“The light’s still on,” Caroline said. She opened the door as soon as the car drew to a stop, not bothering to wait for Noah to cut the engine. “I’m going to take my pie up to the house and see if your dad wants a slice.”
“He’ll grill you for details about tonight,” Noah warned. “He’ll want to know if we were busy, if we’re still a university hot spot.”
“Great.” Caroline moved away from the truck, leaving the door open for Josie to climb down with her kittens. “I can tell him all about how many dishes I washed.”
Noah chuckled. “Hey,” he called after Caroline. She glanced over her shoulder. “Mind taking my cell up and plugging it in? I won’t be needing it and it’s nearly dead.”
Um, bullshit.
Josie had seen his phone charging behind the bar all night. Someone didn’t want to be disturbed for a few hours—by Dominic or anyone else.
“Sure.” Caroline returned to the truck. Balancing the pie in one hand, she held out the other for his phone. Josie passed it over and then watched as Caroline slipped into the darkness, only to reappear on the front steps leading up to Noah’s house.
“Come on,” Noah said. “Let’s get your kittens settled.”
Josie followed him out of the truck and across the gravel to the barn. Five years ago, she’d have led the way eager to test the pull drawing her closer and closer to the man who’d labeled himself out of bounds. Back then, Noah had been her superhero, her white knight, and her fantasy rolled into one neat and tidy package. But it had unraveled in the end.
She set the box down by the edge of the cushions surrounding the bull. What if she crossed the line into naked-kissing territory and it went haywire? Could she handle whatever happened next?
I’d better be able to pick up the pieces. He’s made it clear that he’s not the guy for the job.
And she didn’t want him to play the part this time. She had the money she needed for now. Thanks to Hoppy Heaven, she had some semblance of job security. She was calm and in control of her life. She carried her grief with her, but it wasn’t drowning her from sunrise to sunset. She’d been knocked down and she’d gotten back up—with help. She’d buried a baby and she’d moved forward. She could take care of herself and the man who mistook a box of kittens for a bomb. For one night. Beyond that?
Don’t think about tomorrow. Focus on the temptation right in front of you. . .
“They’re still asleep,” she murmured as she stood. She kept her gaze fixed on the plain grey fur balls curled up against each other.
“Good.” He spoke from behind her and the sound echoed in the mostly empty barn. “If you won’t let me cuss in front of them, you probably don’t want them watching this.”
His fingers brushed the bare skin above the neckline of her shirt. If she took a step back, she would feel every inch of him, some harder than others hopefully, pressed against her. But she wasn’t teasing this time, trying to make her white knight cross the imaginary line he’d drawn around her.
“I’ve been waiting all day to kiss you,” he said.
“Naked kisses?” she asked.
He let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, those too.”
His lips touched the nape of her neck and she stepped back. She needed to feel something solid, hold on to someone. His hands wrapped around her hips. He held her inches away from the muscles hidden beneath his clothes. And he kissed her again.
Is there an X on the back of my neck beside my ponytail? A map of where to kiss me to make me melt? Or do you remember from our bull ride five years ago?
She let out a soft moan as his tongue teased her skin. If there was a map of her body, Noah was the only one who’d bothered to read it. His lips glided across the back of her neck and settled on the other side. He was also the only one who took the time to explore every inch of her.
But she wasn’t standing beside his mechanical bull looking to take everything he had to offer—not without offering something in return.
“Ready to prove you’re far from perfect?” she murmured.
He released her neck, but tightened his grip on her hips. “Josie—”
“No audience.” She pulled free from his hold as she stepped forward and up onto the cushions. “We’re not on the side of the road. But you can show me. I want to see how much you’ve changed. And you can start by taking off your shirt.”
He reached for the bottom of his T-shirt and drew it over his head. “I don’t know what you’re expecting to see.”
“You.” She studied the wall of pure muscle he’d revealed. His body bordered on physical perfection. Not the bodybuilder physique that left her scrunching up her nose in distaste, but the powerful arms that suggested he could hold her steady anytime, anyplace while he took her. And those abs looked like they were designed to be licked and explored while she headed south.