Josie woke up the next morning with a strong feeling of regret. Granted she still felt he was being unreasonable but she should have never thrown his deceased parents into it. As she laid there for a few more minutes her phone chimed with an incoming text.
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Winnie: Girl you missed one hell of a party! I did 3 keg stands and took the hottest guy in a closet and rocked his night!
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Josie rolled her eyes at her roommate. She knew there was nothing wrong with what Winnie was doing, she was being a college student. However going to frat parties and hooking up with guys wasn't Josie's idea of a good time. At the end of it, she didn't know what she was thinking and knew she would have had a lousy time if she did end up going.
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After sending Winnie a thumbs up emoji she dropped her phone on the mattress beside her. She had to find Blake and apologize for what she said. Making her final decision she quickly got up and headed downstairs to find him.
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"Good morning Janice." Josie greeted Blake's housekeeper as she entered the kitchen.
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"Good morning Ms. Bennett." Janice smiles warmly.
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Josie let out a sigh, "It's Josie. You really don't have to call me Ms. Bennett. Anyways, have you seen Blake. I need to talk to him." She asked.
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"I'm afraid Mr. Ashby has already left for the park." Janice answered.
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"The park?" Josie repeated glancing out the window at the drizzle coming from the clouds. "Not really a nice day."
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"Oh no my dear!" Janice chuckled. "Mr. Ashby is doing his park clean up event. It's just down on the commons."
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"Really?" Josie questioned cocking her head to the side.
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"Yes, so sorry to say you missed him. Can I get you some breakfast though?" Janice asked.
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"Actually I'm all set this morning but thank you." Josie responded still trying to process why Blake was cleaning a park on a Saturday morning. She heard him come back with one of his "dates" last night and it was awfully late.
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Josie didn't want to wait to apologize later, whatever time that would be so she slinked over to the security office where Roland and the other guys were stationed when they weren't needed. She saw Dominick sitting at the monitor picking at his bagel. "Excuse me, Dominick?" She interrupted.
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"Morning Ms. Bennett." He greeted with a small smile.
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Josie mentally rolled her eyes at everyone in this place addressing her as Ms. Bennett but ignored it this time. "Janice told me Blake is doing some park clean up. I was hoping to head down there to talk to him. Think you can take me down there?" She asked absolutely hating the fact that she had to be accompanied everywhere like she was a toddler.
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"I'll take her Dom." A voice came from behind her.
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Josie turned and saw Roland enter the office. "Are you sure?" She asked.
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"I was headed down there anyway. It's no trouble." Roland replied. "Leaving in about 20 if that works for you Ms. Bennett." Josie nodded then quickly hurried to her room to get ready.
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"So what's up with Blake and cleaning a park?" Josie asked now sitting in the back seat of the black Ford Explorer Roland was driving.
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"Mr. Ashby hosts the event few times a year. He picked a park around Greater Boston and any employees who attend and help he gives an extra paid week vacation to." Roland explained as he came to a stop to let people cross Newbury Street.
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"Really? Wow!" Josie said expressing her shock at Blake caring so much about a park. "I've never heard anything about it before. Figured the media would be all over that."
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"You'd be right except he likes to keep it kinda hush. He doesn't want people to think he's doing it for the credit or good publicity." Roland answered. As he glanced in his rear view mirror he saw the look of shock on Josie's face and laughed. "I know he seems to come off as mean and unreasonable a lot of the time but Mr. Ashby is the most generous boss I've ever had. Just last year he sent my wife and I on an all expense trip to Aruba for a week."
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"You're married?" Josie asked smiling at the idea of Roland as a regular guy instead of this terminator exterior he had on a lot of time.
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Roland held up his left hand showing off his gold band. "15 years." He smiled. "Woman's a saint for putting up with me for that long." He chuckled.
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"And she doesn't mind your crazy work schedule? Seems you're always with Blake." She asked.
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"She's used to it. Before I came to work for Mr. Ashby I served at the White House for President Bush. Now that was a chaotic schedule so working here is nothing." He answered.
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"You have any kids?" Josie asked now interested in learning everything about this man.
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"Unfortunately we weren't blessed with them. Tried but came up unsuccessful." Roland answered.
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"I'm sorry." She apologized feeling now like she was being rude.
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The car ride was silent for a few minutes until Roland cleared his throat to speak. "Ms. Bennett if I may, I know you are unhappy with the current arrangement your brother has put in place but I can assure you it's because he cares."
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"It's just getting annoying being kept in the dark about something that effects my life directly." She sighed.
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Roland rounded the Commons and entered the parking garage. As he looked for a spot in the VIP section he glanced back at Josie through the mirror. "That's understandable but let me just say,what they are protecting you from is a very big threat and your brother and Mr. Ashby would never forgive themselves if something happened to you."
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Josie smiled warmly at the man dressed completely in black, as always. "Thanks Roland." She said as she hopped out of the SUV once he parked.
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As Roland came around to Josie's side leading her to the elevators to get to the top level constantly on the watch for anything that could threaten her, Josie made sure to stay close and do as she was instructed. Roland entered the elevator first. Vito and his men were known to conduct illegal activity around this part of the city.
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"Ya know Roland when you open up a bit, you're not too bad." Josie said nudging the older man playfully. Roland simply responded with a subtle wink as the elevator doors opened.
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Roland made sure to walk on the defense as they approached the park site. Coming around the corner of Frog's Pond Josie saw a group of people picking up trash, scrubbing graffiti off of the playground structures, and painting fresh lines for hopscotch. She looked around for Blake and then finally spotted him tightening up the chains to the swings.
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"Blake?!" She called out walking across the mulch.
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"Josie?" He said dropping the wrench to the ground as she hurried over to him. "What are you doing here?"
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She took a second to take in his appearance. She didn't know what she expected to see but seeing Blake with his light hair a tasseled mess, paint all over his ripped jeans, and a mix of sweat and rain beading on his forehead was a bit surprising. He wasn't just standing around dictating orders, he was getting down and dirty to help and looking damn sexy doing it. "Josie? Hello?" He asked waving a hand in front of her face trying to get her attention.
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"Sorry?!" She cried out shaking the thoughts of how hot he looked from her mind. "I just wanted to apologize for last night."
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Once Blake saw where this conversation was headed he pointed to a vacant bench for a little privacy. "What I said was out of line. I was frustrated last night but that doesn't excuse bringing your parents into it. I'm sorry Blake."
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Blake smiled and shook his head in amazement that the same girl that was throwing a temper tantrum was now being the bigger person and apologizing. "No sweat JoJo. I say things I don't mean all the time. You didn't have to come down here but I appreciate it." He said then without thinking wrapped his arm around her pulling her in for a hug.
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Josie took a moment to enjoy being against Blake. He didn't smell like his normal fresh self, he was sweaty and his shirt was a little damp but in that moment he couldn't be any sexier. She felt his biceps around her and knew her heart was skipping a few beats. Realizing she was allowing this hug to go on a little too long she wiggled away and looked around at all the people working. "I can't believe you do all this! Why don't you get the media in on this? It would bring so much good press for your company!" She asked recalling the thing she had learned in her PR classes.
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"Because people will think I'm doing it for that." He said shaking his head. "I organize this because I want to. So many kids in this city don't have it as good as I did as a kid so giving them a clean park to play in is a small gesture in hopes they will enjoy it." He explained.
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It was in that moment Josie realized she pegged this man all wrong. He wasn't just a rich kid like everyone she had grown up with. He wasn't just a playboy that hooked up with young beautiful women. He was a man that was using his money and position to make a difference. And deep down that's all Josie wanted to do too. "Have room for one more helper?" She asked looking up with a gorgeous smile and bright eyes.
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"Absolutely!" Blake replied happily.
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It was a long day but everyone accomplished so much. Every so often Blake would glance over and see Josie helping with painting or empty the numerous trash barrels around the park. She worked hard along side his employees and board members laughing and fitting it perfectly. Blake couldn't help but look over and stare when she bent over or leaned forward to pick something up. She showed up in a pair of black leggings and tight pink tank top and still looked mouth watering. One time he caught Roland trying to stifle a smirk when he caught his boss checking out the young lady. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Blake clearly had to hots for his best friend's sister.
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When Blake was finished tightening up a slide he made his way over to Josie who was sitting down on the pavement painting a bench. Without saying a word Blake grabbed another paint brush and sat down next to her. Josie did her best to just concentrate on her task but couldn't help shake the feeling of Blake sitting very close to her.
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Blake couldn't help that he felt very flirty at the moment. As Josie carefully moved her hand up and down stroking the paint on, Blake took his brush and strayed away from the wood getting burgundy paint all over the top of Josie's hand. "Seriously?!" She shouted out of surprise. When she saw Blake laughing she took her brush now getting paint all over his right arm. "Don't be a child!" She commanded trying to act mad but her blushing cheeks gave away that she liked this game. Without a word Blake repeated his action getting even more burgundy on her hand. "Stop Blake!" Josie exclaimed now taking her brush to the side of his neck.
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"Hey!" He laughed rubbing his neck with the back of his hand, "Alright Alright truce!"
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"I'm gonna keep my eye on you." She said staring at him defensively.
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"Good." Blake muttered under his breath so Josie couldn't hear him. What was it about this girl he couldn't shake?229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYo1pGeYyG
