Dog breath jolted Josh as he opened his eyes to find Charlie licking his face.
“I’m okay,” he said to Charlie.
The dog jumped off the bed and ran through the Jack-and-Jill bathroom and into Dad’s bedroom.
Worry flowed through Josh at breakneck speeds as he rushed behind Charlie. When he laid eyes on the scene before him, Josh froze. Actually, he winced when he should’ve been smiling at how Riley and Dad were chumming it up. The thing was, Josh was in his boxers.
Oh well.Boxers were like shorts anyway. At least his other body parts were cooperating properly. Still, he took in a big breath to get his heart to calm down. Between reliving his accident and thinking something had happened to Dad, Josh needed a minute.
Josh ducked out quicker than the speed of light so he could at least throw water on his face.
“Son,” Dad called extremely loudly, which was normal since Josh’s hearing loss. “Don’t be rude. We have a guest.”
A beautiful guest, no less.“I’ll be right there.”
If Riley whispered or said something, Josh couldn’t hear.
He would have given anything to hear faint noises, faraway voices, or even the howling of the wind. But there was no sense in brooding over something he couldn’t change.
“Embrace life as it today,” Lieutenant had said when he’d visited Josh in the hospital. “You’re lucky you’re alive.”
That last sentence was so true. Josh should’ve come home in a body bag, but he’d had an angel on his shoulder that dreadful day—a day he would relive over and over again.
Josh wiped his face as he glanced in the mirror. His green eyes were tired with dark shadows ringing them. He needed a haircut badly as his sideburns were growing out. He dampened his hands, tamed his hair, and threw on a pair of shorts before he waltzed back into Dad’s room.
With his eyes a little more focused, Josh settled his gaze on Riley.
Her face lit up, and she gave him the most mind-blowing smile. Josh’s heart skipped a beat. It was the same feeling he’d had when Marybeth, his first love in high school, had glided into science class like a goddess. Her black hair had hung wild around her shoulders as her stark-blue eyes stood out against her snow-white skin.
Maybe that was why Josh was sweet on Riley, although her eyes were gray. Still, he loved how her hair was tied up in a bun with strands hanging here and there, giving her a messy look.
She rose, her baggy T-shirt with the words “Boston Strong” splayed on the front hung over her tight yoga pants. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” She directed her statement at him. “I couldn’t sleep anymore. The time change has my body clock all messed up. So I got up to get something to drink, and I heard your dad talking to Charlie.”
Charlie wagged his tail.
Dad gave the biggest grin as he drilled his gaze into Josh, trying to tell Josh something.
Whatever it was would have to wait. Awkwardness washed over Josh, and he had to do something other than stare at Riley. If he continued to, then all bets were off on how his body would react. “I’ll make coffee.”
She stood so eloquently, as if she were the Queen of England. “I’ll do it. I think your dad needs to use the bathroom.”
Josh cocked an eyebrow at Dad.
He nodded. “I do.”
After all the essential bodily functions were taken care of and Dad was back in bed, he said, “That’s a woman for you.”
Josh fluffed his pillow. “No matchmaking. You know what happened when you tried to set me up with your buddy’s daughter.”
That had been the worst blind date ever—uncomfortable, tense, and neither of them had been into each other. It wasn’t that she wasn’t pretty, but she hadn’t made Josh’s heart sing like Riley had when she’d walked into the inn. In fact, Riley was still making his pulse soar to new proportions.
“She’s here for a few days. Get to know her and see what happens.”
Charlie barked as if in agreement.
Josh eyed his lovable dog. He swore Charlie understood what Dad was saying.
Josh kissed Dad on the forehead. “Get some sleep.”
