Page 56 of Midnight Dissonance

“Right back at ya, lass.” He winked, his eyes scorching as he stared at her.

Between the two of them, they devoured the rest of the pepperoni pizza before Josh took her up against the refrigerator. Then he carried her upstairs and into his bedroom.

But instead of going to sleep, they lay in each other’s arms and talked about everything. From the minuscule to the mundane. Things like what their favorite sports were, their favorite movies, songs, and bands, and on down the list to their philosophies on life and what they wanted for their lives.

Wrapped up together, in a way she had never been with anyone, they were both present in the moment. With their guards down and their egos set aside, the explosive chemistry and deep soul connection flowed.

And they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Her last conscious thought before sleep claimed her was that he was the best man she’d ever known.

16

The next morning, Lexi dragged her tired ass out of bed at the ungodly hour of four. It was a necessary evil if she was going to arrive by the start of her shift at five. She needed the hour to get the café ready to open at six. When a person worked at a coffee joint, early morning shifts were par for the course.

She was bleary-eyed as she dressed and put makeup on, thankful Josh made her get the makeup because it was the only way to hide the bags and dark circles beneath her eyes. Both of which she had earned during their night of carnal indulgence. She pressed a hand against her chest. Because last night had been the best night of her life. She’d never felt close to anyone the way she did Josh. They’d shared everything.

Once she was dressed, she headed downstairs and found Josh at the stove scrambling eggs.

“You didn’t have to do this.”

“Sit. Eat. You need the protein if you’re going to be on your feet all day.” He was already dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved tee.

“I don’t know if there’s—”

“Sit. Eat. I’ll get you to work on time. But you’re going to eat something first. No arguing.”

And because this weekend seemed to be one of firsts, instead of sitting, she went up to him at the stove and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing a kiss against his neck. “Thank you.”

He glanced over his shoulder with a rakish grin and wiggled his brows. “Not to worry, lass. I’ll exact payment this evening.”

She laughed. She was dog-tired. But her heart and soul felt lighter than they had in forever. She sensed a delicious aroma. “Did you make coffee?”

“Of course.”

“But I work at a coffee place.”

“And if you’re like me, you don’t want to step outside your door without a cup.”

She released him and made a beeline for the coffeepot. He’d set a mug beside it for her. He even had the creamer and sugar sitting out, ready for her to use. Because he’d paid attention yesterday morning to how she made her coffee.

Oh, she was in deep shit.

She was talking epically deep, in over her head, and sinking even further.

How could she keep her heart safe when he did stuff like this? She couldn’t, that’s how. No one had ever taken such a keen interest in her. No one had ever asked her what she thought of things and what her dreams for her life happened to be.

Not like Josh.

And as she sat on the barstool and ate the scrambled eggs and toast, her resistance melted. There was still fear present because she knew she could fall for him. But she was no longer fighting her attraction or desire to be with him. What was the point when he did things like giving her her fantasies and paying attention to how she took her coffee?

Once she ate, Josh bundled her up and got her into his car with a to-go mug of coffee. Who was this man? She knew so much more about him than she had, but there were layers here for her to explore. And she doubted that even if she spent the rest of her life trying to decipher everything that made him tick, she wouldn’t uncover it all.

He fascinated her with his intellect, his dominance that made her hot just thinking about it, and then his overbearing yet well-meaning care of her. She didn’t know a woman who could resist.

They rode in companionable silence until he pulled up right in front of the doors.

Before she could exit his car, he said, “Pack a bag when you get home from your shift, enough to last you the week. I have some errands to run this afternoon. But I’ll pick you up at five.”

“Josh, I have to be at work early all week long. It’s easier if I do it from my sister’s house. It’s closer. And I don’t have a car. Nor am I willing to make you drive me every day. You’ve got a job to worry about that’s far more important than my coffee making.”

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