females sitting, because hello, she was female and how could she even see anything beyond the three alpha men gathered?
“Josie, I want you to meet my friends and business partners, Gabe Hamilton and Jace Crestwell.”
The one he called Gabe stepped forward, a broad smile carving his rock-hard face. He extended his hand, and she shivered when their skin made contact.
“Very happy to meet you, Josie,” Gabe said in a husky voice that just screamed sexy. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” Josie murmured.
She turned to Jace and swallowed. The man was Ash’s polar opposite. Dark and brooding where Ash was lighter and seemingly less broody, but Josie knew that appearances were deceiving. Ash’s looks were in direct contrast with his true personality. He might seem laid-back and carefree, but he was utterly serious. At least with her he was.
Jace leaned in and kissed either cheek before retreating with a smile that made his dark brown eyes warm and inviting.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Josie. Glad Ash finally let you out of his apartment long enough to mingle with the rest of us.”
She laughed and relaxed and then turned her attention to the two women she was now insanely curious about. Anyone who managed to capture and captivate two men like Gabe and Jace had to be pretty damn special. And according to Ash, they were very much captivated. Completely and unapologetically in love.
She wanted that. Craved it. She wanted it with Ash. And if Ash’s words were anything to go by, they were on their way. It still baffled her that it had happened so fast, but then he’d explained that it had happened just as fast for his friends. In that context, perhaps it wasn’t so unbelievable that she and Ash would become serious in such a short time.
“Darling, I want you to meet two very special women, Mia and Bethany. Mia is the newlywed and I’m sure if Jace has his way, Bethany won’t be far behind on taking the marriage leap.”
“Damn right,” Jace growled.