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"Has he told you he loves you?" Bethany asked softly

Josie grimaced "No"

"He does," Mia said resolutely "No doubt in my mind Holy hell, the way he looks at you? Totally reement "Not to mention the way he went off on Mom when she made that scene at the restaurant and said that crap about you I thought he was going to choke her I wouldn’t have tried to stop hiain and then were interrupted by the waiter bringing their orders For the next several hed and talked about the guys, sex and well, more sex

Josie couldn’t re was soperfect She had Ash, and really, if that’s all she had, she’d be one happy bitch But now she also had really good girlfriends She really liked thee hearts and there wasn’t a fake bone in their bodies

What more could she ask for? She was now a successful artist--her as actually in demand! So what if it was only one person It only took one Whoever it was had loved her work enough to scoop everything of hers up as soon as she brought it in And now she had great friends and a man she adored And she was pretty sure he adored her too

Maybe they hadn’t said the words yet, but Josie was confident that Ash was the one The words would come He’d already talked about their future like it was a done deal He’d even told her she’d get the rock! He’d eventers and babies

She sat back with a sigh, indulging in a glass of ith the others She had someone to drive her hoood-byes and got into their respective cars to head home Josie offered Brittany a ride since she’d walked to the restaurant and the two chatted all the way to Brittany’s apartment

"Today was fun," Brittany said when they pulled to the front of her building "Thanks so ht, Josie I really enjoyed myself"

"You’re welcome," Josie said with a warular event"

"Absolutely!" Brittany said as she climbed out of the car

"And keep me posted on Kai!" Josie yelled after her

Brittany turned and gave her a thuerated smile

Josie settled into the backseat and texted Ash on her way back to the apartirls and he’d told her to have fun and let hiet to come home early from work

Anticipation licked up her spine as they drove through the city She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been sohappy So carefree and utterly satisfied with the direction of her life

When they arrived at Ash’s apartot out and thanked the driver As she headed inside, the doorman, as on the phone, put his hand over the receiver and called froe came for you while you were out It’s on ht up to the apartment?"

Josie sht? I’ll take it up with me"

She’d ordered so in today

"It’s in the office Give et it for you"

"Oh no need," she called "Finish your call I’ll just get it and bring it up with me"

"Miss Carlysle!" he called after her

She pushed inside the slanced at the desk where a s With a smile, she went over and tucked it underneath her arht on several covered paintings resting against the far wall

She frowned because one of them wasn’t fully covered and it looked an awful lot like hers But ould they be doing here of all places?

She hurried over, unrepentant about snooping She pulled back the covering and gasped They were her paintings!

Chapter twenty-eight

Josie quickly ru as she took in every single painting she’d sold in Mr Downing’s art gallery

What on earth?

She let the covering fall and stepped back, the knot in her stoer Oh no No, no, no It couldn’t be He wouldn’t have

But he had The evidence was staring her right in the face

"Miss Carlysle, please You shouldn’t be in here," the doorman said from the door

"No, I don’t suppose I should," shehis calls for her to stop What on earth could he possibly say?

She shoved into the elevator, tears stinging her eyes How could he have done it? She felt like the biggest fool on earth She’d never dreas, but it shouldn’t have surprised her He’d orchestrated every aspect of their relationship so far