Page 49 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
“Riley, you never fail to amaze me. I guess you’ve got yourself a designer, Max,” Josh said.
Max squealed and jumped to her feet. “I’m so happy! I was kind of dreading this whole thing.”
Riley’s legs were frozen in place,her eyes locked on Josh, who was looking at her like she’d just attained world peace.I did it. I’m actually going to design her gown. I can’t believe it.Max hugged her again, pulling her from her stupor.
“A girl should never dread her wedding day. Especially when she’s marrying a man like Treat,” Riley said. She wrapped her arms around Josh’s neck and kissed him. “Thank you so much!”
“I’mso proud of you,” Josh said.
“I know I kind of weaseled in, but I wasn’t trying to, honestly. I just thought it would give her some ideas to bring into your designs,” Riley said.
“You can weasel into my life, my work, my anything you want, Riley Banks,” Josh said, pulling her close.
“I don’t even know who you are anymore,” Treat teased.
“What?” Josh held his arms out in question.
“All I cansay is that whatever Riley is doing has made you a happier guy. Riley, why the heck did you wait so long?” Treat touched her shoulder.
“Braden boys are a little intimidating,” she said with a laugh. “The truth is, I never thought anything would ever come from my crazy crush on Josh. First there was the whole family feud thing, and since I was in Camp Jade, I was clearly off-limits to Josh, andI never knew he liked me back then, either. Gosh, I liked him so much that it’s embarrassing to admit.” She felt her cheeks flush. “Then he moved away and became this amazing designer that all the world recognized, and I was just this small-town girl who adored him from afar.” She reached for Josh’s hand. “Now I wish I’d never wasted a second. I wish I would have taken a chance years ago and crossedthat imaginary line defined by the feud and my friendship with Jade. I feel like we missed out on so many years together.”
“That’s exactly how I feel,” Josh agreed.
Treat’s eyes darted between Josh and Riley. “Have you found an apartment to rent yet?” Treat asked Riley.
She sat on an upholstered chair across from the couch. Josh sat on the arm of the chair, holding her hand. “I haven’t evenhad time to look yet, but that’s on my agenda for the weekend,” Riley explained.
Josh opened his mouth to speak and Treat cut him off. “Josh, let’s finish up those dishes and let the ladies drink wine so we can take advantage of them later.” He grabbed Josh’s arm and headed for the kitchen.
“I can do that,” Riley said.
Max waved a hand at her. “This is their thing. Let them go.”
A few minuteslater, Treat and Josh returned to the living room, eyeing each other with coy smiles.
“Riley, Max and I have an apartment by Central Park. We’re never there. Well, we’re staying there now, but we don’t travel here often. You’re welcome to stay there if you’d like—that is, as long as Max doesn’t mind,” Treat offered.
“What a great idea,” Max said.
“We’re leaving town in the morning, so you canmove in tomorrow afternoon if you want,” Treat offered.
“I feel like such a mooch. First I’m borrowing your sister’s place, now yours? I can’t do that. Really, thank you, but I’ll find someplace to rent. It can’t be that difficult,” Riley said.
Josh and Treat shook their heads.
“Babe, take the offer. It’s a great place, and we’ll be neighbors,” Josh said.
“That makes it much more enticing,but I’d feel too guilty.” Riley mulled it over. “What if you want to come to New York?”
“Then you’d stay with Josh,” Max said. “It’s a perfect solution.”
“There’d have to be a lot of incentives for me to allow that,” Josh teased.
“I don’t know. You’d have to let me pay rent. That’s important to me. I’m not a freeloader.” Riley knew she couldn’t afford much in the way of rent, but she’d finda way to pay whatever Treat thought was fair.
“How about this,” Treat began, “since you’ll be designing Max’s gown, that’s worth a couple grand at least, right?”
“I don’t want to be paid to design her gown. That’s fun for me and great practice,” Riley insisted.
“With that attitude, you’ll be a broke fashion designer. Fair is fair,” Treat said sternly. “How about we take the price of the gownout of the total rent? I think a thousand dollars per month, month to month in case you don’t like it, sounds fair.”
“That seems awfully inexpensive,” Riley said.
“She’ll take it,” Josh said. “Thank you, Treat.”
“But—”
Josh cut her off. “Ri, this is the deal of the century, and the apartment has plenty of space for you to design. Just say thank you and let’s get to the wine.” He winked.
“Thank you,” she said.How did I fall into the arms of such a wonderful man with such a generous family?Her mind spun with the idea of moving, Max’s dress design, and the enticing way Josh was staring at her, like she was the only person in the room.
