CHAPTER 10 #2
“Hi,” Amelia chirps. When I look at her, her eyes are bouncing between Joss and me.
She gives me a thumbs up and a big smile when she catches my eye.
“I’m Amelia and this is Beckett,” her words come out in a rush.
“I think your lady is in shock,” she holds her fingers up with them very close together and winces slightly, “just a little bit though. She was mostly holding it together.”
Joss’s eyes narrow as he looks at Amelia, his voice holding an edge of steel that has Beckett standing up straighter, “Why would she be in shock?”
Amelia isn’t bothered and shrugs like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Well, you see, man in a security outfit whose name I don’t know yet,” her tone is all sass, and I think I fall in love with her just a little bit, “my husband just offered her a space and a partnership to start up her chocolate shop.”
The way she says the words, like they’re the kind of thing that happens every day, has my heart fluttering in my chest. Could this really be my chance? To have my dream?
Joss looks down at me again, his eyes wide with surprise and excitement. For me. He wants this for me. If I weren’t already in love with this man, that would do it.
“That’s amazing,” he murmurs and all I can do is nod. When he looks toward Amelia, he flashes her a sheepish smile and nods his head respectfully. “I’m Joss. It’s nice to meet you.”
Amelia tilts her head as Joss goes back to scanning the area. “You’re former military,” she states like it’s a fact. “I think you should meet someone.” She turns and yells, “Blake!”
A man near the rock stars turns quickly, his eyebrows pulling together slightly. Then he’s striding across the space with a gait I recognize because it’s the same way Joss walks. As he gets closer it becomes very obvious just how huge he is.
“Woah,” I blurt out.
Amelia snorts and tells me, “Be careful. They’ll pick you up without warning.
” When Blake gets over to us, his eyes sweep over the table and one corner of his mouth twitches.
“Blake,” she coos at the giant of a man and motions toward Joss, “this is Joss. He’s former military.
Now, I know how important it is for places like this to have security, but my gut is telling me his skills aren’t being properly used here, but maybe you can do something about that. ”
I glance at Joss to find his eyebrows raised so high that they’re touching his hairline. Blake grins and holds his hand out like an offering.
When Joss shakes his hand, the mountain of a man, introduces himself. “Blake Higgins. I run Higgins Security and am always looking for more people to bring in. I prefer to hire former military personnel because I know their training and how hard it is to transition back to civilian life.”
Something unclenches in my chest that I didn’t even realize was there. Could we both be getting exactly what we want and need? Just because of a chance meeting?
When Joss squeezes my hip as he swallows hard, so many emotions dancing in his eyes, I realize it wouldn’t be the first time.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’d really like to talk to you about whatever opportunities you have for me at the moment.”
Blake’s smile widens and he nods before pulling his wallet out of his back pocket, finding a business card, and handing it to my man. “My cell phone number is on there. Call me and we’ll set up a meeting.”
Amelia is studying Joss more closely as Blake walks away and toward a woman who looks a lot like the movie star Margot Reynolds. But that can’t be her. Right?
Amelia’s finger taps on her lips as she purses them. Then her eyes widen and she gasps, “That’s why you look so familiar!” All eyes turn toward her and she nudges Olivia. “Remember that cover Lark just released? I showed it to you.”
Lark? I don’t know that name at all.
“Oh,” Olivia exclaims and points at Joss, “you’re on the cover.”
“Lark?” Joss and I ask at the same time and share a goofy look because of it.
Amelia covers her mouth, but I can still see her grimace. “Uh,” she starts and then rolls her eyes at herself, “I’m always forgetting she uses a pen name, sorry.”
All I can do is blink at the woman a few times because what? She knows one of my favorite authors to the point that she knows her real name? Who the fuck is this woman?
Joss shifts from one foot to the other, “I do some modeling on the side. My ex cleaned out my bank account and walked away. I’m still trying to get back to center, ya know?”
Anger flares in Amelia’s eyes and she leans closer. Her voice drops to something deadly, “Tell Blake. He’ll get Duncan, who is the tech guy you want to know, on it. You’re family now and we take care of our family.”
Tears well up in my eyes and I have to blink them away. Joss nods as he swallows hard and I know her words are hitting him too.
When Beckett hands me a business card, I take it with trembling fingers. “If you’re not busy tomorrow, you can come and check out the space.” I think I nod; I must nod. “Great,” he grins, amusement dancing in his voice, “does noon work for you?”
I think I nod again, but all he does is chuckle. Then there’s a lot of activity as the group buys out a good portion of my treats. I’m in a daze for most of it and Joss stands sentinel at my side as if he knows I’m about a second away from falling apart.
When they walk away with waves and the promise to see each other soon, as in tomorrow, I look up at Joss, speechless.
The look we share is weighted and full of possibility.
There’s a knowing, as if we can both feel how our path has changed.
As long as we walk it together, I think we’ll be just fine.
“Love you, Sugar,” he murmurs and I sink into him as he grounds me. His solid frame helps me feel like this might be real.
That it all might be real. Him. The possibility of my dream becoming reality. Joss working in a place where he’ll be respected and spend time with people who understand his past and his future. Love.
“I love you, Joss,” I murmur, “so much.”
The feeling of hope never leaves me as the day continues on; it wraps itself around me and holds tight. I never thought my life would change so quickly, but then I met Joss, and I found out that with him in my life I could find happiness, chocolate shop or no chocolate shop.
But, of course, it would be much better with one. Now, I might just get to find out.