Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Josh shrugged. “It’s no biggie. I’ll try to patch it tomorrow or just get a new one. It was my fault for blowing it up before he went to sleep. That’s like asking for trouble.” He sighed. “Did you have a nice time?”
“It was very nice. And you were so right about your brother. He’s a sweetheart.” I pursed my lips, unsure how much I wanted to divulge. I didn’t want anything getting back to Neil. But I also wasn’t in the mood to sugarcoat anything.
Apparently, Josh could see it on my face, though. “You look like there’s a but in there somewhere,” he said.
“Like I said, we had a very nice time.” I hesitated. “I don’t know if it was a lack of physical chemistry or whether I’m just not ready, but—”
He held his palms out. “You don’t need to explain.”
“I know I don’t need to explain,” I said. “But I want to. I’m sure he’s going to say something to you.”
“You can trust that I won’t tell him anything you don’t want me to.”
“Your brother is a true catch. Our conversation was honest and engaging. He’s family-oriented and everything a woman could want, as near as I can tell. There was not one single thing wrong with our date. But yet...it still felt like something was missing. Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it.”
Josh nodded. “I hear you.”
His short response made me wonder if he was holding back.
“Do you think I’m being too picky?”
“No, and you shouldn’t care what I think, either. You have to follow your heart. Neil’s a big boy. I’m sure he could sense it if you weren’t totally feeling it.”
“All I could think during dinner was that this man was going to make someone very happy someday.”
“It’s just not gonna be you…”
I stared down at my nails. “I don’t think so, no.”
“How did you leave things with him?”
“He asked if I would be interested in going out again, and I told him I didn’t want to lead him on and I didn’t feel ready for anything more. I apologized for wasting his time tonight, and he was so gracious about it.” I shook my head. “Maybe I’m just broken, Josh. Because there is not one single thing wrong with your brother. I just—”
“You can’t choose who you’re attracted to or who you have chemistry with. That’s the bottom line, Carly.”
“I know. I just feel crummy for wasting his time.”
Josh snapped his fingers. “I have a solution for that.”
“Oh yeah?”
“It’s green with nuts—and colder than your attitude toward my brother tonight.”
“Josh!” I kicked the air, pretending it was him.
“I’m kidding, Pumpkin. Relax.”
Why do I love it when he calls me that now? I followed him into the kitchen and leaned against the counter as he opened the carton of ice cream.
“I’m surprised you didn’t demolish that already,” I said.
“Well, Scottie had other plans for me tonight, so you’re in luck.”
Josh prepared two heaping bowls. He handed me one, and I sighed in ecstasy after I took the first bite.
“This was exactly what I needed,” I said with my mouth full.
Josh spooned up a big bite. “My brother didn’t buy you dessert?”
“I wasn’t hungry for it at the time, but suddenly I’m starving.” My heart lurched. That could be a metaphor for the physical attraction I felt toward Josh right now, instead of his brother. I should just go straight to hell at this point.
“I guess we both batted a thousand with our dates this weekend,” he said, shoveling ice cream into his mouth. “Better luck next time, I guess.”
“You should take the bed tonight,” I told him, licking the back of my spoon. “Seriously. I don’t mind sleeping on the couch.”
“I can’t do that to you.”
I wiped ice cream from the corner of my mouth and tried to garner the courage to say what I was thinking. “So then just sleep in the bed…” I murmured. “It’s big enough. I won’t even notice you there.”
He scratched his chin scruff. “I’m trying to figure out if that’s an insult or not.”
“It’s not!” I chuckled. “But for Christ’s sake, we’ve been through so much these past several weeks. We’re both adults. We can share a bed.”
“I don’t know.” He looked away, but seemed to be considering it. “We’ll see...”
Was his hesitation because he knew I was attracted to him? Oh no, does he think I’m trying to suggest something? Everything in me said it was a bad idea to clarify my intentions—or lack thereof—but I had to explain myself further, or I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
“I don’t want you to think I’m hoping for any funny business...” Ugh. That didn’t come out right.
His eyes widened. “Funny business?”
“Yeah, you know...”
“No, I don’t. Define funny business.” He snorted. “Is that like booby prize?”
“Josh...”
His expression turned serious. “I know. You’re just being sweet in offering.”