Page 13 of Josh Dalton

I waltz toward her, and she notices me coming and makes a production of greeting me, knowing everyone in the restaurant is watching us, exactly how she likes it. I give her a fake kiss on each cheek without touching her skin. She doesn’t like it when you mess up her makeup.

“Darling,” she says. “I’m so glad you could come. I want you to meet Paul.”

He stands and says, “Pleasure to meet you.”

I give him a half-smile and take a seat.

“I knew you’d be late, so I already ordered you a salad.”

Wonderful. Now I’ll have to buy a sandwich on the way home. Salads never fill me up.

Paul moves his chair a little closer to mine.

“Kimberly, your mother tells me you make jewelry.”

He looks at my chest instead of my face.My eyes are up here, fella. I try to shimmy my chair over to get away from him. Mom throws me a disapproving glare.

Before I can make some inane comment to Paul, I feel a presence behind me. I twist around. Josh is standing there. Where did he come from? Where?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

JOSH

I must be seeing things. I’ve been thinking about her constantly, and now here she is, at the restaurant. She just strolled through the door.

The two men I’m having a lunch meeting with are staring at her. Ogling. I’m pissed they’re checking her out. She looks good, and I can’t take my eyes off her. The dress she’s wearing clings to her. Her beautiful blonde hair is falling past her shoulders. And the way her hips sway when she walks… Intoxicating.

She sits down at a table at the front of the restaurant. I realize now that the woman sitting next to her is her mother. I noticed her with a man when I entered but didn’t put two and two together.

It’s remarkable how normal Kim is with a mother like that. Yes, I checked her out, so sue me. The file I have on her is very thorough. Got my intel out of house. I don’t want anyone knowing my business.

One of the men I’m with gets my attention.

“Sorry, what was that?” I don’t bother with what he says next. Can’t take my eyes off Kim’s table. The jerk is inching closer to her. She doesn’t seem to like it.

I excuse myself and get up and make my way over there. Josh Dalton to the rescue. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I don’t like how he’s crowding her.

I come up behind Kim. Her mother’s and the man’s gaze meet mine. Neither is happy to see me. I really don’t care.

Kim must feel my presence because she turns in her seat and looks up at me. Her eyes widen and then narrow. “What do you want, Josh?”

I don’t blame her for being upset. Most girls would be. I don’t know why I came over here. Couldn’t stop myself.

“Dear, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Sorry.” Her head tilts. “I … Ah … Mom and ...” She snaps her fingers multiple times, in rapid succession.

I try not to laugh. The guy must not be memorable. He dresses nicely, but that’s about it. The boring stockbroker type. Likes to throw his money around to show off but has no substance.

The stockbroker gets a pinched look around his mouth and eyes. He isn’t used to someone forgetting him.

Her mom comes to the rescue, though.

“It’s Paul, dear,” she reminds her daughter sweetly.

“Yes, sorry. This is Josh Dalton, everyone.”

I nod, keeping my gaze squarely on Kim until her mother says something asinine.

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