Page 23 of Georgie (Sons of Hell MC #10)
Josie
I stepped out of the shower as the steam swirled around me and all I could think about was my comfy sweatpants and a really good book.
After the wedding-related craziness, Emily’s thinly veiled threats (which, let’s be honest, was nothing more than a woman scorned act), the mountain of paperwork, and last-minute reservations, I was toast. Utterly, completely, and irrevocably toast.
I received a text from Granny when the plane landed about an hour ago, giving me a reprieve for the night, which I greatly welcomed.
Keeping the twins for the night. You, ahem, enjoy yourself.
Granny’s “ ahem ” implied a level of impending doom that I was too damn tired to decipher.
Tomorrow, the countdown to Rosewood’s most extravagant, potentially disastrous wedding ever officially began.
Invitations had gone out, and preparations were in full swing—full swing meaning a frantic, caffeinated frenzy involving enough tulle to clothe a small army of pageant-crazed debutantes and enough floral arrangements to fill the Rose Bowl Parade.
My dad, bless his cotton socks, had somehow managed to snag LeeAnn, the Bridezilla of all Southern Bridezillas, after Mr. Munson’s untimely demise. God rest his soul.
I firmly believed the poor man ducked out at the right time.
LeeAnn, who had been planning this wedding since the Reagan administration, hadn’t missed a beat. She’d just swapped grooms. Like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace after a respectable twenty-four-hour grace period, of course.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I found George sprawled on my bed. The poor man looked rode hard and put up wet.
“What the hell happened to you?” I asked.
George slowly turned to look at me and sneered, “You know what the hell happened.”
I chuckled, unable to suppress my grin.
“Those brats need Jesus.”
“Oh, come on, George. They couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Worse. Much worse. Bad enough they were crammed into an airplane, but then their ringleader, the pint-sized Master of Mayhem, decided he wanted to fly the damn thing. A maelstrom of chaos ensued! Before takeoff, mind you!”
“He... what?”
“That little shit tried to commandeer the controls! Apparently, he’s been watching too many Tom Cruise movies.
Fucker thinks he’s ready for Top Gun ! Then your little vindictive Annabelle decided the in-flight safety demonstration was a suggestion, not a requirement.
She decided if Cameron was flying the plane, she was going to test out the parachutes.
I had to literally hog-tie them both to their seats. ”
I doubled over laughing, tears streaming down my face as George glared at me, his dignity in tatters.
“George,” I said, gasping for air between bouts of laughter, “you’re telling me you survived a mid-air mutiny orchestrated by a seven-year-old and his sidekick?”
George crossed his arms, his face a battlefield of indignation and exhaustion. “Mutiny? That’s putting it mildly. I think I’ve got PTSD from it. And you—laughing like this is the funniest thing you’ve ever heard.”
I tried to pull myself together, wiping away the tears and straightening up. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. It’s just—you have to admit—it’s a hell of a story. Were the other kids at least well-behaved?”
George raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Oh, they were smart. They stayed out of the fire. Granny’s flight attendant wasn’t thrilled.
And by thrilled, I mean she was ready to toss me and those two little hellions out of the emergency exit mid-flight.
The woman actually asked me if I had experience in hostage negotiation. ”
Sitting next to him on the bed, I smothered my laughter. “So you want to tell me why you are here, in my bedroom?”
“Because you owe me?”
Quirking an eyebrow at him, I asked, “How so?”
“Because you knew and didn’t warn me. Some friend you are.”
“Yeah, about that,” I muttered as my heart took flight.
No time like the present, right?
George looked at me, waiting for me to elaborate as I looked down at my hands.
“Josephine?”
“It’s why I showed up the other night at the club barbeque. I wanted to talk to you. To apologize for the way I acted. I said some things I didn’t mean, George.”
“What things?”
“Things like I just want to stay friends,” I whispered, turning to look at him.
When he said nothing, I continued, “I didn’t mean it.
I mean, yeah, I love having you as a friend, but I want more.
I wanted to tell you earlier, but I saw you with Ares and well, you know what happened after that.
Then Freddie showed up, and you claimed me in front of King.
I didn’t know what to think. Then you took me to the clubhouse and, well.
.. you know what happened afterward. I thought we were finally on the same page.
That you felt the same. Well, you said you did, then everything just piled up and I got scared and pushed you away.
I didn’t mean it, George. I really didn’t.
I was overwhelmed by everything going on around here.
I couldn’t think. I don’t know when it happened, but I know I’m in love with—”
I never got to finish what I was going to say because, in the next instant, hands grabbed my face as George’s lips pressed against mine, silencing my confession.
My heart, which had raced with anxiety, now pounded with a different kind of fervor as I melted into his kiss.
My hands found their way to his hair and pulled him closer.
It was a kiss that spoke of pent-up desire and unspoken words, a kiss that begged for more.
When he finally broke the kiss, I was breathless as George rested his forehead against mine. “I wanted to do that the moment I saw you at the barbeque,” he murmured. “I thought I lost you...” He trailed off, his eyes searching mine.
I smiled, my heart feeling lighter than it had in ages. “Now you know the truth. I’m yours, George. If you still want me, that is.”
I bit my lip, suddenly nervous about his response.
“You’re mine, Josie. Forever,” he declared just as his phone rang. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Chuckling, I leaned back as George reached into his back pocket for his phone. I watched as he looked at the caller ID and grinned, hitting the speaker button.
“Good evening, Prez.”
“I’m going to kick your fucking ass!”
“You do that, and then who will watch the brat and his minions?”
“Do you know how much they can drink?” King growled.
“I’m assuming a lot from the smell of them.” George chuckled, then added, “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a woman to claim.”
With that, George disconnected the call and shut down his phone.
Turning to me, he grabbed my face once more and whispered, “The next person who interrupts us will find themselves on the receiving end of my scalpel.”
I chuckled as he tackled me to the bed.
Humming to myself, I smirked as I walked into Beth’s coffee shop the next morning, and Beth greeted me cheerfully. “Good morning, Josie. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“It sure is, Beth.” I grinned, leaning against the counter as I looked at all the yummy goodness before me. I was starving. I barely got any sleep last night. Not that I was complaining.
“So what can I get you?”
“Hmm...” I concentrated, looking at the display case. “I will take a bear claw, one cheese Danish, and give me one of your famous chocolate chip muffins. Would also like two black coffees.”
Smiling, Beth nodded and quickly got to work getting my order. “So, how’s the wedding planning going? It won’t be long now.”
“That’s right. The wedding is next week. So far, everything is going well. LeeAnn seems to be happy with how everything is progressing and isn’t changing too much. Of course, with Laurel beside her, that makes it easier.”
Beth chuckled. “I remember my first wedding to Mike. I planned everything down to the littlest detail. I was so stressed out, I don’t think I even enjoyed the wedding when all was said and done. Now, our second wedding was a lot easier. We just hit up the justice of the peace. No fuss. No muss.”
I wholeheartedly agreed, nodding. “After watching the current drama and everything that goes along with it, I have to agree. A justice of the peace sounds heavenly.”
Beth quirked an eyebrow at me. “Does that mean you and a certain hot doctor are planning on tying the knot?”
Gulping, I blanched. “Uh. No. No wedding bells for me anytime soon.”
Beth gave me one of her sly smiles as she placed two cups of coffee on the counter. “Sure, honey. Whatever you say.”
After paying for my goods, I left Beth’s shop and headed for the clinic.
I wanted to pop in and see George before I headed back up to the ski lodge.
It was going to be a big day and with guests starting to arrive, I knew the next few days were going to be a challenge.
Not only was LeeAnn’s family coming in from Alabama, but a lot of mine and Dad’s relatives would be descending from Louisiana.
This wedding was gearing up to be a true Southern wedding.
Walking into the Rosewood clinic, I smiled, seeing Jessica and Dr. Claudia James sitting behind the receptionist’s desk talking to a patient. Both women smiled and waved as I walked past, heading for George’s office.
Juggling the two coffees and the bag of pastries, I managed to open George’s door, only to drop everything and it clattered to the floor as I watched George kiss Emily.