Chapter Nineteen
Josh
Josh hadn’t heard a damn word his professor had said over the past hour because his mind had wandered, replaying the scene in the office over and over again. He pictured Carina splayed on the desk, her pussy glistening and exposed. Her whimpers and moans had been enough to drive him crazy. But when he had thrust his finger into her heat, and had realized just how snug she was and how incredible it would feel to bury himself inside her, he had nearly come in his pants.
But as arousing as that thought was, he was more concerned with what had happened after she climaxed against his tongue. Her words had stung, though he was certain they weren’t meant to intentionally hurt him. She had been honest, with him and herself. She would never pretend to be something she wasn’t. Carina McGinnis would never be a one-night stand, a mindless, uncomplicated fuck. Josh remembered how she had looked at him when she said she could never be that girl. It was a raw and brave admission. And what did he do? He had just stepped aside and let her walk out the Irish Pub’s front doors.
Josh peered at the clock and although there were several more minutes left of class, he gathered his books, threw them into his bag, and decided to slip out. He would deal with the repercussions later. Right now, he needed to see her, to find out if she hated him for how he had made her feel.
Josh could have walked the seven city blocks but he was impatient and hailed a cab. She would most likely be on her lunch break, or just getting back from wherever she had decided to dine this afternoon. Josh slipped cash through the plastic divider as the cab pulled up in front of the school building. He stepped out and looked around. Maybe she had brought her lunch today. He only had eight minutes to find out. Josh was walking toward the entrance when he saw Eric Ross exiting the school.
“Mr. Graham, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Josh couldn’t think of a more pompous, dick-headed thing to say. Who talked like that? “My girl. I was hoping to catch her before she had to get back to class.” Josh was stunned at just how easy it was for those words to flow from his mouth. But fear crept in…and the doubt, always the doubt.
Ross looked at his watch. “Looks like you’re out of luck. She’s…”
“Right here.” Josh turned and saw Carina staring Eric Ross down. There was hatred behind those typically soft green eyes of hers. What the fuck did he do to her? Cheat on her? Make her feel less than the beautiful person she was?
Like he had accomplished in that office?
Josh wanted to reach for her hand, but he was also very aware that he was on shaky ground with her. Thankfully, Carina walked over and weaved her arm through his and latched on.
“Cutting it close, aren’t you, Carina?”
Carina’s grip tightened but she ignored Ross’ question, one that was clearly intended to tick her off. Carina turned to Josh. “This is such a wonderful surprise!” She leaned in and kissed him squarely on the lips. Although Josh knew that the sudden display of affection was just an act to convince her boss to stand down and move on, he welcomed her and the feeling that radiated through him.
“Maybe, but it’s worth it,” she said, pulling away, taking her sweet taste with her. The look she gave Ross was one of smug satisfaction. And though Josh enjoyed watching Carina stick it to this bastard, Josh couldn’t dismiss the disturbing way Ross leered at Carina. It was as if he was biting his tongue, lying in wait for the perfect moment to nail her to the wall.
“Well, Mr. Graham, will I be seeing you this weekend?”
Carina’s self-assured grin faded and her face went white. Josh could tell she had no idea what Ross was talking about. She was sinking…fast.
“Surely you haven’t forgotten about Carly and Parker’s miracle baby? That he’s being baptized this weekend?”
Carina shook her head, but still no words would come to her. Josh pulled her close. “We wouldn’t miss it,” Josh said. “But I do think someone forgot to pick up a gift for the little guy.” Josh leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry, I stopped by that gift shop you like on Walnut Street and scoped out a few things but I couldn’t pull the trigger. Want me to pick you up after work and we can go and choose a present together?”
Color returned to Carina’s face. “I would like that,” she said. The appreciation in her voice caused his heart to skip. “I’ll be done around five.”
Josh didn’t want to leave her alone with Ross. That cocky little grin that had been present the entire conversation had dissipated. Now Ross just looked fucking pissed. His ears were a fiery red and a vein near his temple throbbed with each breath. “Better get to class, babe,” Josh said.
Carina seemed to take the hint. She smiled at him one last time and left him alone with Eric fucking Ross. Josh glanced at his watch. “And with two minutes to spare.” Josh smiled and left Ross seething on the sidewalk.
***
Carina
Carina wasn’t at all surprised that Josh showed up at exactly two minutes till five. She knew, despite everything, that he wouldn’t leave her vulnerable and subject to Eric’s questions if Josh hadn’t picked her up after work as promised. She definitely owed him one. Josh had gone above and beyond this time.
Josh opened the glass door for her and immediately took her hand. Carina smiled and looked over her shoulder toward Eric’s office. And just as she thought, Eric was watching her through the blinds, from his tower, one that was going to crumble in the very near future.
“You need to find another job.” Josh had apparently followed her gaze and saw that the shit had been watching them. “I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
“I know. I’m working on it. I have an interview lined up at Mia’s school.”
Josh quickly led her off school grounds. Carina expected Josh to release her hand once they were safe from Eric’s prying eyes, but he kept her hand securely in his. She should shake him off, put some distance between them for her own sake, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She loved the warmth of his hand, how protected he made her feel. “When?” he asked, his voice clipped.
“Thursday.”
“Good.” Once on the sidewalk he came to a halt, which made her stumble. He caught her before she lost her balance. “Men like him think they’re untouchable. And that makes him extremely dangerous.” With one hand gripping her arm and the other cupping her chin, he said, “I need… you need to stay safe, Carina.”
And there it was again. It was like he couldn’t help himself. There seemed to be this insatiable need to ensure that she was safe. At the Phillies game Carina had thought that maybe it was just in Josh’s nature to want to protect others. But the more she was around him, to witness his behavior in a man’s presence that was most definitely a threat, she couldn’t help but think that something else prompted him to want to keep her out of harm’s way.
“Well, I am now,” she said, breaking free of his gaze. She took that moment to survey her surroundings. “Where are you taking me?” she asked.
He smiled for the first time since he had picked her up from work. Hell, he was gorgeous! His smile could go from a boyish grin to a sexy, smug turn of the lips that made her insides melt. “Where I promised. Well, sort of. It may not be your favorite gift shop, but it’s definitely a place I frequent.” His hand enveloped hers and he led her down the street.
The night was crisp but comfortable. Carina enjoyed the vibe on the street as couples and friends were hustling about, probably heading to dinner or getting an early start on holiday shopping. But they weren’t a couple. She had to keep saying that to herself. He wasn’t looking for a relationship. He wasn’t made that way, just as she wasn’t built to survive a one-night stand. The hand that surrounded hers at the moment didn’t mean what she wanted it to mean. It was just his way of protecting her. That’s all.
“I come here if I want to find something unique for Lady Jane,” he said, stopping in front of a quaint gift shop. Knickknacks lined the store window, giving it a grandmotherly feel. Carina felt relief wash over her. She had no right to be jealous, but damn did it feel good to know that this place wasn’t tainted by other women.
“What tipped you off exactly?” she asked. His brow rose. “That I had completely forgotten about Connor’s baptism?”
He chuckled. His lighthearted response put her at ease. “You mean besides the deer-in-headlights expression that took over your face the moment Ross mentioned your weekend obligations?”
Carina winced. “That bad, huh?”
Josh opened the door to the gift shop, triggering the chimes to announce their arrival. “I think we recovered nicely.”
Carina had been amazed at how natural it was for Josh to play the doting boyfriend, how easy it was for him to lie out his ass. The thought saddened her. Though his kindness was genuine, everything else was a farce. At least he had been honest with her. He had been painfully clear about what he did and did not want. Still, he was here, being a gentleman, helping her out of a bind she had singlehandedly created. “Thanks to you. It was beautiful to watch, by the way.”
Rose-infused air filled her nostrils and Carina was instantly transported back to a much simpler time. Memories of her and Morgan playing in her parents’ bedroom, with her mother’s perfume and jewelry to be exact, flooded her mind and she smiled.
“What was?” he asked.
Several items had already grabbed her attention. She was on her way over to look at the most beautiful quilted blanket she had ever laid eyes on when she said over her shoulder, “How you morphed into the protective boyfriend.” Carina reached out to touch the fabric, praying it was as soft as it looked. And not too expensive. She had forgotten all about the baptism, which meant that she hadn’t factored in the expenses for the hotel room she had booked this afternoon, the cost to travel to New York and now a present, into her budget. The credit card was definitely coming out this weekend, unfortunately. “You wore the mask well.”
Carina’s response was met with silence. With her fingers still feathering the plush blanket, she looked up and saw Josh staring at her. His jaw clenched while his eyes bore into hers. It felt as if he were searching for something. But suddenly he relaxed and the darkness faded away. “I think you found a contender,” he said. “They can monogram here, personalize it anyway you like for Connor’s special day.”
Carina desperately wanted to know why his reaction to her comment had been so intense, but she had the feeling it wasn’t wise to press him on the subject. Instead, she played it safe and talked about the miracle baby they were shopping for.
“Connor Parker Sampson is a very special, very strong-willed baby. He was born three months early, weighing less than two pounds. He spent four months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit fighting for life. Then one day, the apnea monitors that rang all the time, signaling that he had forgotten to breathe, stopped beeping. He stabilized and he started to gain weight. Carly and Parker brought their miracle baby home four months to the day after his birth.”
“So, this weekend is not just to rejoice in his baptism, but to celebrate his life,” Josh said. He walked over to a glass cabinet, the kind that typically held engagement rings and other precious stones and peered at the contents within.
“Carly and Parker want everyone they know to come and meet their son.” Carina walked over to the cabinet and leaned in to see what had snared Josh’s interest. There were dozens of medals on display, but he seemed fixated on one in particular.
“Excuse me, miss?” he asked. A saleswoman sashayed her way over. Her thick silver hair was striking against her black conservative dress. She was the picture of matronly elegance and sophistication. “May I see the St. Christopher Medal? The second one there on the right?”
“Ah, the patron saint of travelers,” she said, extracting the medal from the cabinet. She laid it in Josh’s hand.
Carina watched as Josh studied the medal. Unlike most of the medals beneath the glass, this one was simple and made of pewter. Carina drew closer and looked at the man on the medal, the traveler, Carina assumed, and the child he carried upon his shoulder. It was a beautiful piece, but she couldn’t help think that it was a peculiar choice for a baby’s baptism. Josh flipped the medal over.
“You can have it engraved if you like, at no additional charge. I can have it ready for you by tomorrow evening,” the saleswoman said, smiling.
“Perfect, I’ll take it,” he said, handing the medal back to the woman. Josh withdrew a scrap of paper from his wallet along with a credit card. “Could I borrow a pen?” he asked. The woman retrieved a pen and handed it to Josh. He thanked her, quickly scribbled something on the paper, and gave it back to her. The woman nodded and then made her way to the cash register.
“Josh, I appreciate everything you’ve done. But I didn’t get the opportunity before to tell you exactly what you committed to. The baptism is in New York City.”
“And?” he asked. A smile that reached his eyes tugged at his full, tempting lips.
Focus, Carina.
“The baptism is Saturday afternoon with a reception afterwards. It will go late into the evening. I called the hotel after my students left today and booked the last room. Apparently, the hotel is also hosting a wedding and a medical conference this same weekend.”
Josh ran his fingers through his hair. The action made Carina shiver internally. “I won’t allow you to go without me, Carina. Ross cannot be trusted.”
Allow?
The concern in his eyes stopped her from telling him that he had no right to tell her what she could or couldn’t do. Why was he so worried?
“Josh, again, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done, but this is over the top. Besides, the hotel is booked. You wouldn’t be able to get a room now.”
“I have a room…yours,” he said, studying her, most likely taking in her flushed cheeks. “Ross needs to see us together. Staying in separate rooms would look odd, wouldn’t it?” She was nervously biting at her lower lip when he continued. “I promise to be a gentleman. Do you trust me?”
Carina did trust him. She was certain, for whatever reason, that he would never hurt her. But that wasn’t what worried her. That wasn’t what was causing her emotions to spin out of control. “The problem is…I don’t trust myself when I’m around you,” she said.
That smile he had been flashing dissolved into a heated stare, one that made her body quiver and ache for his touch. “Well, then I’ll just have to have enough control for the both of us.”