“I told you, he’s a jerk—“
“Not what he did, whatyoudid.”
I’m genuinely stunned. “Me?” My mouth hangs open for a moment. “What part of me helping you made you upset?”
“That’s just it, Russell. I didn’t ask for your help.” Her crystal blue eyes hold my gaze with an intensity I haven’t seen from her before. “I don’t expect you to understand. You’re the mayor of the town, you do what you want, when you want, everyone else be damned.”
“Whoa, now hold on.” I set my napkin down on the table. “That is not how I do things around here.”
“Maybe not consciously, but you have to understand. You stepped in at my place of work. Where I’m in charge. People were looking at me like I couldn’t handle the situation, but I could’ve. If you would’ve let me.”
For a moment, I don’t speak. I never even thought of this from her point of view, but once I gather my thoughts the words come spilling out. “I was raised to step in and be valiant when women were in trouble, all of my brothers were. That’s what happens when you have two strong parents who love and support each other. You learn by example.” Her tense shoulders appear to melt down her back. “I’m sorry, Josie. It’s not that I don’t think you’re capable. Dammit, the more I get to know you I realize that I wouldn’t want to cross you on a bad day.”
“Or a good one.” She interjects, smiling.
“But now that I know, I promise it won’t happen again.” I lean forward. “And there will be other times, Josie. If I’m being honest with you, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since that moment.”
“Me too.” She whispers. “For a couple of different reasons.”
Now I find myself smiling. “So, do you forgive me?” Josie purses her lips and dramatically shifts her eyes around the room, making me wait. “Josie?” I draw her name out.
“Fine!” Her breasts bounce in her tight dress when she moves her arms to the side. I can’t keep my eyes off of her in that sexy little number. “But, it better not happen again.”
“It won’t.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
“I just said that.” Josie tilts her head to the side, shooting me a sly smile.
“I know.”
A silence passes between us, where webothknow what’s going to happen next. Normally I’d jump at the chance, unafraid to take the risk of making the first move. I’m not scared, not at all, but the butterflies in my stomach are begging me to make the moment last just a few seconds longer.
“Get over here.” She says, standing up from the table. Maybe I don’t have to make the first move? I do what she says, trying not to run to her side so I can taste her sensuous mouth. I’ve barely made it over to her side of the table when she grips the front of my t-shirt and pulls me close to her.
“I’m still wondering if this whole thing is a bad idea.” Her sparkling eyes examine my face.
“Can I weigh in on that?”
Josie’s eyes dart to the side, then back to mine. “Sure.”
“It’s not a bad idea. It’s a very good idea.”
“See, I knew you were going to say that.” She playfully narrows her eyes.
“Josie, you may as well just give in.” I wrap my arms around her soft waist and pull her tight to me. Her sweet mouth parts when she feels how excited I am for her. I press my length into her a little harder. “The minute I saw you, I knew you were going to be mine. That’s why I got so crazy when that asshole did that to you.”
“Is that right?” She asks, breathless.
“Oh yeah. Josie Byrd, you can fight it all you want, but you know it too. You’re my woman. The only woman in the world who can satisfy me, and I’m not about to let you just walk out of here.”
She swallows hard. “No?”
“Oh no, baby.” I press my lips gently against hers. “You, my strong, sassy, sexy little firecracker, are mine.”
The heat in her eyes burns deep. “Oh yeah?” Josie licks her lips, tickling me with her tongue in the process. “Prove it.”