Chapter 5 Josie
Ares took another step towards her. She grabbed the edge of the counter, her heart beating so hard she was sure he’d hear it.
“What?”
Josie stared at Ares, at his strong jaw, the dimple in his cheeks as he stood there smiling at her.
He didn’t want to kiss her.
This man kissed celebrities.
Models.
She glanced at her cane by the door. Ares Montague didn’t kiss disabled girls like her.
He took two steps, standing right in front of her.
Josie licked her lips, a shiver running up her spine.
His fingers brushed her arm, and he smelled really good, but this couldn’t be happening. Ares was too intense. He was too old for her. He was too rich for her.
But with how he was looking at her, with a molten gaze that made her pussy clench, he was serious.
He’d made no mistake that he wanted to spend time with her. She’s been the one to refuse him.
“I want to kiss you.”
“Why?” Somehow, she managed to get the word out, despite her bone-dry mouth and sweaty palms.
“Because I’ve wanted to kiss you for a very long time,” Ares placed a hand on her shoulder, stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “Tell me you’re not interested. Tell me to leave. Tell me not to kiss you.”
Her lips parted. With a trembling hand, she brushed her fingers against his wrist. He took her hand in his, bringing it up to her lips.
“Josie, I think you’re strong, smart, and beautiful. I know you’re capable. I am driven by the need to take care of the people I care about. You might find that overbearing at times. Tell me to go or I’m going to kiss you.”
All the noise in the place, the faint noises from Carter and his staff getting ready for service, the music that was in the background, the hum of the dishwasher, all of it faded and she could only hear the blood rushing in her ears.
She couldn’t keep griping about never being the one picked when there was this gorgeous, dripping with sex, for real billionaire man standing before her, who clearly wanted her.
She didn’t know why, but she was tired of telling him no because every time she did, it ripped her heart out.
“I want you to kiss me.” The words squealed out past her dry throat.
“Good,” he cupped the back of her neck. His hand felt strong and cool, then he leaned down to meet her lips.
His lips brushed softly against hers. The contact made goosebumps rise on her arms.
Ares kissed her, slowly. His tongue explored hers, then he deepened the kiss.
His lips were surprisingly soft. He tasted like mint and smelled of something woodsy.
She stood on her toes, her hip aching, but she ignored it, closed her eyes and got lost in the feel of his lips, his tongue, the heat of his body covering hers. Her pussy throbbed with awareness, with need.
He kissed her, like he never wanted to stop kissing her, and she kissed him back as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He kissed her until her lips bruised and she moaned, her belly all a flutter, a flush creeping up from her neck to her face.
He broke off the kiss and ran his hand through her ponytail.
“Okay.” She pressed her fingers against her puffy lips.
“Okay? I thought it was a great kiss.” Ares’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I want to do more of that. If you don’t want to go to dinner with me, want to go to the Christmas Market?”
“There’s food there.”
Ares laughed, caressing her cheek. “Are you against food?”
Josie giggled, the break of the intensity welcomed. She giggled so hard she snorted and covered her face, wanting a hole to open in the kitchen floor and swallow her.
“You’re adorable Josie.” He gently traced her bottom lip with his index finger.
“I am not!”
Ares’s mouth twitched. “I’ll pick you up at 7pm?”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against her lips, softly.
Excuses rushed into her brain. She’d given them to him so many times it was like a habit.
Why couldn’t she say yes?
She ducked her head, staring at her ugly work shoes, trying to clear her cluttered thoughts.
Ares had always been good to her, ever since she first met him years ago.
Her last relationship lasted two years, and it wasn’t all that serious, as much as she wanted to be.
If it got serious with Ares and ended badly.
..she didn’t want to lose him as a friend.
Josie bit her lip.
Ares placed his index finger on her bottom lip, stopping her from chewing it.
“Tell me you’re afraid.” He brushed her bottom lip. His touch sent electricity racing through her and a surge of anger.
“I’m not afraid. You can pick me up at seven.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Ares brushed the back of his knuckles along her jaw, breaking into a smile so dazzling, she swore she could see her reflection in his pearly whites. “I’ll forgive your lie, because you saying yes to me has made me the happiest man in the city. See you tonight.”
He leaned forward and swept his lips against hers, dropped a quick kiss that left her spinning, she grabbed the edge of the counter.
“Bye,” she managed to say.
“See you tonight!” Ares walked backwards towards the door. Josie laughed. He left and she grabbed her phone, immediately texting her friends.
Going out with Ares Montague tonight
[Maisy]
Yes! He’s so yummy! What are you going to wear?
Jeans and a t-shirt?
[Cecilia]
You are not!
Josie grinned, but her stomach was a bundle of nerves. It’d been a while since she went on a date. With her ex, their routine was dinner and a movie.
It’s just the Christmas Market.
[Cecilia]
Josie, you have those cute boots and that suede coat.
[Maisy]
Ooh! I love that jacket!
Thanks besties.
Placing her phone to the side, she ran through her checklist of what was next. An anniversary dinner for the Steadmans and Kayleigh had asked if she could make her “some kind of pasta dish with lots of cheese.”
She pushed all thoughts of tonight out of her head and went back to making sure all the containers were properly sealed and stored in the fridge for pick up later.
Moving on to the next dish, she put out the ingredients that Avery prepped, getting lost in the rhythm of her work, humming. She couldn’t stop smiling.
“So that guy is gone? He looks familiar. Is he on a billboard?” Carter leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.
Josie gave her cream sauce a quick stir. “I don’t think he’s on a billboard. You came to check on me?”
“You can never be too careful,” Carter strode next to her on the stove, giving her a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“He’s a friend.” Josie moved over to check the oven, then back again and started tearing up some basil leaves.
“Here, let me,” Carter took the planter from Josie.
“No, I got it,” Josie said. She smiled, but pulled the container out of his hands. “You haven’t washed your hands, chef.”
“Right. Sorry. I should stay out of your kitchen.”
“It’s your space,” Josie adjusted the timer, then stirred the sauce on the stove.
“You pay me to rent it.”
“A ridiculously under-market price.”
Carter shrugged. “My mother told me to give it to you for as little as I can and I’m not going to say no to her. She helped me open this place up.”
“I heard something about that,” Josie grinned. Her mom and Carter’s mom knew each other from one of the boards her mother sat on.
“Is that prosciutto?”
“Yep. A friend of mine loves this pasta dish I make with it.” This was Kayleigh’s favourite pasta dish, and she had requested this dish at least once a week in the last month.
Josie opened her oven to check on the roast dinner.
“I don’t know how you do it. Create so many dishes at once.”
“I plan for the week and all orders have to be in by 4pm Friday. I have a store of quick meals for customers who want a lunch or something, otherwise that gives me enough time to plan out my prep list and what I’m making each day—” Josie stopped at Carter’s expression.
“Sorry, you’re a chef. You know how it works. ”
“You seem to thrive on variety. I like things to be planned,” Carter smiled. He looked handsome when he scowled less, Josie couldn’t help but notice.
“I guess that’s why I do this and you do that,” Josie gestured to his restaurant.
“Yeah, I never thought this place would get so busy.”
“Do you have a full house again tonight?” Josie dressed the pasta, added the prosciutto, and set it aside. She quickly grabbed one of her takeout cartons and started preparing the pasta. Carter smiled and ran his hand through his hair. “How could you tell?”
“You always come in super early when your reservations are full.”
“Oh? What else have you observed about my humble eatery?” Carter took a step in and snapped the lid on the container of the pasta.
Josie’s fingers started to tremble. Carter made her nervous, and she never understood why. Ever since she brought her business into his annex kitchen, he’d gone out of his way to support her.
Maybe it was his sheer muscled size or how his voice was kind of rough.
“That people come back again for your steak frites.”
Carter laughed. “The sauce that goes with those steak frites is dynamite. I would love it if you came one night and tried out our new additions to the menu.”
Josie brushed by Carter, so close she smelled his cologne.
“I would like that.”
Reaching for the container of cookies, she packed twelve chocolate sablé cookies, knowing they were also Kayleigh’s current favourite.
From the fridge, she took out a prepared antipasto platter and lined it up for the order. Then she took down one of her boxes and started packing it.
“Your packaging is so good.” Carter traced the embossed lettering on the side of the carton.
“Thank you. My mom thought I needed something with my name on it.”
“Josie’s Plates has a nice ring on it,” Carter brushed his hand against Josie’s shoulder. “I’m sure you please a lot of customers.”
“I try,” Josie said. She stacked all the containers in the box and put it to the side, then she walked over to open the window that led out to the back alley. It was the perfect pickup spot. She really lucked out on this space.
“Good. How is Saturday night to come by for a meal?”
“I have to check with my friends, but I think they’re both working. A weekday night would be better.”
“Your friends?” Carter took three steps towards her and Josie bit her lip, realizing she had said the wrong thing.
The doorbell buzzed. She tried to back away but Carter stood in front of her.
“Excuse me, I need to move.” The intense stare Carter was giving her made her nervous.
“Josie, when I asked you to dinner, I meant just you and I.”
Josie’s tummy formed a tight ball of nerves and she couldn’t breathe. For the months that she’d been working here, she thought Carter was just being friendly to her, not that he was interested in a romantic way. Turns out Maisy was right.
“Hey Josie! This place always smells amazing.” Quinn Walsh stepped through the backdoor of the kitchen.
Carter took one look at Quinn’s massive frame and finally moved away from her.
“I’ll see you later, Josie.” Carter waved, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hi Quinn, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“You didn’t. Are you okay?” The man’s piercing blue eyes steadied her.
“Fine. How’s Kayleigh?” Josie slipped the takeout containers into a Josie’s Plates bag and handed it to Quinn.
“She’s okay. I think she’ll be better when the baby’s here,” Quinn took the bag, giving her a smile. “Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
She threw her shoulders back. She was a big girl and she could tell Carter that she wasn’t interested in anything romantic.
“All right then,” Quinn chuckled. “See you soon.”
“Bye.”
Quinn gave her a wave, and she was left alone in her space again.
Ironically, it was Kayleigh’s request for her to make cupcakes for her wedding that prompted Josie to find a new working space.
She’d known for a while that her mother’s kitchen wasn’t a good solution.
This space had been perfect, but she couldn’t keep working here if Carter was going to make her feel uncomfortable.
Maybe it’ll be fine, Josie told herself, as she started to prep the sides for the anniversary dinner. A shiver ran up her spine as she recalled the look on Carter’s face told her it wouldn’t be that easy.
She prided herself on being strong and she could handle it.
There was no reason to give up a good space just because the owner wanted her to have dinner.
Josie scoffed at herself and went back to work, thinking of Ares’s bright green eyes, feeling the memory of the kiss on her lips. She couldn’t wait for tonight.