STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE (NOT TO MENTION GOOD SENSE). . .as told by Tess

In our last post Josh wrote: Sometimes it pays to keep secrets – at least for a little while. Like hell. As far as I’m concerned secrets should lie dead and buried pretty much forever and should never ever be posted in blogs, but then what would the fun be in that (Josh is behind me and snorting with laughter because he knows what’s coming). Anyway, the only reason I’m about to tell you what did happen while I was in the dressing room at Josh’s country club is because I have to – it’s the only way I could get him to fess up about his runathon the first night I spent at his house. So, here goes.

For those of you who read our story in Close to Perfect (and for those of you who have yet to), let me remind you what happened in Chapter Eight. Josh and I were on the lam from my father’s friends who are also ex-cops and who work at his security company as I do. Josh had the great idea that we’d spend the day alone at his country club – yep, that’s right, he’s not just a member; he owns the damned place. At the time, it hadn’t yet been opened to the public and we had that baby to ourselves – just picture it – all those lush grounds and the entire clubhouse. Talk about nice. Not that I was noticing any scenery besides Josh.

By the time we went into the clubhouse, I was wondering if the place had guest rooms with big, comfortable beds. Who knew how strenuous golf could get, right? Yeah, I know, I had promised myself not to sleep with Josh while he was my boss, but hey, I’m only human, you know? To get an idea of what I was going through, read an excerpt from Chapter Eight:

She wanted Josh as she had never wanted another man. She needed him on top of her, inside her, filling a need that grew with each passing day.

As he led her to the right, Tess willingly followed, looking down as her heels clacked against Mexican pavers, then up to an area where the country club staff would answer questions from its guests.

Passing that, Josh turned into a hall that opened up into a pro shop. At last, he released her hand.

Tess made a face at that, but only because he couldn’t see. He had already moved to a counter and was now pulling a pale green Polo shirt and a pair of beige khakis from that bag.

“Here you go.” He tossed her the bag.

Tess caught it easily and looked inside.

“Those all right?” he asked.

She lifted her white sleeveless top and white cotton shorts from the bag, then looked around them to him. “When did you get these?”

“Pulled them out of the dryer while you were outside waiting for me. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

She didn’t. She looked back down. “Did you pack my running shoes, too?”

“I thought you’d play in your heels.”

Tess kept her head lowered, but did lift her gaze.

“Not going to work for you, huh?” Josh asked, then inclined his head to the right. “Your dressing room’s over there.”

Tess looked from it to him.

“Go on,” he said. “We don’t have all day.”

That was true. Hugging the bag to her chest, Tess went into her dressing room as Josh went to his, then changed into her shorts and top.

And that brings us to my little secret that wasn’t revealed in Close to Perfect, but will be now because Josh insisted. After I changed, I pulled out my cell phone and called my friend and former partner on the force, Natalie Cruz.

“Nat,” I said in a really low voice when she answered.

“Tessie?” she said to that.

“Yep.”

“I can barely hear you. What’s wrong? You in trouble? You’re breathing real hard.”

That was true. “I’m not in danger,” I lied in a whisper, “I just need your advice.”

“Go for it,” Nat said without pause. “Have lots of orgasms. Take notes. I wanna hear all about it later. Who is he?”

I gotta hand it to Nat, she does not mince words. “Who he is is the complication,” I whispered. At that point, I hadn’t told Nat about Josh or working for him.

“He’s a priest?” she asked.

“Of course not.”

“Gay?”

“Get real.”

“One of your dad’s friends?”

I pressed my mouth into my shoulder to muffle my groan.

“Who then?” she shouted.

“Shhh,” I hissed into the cell. “He’s my boss.” I started breathing hard again. “I really like him. We’re on a golf course. I want to sleep with him.”

“On the course?”

“In the pro shop. It’s deserted. My dressing room’s deserted.”

“Then go for it, fool! Wait!” she shouted, then lowered her voice. “Does he like you?”

“He wants me.”

I could hear her sharp intake of breath on the other end of the call.

“Poor baby,” she finally said. “He’s a low down, no good player and you’re already in love with him, huh?”

Like I said, Nat does not mince words. “He’s not low down or no good. He’s just a normal guy with needs. And I’m getting real close to liking him way too much, if you get my drift.”

“Poor baby,” she repeated. “You are in love.”

As I groaned, she continued, “Make the bum wait until he’s falling in love with you. Then again, if you think you’ll lose him by waiting, go for it. Of course, hold back a little so that he wants more. But not too much or he’ll –”

Although I love Nat, I decided to end the call right there and make Josh wait for me until I couldn’t wait any longer for him. And it turned out for the best. He’s still behind me now, but instead of laughing he’s nuzzling my neck. Nice.

Of course, what happened between us in that dressing room at Kiki’s in Chapter Twelve was awesome too, especially after the salesgirl left. You didn’t read about it in our story, but you’ll hear about it from Josh next week.

(Image by IMSI)