Page 27 of Second Chances
“What about the flooring?” Charlotte asked.
Josh looked at Charlotte and back to Megan, his brow furrowed.
“What about the flooring?” Megan parroted the question.
“Well, drywall is pretty messy, so I thought that you would want to wait until the dust has settled before starting in with the hardwood.”
“That makes sense.” Megan replied.
Josh took a bite of his brownie and seemed to melt a little bit in his seat. “This is amazing,” he gushed, taking another bite. “What’s the secret?”
“I can’t tell you that.” Megan took a bite, wishing that she could tell Josh that she wasn’t really his boss, and that the secret ingredient was sea salt.
“You could sell this. I’m sure people would come for miles for this brownie.”
“It’s just a brownie,” Megan blushed.
Josh looked up at Megan and met her eyes for the first time the entire meal, “This isn’t ‘just a brownie’, it may look like a brownie, but there’s something special here, I just can’t put my finger on it.”
Megan felt butterflies rush to her abdomen and was sure that her face was the same color as the tomato sauce.
“More wine?” Charlotte lifted the bottle.
“None for me thanks,” Josh raised his hand. “I have to drive home, and Timber looks like he’s getting a little antsy.”
Megan followed his gaze and saw Timber sleeping peacefully on the rug in front of the fireplace.
“Thank you for dinner Megan,” Josh smiled and set his napkin on the table. “Can I help you with the dishes?”
“Sandy will take care of those,” Charlotte quipped automatically.
“I see. Well, I should be going,” Josh replied and stood up.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Megan offered.
Megan walked behind Josh and tried to keep her gaze from settling on his butt. His was the ass of a professional hockey player, and she assumed his thighs were thick with muscles developed from skiing.
“Thanks again for watching Timber, and you should really think about selling those brownies.” Josh smiled as he pulled on his plaid jacket.
“Thank you for lighting a fire under the electrician. I know that I need to learn a little about small-town time.” Megan leaned against the doorframe and held Timber’s leash.
“So, you really don’t know how to ski?” Josh took Timber’s leash from Megan’s hand. His fingertip brushed hers and she swore she felt a zap of electricity. Static? No, she knew what static felt like, this was something different.
“No, but Charlotte might teach me.”
“How do you two know each other again?”
“Oh, we go to the same yoga class. Why?”
“For two best friends, you two seem really different.”
“Opposites attract, or so they say,” Megan said before her mind could stop the terrible cliché from tumbling out.
Shit.
“So, they say,” Josh mused. “Hey, would you like a crash course in how to survive in a small town?”
Megan was taken aback, it almost seemed like Josh was purposely lingering in the entryway, like he was trying to find reasons to stay. “Only if you think it will help me with managing the job site,” she replied, turning what seemed to be a date invitation, into something well, more appropriate.
