Josh's Challenge Read online

  Toward the back of the house, the space opened to a great room connected to a large kitchen. Hardwood floors ran throughout the house, and the room felt light and airy. Another stone fireplace took up most of one wall and was flanked by built-in bookshelves. The kitchen contained a mixture of wood, tile, and marble with a huge butcher-block island in the center, where the food was laid out to perfection. Most of the guests gathered around it.

  Just as they entered the family room, a door to the right opened up and Julie walked out with both babies in her arms. Is that an elevator? Missy wondered.

  Josh snickered and leaned in to whisper in Missy’s ear. “Jason insisted on a lift. He didn’t want anyone falling down those stairs in the middle of the night. Since there are two babies instead of one, Julie grudgingly agreed.”

  “Honestly, it’s not a bad idea,” Missy said. “I wish my mom had one. It would sure make things easier when she has her spells.” Thinking about her mother’s illness caused her mood to sink even further.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “Marguerite is there most of the time unless she’s at work or with me, like today. They need breaks from each other, but…” Missy didn’t want to think about the disease progressing. She’d lost her father at a young age, and now she was losing her mother. Thankfully, just then, Marguerite found her way into the great room and changed the subject.

  “This house is amazing.” Her stunned expression was comical.

  Josh said, “Come on. You’ve been to my parents’ house.”

  Marguerite rolled her eyes at him. “That’s not a house, it’s a freaking mansion, but this,” she gestured with wide arms to their surroundings, “is a home.”

  “Thank you, Marguerite,” Jason said, sneaking up behind them. “After trying to explain what we wanted, Josh kept insisting that it wouldn’t work, but I think I proved I’m the better designer.”

  “Dream on, asshat. It’s totally my design after listening to Julie’s preferences, not his,” he gestured with this thumb at Jason, “and the big oaf knows it.”

  Missy giggled at Josh’s disgust with his brother.

  “Oh yeah?” Jason argued. “You told me that an elevator was out of the question, but after I tweaked the plans, you had to admit that I was right.”

  “Gentleman, would you please zip it? There are guests that need to be tended to. We need more ice, Josh. Could you get some from the garage?” Camille said while holding one of the babies. “Missy, this is Gabriel. Would you like to hold him?”

  Missy looked for help, any help, but found none. Babies were not her thing. Kittens or puppies, yes, but humans? The last thing she wanted was to hold that baby and have it scream its angelic head off. “Uh, I should help Josh with the ice, Mrs. King.”

  “It’s Camille, dear, and he doesn’t need help,” she said as she thrust the baby into Missy’s arms.

  Missy froze. Please don’t scream, little man. To her amazement, Gabriel cooed sweetly and blinked giant, baby-blue eyes at her. She felt something stir in the vicinity of her heart. Gabriel’s little face bore a resemblance to Josh and Missy melted. She looked up to let Camille know she would be all right with the baby, and her eyes collided with Josh’s as he returned from his errand. The world seemed to stop. In the back of her mind, she heard something begin to tick in her body, and she was afraid to name what it was because she was much too young for that.

  “Oh my,” Marguerite whispered.

  “Uh huh,” Camille said with the same knowing smile Josh sometimes wore that completely unnerved Missy.

  “Mrs. King,” Marguerite said quietly, “you are the smartest woman I have ever met.”

  Camille tutted. “I know what my boys need, dear. Now, there’s someone that I would like to introduce to you.” Camille hooked her arm through Marguerite’s and left Missy locked on Josh’s stare as she gently swayed baby Gabriel back and forth.

  MELISSA ROCKING HIS nephew in her arms nearly brought Josh to his knees. Keeping his eyes on her, he came back to her side. “I’m sorry I left you after I promised not to, but my mother can be very persuasive.”

  Melissa nodded her beautiful head. “So I’ve discovered.” She broke their connection to look down at the baby in her arms, and the move almost made him groan. When he leaned in to kiss her, his knees were nearly knocked out from under him…literally this time.

  “Hunkle Josh! You’re here!”

  Glad that the powerful spell had been broken, he picked Jessica up because, honestly, when the little imp was around, it was hard not to. “Did you say hello to Melissa?”

  “Nope. Hi Missy.” Jessica got comfortable in Josh’s arms. “Didya ask ’fore ya picked him up?”

  “Uh,” Melissa looked at the baby in question, “no, your grandma just handed him to me.”

  “That’s okay, then,” Jessica said with approval, making Josh laugh.

  “What’s the plan, princess?”

  “Oh, well, first we getta eat lunch. Joojee made it so it’s gonna be yummy,” she said with conviction. “Then Joojee and Huncle Jase are gonna open baby presents.” She ended by clapping her hands twice in excitement.

  “You love presents, don’t you, Jessica?” Josh laughed.

  “Yep!” She wiggled her feet in the universal sign made by all children that she wanted to be let down. Once he set her on her feet, she said, “I gotta go grab a plate ’fore they’re all gone. Come on!” She tugged on Josh’s arm as she turned back to Missy and said, “You’re gonna hafta set him down. He’s not big enough for grown-up food.”

  Josh didn’t bother containing his laugh, but he did stop Jessica from tugging on his arm. “I’m going to help Melissa with Gabriel, and then we’ll get our lunch. You better go grab a plate, though, because I see Charlie’s already in line.”

  Jessica sucked in a breath. “Oh no! He’s gonna eat up ever’thing. Char-LEE!” she shouted as she ran to the buffet line.

  When Josh turned around, he found Melissa trying not to laugh and losing the battle as she struggled not to disturb the baby. He tried to help her, but they were laughing so hard that they both looked ridiculous. “Here, let me take him,” he said, a bit out of breath.

  “No, I’m good,” she wheezed, finally finding her breath. “But you’re going to have to get me a plate. I can’t hold a baby and food at the same time.”

  Satisfied that she’d finally loosened up and relaxed, he led her to the buffet line. Juggling two plates wasn’t easy and neither was finding two seats together, but he rounded up a place in the dining room. Melissa kept his nephew tucked in her arms while they ate. It was peaceful and only interrupted by people occasionally stopping by to comment on the baby. Josh would have to find a way to thank his mother. Conversations were easy when it came to babies, even if you weren’t an expert. So far, Melissa seemed as if she wasn’t bothered by nerves at all.

  Just then, Marguerite flopped down beside them. “Your mother is an evil woman, Josh King.” She was blushing.

  What the hell? “What are you talking about?”

  Ignoring the fact that he was about to object to her insult of his mother, she forged on. “Look, I know the woman doesn’t like me, and your sisters-in-law can’t stand me either, but ambushing me with that man is pretty cruel, even for them.”

  Her eyes welled with tears, so Josh bit back his rebuke.

  “What man? What happened?” Melissa asked.

  Marguerite swiped angrily at a tear that had successfully fallen down her cheek. “McKinley,” she hissed. “I’ve just spent the last half hour being interrogated by that marshal.”

  “Interrogated about what?” Josh was lost. He was also glad he was sitting because he’d never thought he’d see the day when Marguerite Theroux would be rattled by a man.

  She continued as if he hadn’t said anything. “He knew things about me, about us,” she said to Melissa, “that he shouldn’t have, like our birthdays, where we went to school…you know, personal things.”

  “Why?” M
elissa asked as she moved Gabriel to her shoulder. He’d begun to fuss, and the move caused the baby to begin rooting around with his mouth, causing Josh to look for Julie in a panic.

  “I have no idea. I’m sticking with you because I do not want to be around that man,” Marguerite said just as Gabriel began putting hickeys on Melissa’s shoulder.

  “Oh!” Melissa said. “I think I’d better find your mommy, little man.”

  Josh helped her get up and led her into the great room, Marguerite practically stepping on Melissa’s heels. They found Julie on the couch, blanket over her torso and a baby already attached. Oh man, why was this so uncomfortable?

  “I’ve got him,” Jason said as he took the baby from Melissa’s arms. “Josh, why are you blushing?” The bastard knew why, but Josh needed to suck it up.

  “It’s hot in here. Why didn’t you turn on the air?”

  “I did,” Jason said distractedly as he took Gabriel to the couch where Julie was finishing up with Michael.

  “Wow,” Melissa whispered, “Julie is amazing. I couldn’t imagine dealing with twins, but she’s so calm, and so happy.” Melissa had a dreamy look in her eyes, the same look she wore for him when they were alone.

  “You looked good holding my nephew,” he whispered. There was no denying their deepening connection, and, for once, getting emotionally involved with a woman didn’t have him looking for his running shoes. He grabbed her hand and brought the back of it to his lips. When she blushed, he grinned. “Don’t get all panicky. As soon as Julie is finished, I think they’re going to open that mountain of presents over there, and then we can go home.”

  “I’m sure Marguerite will be relieved.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Missy pointed with her chin to the other side of the room where a very put-out Marguerite stood next to an older man whom Josh didn’t recognize.

  “That’s Declan McKinley, the marshal I was telling you about.” Jarod had sidled up next to them.

  “I don’t think Marguerite cares much for him,” Josh said with a grin.

  “Oh, she likes him. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Jarod took a bite of the cookie he was holding. “I think he likes her too, but he’s holding back for some reason. Could be the age difference, or maybe it’s his friendship with Dane.”

  From his vantage point, Josh could see Marguerite fidgeting and looking at everyone around her except the man trying to engage her in conversation. They appeared to be making small talk until Marguerite caught Josh’s eye, said something quickly to Declan, and quickly made her way over to their little group.

  Josh grinned at Melissa. Marguerite didn’t yet realize that she had a ghost as McKinley followed her over. Marguerite gave them all a relieved smile just as Jarod reached past her to take Declan’s hand. Josh stifled his laughter over her appalled face.

  “Glad you could make it, Declan. This is my little brother, Josh.”

  Josh reached for the older man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Same here,” Declan said before turning to Melissa. “You must be Marguerite’s little sister. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your uncle and I go way back, ma’am.”

  Josh noted how Melissa’s hand shook before Declan’s big one enclosed it in a handshake.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” she whispered. Josh immediately put his arm around her waist in a gentle show of support but didn’t push her. Her discomfort actually pained him, and he wanted to take that pain away.

  “I see you’ve met the incomparable Marguerite,” Josh said, and the incomparable bombshell in question glared at him.

  “Yes, we’ve met,” she bit out.

  Jarod said, “Now, Marguerite, that’s no way to treat the man who’s been keeping tabs on our siblings.”

  Josh felt Melissa stiffen. “Yes, Marguerite said something about that earlier.”

  Marguerite answered for everyone. “It’s okay, Missy. Declan has been helping Jarod locate your stalker is all.” She gave a slight shake of her head to both Jarod and Declan that got Josh thinking there was a missing piece to the puzzle. He’d find it, and soon. He didn’t like secrets. With Melissa’s stalker on the loose, he needed to be informed. Hadn’t they all learned that lesson several times over already? Jarod would be filling him in ASAP, but now they had a baby shower to witness.

  MISSY SAT ON one of the sofas that had been moved into the family room while Julie opened gift after gift. Josh sat so closely in the crowded room that she might as well have sat on his lap. Marguerite sat smooshed against Josh’s other side, creating a hunk sandwich.

  The room filled with familiar faces caused her to think about how appropriate the name family room was for this space. Though everyone attending the gathering may not have been related to each other by blood, the feeling of camaraderie and fellowship almost made her feel melancholy about her ill mother being at home—thankfully, she wasn’t alone. Uncle Dane had offered to take care of her while Missy and Marguerite attended the baby shower. When Missy protested, he simply hugged her and said, “You need to go. Josh cares about you, and Julie and Camille would be upset if you stayed home.” Then he looked at Marguerite. “Make sure she goes, young lady.”

  “Yes, sir,” Marguerite said.

  For years now, Uncle Dane had been mentoring Marguerite. Missy didn’t fully understand what Uncle Dane had required of Marguerite last fall, but she did know that her sister had played an integral role in closing down a drug ring in Timbisha. Missy couldn’t have been prouder of her sister, but she’d also feared for Marguerite’s safety.

  “Hey,” Josh whispered, “you still here with me?”

  She turned her face to his and got snared in his delicious gaze again. God, it almost hurt her to look at him, especially since their noses were almost touching. “How could I not be?” she asked before giving him a peck on the nose. Growling, he hugged her impossibly closer.

  Jessica said something funny, and the room exploded in laugher. The adorable girl was in charge of handing the next gift to be opened to Julie, taking center stage.

  With her eyes, Missy followed the twins, who were, of course, being passed from guest to guest. There was so much love in the room that Missy found herself smiling just because, and then it hit her.

  She was completely comfortable with Josh. Her anxiety was gone. She wasn’t sweating and was completely at ease. She squeezed Josh’s thigh, earning her another kiss, this time on the cheek, and she didn’t feel a speck of embarrassment. That’s what he did to her. He made her feel like she belonged.

  It wasn’t until all the gifts had been opened and everyone began meandering to different parts of the house again that she noticed Declan had been standing behind Marguerite the entire time. She gave her sister a glance and noted her controlled annoyance.

  “I’m going to grab us something to drink,” Josh said. “Do you want something special or just water?”

  “Water would be great,” she said when he stood up. Once he was gone, she turned to Marguerite. “All right, spill it.”

  Her sister huffed. “Is he gone?” she whispered.

  “Mm-hmm.” Declan had wandered into the kitchen behind Josh.

  Marguerite faced her on the couch. “You know the marshal is here looking for a fugitive, right?”

  “No, I thought Uncle Dane brought him in to help find my stalker.”

  Marguerite shook her head. “His fugitive turned out to be Harold Schurke. Since his case and yours seemed to be connected, he stayed to help. Anyway, Jarod and Declan found a body the other day, and they aren’t saying who it is. Jarod claims they haven’t ID’d the victim yet, but I know better. He’s keeping something close to the vest and Declan is in the middle of it. My guess is that the body was the marshal’s fugitive, but I have no proof. They’re shutting me out.”

  Missy thought about that for a second. “Marguerite, if his fugitive is dead, and that fugitive is Harold, then why is he still here? The case should be closed so we can all get on with our live
s, right?”

  Marguerite threw her hands in the air. “That’s exactly my point! Why is he still here, Missy? And why the hell does he keep ‘running into me,’ as he likes to call it?”

  It was obvious that the marshal was attracted to her sister, but did that mean that they had another stalker in town—one with a badge? Or was Marguerite being overly dramatic? Missy mentally rolled her eyes. Of course her sister was being dramatic. She just didn’t know what Marguerite’s objection to Declan was. He was attractive and seemed nice, but then Missy wasn’t a good judge of character…except when it came to Josh. That dreamy feeling started taking over, but Marguerite slugged her in the arm. “Owie!”

  “Will you focus on my problem, please?” Marguerite said. “Trust me, if you want Josh, he is completely yours. Now stop staring at his ass and help me!”

  “Keep your voice down,” she hissed. “I don’t understand your problem, Marguerite. Just tell Declan that you aren’t interested. He’ll back off. They always do for you.” Bitterness bled into the last sentence. Of course, her sister ignored it.

  “I have, Missy, but he won’t back off.”

  “Tell Jarod he’s harassing you.”

  Marguerite scoffed. “I would if I didn’t think that Jarod was encouraging the jackass.”

  Missy tried not to snicker and failed miserably.

  “It’s not funny!”

  “I know, sorry.” Missy took a breath and concentrated. She needed to figure out what exactly her sister’s problem was with the marshal before she could advise her. “Where is he?”

  “He’s talking to Mr. King.” Missy didn’t miss the fact that her sister was completely aware of where the man was and to whom he was speaking.

  “So avoid him until we leave.” At Marguerite’s eye roll, Missy forged on. “Look, we can’t solve this problem today, but I don’t want you to be miserable either. You already know where he is, so just make sure you stay away from him.”

  “Thanks for nothing,” Marguerite said as she stomped off to the kitchen, right where the marshal and Mr. King were speaking, next to a plate of cookies that Marguerite feigned interest in.