Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

Seriously? He wants me to meet him now? “Josh! I look a mess! I mean, look at me! I’m wearing your shirt, I have vomit in my hair and you just have an FBI jacket on and no shirt. What’s he going to think?!”

“He’s going to think you’re my girlfriend. And I think you look beautiful.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Okay, let’s get this over with.” I let out a long sigh, thinking not only did I look awful but it was entirely too late for this.

“Thank you, baby. Don’t get out. Let me come around and help you.”

Oh, for goodness sake! How long would this overprotectiveness last? I stepped out of the truck while Josh held the door open and gave me his hand for support. I was actually grateful for his help. I was more tired than I thought and missed the extra step on the truck, getting out.

He caught me in his arms, planting several kisses on my lips. “Are you okay, baby?” he whispered in my ear, kissing me just under my earlobe.

“I’m fine. You just have a very tall truck.”

“Fair enough.” He chuckled.

It was a short walk to the entrance of the building. Billy had already spotted us and was waving. He wasn’t as tall as Josh but taller than me. He was older with salt and pepper hair and had a pleasant face. His smile was broad and he had a belly you could notice even through his heavy doorman’s coat.

“Billy, this is my beautiful girlfriend, Dr. Isabel Grace Langley. She’s going to be staying with me for a while so I want you to take extra special care of her.” Josh wrapped his arm around me, kissing my cheek.

I offered Billy my hand. He shook it with his meaty hand and a firm grip. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Billy,” I said through chattering teeth. I was freezing. Billy held the door open for us so we could walk in.

“The pleasure is all mine, Dr. Langley.” He tipped his hat to me. “I never thought I’d see the day that Josh would actually let a girl up to his apartment.”

Josh flashed him a look. “Billy is our nighttime doorman. When does your shift end, Billy?” Josh quickly changed the subject. I smiled at Billy at the obvious change.

“I get off at six in the morning. That’s when Otto comes to relieve me. He’s a character. You’ll love him, Dr. Langley,” Billy added, winking.

“Yes, I’ll introduce you to him tomorrow after a good night’s rest,” Josh said. “Thanks, Billy.” Josh shook his hand. “Take it easy.”

“It was very nice meeting you, Billy,” I said loudly as we walked to the elevators. Billy tipped his hat to me again, smiling.

As we rode up the elevator, Josh grasped me by the waist, turned me toward him and kept kissing my hair, my cheek, my neck, my hands and my lips. He was smiling from ear to ear. I placed my hands on his upper arms squeezing his hard biceps.

“Honey, you’re grinning like a fool. Are you excited I’m staying with you?”

“Baby, you just have no idea how happy I am to have you here with me. It’s not so much that you’re staying at my place but that we’re actually together.” He kissed me hard on the lips this time, his lips demanding, his tongue invading my mouth. My heart started to race and I felt electricity coursing throughout my body. All those memories of how Josh made me feel when he kissed me or touched me came flooding back. My lips curled up in a shy smile. I could feel my cheeks getting hot. I must have been blushing. I was glad the lights in there were dim.

The elevator pinged and the doors opened. Josh hesitated, scanning the hallways before walking us out. Why hadn’t his FBI button switched to off? The hallways were deserted and the lights were dimmed. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. We reached his door and he quickly ushered me in, locking and deadbolting the door behind him.

His apartment was very modern with sleek, straight lines and an impressive kitchen. It had a very masculine feel to it but it was a mess. On the opposite side of the living room there was a wall, half of which was all windows from floor to ceiling and two massive sliding glass doors. There was a great view of the Chicago skyline, and off to the far right I could see the Chicago River. The city looked breathtaking at night. It felt like a mini castle in the sky. Behind me, Josh was frantically picking up and straightening things up.

“I’m sorry about the mess. I haven’t been here in six weeks and I don’t have a cleaning lady.”

“I don’t mind,” I said, sounding worn and tired. “I just want to take a shower. Can you show me where I can do that?”

“Come on, baby.” He held out his hand for me to take. “You can take it in my bathroom.”

I took his hand as he guided me through his dark apartment. “Why don’t you turn on your lights?”

“I wanted you to see the view first. It’s pretty amazing, right?”

I nodded, smiling, agreeing with him, “It’s absolutely amazing, Josh.”

He turned on the lights to his bedroom and bathroom for me. He went to close the blinds and threw a few things in his closet. I walked into the bathroom expecting it to be an awful pigsty and possibly have a weird smell like my brothers’ bathroom. Surprisingly, it was clean and smelled clean too. It was an impressive size with two sinks and granite countertops. I was surprised. I closed the door, started the shower and stripped out of my clothes and cross-body purse. I