Page 38 of An Inconvenient Plan
Her brows furrowed, thinking on that. “Why would you think we belong together when I’m giving you hell? Do you like when I get mad at you?”
He squeezed her hands. “I like when you’re real with me.”
“Oh. That was after my embarrassing breakdown in your office.” She shook her head. “I’ve had too many embarrassing moments with you.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I admit it was hard to watch you cry because of the sympathy I had for you, but I was glad to help in any way I could.”
Her heart squeezed at the sweet sentiment. She hadn’t known he’d felt especially sympathetic at the time, but she’d been such a mess she wasn’t sure she would’ve caught it. She gazed into his eyes, trying to figure out next steps—closer or away. His gaze back was serious, sincere.
She gulped. “I don’t know. I’m really worried. Our family is against us and maybe they have a point. We fight so much and, if it didn’t work out, there would be hurt feelings all around.”
His big hand slid under her hair, cupping the back of her neck and pulling her in close. Her breath hitched, her stomach dipping, throbbing between her legs. His words ran hot over her lips. “Give us a chance.”
His head slowly lowered as his fingers tangled in her hair, tipping her face up for his kiss. She closed her eyes and waited, practically vibrating in anticipation. Finally his lips brushed over hers gently, and then again. She’d never felt gentleness from him. She wasn’t sure if she wanted that. It felt too tame, not Josh-like at all.
He straightened, dropping his hand from her hair. She nearly cried in disappointment. That was it? Two tiny kisses she barely felt?
His voice sounded gravelly. “I’m off tomorrow night. Come over to my place for our first official date. I’ll make you dinner.”
“So we’re just going to go behind your dad’s back?”
“This is about us, not anyone else.” He smoothed her hair behind her ear and placed a warm kiss on the sensitive spot just below her ear, giving her a shiver. “I want to cook you an amazing dinner. It’s my one good thing among many flaws.”
She laughed a little, though she was still worried. “Well, if it’s your only good thing.”
He grinned. “I do have another good thing, a great thing, but we’re not going to do that tomorrow night, so don’t even worry about it.”
She looked away, embarrassed because she’d been the one to throw herself at him like some desperate nympho. “I wasn’t worried about it.”
“I mean, after your dress hit the ground—”
“I got it! Okay, Josh!”
He cradled her face with both hands. “You’re so easy to rile up. I’m teasing you, not fighting with you.”
She calmed down. It was hard to be irritated when he was holding her like she was special, his gaze tender. “I’ll have to think of some good stuff to tease you back with.”
“You could try.” His hands dropped to her shoulders. “Now before this goes any further, I gotta know you like me for me, not just my pretty face and hunky bod. I’m relationship material.”
She smiled, tickled by his turn of phrase. “I like you for more than just your pretty face and hunky bod. Definitely relationship material.”
“Excellent.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her like he meant it. Yes! This was the kind of kiss she loved from him. He had this way of holding her, one hand in her hair, the other on her lower back, keeping them in full body contact as his mouth sealed over hers. Not gentle, thank God. He was aggressive, hungry, devouring her. She’d just reached desperately horny level, arching her hips into him in a silent demand for more, when he set her a foot away from him.
“Go back with your friends,” he said gruffly. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“No. Why?” Her gaze dropped to the bulge in his jeans and she smiled, thrilled she’d gotten to him as much as he’d gotten to her. Slow burn would never work between them and she was glad. This kind of passion was rare and something she’d always dreamed of.
She walked back to her friends on shaky legs, praying that she’d done the right thing in taking this next step with him.
12
Josh was tense. She felt it the moment he answered the door for their first official date. Was it because the stakes were high in making this work? Because he was out of his mind with lust he could barely control? She’d spent a little too much time last night imagining what it would be like to be with him naked—wild, out-of-her-mind levels of passion—which was not-so-coincidentally why she wore an off-the-shoulder white jersey knit dress that fit her like a second skin, ending mid-thigh, with black stilettos. But first—a civilized date that would set the tone for the rest of their relationship. No pressure. Geez, now she was tense.
He gestured toward the sofa, keeping his distance. “Make yourself comfortable. Hope you like steak.”
He’d made an effort to look nice, from his clean-shaven jaw to the scent of spicy woodsy cologne to his clothes—a pale blue button-down shirt with gray pants and leather dress shoes.
“Steak sounds good.” She set Rose on the floor with her wubby, a ratty green bear, and set her purse by the sofa. Then she turned and walked over to Josh. Probably more of a strut, boobs forward, hips swaying. Why wear the dress if she wasn’t going to work it? “You look very handsome tonight.”
