Page 60 of Hunting the Truth
“You know, I have a guest bedroom. I haven’t slept in the bed, but when my sister visited a while back, she didn’t complain. And believe me, she would let me know,” Josh said. “We can get a crate for Juniper, and she can sleep in the room with you.”
“I don’t know,” Maya said. “You don’t need to keep worrying about me. I’m fine.”
“I’m offering this...as a friend,” Josh said, coming to a halt.
Maya stopped too and turned around. Juniper grunted and sat down as if she knew this conversation could take a while.
“I mean it,” Josh said. “I’m not trying to be macho or worry about you, but I want to help you, and I like to spend time with you and Juniper.”
“Josh, what are we doing? I don’t know where this is going. Or if there even is a ‘this.’ I mean, you just want to be friends, right?”
“This doesn’t have to go anywhere if you don’t want it to.” Josh took another step closer and was now close enough to reach out and touch her cheek. “But good grief, you drive me nuts. I want to be with you more than anything, Maya. I’ve been afraid to say that because I didn’t know how you felt. I’m asking you to stay with me because I care about you. I’ve been trying to be patient and I’ve convinced myself that we can just be friends, but I don’t know if I can do that.”
Maya didn’t know how to answer. He continued to stroke her cheek and her face warmed under his touch. Without thinking, she leaned in closer and then drew him to her.
The kiss started a little tentative. They paused for a moment and then kissed again, this time deeper and more passionately. Juniper whined and poked her nose on Maya’s leg.
Maya pulled back and laughed at her dog. “I don’t know how Juniper feels about this, but maybe a few nights at your place until I figure out where I’m going to live isn’t a bad thing. I wouldn’t mind a real bed.”
Josh smiled and said, “It’s about time you came to your senses.”
“You may regret this when you see what it’s like living with a Malinois. She doesn’t get this tired every day.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Josh said again, leaning in for another kiss.
This time Maya was ready and even though her heart was pounding, she returned the kiss. Her stomach was in knots, and she found herself not wanting to stop, but the sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted them. Josh and Maya stepped apart. She started to rub her necklace.
Miranda stood on the trail that Maya and Josh were blocking. “Hey there. This way to the crime scene?”
“Uh. Yeah,” Josh answered. “Just down there about a quarter mile.”
Maya didn’t know what to say. Her face warmed up and was probably turning beet red.
“Deputy Wilson is waiting there,” Josh said. He’d stepped back away from Maya and Miranda walked in between them.
When Miranda passed Maya, she turned toward her and gave a thumbs-up. “You go, girl,” she whispered. “About time.”
Maya shook her head.
Miranda just laughed and said, “We’ll talk later. You can give me all the details.”
“Okay,” Maya said, hoping that she really wouldn’t have to do that. Although if she was going to talk relationships with anyone, Miranda might be the one person she would confide in.
“See you all later,” Miranda said, with a wave over her shoulder.
“So that’s going to be all over the department,” Josh muttered.
“When my patrol vehicle is parked in front of your house, that information will be all over town. It won’t matter what room I stay in. I need to call my boss and let him know that I’ll be staying with you.”
“Think we should warn your grandfather?”
Maya shrugged and said, “He may know by the time we get back to the office.”
“In that case, this won’t hurt then,” Josh said, giving Maya one more kiss. When they moved apart, he added, “I’m glad you’re going to be staying with me. It’ll be nice.”
“Just until I figure out a place of my own while I get my cabin rebuilt.”
“Okay, whatever you say,” Josh said. “You don’t have to be nervous.”
