Page 35 of Perfect Enough

“Sure thing, Josh.”

Glancing over my shoulder at the valet, I was about to ask Josh if maybe he worked with him at the fire station. Since they were all volunteers, I knew they had to have other jobs, like Josh did.

But before I could ask, someone else spoke.

“Josh, what a pleasure to see you,” an older woman who looked to be in her forties said as we entered the club’s entrance. Josh stopped and bent slightly, kissing her on the cheek.

“It’s a pleasure to see you as well, Lou. Out celebrating something?” he asked, as the older woman blushed.

“I am! It’s my parents’ wedding anniversary.”

Josh grinned as if he was delighted to hear the news. “That’s wonderful. Tell them happy anniversary for me.”

Lou grinned. “I will.” She glanced my way pointedly.

“Oh, I’m sorry for being rude. Lou, this is Sophia. Sophia, this is Lou Decker. She manages the you-pick-it farm for my aunt Lincoln.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sophia,” Lou said, taking my hand and shaking it. She glanced back at Josh and raised a brow. “Well, I hope the two of you enjoy your evening.”

“We will. The same to you,” he said.

Placing his hand on my lower back, he started us walking again. I couldn’t help but notice how Josh smiled and greeted so many people, either with a hello or a head nod. He looked down at me, and I was once again struck by how handsome he was. And the hand on my lower back was causing goose bumps over my entire body. No man had ever touched me so intimately in public that way before. I’d read it in romance books and Lord, oh my, it was hot as hell, just like my books suggested.

“Where’s the wedding being held?”

“Um…” I shook my head to clear my thoughts and was about to answer when I heard my name.

“Sophia?”

I closed my eyes and nearly moaned. “Here we go,” I whispered, glancing at Josh. “It’s my mother.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, and we both turned to see my mother approaching at an alarming rate of speed.

We came to a stop before she reached us. “I thought you were going to be late.”

“I’m sorry, Mom, we got held up.” Motioning to Josh, I said, “Josh, this is my mother, Gloria Montgomery.”

Ignoring me, my mother looked Josh up and down. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Josh. For a moment there, I thought Sophia might have made up the entire relationship.”

My mouth dropped open in shock. How could she say that in front of him?

“Mom,” I said, giving her a look.

She waved me off and reached for Josh’s other arm. “We should get going. The wedding will be starting soon.”

I couldn’t believe she was having Josh escort us both. “Mom, we can follow you in.”

“Nonsense,” Josh said with a dazzling smile. “You wouldn’t deny me the chance to escorttwobeautiful women in now, would you?”

My mother chuckled. “I think I’m going to like you, young man.”

I rolled my eyes at them both.

It turned out my mother wasn’t kidding. When we stepped into the room, half the room turned and looked at us, as if they’d been waiting forever. I glanced up at Josh, and he let out a low whistle. Everyone watched as we walked down the aisle and took our seats.

My mother started to speak with my aunt Lynn, trying to explain why we were so late. My face felt hot and my ears rang.

Josh leaned in close. “I didn’t realize we were so late.”