Friendship on Fire(44)

Riley remained silent. She needed Jade’s support. She needed to know she could come home and stay home if she wanted to.

“Cruella can have your drawings. Hell, she can even have your man, for that matter. Really, Ri, why do you need Josh Braden anyway?” Jade took a bite of her baguette, her eyes never leaving Riley’s.

“I know what you’re doing. You pushed me like that in New York. I’m not stupid, Jade.”

“Are you sure? Because I know many women who would give their left arm to be loved the way Josh loves you,” Jade said.

“How would you know?”

“Rex told me that Treat said he’d never seen Josh fall for a woman at all, much less practically live with one. And Max said that Josh looked at you like Rex looks at me—and you know how Rexy looks at me.” She shrugged. “Small town and all that.”

“They said that?” Riley knew how much Josh loved her. It showed in everything he did: the way he told her to look at him while they made love, his confession about not having women in his apartment, running all over creation to secretly be with her. Hell, who else would throw their career on the firing line to stand beside her? Then the memory of that awful night when she found him on the couch came searing back, and the hurt of the accusation came right along with it. She reached up and rubbed at the pain in the back of her neck.

“Yes, of course,” Jade said.

Riley wished the cave were really an option. It would be so much easier than weeding through her tangle of conflicting emotions.

“Let me ask you something,” Riley said. “If you knew that you didn’t deserve something, but that if Rex stood up for you it could hurt him, would you let him do it? Or would you extricate yourself from the situation so he wouldn’t have to deal with it?”

“Hasn’t he already?” Jade answered. “We’ve both gone up against our parents at the risk of losing them. That was very painful for all of us. It might not have been Yahoo! News painful, but it was every bit as emotionally disabling.”

“I guess.” Riley sighed.

Riley’s phone vibrated, and she ignored it. She’d seen a message from Josh while she was waiting for the plane to take off, and she’d been too conflicted to respond.

“I’m so afraid of hurting him,” she admitted to Jade, ignoring her phone’s incessant vibrations.

“Riley?”

“What?”

Jade nodded toward Riley’s purse. “I know what you’re doing. You can’t just ignore him. Relationships don’t work that way, and you’re not that kind of woman. You’re a communicator.”

Riley sighed. “I’m just not ready to talk to him. I can’t help but feel like I’ve hurt him, and when he first told me what was going on, I swear I hated the look of pity in his eyes. It was like he loved me, but he wasn’t sure if he quite believed me at the time, and he felt sorry for me.”

“So tell him that. That’s what you would tell me to do. Pick up the damn phone and tell the man. He’s going to the ends of the earth to make sure you’re taken care of. It’s the least you can do.”

Riley dug through her purse. “Sometimes I hate you when you’re right.”

“I know. Luckily, we have a love-hate relationship that can survive any man problem,” Jade teased.

She read the messages from Josh. She couldn’t deny the love she had for him. She texted back. I’m here safe and sound. Thank u 4 standing by me. Love you. Ri.

Then she scrolled to a message from Mia and read it.

Hang in there. Here if u need me. Xox. M.

“Mia texted me.” She smiled and texted back. Thx. U r not mad at me for not telling u? I’m so sorry.

“And?” Jade asked.

Riley’s phone vibrated. Maybe a little hurt, but I get it. Don’t worry. We’re cool. Xox.

“She’s supportive.” Relief swept through her. Thank you! Xox.

She listened to Josh’s voicemail and then put her phone away.

“Don’t you feel better?” Jade asked.

Riley let out a sigh. “I do, and I’m glad Mia texted. I guess I’ve made a friend. Thank goodness, because it’s been weird not having any girlfriends.”

“Hey, what about me?” Jade feigned a frown.

“You’ll always be my best friend, but you’re here, and sometimes I need someone there, too. Thank you, Jade. I feel much better having read Josh’s text and hearing his message. He said he’s met with the PI, and he thinks we’re in good hands. Knowing how much he loves me does help.” If I could only remember that ten minutes from now.

“Riley, this stuff will pass. It’ll all work out.”

“But what if it doesn’t? What if we can’t clear my name? Josh hasn’t said anything, but can she sue me for my own designs? And by now the whole world has heard about it. What must Max think? Oh my God, poor Max. I’ve got to call her.”

“She’s fine. I talked to her earlier today. She said Treat told her it was all lies.”

“I can’t believe the way the Bradens go to bat for one another,” Riley said. “Before seven o’clock this morning, both Treat and Savannah had already called Josh.”

“Let me tell you something. All that family loyalty stuff, it’s genuine. I see it on a daily basis with Rex, and not just for his family members. He’s just as loyal and protective of me and even my family, which I didn’t expect at all, given our family histories.”

“Whatever their father did when he was raising them, he did well, I guess.” Riley remembered the conversation she’d had with Josh about how different he’d felt from his brothers. She didn’t think he was so different after all. He didn’t hesitate to go to bat for her once the initial shock had worn off. She picked up her phone and texted him again.

Sorry for everything. Can’t wait 2 see u Wednesday. Miss u already.





Chapter Thirty-Seven


JOSH WALKED THROUGH JBD’s design studio remembering when Rex had first asked him about looking over Riley’s portfolio. Never in a million years would he have imagined that Riley was as talented as those sketches had proven her to be. Then again, he never would have imagined himself so in love with the woman he’d spent years crushing on. He assumed that once he’d left Weston, he’d never see her again. Now he stood beside her desk, and sadness slithered around his heart once again. How could she ever feel the same about New York—or JBD—or him, after this?

He reached into his pocket to answer his ringing cell phone.

“Hi, Dad.” He tried to muster a smile.

“Son.” His father’s deep voice stirred the emotions he’d been holding back all morning, causing a fissure in his iron facade. “I hear you’re comin’ home Wednesday. That right?”

Hal Braden had a special bond with each of his children, and he handled each one different from the next. He didn’t pressure them to visit, and he didn’t pressure them to do much of anything in particular, but he was the one his children turned to when they were considering life-altering decisions, and at that moment, Josh couldn’t have wished for a better ear to bend.

“Yes. Wednesday.” He hesitated in spilling his guts to his father, though the little boy in him screamed, Dad, tell me what to do. Please tell me. Hal Braden didn’t believe in computers and didn’t really understand the enormity of the press. Josh hoped his brothers and Savannah wouldn’t worry their father with his issues, although by now, he was sure the Weston grapevine was buzzing. He bided his time, waiting to see if his father brought it up.

“Good. You talk to Dane lately?” he asked.

“Not in a while, why?”

“Just thought you might want to. I get a feelin’ he’s in need of a little time with his family. He’s coming home for Christmas, but he could probably do with a call if you can fit it in.” He heard the worry in his father’s slow drawl.

Josh furrowed his brow and sat down in Riley’s chair. “Dad, is something wrong?”

His father sighed. “No, not wrong. I just got a feelin’ about him, much like I’ve got one about you.”

Josh and his siblings were used to hearing about their father’s feelings, or rather, worries that their father claimed came to him through their dead mother. Josh wasn’t sure if this was one of those times, but he’d call Dane and make sure he was okay.

“What do you mean about me?” Josh asked, knowing exactly what his father meant. He leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs.

“I hear Riley’s back in town,” his father said. “And a little bird tells me she’s run into a hell of a time out there in the big city.”

Josh righted the chair, needing the stability beneath him. “I’m handling it.”

“I’m sure you are. Son, I also hear that you and Riley are together. That right?”

Josh had hoped to tell his father in person, to see his eyes and read his expression when he told him, but he’d never lie to him. “Yes, sir. We are.”

“Well, then, you make sure you nip this crap in the bud. Don’t let those highfalutin city folk shame our good name, you hear?”

If only it were that easy. “Dad?”