Page 105 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
She twisted away and raised her voice. “I’m sorry, okay?” she said to the others. “I fell in love with Josh and we kept it a secret, but it wasn’t meant to hurt anyone, and I didn’t sleep with him because he’s my boss.” She looked at Josh andlowered her voice as she took his hand. “I’ve known Josh all my life, and I spent years trying to push away the feelings I had for him and feeling like he was too good for me, and you know what?That’swhat’s bull. Josh is the kindest, most generous person I know, and I’m proud to be with him. I’m not going to hide anymore, or feel bad because any of y’all think I did something wrong.”Oh no,y’all.She turned back to Simone. “And I’ll never hurt my friends if I can help it. I’m sorry, Simone.”
“Okay, well, nothing like a grand entrance,” Josh said.
A muffled laugh rose from the group.
Josh addressed them. “Look, this is pretty simple. We’re in love. We’re getting married, and JBD is going to be JRBD very soon. I value each of you, and I have a speech ready that outlines exactlywhat I value about each one of you, but none of that matters at this juncture.” He went to Riley’s side and took her hands in his.
Riley tried to steady her trembling limbs.
Josh let go of one of her hands and turned back to the staff. “The bottom line is that whether it’s JBD or JRBD, we’re the same designing family we were before. We just have one more family member, and an important one.Y’all know I’m not one for ultimatums, but tonight I’m making one, so please listen carefully. Riley is going to be my wife, which means she’s more important to me than anything else. If you cannot see yourself working in our offices with Riley and me as equal partners in the business, or if you feel that you’ll cast sneers in her direction, or you cannot refrain from gossiping about her, or us, thenplease take this time to walk out those doors forever, because I will not tolerate snide looks, nasty comments, or any type of innuendos.”
“Y’all?” Riley whispered.
“Sometimes I slip,” he said with a wink.
“Sorry I gave you the stink eye,” Simone said to Riley.
“Sorry I didn’t tell you about me and Josh.” Riley embraced Simone.
HUSHED WHISPERS ROSE from the crowd. Savannah and Mia appeared by Josh’s side.
“That’s what you should have done ages ago,” Savannah said.
“I’m just learning about this relationship stuff,” Josh admitted.
“Mr. B., look.” Mia turned toward Riley, who was now surrounded by the other staff members. “I think things are going to be okay,” Mia said.
Josh let out a breath as he watched his fiancéewith the employees he trusted, and he realized that the protective instincts he’d felt for Riley were never going to change. Riley looked over, catching him watching her.
Riley came to his side and touched his hand as she said, “Thanks for standing up for me. I hope I didn’t embarrass you too much.”
“Nothing you do could ever embarrass me.” He pulled her against him and said, “I’m just goingto have to get used to the Incredible Hulk rearing his powerful head and taking my body over every once in a while.”
“Mm. Incredible Hulk? Powerful head? Now,that’ssomething we should explore.”
“Get a room,” Savannah teased.
“You know, that’s not a bad idea.” Josh kissed Riley, and then he said, “Mia, can you handle the rest of this?”
“I’ve got this,” Mia reassured him.
“You have to makeyour speech,” Riley reminded him as he pulled her toward the door.
“I think I just did. Come on. Let’s go find some his-and-her edible underwear.”
Ready for more Bradens?
Fall in love with Dane and Lacy inThe Art of Loving Lacy
Chapter One
LACY SNOW SAT between Kaylie Crew and Danica Carter, literally surrounded by her half sisters. In the year and a half since she’d met them, they’d become her closest friends, her coconspirators, and the women she most looked up to. She’d known they existed her whole life, but as the child of their father’s mistress of more than twenty years, she couldn’t exactly knock on their frontdoor and introduce herself.
Kaylie reached for her hand and squeezed, flashing a sisterly smile. She and Lacy shared the same robin’s-egg-blue eyes and buttery blond hair, though Kaylie’s was shiny with a natural wave and Lacy’s was a mass of spiral curls, like Danica’s, save for the color. Danica took after their father with dark hair and olive skin.
“This place is gorgeous,” Kaylie said.
“It was built in a similar fashion to the original Chequesset Inn, which perished during an ice storm in the 1930s,” Lacy said.
