“I need a coffee,” Amanda said. “And maybe some chocolate cake. I’m going to run to the coffee shop and grab something. Can I get you anything? My treat.”
“Both of those things sound good. Except make mine the lemon cake. Thanks. Next time I’ll pay.”
“I’m not sure I can even trust you, Josh Mitchell. You worry me with how you don’t like chocolate.”
“I like chocolate just fine. I just don’t love it like you do. Sometimes, I want a break from it. Like today. The lemon sounds good.”
She threw her purse on her shoulder, rifling through the contents to make sure she had either cash or card.
“Amanda, are you okay?”
The question seemed to come out of nowhere.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’ve been staring into your handbag for about two minutes. Just looking.”
Had she drifted off without knowing it?
“I’m just upset about Hudson calling my dad a drunk. He’s not a drunk. He once had a drinking problem but he’s past all of that. I think it’s shitty that he keeps bringing it up.”
“Your dad doesn’t have any trouble talking about it,” Josh pointed out. “He’s open and honest about the subject.”
“I just don’t want people thinking that he’s a drunk. He’s an amazing man who has caught several high-profile criminals. They can talk about that. They can talk about his record while in office, but I think it’s wrong to bring up something from before I was even born. Before he even married my mom. It’s not right.”
“Of course, your dad is amazing. We all think that. But he’s also a human being, and humans aren’t perfect.”
“Well, my dad is. Almost.”
“I don’t want to argue with you,” Josh said, taking a small step toward her. “How about we hug it out? I think you could use it.”
She could use a hug. Lately, it felt like her life was lurching crazily from one spot to another with no real destination in sight.
Josh grinned and held out his arms.
“Don’t leave me hanging here looking like a fool.”
Giggling, she willingly stepped forward, letting him enfold her in his arms. He was warm and strong, and he smelled like citrus. She rested her head on his chest and let out a deep breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. His chin was resting on the top of her head and his fingers brushed her hair, tucking it behind her ear.
And sending a bolt of electricity straight to her fingers and toes. What in the actual hell?
He must have felt it as well because they both jumped back, their eyes wide with shock. Josh cleared his throat a few times, almost coughing while Amanda smoothed down her skirt with her hands.
“Oh…well…I think I’ll go get that coffee now. And the cake. I won’t forget the cake. Chocolate and lemon.”
Dear heavens, she sounded like an idiot. A blithering one. She’d blithered.
This was Josh. He was practically her brother. They’d been hanging out for years and nothing like this had ever happened. It wasn’t their first hug. Not by a long shot.
But it might be their last.
She didn’t have any sort of feelings for Josh Mitchell other than brother-sister. She was sure he felt the same.
They were just friends. Anything else was out of the question. She had a boyfriend. Sort of. Kind of. Either way, she had a significant other.
She wasn’t supposed to be having feelings for anyone else.