Unexpectedly Yours: A Forever Love Story (InterMix) Read online

  “I know. But I can’t help feeling nervous.”

  He saw a black car pull up and stop in front of the restaurant and Mrs. Rossi and Meg emerged from the back, followed by Jason. He didn’t know how this was going to go, but over the past few days Josh was more sure than ever that he was in love with Caroline and he wanted to be with her. Forever.

  A few seconds after they entered the restaurant, Meg and her mother spotted Josh and Caroline. Meg grinned and shook her head. Mrs. Rossi looked shocked at first, and then a smile bloomed.

  It was good to see, but what made Josh’s heart warm was seeing his girl look at him with all the love in the world in her eyes. She’d seen her family’s reaction, and she knew it would be okay.

  Meg stopped in front of her sister and shook her head once again. “I knew it. You kept trying to throw me off, but I knew it.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both. I didn’t know how you’d feel about him and me.”

  Her mother drew her into a hug and kissed her temple. “Honey, I just want you to be happy. But I’ll tell you, if I could have picked a man for you, it would have been Josh. I’m very happy to see you two found each other.”

  Josh stepped back to let the Rossi women get the tears and apologies out of their systems, then Meg inched over to him and punched him in the shoulder. “You suck, you know that.”

  He laughed. “I guess, from your point of view.”

  “I’m glad she’s happy. Don’t screw up or I’m going to have to hurt you.”

  “Got it. You all ready for the trip?”

  “Yeah. Mom, Caroline, and I will be there by noon tomorrow. It will be good for us to get away together. We have some stuff to work out.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there by the weekend.”

  “You look different, Josh. Being in love must agree with you.”

  He didn’t have a clue how she knew what he was feeling, but he’d stopped questioning what the women in this family could do. “It shows?”

  “Every time you look at her.”

  Chapter 14

  “This has been an incredible day.” Caroline and Josh walked into her apartment after a wonderful dinner with her mother and sister, and now it was just them. She and the man who changed her life.

  She went to the window and marveled at the moon. It was so big it looked almost close enough to touch. As she stood, looking at the way the light was reflected off the buildings, Josh took up his favorite position. He was behind her, arms looped around her waist and his head resting on the top of her head. He pulled her tight against him and Caroline reveled in the feel of his strong arms and the hard wall of his chest.

  “I’m so relieved,” she said. “I was expecting a big blowup at dinner, and they were so great.”

  “I’m glad it went well. But I’m not surprised. They love you, Caroline. Ultimately, that trumps everything.”

  “Thank you, for... for everything.”

  It was the middle of the night, and she hated that she was leaving him tomorrow. Jason had arranged everything. The cottage would be set up. There would be security so she, Meg, and Mom wouldn’t have to worry about being there alone, and she had a brand-new, shiny laptop in her bag.

  Caroline had resigned from work, effective immediately. By now Mark probably knew the laptop was being monitored, and he’d be watching his back.

  She and Josh felt so right, and Caroline was absolutely where she was supposed to be. All her years growing up, she never understood how right she’d been about him. He wasn’t hard or unfeeling like he’d been painted, but warm, and kind. And he was hers.

  He held her for the longest time, knowing that more than likely the good face she put on at the restaurant was just a front. He knew these things about her, sensed them, and that alone made Caroline a little bit happier. Josh knew her well. He knew what she liked and didn’t, sensed when she wasn’t happy, was tuned into her, but still hadn’t told her he loved her. Caroline wondered how long they could keep the relationship going like this. She wanted to tell him what she was feeling, she wanted Josh to know he had her heart, her whole heart, and no one else would ever be able to claim it.

  Caroline turned and faced him, letting her hand caress the stubble on his cheek. Their eyes locked, and for a moment it seemed she and Josh felt the same thing. As his hand stroked her hair away from her face, it seemed he wanted to say something—something that would change both of their lives.

  But he didn’t say anything; instead, Josh leaned in and kissed her. His arms cradled her body as his lips—soft, warm and hypnotic—moved over hers. Caroline found herself floating in his arms, feeling weightless as each touch, each kiss moved her to a place less grounded in the real world and more in the fantasy of the perfect romance. His hand traveled the length of her and warmth exploded from Caroline’s core. She pulled back and steadied herself because she had a surprise for him, and if they didn’t stop now, everything would spiral out of control.

  “Are you all right?” His question was breathy, tense.

  “Mmmhmm,” she whispered. “I just want to freshen up a little.”

  Josh nodded, his eyes closed, his body taut. The backs of his fingers trailed over Caroline’s cheek, down her neck and across the swells of her breasts. It made her shudder and suck in a breath, and Josh smiled with satisfaction because he loved having that effect on her.

  Pulling away and going to a dresser drawer, Caroline retreated to the bathroom. She wondered what she could do to blow Josh’s mind.

  ***

  Josh had some preparing to do as well. He went to the living room to get something that he was amazed he’d been able to hide from her. He also grabbed the bottle of champagne and two flutes he’d stashed in the kitchen.

  He heard the bathroom door open, and when he turned, Josh’s breathing caught in his chest. She was a vision. Her silk negligee was a champagne color except for the wisps of cream-colored lace that covered her breasts. The lace didn’t cover much, but just enough. Every one of Caroline’s curves, every beautiful inch of her, was draped in the shimmery fabric, and Josh’s body responded immediately.

  “My God, Caroline. You’re beautiful.” She came to him on the love seat and looped her arms around his neck. He caught a whiff of her perfume, saw that she’d freshened her makeup and arranged soft curls in her hair.

  “You’ve been busy,” she said.

  Josh handed her a glass of champagne. “I didn’t forget that your birthday is Saturday. Your twenty-eighth birthday.”

  Caroline grinned. “You’ll be with me at the cottage by then.”

  “I know, but I figured we could celebrate here too.”

  Caroline bit her lip and looked at him. Her face, her expression, were so sweet and so seductive that Josh was experiencing a slow meltdown. He was in way over his head. He was feeling things he’d never felt and accepted that he had to stop fighting this.

  “You know,” she said, as she ran her finger down his chest, “that makes it sound a little bit dirty.”

  He grinned and slid his finger under the skinny strap of her nightgown. “Oh, honey, it will be plenty dirty.”

  Caroline tossed her head back and laughed. Then she held him so tightly Josh could feel her heart beating against his own. “Okay,” he said when she finally released him, “what do you want for your birthday?”

  “Nothing. Well, nothing you could give me.” Her expression was perfect — a little bit curious, a little bit nervous.

  “You doubt me?” he asked.

  She took a deep breath and as Josh watched her eyes light up, he wondered what he’d done to finally feel like this, to know that he’d found the person to spend the rest of his life with. Something about Caroline seemed to split his heart open and feelings he never imagined came flooding out. She was the light in his life. Everything he saw down the road had her there. Things he never imagined f
or himself, like children, were in the picture now.

  Reaching behind him, he grabbed a small blue bag and held it out to her. He knew she would object to the gift, and that she would say it was unnecessary, but for Josh it was very necessary. He watched her face change when she looked into the bag and pulled out the little blue box from Tiffany’s.

  “Josh, what did you do?”

  “Open it.”

  When she did, there was a gasp. “Oh, Josh, oh.” Caroline pressed three fingers to her lips and stared at the diamond pendant necklace. “It’s stunning, but you didn’t have to—”

  He stopped her with a kiss. “Yes, I did. I wanted to get you something special.” He took the box from her and removed the necklace. He repositioned himself and looped it around her neck. When he’d set the clasp, he looked at her. She looked perfect—elegant, glamorous, sexy—and all Josh could think was that she was his.

  Caroline kissed him, soft and sweet, as her hand stroked the hair at his temple. “Thank you, Josh. It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful.” And when Josh kissed her it wasn’t sweet; it was hot, deep, and he heard Caroline sigh as she gave into it. He maneuvered her onto his lap and her eyes flashed with awareness as his erection pressed into her bottom. Then she watched as he slid the flimsy straps from her shoulders, exposing her breasts. Caroline’s eyes went dark and misty; her hands inched up Josh’s bare back. Josh lowered his mouth and took her sweet nipple, pulling on it, kissing it, and loving how Caroline felt as she moved in his arms. The teasing was delicious and she tasted so good. He was teetering on the edge of reason as he pushed the nightgown up her leg, slid his hand over her thigh and let his fingers play between her legs.

  She was crazed from the sensations. His mouth and tongue continued to play over her breasts while his hands tortured her. His erection was torture; all he wanted to do was plunge into her, make her scream, but he held back, making this more about her than his own gratification—but then she nearly broke him.

  “Josh, please, please—” she begged. “Please don’t make me wait.”

  How does a man resist that? He wanted her to wait, though. He wanted her writhing, calling his name. He wanted her in such a state that she couldn’t think straight. Helping her stand up, Josh stayed seated on the loveseat as he reached up and slid the nightgown down her body.

  Caroline stepped out of the gold silk and let it pool at her feet and Josh’s hands continued to worship her. She stood before him completely naked, wearing only the diamonds he had given her. Her body was soft, curvy, and she tasted like warm sugar. Grabbing her hips, Josh pressed his mouth to her wet center and took her to a brand new place. Caroline’s hands grasped Josh’s head and held it as his tongue drove into her. He had to hold her still as he worked, feeling her body tense and shudder. She cried out and arched, and Josh pulled away and watched how her whole body reacted as she came in one great explosion.

  Josh stood and let Caroline collapse against his chest. “Happy Birthday,” he said.

  “Oh, oh, God...” Her breathing was heavy, but Caroline wanted more. She grabbed the elastic of his underwear and pushed his pants and boxers down in one movement, releasing him. Josh grabbed Caroline around her bottom and lifted her, with the intention of taking her to bed. As he carried her, the smile that crossed her face could only be described as wicked.

  “You’re a naughty girl, Rossi.”

  She chuckled as she nipped at his ear lobe, grinding her hips just enough to keep it interesting. “You love it,” she said quietly.

  He looked at the bed and wondered how they were going to do this. Caroline, of course, came up with a solution.

  “Sit down, Josh. I’ve been doing some... well... research.”

  That got him. “Excuse me? What do you mean, research? Who did you do your research on?”

  Caroline blushed. “Oh, God. No one. Nobody. I ahh ... I read something.”

  Josh discovered that if he bit his tongue hard enough he wouldn’t laugh. He really wanted to but he didn’t, because the fact that she wanted to please him in bed was so, well, adorable, that he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. And if she wanted to take the lead, he’d listen. She was the birthday girl, after all.

  As soon as Josh planted his ass on the mattress, Caroline started to move.

  She moved down his body and gently kissed the tip of his erection. He watched as her tongue swirled around the tip, and then she licked the shaft. Every once in a while she looked at him and pushed her hair back so he could see. Holy Mother of God. He was going to be her slave. That was it. He was done. When Caroline’s mouth closed around the head and the gentle pressure and pulling started, it almost made him go unconscious. She was very good at this, and suddenly Josh was a big fan of research.

  Chapter 15

  Josh sat at the head of the table in the Campbell Holdings conference room, waiting to hear what Mark Strickland and the new engineers that were assigned to his development project had to say. His friend Anton, the architect, was there in case the assessment passed muster and they could actually design something. It took everything Josh had not to lay Strickland out flat, but there was enough distance between him and Caroline that Josh didn’t see the need to break a sweat.

  He had every intention of making Mark’s life a living hell whenever he could. And if Roberts and Michaels kept the contract for the development, and he wasn’t sure they would, he’d have lots of opportunity.

  The fucking bastard was sitting there so smug, like he’d won, but honestly, Josh knew he had the best prize in Caroline.

  He missed her like crazy and was looking forward to getting away. Once his meeting was over here, he had a few things to do, and then he and Jason were getting an afternoon plane out to the Vineyard. His father was due back tomorrow and Josh had everything set up so Dad couldn’t do too much damage while Josh was out of town the next week.

  “So how do the tests look?” Mark asked.

  Shane, who had been assigned to the project, flipped through the notes. “Most of the site looks fine. But there are some areas that need further investigation. The historical records show a foundry was present on the site, so there could be buried debris. Possibly contaminated.”

  That was not what Josh wanted to hear, but it was good that he had pushed to have more tests done. This had possibly saved them a fortune.

  “Sorry I’m late.”

  Josh turned around as his father entered the conference room. Not what he expected at all. “Dad. I thought you weren’t flying in until tonight.”

  “No, last night. We were gone a month. That’s long enough for me to have to deal with your mother full time.”

  The men at the table laughed, except for Josh. He’d love to take Caroline away someplace exotic for a whole month.

  “So like I said, sorry I was late. I was over at GRM taking care of some business.”

  His father and Mark made eye contact, and Josh felt a sick wave in his gut. GRM was the company Caroline was going to. The company that had given her a hard offer a week earlier.

  “Why were you at GRM?” he asked.

  His father sat back in the big leather chair on the opposite side of the table and folded his hands in his lap. “I had to make sure they didn’t make a hiring mistake. The president of the company is a college friend of mine.”

  The blue of Will Campbell’s eyes looked icy cold. Vindictive and cruel, and Josh knew Caroline had just been stabbed in the back. And by his family. After everything she’d gone through. She’d been highly sought-after when she put herself on the market, but one word from his bastard father and everything she’d worked for was gone.

  “Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did. Please.”

  His father chuckled like it was a joke. “I told an old friend that no matter what kind of degree you give a piece of trash, she would still be a piece of trash. Caroline Ro
ssi should have shut her mouth and done what she was told.”

  Josh heard the words, but he couldn’t quite process what had happened. Did people really do business like this? Did a person’s life mean so little? “You ruined her career? She earned that position. She was more qualified than anyone.”

  “The only position a woman like her has earned is the one where she’s flat on her back.” Will glanced around the table and then back at Josh. “I assume that’s how you know her best?”

  Josh vaulted to his feet and lunged for his father. He was caught around the waist by Anton. “Josh, don’t.”

  “You are such a bastard, Dad. I don’t know how you live with yourself. You don’t destroy someone on a whim. You just don’t.”

  “In my world, you do. You’ve never had the killer instinct, Josh. Hanging around Mike Rossi made you soft.”

  Hearing him attack Caroline’s father was the last straw. Will Campbell had no morals, no soul. “Hanging around Mike Rossi and his family made me human. It made all of us human.”

  Josh checked his watch. He wouldn’t see Caroline for hours. He had to talk to her before she got the call from GRM. Jesus, he hoped he wasn’t too late. He put the papers in front of him back in his portfolio and stepped away from the table.

  “I’m out,” he said.

  “Where are you going?” his father asked. “We’re not near done here.”

  “I’m done. I quit. I can’t work with you.”

  “You’re a partner in the firm. It’s your legacy.”

  “That’s right, I am a partner. And I am going to exercise my buyout clause.”

  His father’s eyes opened wide. “That could bankrupt the firm. Your stake is worth millions.”

  “That’s right. Hundreds of millions. And pulling out will bankrupt the firm.” Josh stopped at the door and watched all the color drain from his father’s face. “I guess I’m not as soft as you thought. Good luck financing your project.”

  Josh left the conference room and his father followed. “You can’t do this!” His father’s tone had gone from angry to desperate. He was pleading, and as low as it was to kick a man while he was down, Josh enjoyed watching his father crumble.