Page 21 of Joshua's Mistake
Chapter 4
“Um, Josh, I don’t want to pry, but what’s the deal with Tessa and you?” Will’s face was awash with concern.
The two men sat at the dining table. Will cleaned a Glock 41 handgun while they talked.
“There is no deal. I met her less than forty-eight hours ago when all of this started.” Once he saw Tessa cross the short hallway into the bathroom, he’d given Will a brief outline of the events following his arrival at the beach house.
“Yeah, you said as much. But there is definitely something up between the two of you.”
“You’re nuts. I just met her and look at all the trouble she’s caused me. I could be home sleeping in my own bed, or better, over at Kane’s letting Lena and her grandmother feed me.” That reminded him he needed to call his brother and check on the Flacks. He’d “borrowed” a cell phone while Tessa waited in the wooded area. The call to Kane had been short, only saying there was trouble and to check on Peggy and Bill.
Kane was smart, he’d smell trouble before it struck and get his family to safety. Joshua had his own issues to deal with. Kane could take care of himself.
“And yet you have not taken your eyes off the bathroom door for more than two seconds since she went in there.”
It may have been the truth, but that didn’t mean he wanted to hear it. “Will, are you trying to piss me off?”
Will’s toothy grin spread across his face. “I’m only pointing out the obvious, Josh. You clearly like this woman in spite of the fact she’s nothing but trouble. She’s beautiful, smart, knows about your gifts so she’s not going to freak out when you send a vase crashing across the room or electrocute some asshole, and you like her.”
“You said that twice.” It was pretty rare that Joshua was afraid of anything. Yet his attraction to Tessa sent a streak of fear directly to his heart.
“Yeah, because that’s the important bit,” Will said.
“No. The important bit is that I don’t get to have the kind of life where a nice girl falls for me and we settle down in a Florida bungalow with a cat and two cars.”
“Why not?”
Joshua turned away from the hallway as he heard the bathroom door open. He felt a bit like a schoolboy caught staring at the popular girl in class. He saw a flash of white cross the hall out of his peripheral vision and heard the bedroom door close. Standing up, he stared down at his friend. “You know damn well why not.”
Will stood up stretching. He had no fear of Joshua. He and Kane were the only people who didn’t keep their distance when he showed any kind of temper. “I know why you think you don’t deserve to be happy. I just think it’s a load of bullshit.”
“Don’t push me.” Joshua’s voice was low and ripe with warning.
Shrugging, Will turned toward the other end of the house, where his bedroom was located. He walked a few steps and then turned back. “I never met two more stubborn jackasses as you and your brother and I’ve known the two of you for too long to worry about pissing you off. Even Kane managed to find someone who makes him happy. I don’t see why you would risk losing the opportunity to find out if she’s the one.”
“Will, you don’t understand.” The anger that had been building rushed away, leaving only regret in its wake. Joshua shook his head and looked up at his oldest friend. They’d been through more battles together than either would care to remember. He trusted him with his life.
“Nah, buddy, you’re wrong, I get it. You think you’ve seen too much, done too many terrible things in the name of freedom. You’ve gotten it into that thick skull of yours that fighting for what’s right has made you the bad guy. I’m trying to tell you it’s a load of shit. If you don’t pursue that woman it’s not because you’re afraid of what might happen to her, it’s just because you’re afraid.” The hulking man gave his bushy blond head a shake, picked up the gun he’d been cleaning, turned and walked out of the room.
Sometimes he really hated Will. Why couldn’t he be afraid of him the way everyone else was? “Shit.”
Joshua looked at the door where he’d last seen Tessa wrapped in a white robe. He’d blocked her while he was talking to Will. Opening his senses, her willing mind embraced him. If he was smart, he would lie down on the couch and forget about what he really wanted. Will’s infuriating words roiled around in his head. It wasn’t fear but good sense keeping him away. Wasn’t it? “Shit.”
He stood and walked to the bathroom. He needed a shower and preferably a cold one.
The water did nothing to alleviate his desire. If anything, her presence just across the hall heightened his need. He could block her, should block her. But he loved the way her mind caressed his ever so gently. It was as if she were a drug and a highly addictive one.
Pulling his jeans back on, he headed toward the bedroom. At the door, he stopped. Should he knock or just walk in?Jesus, Lakeland. What the hell is wrong with you? She probably already senses you standing here.
“You can come in, Joshua,” her voice called from within, confirming his thoughts.
He shook his head and opened the door. She sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a long white T-shirt that must have belonged to Will because it fell to halfway down her smooth thighs. She was all leggy, curvaceous goodness and he was dying for a taste.
“You look as if you are a man with a problem.”
He did his best to block his overwhelming desire for her without losing the connection he felt with her. It wasn’t an easy feat to accomplish. “I seem to be getting in my own way at the moment.”
She smiled. “Because you want me but you don’t trust me?”
