Page 74 of Cupcake of the Month
“I’d rather you played you.”
“I did that five minutes ago and you ran out the door. You can’t honestly say you want me to do that again.”
He held her gaze before closing his eyes and leaning his head back. “Probably not.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” She had prepared to be shut down, but the punch in her gut at his words was unexpected. “You can be a real jerk sometimes, Josh.”
A ghost of a smile crested his lips. “Only sometimes?”
A real frustrating jerk. She turned on her laptop and continued working.
Within minutes, a soft snore sounded from the chair next to hers.
That wasn’t surprising. With his schedule, it was a wonder he got enough rest. The stress in his face melted away while in repose. He wasn’t exactly relaxed, but his burdens didn’t carry over to the unconsciousness of sleep. He looked eight years younger.
Jordan let him be until the tow truck rumbled up the drive, finishing up her work. She shook his shoulder, steeling herself against the treacherous wave of love that swelled within her. “Hey. Josh.”
He shifted slightly but didn’t wake up.
“Josh.” She shook harder.
He blinked awake, gazing at her with heated recognition before the cool façade snapped back into place.
Her heart thumped hard in her chest. “Brandi’s guy is here.”
“Okay.” He rubbed his face with his hands and stood up. A few seconds later, he was out the door. Jordan grabbed the van keys and her purse, then joined Brandi in watching him and her friend.
Josh and the mechanic were under the hood, muttering to each other about parts and checking fluid levels while Brandistood next to the Simon’s Towing truck. Jordan could see the man’s dark blond hair over the collar of his grey coveralls. At least the early fall temperatures weren’t as suffocating as the summer humidity.
“I love a man who doesn’t mind getting grease under his nails,” Brandi said, raising her voice so the men could hear.
Simon shot her a grin, his teeth bright in his tanned face. “Yes, ma’am.”
“But he better get it all out when he takes me to dinner.”
“No worries about that.” He turned back to Josh.
“You arranged for a date with the guy so you could get Josh’s car towed, didn’t you?” Jordan asked.
“Not exactly.” Brandi brushed her hair back. “We’ve been sort of flirting anyway, so this seemed a good as time as any to ask him to dinner.”
“But he’s taking you out, not the other way around.”
A sparkle lit her unusual green and brown eyes. “He insisted. Who am I to argue?”
Fifteen minutes later, Jordan found herself alone in the Fountenoy Hall van, following Josh and Simon in the tow truck as it lumbered down the road for the long drive. Since it was Sunday, the mechanic’s was closed, but Josh filled out a card and dropped the keys in the lockbox as Simon unhitched his car. Josh got in the van, shoving his backpack between the seats.
“I don’t know where you live,” Jordan said softly.
“Robillard. Follow the highway north a few more miles.”
Jordan nodded and pulled back into the street, driving in silence. Once on the highway, Josh gave her directions, stopping in front of an impressive brownstone with a lush green lawn. A few trees dotted the landscaping, and a neat walkway led up to large double doors.
It was warm and homey and cozy and he had never invited her over. She pressed her lips together and parked the van. “Willyou need a ride in tomorrow?”
“I should be okay.” He reached for the door handle, avoiding eye contact. “Thanks.”
“Yeah.” She could master minimal syllable sentences, too.
