Page 58 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“POSH and I have an understanding.”
She straightened, and he slammed the door, the car letting out a low groan. “Like a death pact? Because she’s one strip of duct tape from the giant junkyard in the sky.”
He took her bags out of her hands, halting when he noticed one missing. The one she never left home without. “Where’s your other camera?”
“Oh.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I must have misplaced it.”
Josh held her gaze. She was upset but trying to hide it. “Where’s your camera, Boots?”
She let out a huge sigh. “Before you say I told you so, I think Rebecca took it.”
He cradled her head. “I am so sorry.”
She shrugged as if it were no biggie, but he could sense just how upsetting this was for her. “All I do know is that I hope she’s okay.”
A frustration grew in him. Piper had opened her house up to a virtual stranger who’d taken advantage of her and stole what was likely the most treasured item she owned.
“If you want to press charges—”
“No way! She made a mistake, plus we don’t know for sure she was the one who took it. I might have left it somewhere,” she lied.
“I can at least have someone come over so you can make a report. That way if it’s found, they’ll know who it belongs to.”
Piper met his gaze. “You and I both know it won’t turn up unless someone wants it to. And I’m not going to do anything to put Rebecca in danger. I promised I wouldn’t call the cops.”
“That was before she stole from you.” What was so hard about that? Josh understood the loyalty and why Piper was hesitant to press charges, but it was better Rebecca was given a slap on the wrist then get into serious trouble later.
“Until I hear her story, I’m not going to assume.” She looked up at him. “Isn’t that what you’d hope someone would do if your family member was accused of something?”
Like a sucker punch to the chest. It was as if his dad was speaking directly to him about hearing people out, asking what their story was before passing judgment. Josh liked to think he was a good prosecutor, but suddenly he felt as if he’d lost sight of what the law was intended to do. It should be the last resort, not the starting point.
Had just one person along the way asked to hear his dad’s story, he wouldn’t have had to spend the last year of his life fighting to save the bar and his reputation. Instead, one employee’s bad judgment led to two years of legal hell.
“You’re right,” he said quietly. “And if someone I loved was accused of something, I’d hope they had someone like you in their corner.”
“I just think that everyone deserves to be heard out. I mean, let’s say Rebecca did take my camera, I want to at least know the why. To me, that’s more important than the what.”
“It should be to everyone.” Including him. Especially him. With his professional aspirations, he should know better than to go off halfcocked without knowing the full story.
“Then promise you won’t say a word,” she whispered. “I want to handle this my own way.”
He stilled. By her own admission, she never used the word promise, so who was he to deny her when this might be the only time she’d ever ask him for something. “I promise.”
“Now, I think this is where I thank you for following me home.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
She went to kiss him, and he said, “Not here.” Hand on her hips, he walked her backward, up the steps to the front porch, directly under the porch light. “Here.”
She looked up and smiled. “Is this where you kiss me goodnight?”
He wanted to do a whole lot more than kiss. Getting her out of that skirt wasnumero unoon hisHell Yeahlist. Scratch that. Getting her out of those boots obliterated the list. But she was looking up at him with reluctant desire, and he had promised her a proper date, and that ended with a kiss under the porch light. What happened after that was up to her.
“This is where I tell you that I had a good time. No, a great time, and I want to see more of you,” he said.
With a smile, Piper closed the distance, her skirt brushing his thighs as she turned him so she could walk him backward until the door was pressed at his back and she was pressed at his front, causing a whole lot of pressing to build in his pants.
She rose up on her toes, leaning into him until she was plastered against him, stopping when they were close enough to share the same breath. The night surrounded them, creating a sense of intimacy, the air crackling with growing sexual heat.
“This is where I invite you in,” she whispered, her mouth brushing his with every word.
