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I got back to work, ripping out the rest of the kitchen floor, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Audrey Young and her annoyingly beautiful smile.
“I don’t think she likes you calling her ‘sweetheart.’ So how about you go find your own table and leave these ladies alone.”
“Half the time I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic. You have the ability to deadpan everything.” “Assume sarcasm.”
Looking at his name on my screen, I realized something. It wasn’t just that I didn’t want to bother him. I wanted Josiah Haven to like me.
No dogs, no women, no hassles. I’d lived this way for a long time, and I was going to keep living this way. No matter how tempting Audrey was.
“It’s just the truth. I didn’t want any of this. I didn’t want to care about you or worry about you. I liked my life the way it was before you showed up in my town.” I had no idea what to say to that, so I just waited for him to continue. He leaned in. “But it’s impossible to resist you.”
He took the kiss deeper, devouring me like a man starving.
She laughed. “No. I just wasn’t sure what to expect on a first date with Josiah Haven. You keep surprising me.” Surprising her felt good, just like making her smile.
“You’re safe with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Josiah turned out the light, and for a moment, it felt like I couldn’t quite breathe. Then he reached over and pulled me close, tucking my back against his front. He took a deep breath and with his exhale, the tension in my body melted. He was warm and strong and close, and I could have stayed in bed with him forever. And as I fell asleep, warm and safe in his arms, I fell a little bit in love with Josiah Haven.
“I want you to stay.” His voice was low and soft. “Stay for me.” As if I could have refused him anything. “Of course I’ll stay. I don’t want anything else. I just want you.”
Audrey was mine and I’d do whatever it took to protect her. If I died saving her, so be it. But I was taking that fucker down with me.
“Yeah, I get it. But that’s the thing. Sometimes it’s up to us to be hard so they can stay soft.”
“I’m a simple man, Audrey. I just need one thing from you.” “What’s that?” “Just love me.”
