Page 96 of Theirs to Treasure

“Eventually, those clothes will be coming off. Better finish that coffee. It’s going to be a long day, and Chance and I have plans for you tonight.” They heard Sarah calling for her, so Josie handed Sam her cup and went to join the fun.

* * *

Elise and Rob were already at Sweet Dreams when Josie arrived with the others. Sarah and Becca gingerly carried their formals upstairs. Sam and Chance had already stocked their two trucks with equipment and supplies they needed to take to Founders Park. Elise and Josie had one last cake to finish. It was a large stork cake that Jace and Dale had commissioned, for a surprise presentation to Lola tonight at the dance. Since Jace and Dale were rigidly enforcing Lola’s reduced hours, she had taken to dropping by Sweet Dreams Desserts, frequently and unannounced. Josie was also obliged to put in an appearance at the festival, so she had to step away from helping Elise to take a turn around the park a while ago. That left this short period between the festival’s end and the dance’s beginning for Josie and Elise to assemble and decorate Lola’s cake. They worked together like practiced surgeons, for about twenty minutes.

Finally, Elise looked up from the cake to Josie. “Honey, Bill and I have this covered. Why don’t you go home and get changed?” Elise offered. Pausing to survey their confection, Josie was surprised at how much they had accomplished already.

“But I already feel bad that you worked on this while I was at the festival,” Josie said, biting her thumb.

“Yes, it’s truly horrific that we had to miss a bunch of face painting and bouncy houses,” Bill teased her with a twinkle in his eye. “Instead, Elise and I were able to get away from the madness for a little peace and quiet, doing what we love to do, anyway. We’ll have our fun at the adult event tonight. Sherri has been talking my ear off for the last week about the dance. It will be great to see all our friends. She’s loading me up with coffee when I get home so I can stay up late.”

“Josie, seriously, this will take less than an hour and we will still have three hours before the dance starts. Go home and get ready, and we’ll see you at the community center tonight. Go rest. You’ve been running around for hours,” Elise insisted.

“Well, I’ll be back to bring the cake over.”

“Rob and I have that covered, Josie. He’s got his van, and we’ll take it over. So just relax and enjoy the rest of tonight. You are officially off duty,” Bill said firmly. He took her arm and escorted her from the kitchen to the front of the store. Josie chuckled as she found herself outside of the bakery, with Bill waving at her enthusiastically, as he locked the door. She went to her car with a spring in her step.

Josie had a plan. She knew the guys were still at Founders Park, and even though Chance had overseen her attire, he wasn’t going to be in charge of everything. When she got to the house, she grabbed everything she needed to get ready as fast as she could, so she wouldn’t be there when Chance and Sam got back, then high-tailed it to the apartment. That is where magic would happen.

Chapter 35

“Where the hell is she?” Chance said for the forty-third time.

Sam smiled calmly. He knew their Josie. When they’d called her, she said she would meet them there by six. It wasn’t even five thirty.

“She’ll be here,” Sam said soothingly.

“Don’t try to handle me,” Chance groused.

“Don’t behave like a truculent child, then I won’t have to handle you.”

“Practicing at being a social worker already, are you?” Chance asked.

Sam couldn’t believe how nervous his brother was. “I see Butch and Betty coming in. Let’s go stake out a table.”

Chance nodded.

“You look so handsome,” Betty greeted Chance.

Sam shook hands with Butch and they watched as Betty and Chance started talking. Hopefully she would be able to talk some sense into his friend. Then Sam looked up and his jaw almost hit the floor. There she was.

“Chance.”

He ignored him, continuing to talk to their foster mother. Oh well, his loss.

Sam went to the entrance of the community center where Josie’s two sisters flanked her. They were stunning, but Becca and Sarah didn’t hold a candle to Josie. He hadn’t seen the fashion show, so he hadn’t known there was a red dress in the running. It was floor length, off-the-shoulder chiffon that hugged every curve. With her corset, it made her look like an old-fashioned movie star. Then there was the wavy hairstyle that rippled over her naked shoulder and hid part of her dramatically shadowed eye. And her ruby red lips. Sam didn’t think he was ever going to be able to breathe again.

Josie gave him a slow smile.

The wench! She knew exactly what she had done to his blood pressure.

* * *

“Sam, you look hot,” Becca said.

That was the point when Josie realized she’d been staring.

“Sam, don’t you think that Josie looks nice?” Sarah asked.