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“If that’s a euphemism, we might never be ready for this shindig,” Penny giggled breathlessly.
“While that’s a tempting prospect, I did actually mean a physical gift.”
Penny wiggled her eyebrows at his unwitting double entendre and Josh laughed out loud. “Come on, woman, you’re incorrigible.”
He led her into the bedroom and pointed to a huge box.
“What is it?” she asked breathlessly.
“Take a look,” Josh invited with a tender smile.
Penny gasped as she removed the lid and found the most beautiful teal dress, sparkling from within a bed of tissue paper.
“Josh, this is…wow! But I can’t…”
He paused the denial with a finger to her lips. “Every Cinderella needs a dress for the ball. And I can’t wait to be your Prince Charming.”
Penny felt like a new woman in the bejeweled, figure hugging dress. It was sexy as sin but somehow still managed to be tasteful. She knew heads turned when they walked past, especially when they entered the fancy ballroom. She’d have put them down to the attractive, debonair figure that was Josh, except some of them were men and she didn’t think they all batted for the other team.
She was taking a breather, on a romantic moonlit balcony warmed by patio heaters, while Josh went to the bar, when hands groped her ass.
Penny stiffened. That wasn’t a Josh move.
“Well, hellooo sexy lady,” a familiar voice slurred. “I’ve been watching you all night. How about ditching the stiff and ringing the new year in with me, babe?”
Penny pulled away and turned around. “Seriously, Brad? You’ve tormented me for being an ugly duckling since we were in school, and suddenly you change your tune?”
She might have laughed at the comical expression on his face if she wasn’t so angry. Things were going so well with Josh. She didn’t want him to see Brad pawing at her and get the wrong idea.
Brad peered at her. “Penny?” he exclaimed in astonishment, taking a blessed step back.
Her eyes widened as she saw Josh paused in the doorway, his face like thunder. She wanted to cringe but settled for sending an entreaty with her eyes that she prayed he recognised.
She almost sighed with relief when he continued over, slinging his arm possessively around her shoulder.
“Hello, Brad.” He smiled politely, but Penny could hear the ice in his voice. “I need to make an appointment with you.”
Brad frowned. “Do I know you?” he asked belligerently.
“Joshua Scott.”
Brad ignored Josh’s extended hand and bellowed with raucous laughter which made Penny cringe. God, he was a jerk.
“Oh, this is priceless,” Brad scoffed. “Two losers back together again. Sorry, nerd, but I’m pretty busy these days.”
With that last slight he turned and walked away.
“I’m so sorry he treated you like that,” Penny said to Josh as he glared at Brad’s back with a flinty look in his normally mellow eyes.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. He’ll get his comeuppance.”
In the other room the countdown started to ring in the new year.
“Shall we?” Josh asked, gesturing inside with his champagne flute.
Penny shook her head. “No. I have everything I need, right here.”
Josh raised his glass to hers. “Then here’s to us and all the good things the new year will bring. A fresh start, a new us and a new life… together.”
