Friendship on Fire (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 3) Contemporary Romance Read online

  “Fashion design is not for the faint of heart. There are few pats on the back but plenty of harsh stares, head shakes, and starting over.” Claudia led Riley into a cubicle at the far end of the open studio. “This is where you’ll work.”

  Riley felt her smile falter. She tried to right her frown but feared she’d failed. The dingy metal desk tucked into the tiny cubicle looked more like something that belonged in a warehouse than a design studio. She eyed the computer and the cloth rolling chair with distaste. You’re here. That’s all that matters. She couldn’t help but feel that this was Claudia’s way of showing her who was the superior design assistant. She wouldn’t be taken down by her—or anyone else, for that matter. She was there to make a career, and Josh must have believed in her design skills to have hired her. She smiled, meeting Claudia’s one-upping, cold eyes.

  “This is perfect. Nice and private.” Riley set her purse in the desk drawer. “Where do I start?”

  BY SEVEN O’CLOCK, Riley’s feet ached. She wasn’t used to wearing four-inch heels all day, but then again, she was used to working at Macy’s in her hometown, where “heels” meant fancy cowgirl boots and people greeted her like she mattered. She’d had time to chat with customers, other employees, and even her friends, when they’d swing by on their shopping trips. She’d laughed; she’d nearly cried when friends were having trouble—even at work, she’d let her emotions come through. At JBD, people worked as if they were on speed, and with Claudia watching her every move, she dared not be overly friendly with the other staff members just yet. She needed Claudia to like her, or at least to tolerate her.

  “Still here?” Claudia peered into her cubicle, a Valentino bag hanging from her forearm.

  “I’m just studying up on line sheets and tech packs, making organizational charts for myself to be sure I don’t miss anything.” And maybe I’ll run into Josh. “I really appreciate all of the guidance you’ve given me today. There’s so much to learn.”

  Claudia tilted her chin up. She spun around and said, “We’ll see if you can keep up.” Her voice trailed behind her as she left the office.

  “I’ll not only keep up. I’ll shine,” Riley whispered angrily. She waited until the click-clack of Claudia’s heels disappeared before venturing out of her cubicle and was surprised to see almost everyone was gone for the evening. She eyed the design tables, taking one tentative step after another, her eyes darting around the empty room as if she were a jewel thief. She stood at the edge of the long table and dug her fingers into the silken fabrics. A smile crept across her lips, and she closed her eyes, savoring the feel of the rich fabric between her fingers. She brought it to her nose and inhaled the smell of the finishing chemicals and dyes that others might find severe but that she drew inspiration from.

  “Some people might think you had a real problem, smelling fabric like that,” Josh teased.

  Riley’s eyes flew open. She dropped the fabric and stepped back from the table. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not supposed to be touching things. I just couldn’t help myself.” She felt heat rush up her cheeks. Josh carried his suit coat over his forearm, his shirt still perfectly pressed. The word dashing ran through Riley’s mind. Stopitstopitstopit.

  He laughed, just as he had earlier that morning. “Riley, it’s fine. How was your first day? Does Claudia have you working late?”

  “Good. Fine. Exciting.” I sound like a babbling idiot. “I really enjoyed it.” Riley had stayed late, hoping to see him in addition to trying to catch up on her work, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “I just wanted to be sure I had everything in order before I left."

  “Were you treated well?” He leaned against the table and folded his arms, his attention focused solely on her.

  Riley pressed her lips together, mulling over the potential answers: Claudia hates me. I didn’t talk to anyone. I hate my cubicle. I need to be around people.

  “Yes. Fine. Claudia filled me in on everything I’ll be doing, and I’m really excited.” Despite the awful cubicle and Claudia’s weird need to make clear that she had an advantage over her, Riley was excited to actually be working in a real design studio, and Claudia had filled her in, so technically, she wasn’t lying.

  “Good.” He smiled.

  He looked at her for a beat too long. Butterflies nested in her stomach, and Riley dropped her eyes before she blushed again. Don’t misread his looks. He’s being polite. He’s well mannered, nothing more. Then why is my heart racing?

  Josh looked at his watch and pursed his lips. “I have to run to a meeting, but Mia is still here. She can lock up when you’re ready.”

  She didn’t know what she wanted from Josh, but she was relieved that the electricity that had filled the space between them was now draped in a conversation. “Mia?”

  “You didn’t meet her today?” Josh pushed away from the table and stood so close to her that she could smell toothpaste on his breath.

  You brushed your teeth for a meeting? Just what kind of meeting is this? She tucked away the curiosity—and a pang of something that felt a hell of a lot like jealousy—and focused on answering his question. “Nope, not yet. Truthfully, I haven’t really met many people yet, but it’s only my first day. I figured Claudia would get around to introductions when she was ready.”

  Josh offered Riley his arm. “Come with me.”

  She wrapped her arm in his, and a thrill rushed through her. She swallowed hard, trying not to let the stirring in her belly sidetrack her from remembering that she was in a professional New York design office, walking down a hallway with her boss.

  At the end of the wide hallway, he unwrapped his arm from hers.

  “Excuse me,” he said, then pulled the doors open, revealing the largest “closet” Riley had ever seen. The walls were lined with designer heels, boots, flats—every shoe imaginable from floor to ceiling. Accessories hung from hooks and hangers, and row after row of clothing racks filled the remaining space.

  Riley felt her jaw go slack. She followed Josh into the room, wide eyed, full of awe and powerless to hide it.

  “Mia is my assistant, but she spends a lot of time in the closet,” Josh said.

  “I’d love to have a closet like this,” Riley said.

  Josh turned to face her. “Our closet is your closet.” He flashed a warm smile again, and Riley felt the butterflies squirreling around again.

  “Hey, boss.” A short, thin, dark-haired woman moving in spiked heels like they were sneakers appeared beside Josh.

  Riley looked down at her own heels. How does she make it look so easy?

  “Busy day today. Need an outfit?” The woman smiled at Riley and extended her hand. “I’m Mia.”

  Relieved at finally meeting a nice person, Riley smiled back and shook her hand. “I’m Riley, and I have to say, you have the greatest job ever!”

  “I know, right?” Mia turned and opened her arms toward the clothes. “I dress everyone.” She eyed Riley from head to toe.

  “Oh, I won’t fit in any of this stuff. I’m not here to be dressed.” Riley felt her cheeks warm and sucked in her stomach. She wasn’t under any misguided impressions about her size, and while she had been confident about her curves in Weston, New York City was a whole different ball game. She’d been in town for only a few days, but from what she’d witnessed so far, there were the tourists and then there were the New Yorkers, and you could tell them apart by the clothes they wore, the shoes on their feet, and the food, or lack thereof, in their grocery bags. It was as if resident New Yorkers survived on air alone to maintain their super-skinny figures.

  “Riley, our new design assistant, of course. Sorry. I should have known that. Welcome to JBD.” Mia tucked her straight black hair behind her ear, arched a brow, and asked, “Did you survive Claudia?”

  Riley shot a look at Josh.

  He shrugged, like he’d expected trouble with her mentor.

  “Yes. She’s…” Riley didn’t want to overstep her bounds, even if Mia seemed like the t
ype of person she could easily be friends with. She was wearing skinny jeans, a designer belt, and a low-cut blouse—an outfit similar to what Riley might have been comfortable in, minus the spiky heels. In Weston she wore skinny jeans proudly, even with her curves. Now she contemplated shying away from them. At least when she was in New York. “Professional. I think she’ll be a good mentor.”

  “Honey, you don’t have to lie to me,” Mia said with a wave of her hand.

  “Careful, Mia,” Josh warned, but his eyes were light, playful even.

  Mia looked at Josh and crossed her arms. “She’s a shark, and she’s competitive. You know she is. I’m just giving the girl a chance.”

  Riley drank in the conversation, feeling a bit like she should come to someone’s defense—either Mia’s or Claudia’s; she wasn’t sure which.

  Josh shook his head. “Riley’s working late tonight and she’ll need you to lock up for her.”

  Mia checked her watch. “You have to leave before you’re late,” she said to Josh. “And don’t forget, tomorrow morning at seven we have a conference call with the Stafford Agency about dressing the girls for their spring show.”

  The Stafford Agency was one of the top modeling agencies in New York. Riley tried to repress the shock at how casually the name of the agency was tossed about. Witnessing the natural ease of conversation between Josh and Mia made Riley feel guilty for wondering if there was some other side to Josh. He was clearly easy to work with.

  “I’ll be here for the call,” he said.

  “We’ll ring them at six fifty, so I’ll get espresso instead of your typical latte.”

  Josh touched her shoulder. “You’re the best, Mia.” He turned toward Riley. “Be sure Claudia introduces you around tomorrow. We’re like a big family here. You need to meet the staff. You’re one of us now.”

  Riley couldn’t help but smile. One of us. Part of the JBD team. Maybe dreams really can come true.

  Chapter Three

  RILEY SAT ON the edge of her bed in the guest bedroom of Savannah Braden’s apartment, where she was staying until she found an apartment of her own to rent. Savannah worked as an entertainment attorney in the city, but she traveled often, and for the next two weeks, Riley had the apartment to herself. The apartment wasn’t enormous. In fact, it was quite cozy, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a moderately-sized kitchen, and a living room dining room combination. It was just a few blocks from Central Park. She couldn’t have asked for more comfortable surroundings.

  Riley changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt. It was eight o’clock, and if she worked this late every night, she’d have to put off her apartment search until the weekend. Exhaustion and excitement coalesced, bringing with it an ounce of homesickness. Riley reached for her cell and called Jade.

  She tucked her cell phone against her chin.

  “I’m stuck with Cruella De Vil as my mentor—or boss, I guess. I can’t even imagine how Josh works with her, or how I’ll survive her,” she said when Jade answered the phone.

  “Cruella De Vil?” Jade laughed.

  “Yeah, and don’t laugh. She’s awful.” Before Jade could respond, she added, “And I met Josh’s assistant, Mia, who’s just the opposite. She’s really nice and down-to-earth. I wish she was my mentor.” Riley sighed.

  “You can handle Cruella. You told me yourself that it was a cutthroat industry, remember? Don’t let her get you down,” Jade said. “She’s probably just feeling threatened because you’re such a kick-ass designer.”

  Riley smiled. She pictured Jade in her jeans and cowgirl boots, her long black hair flowing to her waist, sitting on her front porch. “I miss you,” Riley said.

  “Of course you do.” Jade laughed. “But you’ll survive, and you’ll thrive. This is your big break. It’s all you’ve ever wanted, remember?”

  “Yes, of course, and I’m thankful, but I miss you. I miss the smell of the farms and driving. God, it’s only been a week, but I miss driving already.” Riley realized how whiny she sounded and she took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I do love it here, even if it smells a little like dirty feet, wilted food, and car exhaust. I swear, it’s almost eight at night and the entire city is still outside walking around. It’s so different from home.”

  “I know, but Weston can’t offer you a career,” Jade reminded her.

  And Weston can’t offer me Josh, either. “I know. I want New York. I want this. I just wish you were here with me. I could use a friend and a drink right now.” Riley walked to the kitchen and opened a bottle of water, making a mental note to buy some alcohol for times like this. “Bottled water doesn’t cut it. I want to celebrate my new job with you, and I want you to hug me and tell me that Cruella sucks and that I’m ten times better than her.”

  “Cruella does suck, and you are ten times better than her.” Jade grew quiet, then said with mischief in her voice, “Tell me what it’s like to work with Josh.”

  Riley took a gulp of water, then plopped onto the leather couch. “I never realized how sweet he was. All those years in school…I mean, he was cute. All the Bradens are. But Josh is…” She remembered the way he’d looked at her, the feel of his hand on her back. “He’s just really nice.”

  “Riley, it’s me, remember? You never describe guys as really nice. And it’s Josh Braden, for God’s sake. Spill it already.”

  She laughed. “It’s not like there’s anything between us. He’s just…he’s different. You know how Rex is all sexy, fuck-me hot and his brother Treat is more refined?”

  “Yeah? And by the way, thanks for noticing Rex is fuck-me hot.” Jade laughed. Jade’s and Rex’s fathers had been feuding since before Jade was born, and when she’d moved back home after the end of a bad relationship, a chance meeting with Rex unleashed years of forbidden passion. Not only were Jade and Rex madly in love, but they were also in the midst of designing a house together. If Jade and Rex hadn’t eased the feud between the families, Riley, being Jade’s best friend, would never have had a chance to get closer to Josh.

  “You know what I mean. I’m happy for you.” Riley curled her legs up on the couch and rubbed her aching feet. “Anyway, you know how their brother Hugh is kind of self-centered and Dane is so smooth that you just know he’s got to be a player?” She didn’t wait for Jade to concur. “Well, Josh is like a mixture of all of them. He’s smooth, but I don’t see him as a player. He’s refined, but not snooty; he’s not self-centered, but one look at how meticulous he is about his clothing and hair, and you know there’s a bit of self-centeredness in him. He’s just…different.”

  “You’re all breathy. This is the guy you lusted over for all those years, and your answer is that he’s different?” Jade accused her.

  She and Jade had been best friends since they learned to talk, and she knew Jade would see through any false impressions she tried to give, so instead she told her the truth. “I’m here for a career, not a relationship. I’m trying not to let myself think of him in that way.”

  “Um, Ri, you just did,” Jade teased.

  “You know what I mean. I know he exists, and I am a woman, after all, but I’m not going there. Not with him.” She remembered Claudia leaning in to Josh’s back when they were introduced. “Besides, I’m not so sure Cruella isn’t sleeping with him.”

  “What about all that, ‘I swear I wanted to kiss him’ stuff that you said when you guys were meeting to talk about you working for him, and yes, I’m using air quotes around ‘working for him,’” Jade said.

  “Ugh! Jade. It’s hard enough seeing his handsome face and feeling those things. Do I really have to acknowledge them, too? I’m here for a career, like I said. Not for Josh.” She wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or Jade.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re keeping your eye on what matters,” Jade said. “But even if you weren’t, I’d be right there, cheering you on.”

  “That’s because you’re the best friend ever. On the upside, I stayed late tonight and sketc
hed a bit.”

  “Really? Will you make me something wonderful to wear for Christmas?”

  The excitement in Jade’s voice inspired Riley. “Yes, of course. I tossed the ones I drew tonight. I was too tired to do anything worthwhile, but I’ll work on it. And you know what? You’re right. I’m not gonna let Cruella get to me. She’ll zap me of all my creativity.” She felt a burst of renewed focus. “Tell me something fun. How’s your house design coming along?” Jade and Rex had purchased a plot of land between their families’ estates, and they hoped to build their house in the coming months.

  “Same, same. We’ve got the plans pretty well set. We’re meeting with the builder again next week.”

  “Let me know how it goes.” Riley rubbed the ball of her foot. “I swear my feet feel like they’ve been bound. I’m gonna take a hot bath. Call ya tomorrow?”

  “Sounds good. Miss you,” Jade said.

  Riley ended the call and headed for the bathroom, stopping in the living room to look over a photo on Savannah’s bookshelf. Josh stood between his father and Hugh, the rest of his siblings fanned out to their sides. Each of the Braden men were striking, but as she looked at them all lined up with their radiant smiles and muscular physiques, it was Josh who drew her attention. It’s always been you.

  She set the frame back on the bookshelves. “Now I’m really losing it,” she said aloud. “He’s your boss. Delete that thought. Delete, delete, delete…”

  Chapter Four

  JOSH WOKE AS he did most mornings, with the crack of dawn lighting his expansive bedroom. He climbed from his king-sized bed, snagged a remote off of the bedside table, and walked in his boxers to the windows. He pushed a button on a remote and the blinds drew open, exposing a radiant view of Central Park. Josh had lived in New York for the past eight years, and at thirty-three years old, he was well aware of his good fortune. He’d built an empire around his name, and he didn’t take his life for granted—how could he, when there was always someone who wanted something from him.