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Ash sighed and ran a hand through his hair "I’ into it, as I said But I want to et Josie settled, and part of that isher anyot some preliminary info on him and his movements He’s pretty predictable Keeps to the same schedule If that holds true, then I plan to address the situation Friday night"

Jace’s eyes narrowed and he sat forward in his seat "You as in you personally? Or are you having the issue taken care of by a third party?"

"Both," Ash said, taking in his friend’s reaction

"Jesus, Ash Don’t fuck up, man I doubt Josie wants to visit you in jail any to be an issue," Ash said evenly "The guys I have in ood Cover all the bases They’ll swear they don’t know me and I’ll swear I don’t know them Don’t want to put you in a bad position and definitely don’t want Bethany involved, so I’d prefer if ether"

Jace nodded "Yeah, you know I don’tto the wall for you Ever But I don’t want this touching Bethany And whatever you need, ht?"

"Yeah, I know Appreciate it, Jace"

"Let me know, okay? Don’t keep et into trouble, you better fucking call e it hatever men you plan to hook up with for the job, then you call rinned "Yes, Mother Want to wipe my ass for me while you’re at it?"

"Fuck you," Jace said rudely

Ash chuckled and then sobered as he stared back at Jace "Don’t want this touching Bethany or you You providing h It’sto jeopardize your relationship with Bethany"

"Yeah, I know But also know that you’re my brother, Ash You’re family Not those shitheads you share blood with Me and Gabe and by extension Mia and Bethany Don’t care what I have to do to help you I’ll do it No questions asked"

"Christ, irls reaching for the fucking tissues"

Jace threw back his head and laughed "Okay, now that we have that squared ahen do I get to meet Josie?"

Ash huffed out a breath "Soon I want you and Bethany both to et this shit with her ex taken care of then I can breathe a little easier Maybe we can have dinner Sunday night"

Jace nodded "Sounds good to me"

"She knows about Bethany" AshDidn’t want it to catch her off guard, not that I think it would ever come up, but I didn’t want to take any chances"

Jace winced "How she’d take it? I can see how that would be aard as hell e’re all together Especially now that she knows"

"She was cool about it I doubt any wo with a woman her man slept with in the past But I assured her that you had no intention of ever sharing Bethany with anyone ever again, and that further to be involved in any threesomes and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have a threesouy"

Jace scowled "Fuck no I’h there was that one tiet all worked up I didn’t bring it up to piss you off I just wanted you to know that Josie knows I was straight with her about everything regarding my sexual history"

"Bet that took a while," Jace said dryly

"About as long as it took you to explain to Bethany," Ash shot back

"Touché," Jace said with a grin Then he stood, heading toward the door "If that’s everything, I’et to work I have calls to ot lunch plans?"

Ash checked his watch "No, but I plan to head ho Josie on her own so quickly after I got herher shit over to my apartot hoet my desk cleared and then head out around two"

Jace nodded "Okay Keep et our stories straight"

"Will do," Ash replied

Chapter fifteen

Josie put down her paintbrush and scra cell phone They shook slightly as she saas Ash calling A flutter began in her belly, rising up into her throat

"Hello?"

"I’le down her spine

"Okay," she et, then"

"No," she said softly "I knohat your expectations are"

He paused "But is it what you want, Josie? Or are you only catering to my desires?"