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Stacy's eyebrows jet sky high "She was living with you? Because that is huge, Reed"

I shake my head "She lived next door But I actually spent most of my time over at her place"

"So, what's the deal? What does she do? Where did you meet her? At what point did you fall in love? And finally, at what point did you screw it up?"

I nod to the counter stool indicating that she should take a seat, because this story will take a while Plus, I figure it can't hurt to get a woht fix the problem Stacy pulls the stool out, sits down, and looks at me expectantly

"Okay, so I met Josie--"

"Oh my God, that's such a cute name I love it"

I glare at Stacy "You going to keep interrupting et you the airport"

Stacy holds her hands up in apology and says, "My bad Please continue"

I take a deep breath "Okay, so the thing is--"

At that aze travels past Stacy's shoulder to see Josie walking into my home Immediate relief as well as fear overwhelms me I'm beyond ecstatic to see her safe and sound, but I'm terrified she's here to tell me that Aiden is now the love of her life and that we're over

But that's not exactly what happens Josie's eyes lock withacross the kitchen counter froth of Stacy

I wince because I knohat she is seeing and thinking A tall, busty, beautiful blonde, but more important, a wo Josie The fact that she's wearing an expensive, expertly cut business suit that hugs every curve of her body doesn't ht and set my beer down on the counter

I take a step to the side of the counter and try to dispel her preconceived notions that I see brewing in her hostile gaze "Now, Josieit's not what you think--"

Josie's eyes snap froht on fire with fury "Really, Reed? You waited all of twenty hours forup with another Barbie? And by the looks of it, you are now onto Business Barbie So fucking typical"

Stacy's head swivels to look at me and she mouths the words Business Barbie?

I don't respond because Stacy can wait for an explanation Josie can't By the time I move my attention back to the doorway I'one

"Shit," I say as I scramble the rest of the way around the counter and fly toward my door I call out over my shoulder, "I'll be back, Stacy Make yourself comfortable"

By the ti shut I race up to her porch and fortunately find her door unlocked I expect her anger rateful for it

I burst through, and as soon as I step over the threshold, a book co at e toout her front door

My eyes lock on to Josie and I see her grabbing another book off her coffee table I glare at her and holdthink about throwing that book That was not what you thought it was"

Thankfully she doesn't throw the book, but she does snarl at me, "Oh really? I didn't just find you in your ho Barbie doll?"

"She's ht n"

I have a small measure of satisfaction when I see the blood drain out of Josie's face Her mouth drops open and for ato rectify the h at her, but I know that wouldn't be well received

"She's your agent?"

I s the door behind ot drafted in the NHL Stacy Nichols I'll introduce you to her in a little bit"

Josie groans and flops backward onto her couch Laying her head on the cushion she stares up at the ceiling and says, "Oh God I just made a fool of myself, didn't I?"

"Just a little bit," I tell her as I come to sit beside her on the couch "But for what it's worth, it was adorable"

Josie's head rolls on the cushion to look atto let me live that down, are you?"

I grin back at her "Nope"

Josie smiles wanly, then rolls her head away and stares at the ceiling again Her silence I can handle, so I let her have at it What I can't handle is not being able to touch her for another minute, so I slide my hand over and take hers in mine

I give her a squeeze and say, "Where were you all night?"