A Miami Affair

by Sherelle Green

  Josh smirked. She’s genuinely interested in hearing my story. He couldn’t recall the last time a woman had wanted to know not only Josh DeLong, self-made millionaire, but also Josh DeLong, the man behind the millions.

  “There was a company I was consulting for that was being targeted by a venture capitalist. After trying everything they could, they sought my consul. It was my first real introduction to what a corporate raider did. At the time, I didn’t have the heart to tell the company that they were fighting a losing battle. They’d made too many poor decisions that had landed them in their predicament. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the entire ordeal and began to study corporate raiding to fight fire with fire.”

  “So in the end, did you help the company?”

  “Not exactly. My efforts came up short and my legal counseling was no longer needed. A week later, that same venture capitalist reached out to me. Apparently, despite my failed attempt to assist the company, he saw potential and took me under his wing.”

  “That’s a pretty interesting way to enter the field,” Becca said, brushing the curls off her face now that the breeze had picked up. “Working with the very enemy you had previously tried to stop.”

  Josh stopped walking and looked to her. “I’ll admit, what I do isn’t the most honest career, but I’m not the enemy. The assets of most of the companies I invest in are undervalued. And those that aren’t may have a good three to five successful years left if they continue operating with the same standards, and eventually they need to take drastic measures to increase their share value.”

  Becca studied his eyes. “I can see how you wouldn’t think that you’re the enemy, but what about those people who lose their jobs? Or the companies who lose everything once you resell their stock? What about that?”

  Josh was used to having to defend his career, but for some reason Becca believing the worst of him was a tough pill to swallow. “No career is perfect and I’m sure you’ll agree that no one individual is perfect, either.”

  When her eyes softened, he felt relieved. “Tell me about your brothers,” she said as she started walking again. “How many do you have?”

  “Three younger brothers. We always thought my mother had hoped my youngest brother, Logan, would be a girl, but she claims she always wanted sons.”

  “You mentioned your mother and brothers. What about your father?”

  Josh briefly glanced up at the moon. “My father passed while I was in college.”

  “Oh, Josh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Becca said as she briefly placed her hand on his arm. “That must have been so terrible for your family.”

  Josh took a deep breath. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my father. According to Will DeLong, progress means nothing without struggle.” Josh thought back to the last conversation he’d had with his father. Had he known it would be his last, he would have cherished it even more at the time.

  “He was one of the most hardworking men I knew. His motto was ‘the road to success may be long and hard, but nothing worth having is easy.’”

  “I like that,” Becca said. “Even though I never knew your father, you can tell what type of a man he was just by his motto.”

  “Yeah, I’m still trying to figure out my own motto. Do you have words you live by?”

  Becca shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure out mine, too. My parents’ motto was always ‘do things the Wright way,’ as in, W-R-I-G-H-T.”

  “Clever,” Josh said with a laugh.

  “They sure think so.” Becca smiled. “Honestly, I sort of always liked that motto too, but don’t tell them that. I’d never hear the end of it.”

  “Maybe you should tell them that one day,” Josh suggested. “We give our parents a hard time, and based on what you’ve told me you and your parents share different views. But parents need to hear that something they did when raising you worked and stayed with you. Take it from someone who wishes he could have said more, but didn’t.”

  If Becca disagreed, she didn’t say so. Instead, she lightly touched his arm again. It may have only been a small form of comfort, but he welcomed the feeling.

  * * *

  As they approached an open gate leading to a section filled with beautiful Floridian flowers and a small pond, Josh grabbed Becca’s hand. She enjoyed the way her hand felt enclosed in his. It was a small gesture that she’d rarely shared with the opposite sex.

  “Watch your step,” Josh said, leading her through the gate and over the stones. When they reached a railing overlooking Biscayne Bay, he released her hand and leaned over the railing.

  “Are you afraid of heights?” he asked.

  “Not at all.” Becca leaned beside him against the railing.

  “So,” Josh said as he clasped his hands together, “are you going to tell me how you almost married the judge’s son?”

  Ah, so he did hear me. “I hadn’t known if you’d heard that part of the conversation or not.”

  “Yeah, I heard it. I debated whether I should mention it to you, but my curiosity is getting the best of me.”

  Becca sighed. “Do you want the short version or the long version?”

  “I want whatever version you’re willing to tell me.”

  She briefly thought about where to start before deciding the beginning was probably best. “Before I tell you anything, I hope you realize that I rarely share this story.”

  Josh clasped his hand over his heart. “I feel so honored.”

  Becca playfully hit his side, causing his jacket to slide slightly off her shoulder. She watched Josh’s eyes glaze over the exposed skin before she lifted the jacket back in place.

  “I already told you what life was like for me in high school. So when one of the more popular boys in school became interested in me and my parents got wind of it, let’s just say we had no choice but to date. Since our families were friends, I’d known Rich most of my life, but he’d never seemed interested before.”

  “Wait,” Josh said. “The judge’s son is named Rich? Sounds like a jerk already.”

  “You have no idea,” Becca said with a laugh. “By the time I was sixteen, I’d gone from a scrawny teenager to having hips and curves that got me a lot of unwanted attention. In a way, I should have known that my looks had been the turning factor for Rich. I was smart, talented and beautiful...only two of which he’d actually noticed before. My parents encouraged me to date him. Everyone did really.

  “I’ll spare you the details of the long, sordid saga of our high school relationship, but the reason I broke up with him was because he shared the same views as his father. He believed a woman’s only place is to aid and care for her husband in any way possible. God forbid she have her own dreams and aspirations.”

  Josh shook his head. “I only heard the judge tell you a few choice words, but I could just imagine what type of son he has.”

  “And he only got worse after we broke up. He was teased in high school for being dumped by the class nerd. So in turn, he teased me about losing the best thing I ever had. Once we graduated, I’d hoped I’d never see him again, but I hadn’t been so lucky. After I graduated from college, I got a high-paying corporate job downtown and, lo and behold, who started working there a week before me...”

  “I hope you gave him a piece of your mind,” Josh said.

  “Worse. I started dating him again. Moved in with him soon after. And within a year, we were engaged to be married.” Although the situation wasn’t funny, Becca laughed at the surprised look on Josh’s face.

  “I didn’t see that coming.”

  “Needless to say, I ended our engagement for the same reasons we broke up in high school, but this time, certain members of our community couldn’t handle the fact that I’d embarrassed Rich once again. In particular, the judge and his family. Then I quit my cor
porate job to help Haley with The Aunt Penny Foundation. In turn, my family had to deal with a lot of gossip because of the decisions I’d made.” She didn’t mention how despite the fact that she’d never seen eye to eye with her parents, she felt guilty for what she’d put them through.

  Josh leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. “You did the right thing, Becca. And sometimes, doing the right thing is the hardest decision of all.”

  Becca nodded her head, as she tried to ignore how close he was. “I know I did, but I changed after that. I’ve never cared what people thought of me and I promised myself after that situation that I’d never change myself for a man again. I lost a piece of myself that I’m just now starting to get back.” Becca shivered when she felt the back of her hand graze his cheek.

  “I never did understand a man who didn’t want a woman who was his equal, but rather one who didn’t have a mind of her own.” His voice was even deeper than it had been previously. “If I ever marry, I need a woman who’s going to challenge me in ways I’ve never been challenged. A woman who wants me to walk beside her as we go through life, but is independent and filled with vigor and passion.”

  He was so close that all Becca had to do was turn her head and their lips would be centimeters apart. Her heart was beating so fast that she couldn’t hear anything else. She chanced a glance in his direction and was taken aback by the look she saw in his eyes.

  “For a night that’s supposed to be about business,” she said, “we sure are talking about a lot of non-business-related topics.”

  “Is this just about business?” Josh asked. “Because this feels like a helluva lot more than just business.”

  She turned to him then, filled with questions that she refused to ask and answers he’d never give. Don’t get lost in those baby blues. She wasn’t sure if it was the moonlight hitting his profile perfectly or the sound of the waves crashing on the shore in the distance, but the energy around them became even more electric.

  “If we take this any further, it would be wrong.”

  “I disagree, Ms. Wright.” Josh’s eyes bounced from hers to her lips. “I think stopping here would be the real tragedy.”

  His lips crashed onto hers with an urgency she should have seen coming but that nearly knocked her off her feet nonetheless. His hands curled around her waist, bringing her closer to him. Her instinct was to pull away, but instead she wrapped her arms around his neck. His tongue slipped into her mouth in one full motion, methodically stroking hers. Never had she experienced a kiss so explosive. So intense.

  Becca was the first to pull away.

  “Wow,” she said, although she hadn’t meant to.

  “Wow is right.” Josh leaned in for a couple more pecks before he released her. If she hadn’t been near the railing, she was certain her steps would have faltered.

  “Maybe it’s time to call it a night,” she suggested. “I have an early morning tomorrow.”

  For a moment, she thought he was going to try to convince her to prolong the night. She was glad when he nodded his head and started walking back to the vehicle with her. They walked in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts. It wasn’t until they were almost to the car that she realized he’d held her hand the entire walk back.

  Chapter 8

  “Mom, for the last time, nothing is going on with me and Joshua DeLong.” Becca dropped her forehead into her hands as her mother rattled on about the newspaper photo.

  Although Becca had enjoyed attending the movie premiere with Josh a couple nights ago, she wouldn’t have been so carefree when the photographer snapped photos if she’d known they would end up in the local paper.

  “Becca, you could have told your father and me that you were dating Joshua DeLong.”

  Clearly her mother did not get it. “Mom, like I said yesterday, Mr. DeLong is in charge of charity outreach and public relations for Prescott George, and The Aunt Penny Foundation was chosen as the recipient for their gala. We’re working together and the only reason I attended the movie premiere was to network and spread the word about the foundation and gala. That’s all.”

  “Well, sweetie, that didn’t look like a photo you take with someone you just work with,” her mom said. “And I talked to a few people who said you two looked rather cozy together. You could have told me you were dating him. I was going to set you up on a date with Mrs. Higgins’s grandson for next week, but now I won’t.”

  Becca had no doubt that Judge Chapmen and his associates were the “few people” who’d told her parents about how cozy she’d looked with Josh.

  “And, Becca, you looked gorgeous in that photo. I’ve been telling you to show your curves for years and now that you have, you caught the eye of a Mogul. Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it. But maybe you should invest in a better strapless bra next time. I know the perfect place...”

  Becca’s mind wandered as her mother continued to talk. To say her mother was excited about the possibility that Becca was dating Josh was an understatement. All Patricia Wright had been consumed with lately was marrying Becca off and marrying her off well. Josh represented everything Patricia wanted for her daughter.

  “Mom, I hate to end this exciting call, but I have to go.”

  “I know you’re being sarcastic, but okay, dear. I’ll talk to you later. Maybe you could even bring Joshua DeLong by to meet your father and me sometime soon? If you’re friends like you say, that would be appropriate, right?”

  “Um...right.” Becca walked to her kitchen to make herself a cup of French vanilla coffee. Even though she could probably use something stronger. “Okay, Mom, I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  She’d just turned on the Keurig when her phone rang again. She answered without even looking at the name of the caller.

  “Mom, if you’re going to ask me about Joshua DeLong again, I’m going to shut my phone off.”

  “Nice to hear from you too, Becca.”

  “Oh shoot.” Becca dropped her phone on her hardwood floor at the sound of Josh’s voice. After taking a few seconds to breathe, she picked it up. “I’m sorry. I thought you were my mother.”

  “Let me guess. Your mother saw the photo of us in the newspaper.”

  “Yeah, my mother and half of Florida! My phone has been ringing constantly.”

  “But you saw the mention of The Aunt Penny Foundation and the gala, right? Have any calls been for donations?”

  Becca sighed. She hated to admit it, but the phones at the foundation had been ringing nonstop for two days. They’d received some hefty donations as a result of the news article and the connections she’d made at the movie premiere. She’d worked practically around the clock, till Haley finally convinced her to take a day off.

  “Yes,” she admitted, “we’ve received some substantial donations. I guess now is the time where you remind me that no publicity is bad publicity?”

  “I don’t have to. You just did.” She could almost feel him smirking through the phone.

  “What can I do for you, Josh?” When he remained silent she asked, “Josh?”

  “For the record,” he finally said, “you should never ask a question like that to a man who you passionately kissed and left pining for more.”

  Becca laughed. “I can hardly imagine you pining for anyone. But I’ll rephrase the question.”

  “No need. I signed up for a volunteer event today and I was calling to see if you wanted to help me out. Since I know you’re probably working, if you have an hour or two to spare, I’d really appreciate it. My brother Logan bailed and my other brothers are busy.”

  Becca glanced at her phone as if it had two heads. “Out of all the people you know, you called me to volunteer with you?”

  “It’s the least you could do since you’re the one who ended our kiss,” he said with a laugh. “All jokes aside,
I really enjoy your company and thought it would be nice to do some volunteer work together. If you want, we can discuss the contacts we made from the movie premiere and decide our next steps.”

  Becca glanced around her condo and weighed her options for the day. Stay home and binge watch her favorite shows? Or spend the day with Josh doing volunteer work? Her decision was easy.

  “I’m actually off today, so I can help you. What will we be doing?”

  “You’ll see,” he said. “Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

  * * *

  Becca wasn’t sure there was anything more adorable than a black-and-white puppy. Except for possibly a black-and-white puppy being washed by a sexy millionaire with brilliant blue eyes.

  When they’d arrived at the animal shelter to participate in a nationwide initiative to connect animals with loving families, Becca hadn’t been prepared to see this side of Josh. Already, he’d played with and bathed over ten dogs and puppies before speaking with prospective families about the animals they hoped to adopt.

  “Pretty hot, huh?”

  Becca turned to face Tinley, one of the managers at the shelter. “Um, what do you mean?”

  Tinley rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Becca, you know I’m talking about Josh. You haven’t taken your eyes off him since you guys got here.”

  Becca looked down at the current ball of fur she was holding. The cat purred when Becca rubbed the top of her head. “Is it that obvious?”

  “It is,” Tinley said with a laugh. “But who could blame you? What woman isn’t a sucker for a man with a puppy? Add Josh’s handsome looks to the mix and you’re a goner. But don’t worry. He’s been checking you out all day, too.”

  Becca glanced down at her yoga pants and tank that was covered in fur, and splattered with water and dirt from a dog that had been way too big for her to wash herself.

  Tinley waved a finger at her. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. I know what I’m talking about. No matter how filthy you’ve gotten after a day of volunteering with these rascals, that man over there has had his eyes on you all day.”