Page 33 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Fifteen
NOT PRETTY, NOT designer. Scruffy.Riley stood before her dresser, wondering just what scruffy looked like. She was used to trying to look good, not bad.Scruffy?Josh would be there in ten minutes, and she was stuck. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on the line sheets after hearing Claudia’s voice in the background when they were on the phone, and no matter how she’d triedto quell her jealousy, the prickling at the back of her neck would not go away. Even though she knew Josh would never go for someone like Claudia, her mind began to wander. Would he tell her if he slept with her just once? What if he had and he’d left Claudia wanting more? Could that be the driving force behind Claudia’s cattiness?
There was a knock at the door.Shoot.Still in her work clothes,minus the heels, she hurried to the door and pulled it open. A very sweaty Josh stood before her, wearing sweatpants and a wrinkled T-shirt. A Mets baseball cap was pulled down low over his eyes, and there was a glowing smile on his lips.
“Ah, scruffy.” Riley smiled.Still drop-dead gorgeous.
He closed the door behind him and took her in his arms, kissing her like they hadn’t seen each otherfor weeks, leaving her heart soaring.
“I’ve waited all day to do that,” he said. “You smell incredible.”
Riley crinkled her nose. “Yeah? Um.” She looked at his sweaty T-shirt.
“Sorry, I ran over. I was late getting out of the office, so I headed home, showered, changed, then ran over.” He looked at his sweaty chest. “I guess I could have waited to shower. Nasty habit…shower after work, showerbefore working out.” Josh smiled. “I guess there are worse things to be than an over-showerer. In any case, I respect your desire to keep things secret, even if I hate it, and if that means I get a few extra runs in, then so be it.”
Riley pulled him close and kissed him again. “Now I feel bad. I have no idea where you live. Was it far?”
“Not bad, a dozen blocks or so. I’d say no sweat, but…”He waved at his sweaty shirt. “I’m sorry about that, but there’s a price for anonymity.”
“I happen to find sweat very sexy.” Riley ran her finger down his chest.
“You’re not sidetracking me tonight. At least not yet.” He looked at her outfit. “Did you get my note?”
“Yes, and it was really sweet, but kinda risky, don’t you think?”
“You’re a clever girl. I knew you’d keep things under wraps.”He took her hand. “Come on. Let’s find you some scruffy clothes.”
They went to the bedroom and rifled through her drawers.
“Jeans, jeans, and more jeans. Yup, you’re from Weston all right,” he teased.
“I have sweatpants,” she offered. “Where are we going, anyway?”
“Sweatpants. Perfect. Throw them on with a sweatshirt. Do you have a hat?”
“Sorry, left my cowgirl hat back in Colorado.”
“I’vegot a baseball cap in my gym bag. Come on, babe. I’ll give you privacy and wait for you in the living room.” He left her alone, and Riley found herself getting excited about whatever scruffy thing they might be doing. For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine anything scruffy in New York City, especially something that Josh might do. She slipped into the shower quickly, then threw on her sweats.
In the living room, she found Josh wearing a Mets sweatshirt, stretched out on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table.
“You, my dear, look spectacular,” he said, coming to his feet and kissing her cheek.
“By the way, thank you for helping me conquer my fear of the subway. That was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me, and it makes getting to work much easier. Thankyou,” she said.
“I couldn’t have my secret girlfriend being scared of getting around town, now, could I?” He kissed her again. “Mind if I rinse off?” He grabbed his gym bag and headed for the bathroom. Ten minutes later, he met her in the living room with a Mets hat in his hand. He placed it on her head and tugged it down low. “Now it’s perfect.”
“Nothing like having hat hair,” Riley said. Shenever minded wearing hats. It was the aftereffect that wasn’t very appealing. But she was game for anything with Josh.
“Hey, don’t knock hat hair. Some men find it wildly attractive. Have you eaten?” he asked.
“No, you?”
He shook his head. “Come on. I’m dying to go be normal for a while. I’ve had a wicked night.” He grabbed her keys and pulled her out the door.
“Already? Gee, and I was hopingto get wicked later.”Did I say that out loud?Riley was surprised to find how relaxed she was with Josh. Even the jealousy she’d felt about Claudia had fallen by the wayside.
“I like the sound of that.” He planted a kiss on her cheek.
