When her hair was in a bun, he couldn’t tell she had beautiful dark brown elongated curls. Tonight, it was pulled to one side and cascaded around her shoulders and back. He itched to run his fingers through it to see if it was as soft as it looked. When she stood in front of him, he noticed that she was wearing the perfect amount of makeup. Not too much and not too little. And her lips looked downright kissable in her red lipstick. He’d always had a thing for red lipstick, which made not pulling her in for a kiss extremely difficult.
“Hello, Josh.”
“Hi, Becca,” he managed. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
“Thanks,” she said with a smile. “You do, too. And I really like your haircut.” Earlier in the day, Josh had decided to change up his hairstyle and get the sides of his hair cut into a fade, leaving only the top curly and trimmed.
She glanced at his hand. “Is that for me?”
Josh looked at the rose. “Sorry, yes, this is for you.” He handed her the pink rose. “I saw it and thought about you.”
She brought the rose to her nose and inhaled, keeping her eyes on him the entire time. “Thank you. I love it.”
Her voice was so soft when she spoke. I wonder if her bedroom voice is just as soft... He blinked to erase the image of her in his bed. This is not a date. This is not a date.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Sure.”
She walked out the door first, giving him a great view of her round backside. He followed her and looked to the sky when they stepped outside. She’s trying to kill me. There was no way he could focus on a movie premiere with her looking as good as she did.
He loosened the collar on his dress shirt and almost ran into her when she stopped in her tracks and squealed. “You’re kidding me! It’s been years since I’ve seen a white 1986 eight-seater Lincoln Excalibur with gold trimmings.”
Josh laughed. “Damn, you’re good. I figured you’d appreciate something more than a regular limo.”
“You thought right,” Becca said, walking around the vehicle. After she was finished checking out the details, the driver opened the limo door for them to enter. Becca performed a thorough examination of the interior, just as she had with the exterior of the car. Josh was content to just sit back and watch her.
“I’m beginning to notice a pattern.”
She glanced his way. “And what might that be?”
He observed her legs as she sat back in her seat next to him. They looked silky and smooth and once again he had to reel back his desire to touch her. “I notice that you aren’t satisfied until you’re sure you’ve covered every detail of the car and haven’t missed anything. It’s almost as if your mind goes through a checklist of everything you know about the car and you need to make sure everything is as it should be.”
Becca smiled. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I usually do. Oftentimes, I have a checklist in my mind that I’m working my way through. Not just with cars, but with everything.”
“Must be exhausting. To live life based off a checklist rather than living in the moment.”
“Oh, come on,” she said with a laugh. “I doubt you got to where you are today without setting goals for yourself.”
“You’re right, I set goals for myself. But I guess I prefer to set big ones. I’m not really a meticulous goal-setting type of guy.” When she hitched an eyebrow, he laughed. “For the record, I’m not judging you. I’m merely inquiring if your checklists allow for much spontaneity.”
Her face softened. She briefly glanced out the window as they turned into the North Bay Road neighborhood, then offered Josh a nice view of her profile.
“I guess my life doesn’t allow for much spontaneity, but as of recently, I’ve decided to make a few changes.” She turned to face him. “Starting with accepting your offer to accompany you tonight. A couple weeks ago, I would have declined in an instant. But now... Now, I was too curious to pass it up.”
It wasn’t so much what she said but how she said it that got his attention. Up until now, he’d done most of the flirting, and even then it had been minimal compared to how much he actually wanted to flirt with her. However, when she talked the way she just did, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could convince himself to keep things friendly.
Does she have any idea the effect she has on me?
“We’re here,” the driver said, stopping the car and then opening the door for them. Although he knew they needed to exit the vehicle, Josh was much more interested in continuing to hold Becca’s stare. After a few more silent seconds, he exited the car and offered his hand to her. When his hand closed over hers, he felt a jolt course through his body that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
He was so wrapped up in Becca that he didn’t notice they were on the red carpet until a light flashed. When the photographer asked them to pose, he took his cue from Becca and was surprised when she posed. They took a few more photos and made their way to the lavish gardens of the grand estate where the pre-premiere event was taking place.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
She glanced at him. “Are you asking me that because they took several pictures of us together?”
“Yes. I know how much you dislike the paparazzi.”
She gave him a side smile and lightly tapped him on the chest. “Come on. Let’s go mingle and spread the word about The Aunt Penny Foundation.” She grabbed a glass of wine from one of the servers and began making her way through the crowd.
The place was swarming with the rich and famous, yet Becca wasn’t fazed by those present. Instead of getting lost in the crowd, she was working her charm and socializing with ease. Josh realized two things in that moment. One, Becca was a rare find—intelligent, beautiful, with just the right amount of sass. And two, after preaching to his brothers about the fact that he could read a woman a mile away, he finally had to swallow his words. Becca Wright had layers and just when he thought he had her figured out, she surprised him.
* * *
Becca had to admit the night was going better than she’d anticipated. The pre-event had gone fantastically and she’d been able to raise a lot of interest in The Aunt Penny Foundation. The actual movie premiere had gone great, as well, and Becca had no doubt that when the action movie hit the theaters, it would be a hit.
However, the highlight of the night had definitely been Josh’s reaction to her. When he’d initially spotted her in the lobby of her complex, she’d been surprised at the blatant attraction she’d seen in his eyes. If he’d been trying to hold back the effect she was having on him, he hadn’t done a good job.
During the entire pre-event, she’d caught Josh stealing glances of her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. She’d wanted to tell him that there was no way she could miss the looks he was shooting her way. Even if she didn’t physically catch him, her body could feel when his eyes were on her. She felt alive. Desired.
Now they were back at the estate for the after-party, on a part of the grounds that had previously been closed off. Long sheer curtains hung from two rows of pillars and plush modern furniture was strategically placed across the grounds. Liquor and food stations were set up throughout it all. But her favorite part of the decor was the glass dance floor that had been placed over the exquisite pool.
The only thing that would make the night even better was if she hadn’t been stuck talking to a man she’d never cared for.
“Ms. Wright, I must say I’m impressed by what you and Haley Adams are doing at The Aunt Penny Foundation.” A compliment from Judge Chapmen? The world must be ending.
“Thank you, Judge Chapmen. We’re very proud of the foundation.”
“Well, you have to be, don’t you?” Judge Chapmen said with a boastful laugh. “You’re not putting your Ivy League education to good use, so if it fails, you basically have to start from the
bottom again.”
And there’s the insult I was expecting. “Actually, I’m putting my Ivy League education to great use. There are a lot of different career paths one can take—”
“Nonprofit work isn’t a credible career for a woman such as yourself.”
Becca squinted. “And what type of woman is that?”
“A single woman trying to make a living on her own. The work you do could be done by anyone. You don’t even need a college degree, let alone an Ivy League degree. It’s more suitable as a hobby for a stay-at-home wife who is already supported financially by her husband.”
Lord, give me strength. Becca started counting backward in her mind, trying to calm her annoyance. “Judge Chapmen, I don’t expect someone like you to understand the type of work I do, nor should you expect for me to allow you to disrespect me and my line of work.”
“Someone like me? What is that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means. Small-minded. Unwilling to see women as equals instead of accessories. The type of man who thinks the world revolves around money.”
Judge Chapmen took a step closer, irritation evident in his posture. “When you were a young girl, I thought you had a promising future. Your parents sent you to the best schools. They placed you in the best programs. You had the potential to make a great wife to my son, but instead you became a disgrace to society.”
“A disgrace to whose society?” she asked, her voice getting a little louder. She ignored those around her who turned their heads. “You may be friends with my parents, but that doesn’t give you the right to talk to me any way you please. I never would have married your son and I feel sorry for the woman who finally did marry him.”
“How dare you—”
“Is everything okay here?” Josh chose that moment to approach. He looked from Becca to Judge Chapmen.
“Everything is fine,” Becca said, never taking her eyes off the judge. “Judge Chapmen was just leaving, weren’t you?”
Instead of taking the hint and leaving, Judge Chapmen continued. “I feel sorry for your parents. They had such high hopes for you, but you failed them.” With that, he finally left.
Becca wasn’t sure how long she stood there looking at the empty space where Judge Chapmen had been standing. She jumped when Josh touched her arm.
“Are you okay?” he asked with concern. “What was that about?”
Becca sighed. “I’m fine, just a little on edge. Judge Chapmen and my dad are old friends. They went to law school together.”
“Oh, okay.” She could tell by the inquisitive look in his eyes that he wanted to ask her more. She wondered how much he’d heard. She couldn’t recall when Josh had approached, so depending on when he’d walked into the conversation, he could have heard her mention Judge Chapmen’s son.
“Are you ready to go?” Josh asked. “I think we’ve done enough networking for one night.”
“Actually, I am ready to leave.” Judge Chapmen had put her in a bad mood. “I’ve lost my ability to put on a fake smile.” She’d done that throughout most of her life, and she wasn’t going to resurrect bad habits.
“That’s fine by me.” As Josh said a few goodbyes, she wondered if he noticed the stares she was receiving from a few of the attendees. She had no doubt that the upturned noses were a result of her conversation with Judge Chapmen.
Once they were seated in the vehicle, Becca let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”
Josh was already shaking his head. “You didn’t embarrass me, Becca. You could never embarrass me. And standing up to a man who was trying to degrade you is not something you ever have to apologize for.”
She studied his eyes. She knew a lot of men who would have chastised her for speaking the way she had to a judge. “I love my family, but I’ve never cared too much for the people they associate themselves with.” Her mind drifted to her sixteenth birthday. That was the day she truly realized that the goals her parents had set for her weren’t the same goals she had for herself. Up until that point, she’d held on to the hope that she’d been wrong.
“You need to get out of your headspace,” Josh said, breaking her thoughts. “There’s a private park nearby that I have access to. The Moguls own it. Would you like to take a walk in the park? Maybe clear your mind?”
“That’s a good idea.”
Josh gave the driver directions to the park. “We should be there in no time.”
She smiled. “You continue to surprise me, Joshua DeLong.”
His laugh filled the car. “If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black.”
Chapter 7
“Are you cold?” Josh asked when he noticed Becca shiver.
She gave him a small smile. “Just a little.”
Josh took off his suit jacket and placed it over her shoulders. “I hate to cover up that dress, but I guess it’s better than having you shiver the entire time we walk.” Her laugh was music to his ears. He didn’t like seeing her upset.
“I needed that laugh,” Becca said. “I try to avoid Judge Chapmen at all costs, but Miami isn’t that big.”
“You mentioned that he went to school with your father. Is your father a judge or a lawyer?”
“My father’s a judge as well, but Judge Chapmen likes to be in the spotlight all the time, so I’m not surprised he was in attendance tonight.”
Josh led them to his favorite path with palm trees lining either side. They began walking in comfortable silence as the trees lightly swayed in the wind.
“Have you ever convinced yourself that you were over a particular situation and could handle the repercussions of a decision you made, only to realize that maybe you’re not as over it as you thought?”
“All the time,” Josh said. “Of course, depending on the situation I might try to mask my reaction, but sometimes I feel like my true feelings are written across my face.”
They walked in silence a little bit longer before Becca spoke again. “Growing up, I was the walking definition of an overachiever. I taught myself to read at four. I excelled in all my school subjects. I won so many violinist awards that folks joked about me playing with the symphony at the Arsht Center one day.”
“That’s quite an accomplishment.”
“It is. I haven’t played in a while. I miss it.” Becca sighed. “On top of all that, every time I attended an event that my parents would force me to attend, I played the role of adorable daughter with the potential to become the perfect trophy wife.”
“That sounds awful.”
“It was awful. Even though I was good at a lot of things, my shortcomings were definitely of the social nature. It didn’t take long for my classmates to shun me as a ‘Goody Two-shoes.’ For years, I ignored them and assumed they were jealous of my academic prowess. Until one day I looked in the mirror and realized they were right—I was a nerd in every sense of the word. But that was okay with me.”
Josh observed her. “I’m assuming based on that faraway look in your eyes, it wasn’t okay with your family?”
“My older sister, Allison, played the role better than most. She landed a rich and nice husband—a rare combination in the type of neighborhood I grew up in—and she has three children. She just started her own catering business and after ten years of marriage she’s never seemed happier. In my parents’ eyes, Allison is everything that they hoped I would be. The perfect wife and mother.”
“What about The Aunt Penny Foundation? Were they on board when you initially mentioned the foundation to them?”
“Actually, they were,” Becca said with a smile. “I’ve been attending fundraisers and charities since before I could walk. I was even able to get financial commitment from my family and other connections with deep pockets to help get The Aunt Penny Foundation off t
he ground. My parents may not feel as though what I do for a living is ideal, but saying that I ‘failed them,’ as Judge Chapmen so eloquently put it, is a bit harsh.”
Josh shook his head. “That man is a piece of work, but at least your parents are supportive.”
“Were supportive,” Becca said in a low voice. “Like I said, Judge Chapmen was harsh with his words, but they weren’t entirely untrue. I’m still not married, and in their eyes I’m too old to be without a husband and family of my own.”
“Sometimes doing what we love has consequences.”
Becca slowed her stride and glanced at him. “Are you speaking from experience?”
“I guess you could say that.” Josh grabbed a leaf off a tree branch that was hanging low over the path. “My mother said I came out of the womb arguing, so everyone believed I was going to be a lawyer. No surprise when I went to law school and became president of the law review.”
“Wow, that’s amazing,” Becca said enthusiastically.
“It was, and I assumed being an attorney was in my future. But once I started to practice, I found the pace way too slow. Cases would take months or even years to resolve and I needed more action than that.”
Becca laughed. “So you got bored and instead of fighting for justice, you entered the world of corporate raiding?”
Josh mocked offense. “Do I hear judgment in your voice?”
“Not judgment per se, but rather curiosity.”
Josh thought back to the early stages of his career when he was willing to try anything and everything in hopes of making a name for himself. “After leaving law, I entered corporate America ready to make up for the time I’d missed. I started by offering legal consulting for small businesses, and before long I was being recruited by large corporations to work for them. I remember visiting my mom and brothers one day and handing my mom a large check. She cried happily for hours that day.”
“I can imagine,” Becca said with a smile. “So you were practicing law. Then you offered legal counseling for large corporations. Then what?”
A Miami Affair Page 6
