In fact, Josh had taken one look at her and smiled before kissing her brains out. Dressed in the black leather jacket, the black shirt, and the black jeans, he declared that finally he was the bad boy she had accused him of.

Oh god, her heart would not calm down. It had kicked up and was now thundering a deafening beat as he went ahead and added to the wink. He smiled in that devastating way that had first put him on her radar so many months ago.

Shelly turned quickly to Lena with a panicked expression. “I don’t know what to do next.”

Lena smiled and tried to reach across to Shelly but the peach impeded her. It would have been ridiculous if Shelly hadn’t been sitting there realizing that the next few hours would probably either secure her future happiness or commit her to a lifetime of heartbreak and misery.

No pressure though.

“How about you tell him?” Lena suggested.

Shelly gave her friend a deadpan look and told her, “Wow, thanks for pointing out the obvious there, peaches.”

“Hey! You asked,” Lena defended, pouting and sitting back the best she could.

She really did look beyond absurd.

“It was more of a rhetorical kind of thing. I know what I need to do.” Shelly paused, and then looked back to the man she now knew with certainty she wanted for the rest of her life. “Now, I just have to convince him I mean it.”

* * *

Josh knew something was up. His spine had been tingling all night. He wasn’t exactly sure what had happened, but Shelly had changed somehow.

“Earth to Josh. Hey!” Mason said, waving a hand in front of him.

Josh turned his eyes to his friend and raised an eyebrow.

“Did the guys tell you they are ahead of schedule?” Mason asked him.

Josh nodded, taking a swig of his beer. “Who the hell are you supposed to be again, man?”

Mason spread his arms out and did a mock bow as he stood there dressed in a white pirate shirt coupled with a black vest and cream pantaloons.

“I’m Casanova. Lover of all women.”

Josh shook his head, chuckling. “And douche bag extraordinaire? What on earth were you and Lena thinking? She looks so uncomfortable anytime she tries to sit.”

Mason chuckled. “I suggested it, and she liked the idea. Well, until I brought the costume home, but by then, it was too late.”

Josh shook his head. “Shocker, man, total shocker.”

“Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking about. I happen to think she looks cute as a peach.”

Josh looked over to where Lena was squished up, seated with Shelly.

“Okay, she does look cute.”

Mason hummed his agreement, and then told him, “And your Man-Eater looks downright tame tonight, dressed as innocent little Sandra Dee.”

Josh then let his eyes wander to the perfect blonde ponytail and the red and white get-up. He had to admit that he wished he was staying tonight, just so he could get under that skirt.

“Yeah, well, maybe she isn’t quite the man-eater I first thought.”

“Oh yeah?” Mason queried.

“Yeah,” Josh agreed, lifting his beer for another swig. “In fact, she’s pretty fantastic—in every way.”

Mason gave him a shit-eating grin. “In a forever kind of way?”

Josh looked over to Shelly, who was now watching him. He winked at her and then smiled, watching her pale a little before gathering her composure. When she turned back to Lena, he himself turned back to Mason.

“Oh yeah, man. In a forever kind of way.”

* * *

Shelly took a deep breath and nodded. “Yep. I’m going to tell him tonight. Maybe he’ll stay.”

Lena nodded, and then grinned up at Rachel as she appeared beside their table from the crowd. She was dressed as a ninja tonight, wearing black skintight leggings that rode low around her waist, showing off her pierced navel, which, apparently, Mason knew about. She’d paired them with a slinky black top that clung to every curve of her body but left her arms bare. She wore a black scarf wrapped around her head and neck, revealing only her startling, now sad, blue eyes. The only reason Shelly knew what she was supposed to be was by the fake sword on her side. Oh yeah, and I had to ask.

“What’s going on?” Rachel asked as she sat down beside the peach.

“Sandy over here is going to tell Danny that what they had over the summer really was true love.”

Rachel snorted at Lena, and Shelly rolled her eyes.

“Ahh. So you finally worked out he was a keeper, huh?”

Shelly felt her spine straighten, like she was defending herself. Hang on, why should I? She had just been erring on the side of caution.

“Fine. Okay, yes, you’re right. I finally caught up.” Shelly paused, and then like a teenage girl, she added on a sigh, “He’s amazing.”

Rachel let out a grunt and stated softly, “Excuse me while I get a violin.”

She turned to the left, pretending to get the fake violin no doubt, and that was when Shelly saw her freeze.

Shelly raised her eyes to follow Rachel’s line of sight, and that was when she noticed him. Isn’t that...

“What the hell is he doing here?” Rachel demanded in—oh boy—Super Domme’s voice.

Lena struggled to sit up and peer across the crowd to where they were looking. When she locked on to who they were staring at, Lena turned to Rachel.

“I thought you said you didn’t know him,” Lena said.

Rachel’s spine straightened, and her shoulders went back a noticeable inch. “I do not know him. I don’t even know why he’s here,” she stressed, looking physically agitated.

Shelly tried to calm her. Shit, she had enough on her mind. She didn’t need Rachel having an anxiety attack.

“Look, if he’s given you shit in the past—” Shelly started.

However, before she could finish, Rachel stood abruptly.

“He hasn’t done anything to me. I. Don’t. Know. Him,” she stated, and then turned on her heel, stalking off.

Shelly looked at Lena with a shocked expression, and then they both turned back to see the man from Whipped, whose eyes were currently on Rachel’s retreating form.

* * *

Josh had gotten a text from Cole that he was just now making his way in.

He’d apologized for not dressing up, but he was coming from the office. Josh hadn’t thought that it was so unusual. After all, the guy practically lived there.

Scanning the room for his friend, he saw Cole as he stepped through all the colorful costumes. He noticed that his lawyer and friend was looking at the table with Shelly, Lena, and Rachel. Josh smirked. Hell, who can blame the guy? They were a good trio to be watching, even though two were taken and the other one was more like a loveable sister.

Plus, Josh didn’t think Cole dated anyway. It wasn’t like he ever had time, considering the painfully long hours he put in on his job.

“Cole!” Josh shouted out.

He watched as his friend turned slowly on his heel, and then he strode over toward the bar. There wasn’t a smile on Cole’s face, or even a grin, just a serious expression accompanied by a frown.

Mason had left a few minutes ago to go and socialize. Cole came over and took the seat beside him.

“Want a beer?” Josh asked.

“How about a cognac?”

Josh chuckled. “Of course.”

After putting the order in, he looked back to his lawyer and friend. “Another long day?”

Cole reached up and scratched his chin. “Yes. Very long and tedious.” He paused as the bartender passed him the lowball, and then he turned back to Josh and gave him a thoughtful look. “However, I think it just got interesting.”

Josh raised an inquiring brow. “Oh? Because of the party?”

Cole scanned the room, and then turned back to Josh.

Without answering Josh’s immediate question, Cole asked, “Do you know the three women who were over there?”

Josh stiffened, immediately feeling the ugly green-eyed monster creeping into his gut.

“Yes. Why?” he asked in a tone much shorter than he had intended.

Cole must have caught that because he turned narrow eyes on him, raising his glass to take a slow sip.

“No reason,” he told him smoothly. “I thought I knew one of them.”

Automatically, Josh started to think the worst until Cole continued.

“The one in black. She’s not there anymore.”

Suddenly, Josh’s heart slowed to a normal rate. “Rachel?” Then, he found himself laughing. “I doubt you’d know Rachel. She’s a pastry chef slash florist. Not really two things you have a lot of use for since you’re married to your job.”

Cole nodded slowly, tapping the side of the glass with his finger. “Perhaps I’m wrong.” He paused and then asked, “Maybe you could introduce me?”

Josh nodded, suddenly thinking this would be great. After all, look how good his set-up had turned out—well, almost turned out.

“Sure, let me go and get her.”

Cole nodded, and then muttered quietly, “I’ll just wait here.”

* * *

Shelly turned to Lena. “Okay, who’s the guy with Josh?”

Lena shrugged the best she could. “Why don’t you ask him? He’s coming over here.”

Shelly turned her head and saw that Josh was in fact making his way toward them. When he stopped, Shelly felt all the nerves from earlier come fluttering back.

Forget the stranger at the bar, here was her man. The man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

“Hey there, Zuko,” Shelly sassed, trying to hide her nerves.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “God, you’re sweet.”