Friendship on Fire(9)

Uh-oh.

“I don’t believe any of the Bliss pieces are cheesy,” Josh retorted.

“No, no, they’re certainly not. I just meant to stick to the finer fabrics. Pencil skirts rather than flared, wool and silk, maybe a little leather. Something the older generation might take pride in wearing.” Peter lowered his chin and looked at Riley from a discerning angle. “Don’t you agree, Riley?”

Crap. Don’t put me in the middle. Wishing she could pick up a knife and slice through the tension, clearing a friendly path, she took a deep breath and said, “Actually, I find all of Josh’s pieces refined, but I do understand the desire to attract a more mature audience.” Supportive yet discerning. She shot a look at Josh, who nodded, with an appreciative smile.

To a neighboring table, they probably looked like they were having a meaningful business meeting, but to Riley, who felt like a fly on the wall watching a silent game of one-upmanship, the exchange was unsettling.

“Riley, I’d be curious to see your designs. You don’t mind, do you, Josh?” Peter smiled, and behind the facade, Riley saw fierce competition in his eyes.

Josh lifted his drink like he was going to toast. “Go right ahead. She’s by far the most talented designer I’ve met in the past few months. She has a long career ahead of her.”

Ohmygodohmygod! I do? Riley clutched her napkin in her lap to keep from jumping up and hugging him, and then she saw the way he sipped his drink, watching Peter above his glass. Was he using her as a playing card? Was he challenging Peter? Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?





JOSH PAID FOR dinner, and when they stood to leave, he was quick to pull out Riley’s chair and put a possessive hand on her back.

“Peter, as always, it’s been a pleasure. Have your secretary call Mia and schedule a meeting,” Josh said with the most gracious smile he could muster while biting back his annoyance at the way Peter had tried to rile him and the way he’d reacted.

“I’m heading to Switzerland with my brother’s family for the holidays. I’ll schedule a time for after the New Year.” Peter kissed Riley’s cheek. “The pleasure was all mine.” He shook Josh’s hand. “I look forward to seeing this all come together.”

Josh heard the double entendre loud and clear. “So do I,” he said.

“Thank you for allowing me to join you for dinner. It was wonderful to meet you, and I’m honored to be included in the upcoming meetings,” Riley said.





IN THE CAR, Josh wrestled with the conversation he’d had with Peter. The intent of their date—that wasn’t a date at all in Riley’s eyes—was to welcome her to New York, show her a good time, and get to know her better, and he wasn’t going to let anything waylay his plans.

“That went well, don’t you think?” he said.

“Yes, he’s very nice.” Riley played with the edge of her purse. “So, Claudia is his niece?”

He’d almost forgotten that relationship had been revealed. “Yes. Peter helped me get started in the business years ago, and when Claudia graduated from college and needed a job…” He shrugged. “I’m a loyal guy. What can I say?”

“I guess that explains a few things. I sort of wondered how you guys got connected. She seems…different from the other employees,” Riley explained. Before he could respond, she said, “Josh, I’m really sorry if I embarrassed you with Peter. I didn’t mean to talk about Weston like I was some cowgirl hick. I’m mortified.”

“Is that what you think went on in there?” Josh couldn’t bear the way she stared at her hands and sat stiffly beside him. It was a beautiful evening, and he was determined not to let Peter’s comments ruin it. He reached over and lifted her chin until her eyes met his.

“Riley, you didn’t do anything wrong. Your personality sparkled. I love how much enthusiasm you have for life, for people, and of course, for designing.” Damn, he wanted to lean forward and kiss her luscious lips, tangle his fingers in her hair, and press her full body against him.

Her lips parted, but no words came. He watched the tip of her tongue move slowly over her lower lip and he felt himself staring. He shook his head to stop his brain from wondering how her lips would taste on his.

“Peter’s questions about us, and his intense interest in you, were his way of telling me that he was… interested.” There. He’d said it. At least part of the truth.

“In me?” Riley laughed. “Did you have too much wine? I’m nobody. He was just being nice. I’ll bet he treats all the women that way—and better.”

She looked away, and he drew her chin back once again, lowering his voice to what he hoped was an honest, meaningful tone. If she saw Peter as someone who treated women a certain way, surely she saw Josh as the same type of person. They weren’t so far removed in the industry, after all.

“Riley, I’ve known Peter since I began designing, and I can assure you that he does not treat all women that way. In fact, I have never seen him so forward with a woman that accompanied another man.” He waited for understanding to dawn on her. She glanced down, and when she looked up at him again, the green in her eyes caught the light, and a hint of that spark that he’d seen while she’d spoken of Weston returned, hidden behind a shroud of confusion.

“But…this was business, and surely he knew that,” she said. She shook her head. “It was business.”

“That’s what you tell me.” Josh smiled, but inside he cringed, knowing he was pushing the limits. She might not want anything more from him than a job.

“But I thought…you said just to pretend we were back home.” She clung to her purse.

“It’s not what I’d hoped for,” he admitted. “I saw how nervous you were, and I wanted you to be comfortable.”

“Not what you hoped for? You mean the flowers, the kiss—”

“I don’t ask women on dates very often, Riley. I’m out of practice, and stupid me, I thought yellow roses with red tips signified a growing attraction between friends.”

“They do?”

She sounded breathless. Josh felt a stirring in his groin, a constriction in his chest.

“They do.” He searched her eyes for an indication that she felt the magnetism that was drawing them together like metal to magnet. “Red alone is romantic love; yellow adds friendship, hopes, and promises.”

“Hopes,” Riley whispered.

“Red alone,” he said. “Maybe one day. Riley…”

She licked her lips again, and this time he let his body lead them. He took her face in his palms and kissed her softly, soaking in the sweet taste of wine on her tongue and the warmth of her mouth, and finally, the release of tension as she kissed him back—tentatively at first, then harder, meeting his passion with her own, probing his mouth with her tongue. Josh could have kissed her for hours. He forced himself to pull away for fear of taking things any further in the backseat of his company car. Damn, he had to gain control of his emotions.

They stared into each other’s eyes, the air between them sexually charged. Her breasts heaved with every breath. He longed to kiss her again, to touch the milky crest of her breast, which had been taunting him all night. Instead, he took her hand in his and fought his desires. He might not have dated for a long time, but he knew the risks of going too fast—and even if he hated to admit it, Peter had a point about scandals. He wasn’t worried about himself in that regard, but God only knew what kind of hell Claudia would put Riley through if she knew how Josh’s feelings were taking flight.

“Let’s go see New York,” he managed. He couldn’t erase the smile from his face if someone paid him to do it. His heart danced with renewed energy, and as he looked out the window, even the lights of the city seemed brighter.

“Jay,” he said to the driver. “Longacre Theatre please.”

“Yes, sir,” Jay said.

A nervous smile lingered on Riley’s face, worrying him. Had he misread her? Overstepped the boundary of their friendship?

“Do you regret our kiss?” he asked.

“Regret?” she asked. “No, definitely not.” She smiled and squeezed his hand.

He found her nervousness endearing and breathed a sigh of relief to know she didn’t regret the kiss he adored. For the first time in months, Josh felt like he had something to look forward to besides work. A country song came on the radio, and he reached for the rear controls to change the station.

“No, please. He’s my favorite,” Riley said.

“Who is it?”

“Hunter Hayes. ‘Wanted’ is my favorite song ever.”

“Wanted.” Hunter Hayes. Josh made a mental note of her favorite artist.

“The city is so beautiful,” Riley said as she craned her neck, looking up at the illuminated signs as they passed. “This is so different from home. You know, I used to look at pictures of New York and think that I couldn’t wait to get there and experience it, and now that I’m here, I know that I never could have imagined what it would have done to me.” She turned back to Josh with a wide smile. “It’s like just being here pumps me with energy. I want to experience it all—the lights, the nights…” Her smile faded.