Элла Франк - Entice

They had come such a long way in the very short time they had been together, and as they rolled through the dark streets right before dawn, Shelly was starting to settle into the idea of them as a couple. On the trip home, he had asked her how things had gone with her father, and Shelly had calmly told him everything she’d finally been able to get off her shoulders.

It was freeing to be able to talk to a man and know he wouldn’t judge you. That was Josh. He just listened. Every now and then, he would say something, but generally, he just sat steady and listened to whatever it was she was telling him.

As they exited the main highway and rolled down the streets toward what looked like the suburbs, Shelly turned her head to face the man behind the wheel.

He had shrugged on his leather jacket over his familiar white T-shirt and jeans. The man looked sexy and relaxed, and as she watched him silently, he turned to her and smiled slowly.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

Shelly gave him a half smile as she yawned. “I’m thinking about how you’re going to strip me down and have your bad old way with me.”

He laughed and nodded. “You got that right. I have been thinking of nothing else for the last…” He paused and looked at his watch. “Ten-and-a-half hours.”

“Is that right?” Shelly probed.

“That’s right, Miz Monroe.”

Laughing, Shelly asked, “So, now that we are back in the city I’m Miz Monroe?”

Josh’s mouth quirked on the side, as he nodded. “Yeah. The city seems to bring out the Man-Eater.” He paused and told her in a deep voice, “But I kind of like her now that I know Georgia is in there, too.”

Shelly raised her eyebrows at him, and then licked her lips as she looked pointedly at his denim-covered crotch.

“Well, I have to tell you, Josh, I am really looking forward to living up to my name.”

He cocked his head to the side in question, so she answered.

“Man-Eater.” She paused, licking her lips again. “I really want to eat you.”

Josh groaned and shook his head. “Thank God we are nearly there.”

Shelly laughed and settled in for the remainder of the drive.

* * *

Josh looked across the truck at Shelly as she lay with her eyes closed, her head leaning back against the seat. Mutley was lying down on the back seat, and Josh had to smile at the fact that Shelly now seemed okay with his mutt. They had talked all the way home about her mother and father, and Josh had gotten a much better understanding of the way Dr. Shelly Monroe’s mind worked.

He was happy she had been able to confront her father and maybe set some demons to rest. He also hoped, somewhat selfishly, that it had opened the possibility in her mind that they could have a real shot at this.

Everything had happened so suddenly between them, but for Josh, it felt so incredibly real. He couldn’t explain why, but he just knew this was meant to be. He knew he had to come clean and tell her he owned the construction company. She would probably be pissed at him, but it was nothing they couldn’t get past. He was sure of it.

As they rounded the final street, Josh couldn’t help but feel completely excited about the next day and a half. Shelly had agreed to spend that time with him at his house and in his bed. Hell yeah. Can anything be better than that?

He pulled the truck to a stop at the curb of the street, got out, and walked around to Shelly’s side where she was now sleeping. The sun was just starting to come up, and it was going on 7:00 a.m. Josh had plans, and they involved carrying the sleeping doctor inside, cuddling up with her, and then waking in a few hours to make love to her.

* * *

Shelly heard her door unlock, and she opened her eyes, noticing the truck had come to a stop. She turned her head and saw Josh outside her door, smiling at her through the window. Sitting up, she let him open the door. He placed his hands on the roof and leaned in to kiss her.

“We’re here.”

Josh moved back from the truck, allowing Shelly to get out. Once she was free, she stretched her arms over her head, yawning, and then stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck.

“I believe we have specific plans for the next couple of days,” she told him, planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

He grinned and hugged her tightly before humming against her mouth. “Hmm, I believe you may be right. You and me naked in my bed sounds familiar.”

That was when Shelly looked over Josh’s shoulder to the house behind them. It was a nice house that looked like he had bought it with restoration in mind, knowing his background. As her eyes moved to the driveway, they stopped and zeroed in on a blue Ford Fusion and a tall brunette woman, who was leaning against the driver’s side, staring at them.

“Josh?” Shelly questioned as she pulled away from him.

He looked down at her. “Yeah, Miz Monroe?” he asked in a deep voice, sweet-talking her.

But Shelly had left the sexy thought process behind. Suddenly, she had a new one.

Who the hell is that woman?

* * *

Josh noticed Shelly had stiffened, and he moved a step back, wondering what was going on. He was about to ask when he heard a familiar voice call out.

“Joshua!”

Now, it was Josh’s turn to stiffen. He saw Shelly’s eyes narrow and her shoulders straighten, and he wanted to explain something, anything, but he was interrupted when he heard his name being called for the second time in that annoying high-pitched voice. He pivoted on his heel and saw the last person on earth he wanted to see.

“Melissa,” he replied in a tone so defeated he didn’t even know where it had come from.

He just knew Shelly was thinking the worst, and right at this moment, he didn’t blame her. But she needs to let me explain. She has to, right?

As he watched his ex-girlfriend strut down the driveway and make her way toward them, he felt Shelly retreat further back, as he turned to look at her. Her eyes were so glacial that they pretty much froze him on the spot.

“I can explain,” he told her quietly.

“Why would you need to?” Shelly asked coolly.

Josh wanted to scream. Because you are jumping to the wrong conclusion! He looked to Shelly and then to the woman fast approaching. What the hell is she doing here?

“Melissa is her name, huh? The woman who did a number on you?” Shelly queried, regaining his attention as she climbed back into his truck.

“What are you doing?” he asked without answering her first question.

“I’m going to wait in your truck until you do whatever you do to get rid of a woman, and then you are going to drive me home because I don’t have a car.”

“Shelly...” Josh tried again.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she told him before slamming the truck door shut between them.

Josh was staring at the side of her perfect, angry face when Melissa stopped in front of him.

“Where have you been? I have been coming by since Friday,” she said.

Josh shook his head, not quite believing how shitty this morning was turning out.

“Who’s that?” Melissa asked, gesturing to the truck. “You looked nice and friendly.”

“What are you doing here, Melissa?” he asked her through a stiff jaw and clenched teeth.

She flashed the smile he used to adore and do anything for. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Josh shook his head and kept glancing at the car door. All he continued to see was Shelly’s side profile.

When he finally looked back at Melissa, he was beyond pissed. “What? Why are you here?”

She grinned and shrugged. “Because I made a mistake. I want you back, Josh.”

Shit, shit, shit. So, it wasn’t the most eloquent moment of her life, but as she sat in the passenger seat of Josh’s truck, that was all Shelly could come up with. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Josh standing there by the window, talking to the leggy brunette, Melissa.

Over and over, Shelly kept chastising herself and her quick fall into la-la love land. Had I really thought for one moment that it would be that easy? When had I become so naive? Fairy tales didn’t happen overnight. Heck, they rarely happened at all! She just had to look at her parents for that wonderful reality check.

Pulling out her phone, Shelly texted Lena.

Need to talk…NOW.

Almost immediately, she received a response.

Lena: Are you okay?

Shelly shook her head, and then noticed out of the corner of her eye Josh was walking around the truck. Looking down at her phone, Shelly texted back quickly.

Will call in thirty minutes to talk.

The driver’s door was pulled opened, and Josh climbed inside the truck. Mutley whined and sat up on the back seat.

“Shelly…” Josh started hesitantly.

Turning to face him, Shelly plastered on the most painfully fake smile she had ever given.

She responded, “Josh…”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Are you going to talk to me about this?”

“Nope,” she answered and stared out the window, avoiding his gaze.

That was when she noticed the leggy brunette leaning up against the little Ford again, glaring at them. So, Shelly gave in to a sudden impulse and offered her a perky little wave that screamed, I’m in the car with your man, biotch.

“She doesn’t mean anything,” Josh told her as he started up the truck.