Page 59 of Just One Kiss

Now look at them.

They almost made her believe true love did exist.Almost.

The activity in the room kicked up, but Carly didn’t move. She couldn’t. She was lost in thoughts she wished she wasn’t having. Thoughts such asWill it ever be my turn, Lord?

“You okay?”

She turned and found Josh on the stool next to her, facing the opposite direction. Her body tensed at his nearness. How had she failed to notice he was right beside her? And how long had he been sitting there?

“I’m fine, why?” she asked.

He shrugged. “You’ve got yourdeep in thoughtlook on.”

“I do not.” She stayed unmoving, wishing he would leave her alone. She would be able to think so much better if he wasn’t so close.

“You do, actually,” he said. “It’s nice to know after all this time some things haven’t changed.”

He was staring at her, she could feel it. Their heads faced opposite directions, but he’d positioned himself so they were very close. Too close. And now his eyes practically demanded her attention.

“I’ve changed,” she said without looking at him.

The bartender slid a soda toward him—which he must’ve ordered when she was in her daze—and Josh took a drink, leaning back ever so slightly. “Not too much, I hope.”

She turned toward him, which, she quickly discovered, was a big mistake. Now their faces were only inches apart—so close she could feel his breath on her cheek—and his eyes grabbed on to hers and left her absolutely powerless to look away.

She stayed still as he searched her like a detective looking for clues, and she tried—failed—to ignore the thoughts and emotions of the last sixteen years.

Maybe Quinn was right—he cast a spell.

Why did he still have such a hold on her? Where was her carefully cared for anger when she needed it?

You are stronger than this, Carly.

Finally, she pulled her gaze from his and went back to staring at the couples on the dance floor.

Josh pushed back slightly on the stool, leaned in so close his lips nearly brushed across her cheek and whispered, “You’re still as beautiful as ever.”

And then he walked away.

15

Josh had left the engagement party with the image of Carly firmly pressed inside his mind, like a drying flower between the pages of a book.

How was he supposed to function when she looked like that? Smelled like that? Yes, he’d been close enough to inhale the scent of vanilla and stupid enough to go in closer, as if he needed more to survive.

Now, lying barely awake in Cole’s guest room, Josh heard the indistinct sound of voices in the next room—Cole’s and a woman’s.

He rubbed his eyes open and sat up in bed, sure he shouldn’t be listening to what was definitely an argument.

“You can’t just show up like this, Gemma,” Cole said.

“It’s my house too,” she said.

“Not anymore it’s not.”

A pause.

“Just get your stuff and go,” he said.

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