Chapter 12
Nate
I have no idea what the hell we’d walked in on earlier, but I’d never seen anything so beautiful as Josie. The bar was trashed. Literally, shit everywhere. The other bartender, the chick who looked like she was supposed to be helping, was cowering and crying in the corner. When Mia received a text, we’d just finished indulging in the most delicious Black Forest cake with extra cherries, and I’d slumped back in the chair, wanting nothing more than to curl up and have a nap. When Mia cooked, she went all out. The moment she’d received Josie’s simple message though, it’d changed our plans for a quiet evening.
After I’d finally escaped school and was free, I’d climbed on my bike and ridden. I rode until my head stopped thinking. Until the frustrations eased. It felt amazing, and by the time I kicked off my boots and stepped through my back door, I was thoroughly relaxed. After a quick shower, I’d grabbed the six pack from my fridge and headed over to Derek’s.
We were all chilled, kicking back, eating too much, and just sharing a laugh right up until Mia’s phone lit up. She squealed and ran around in a circle. If I hadn’t been so worried about what was going on with Josie, it would have been hilarious. Before I had a moment to think about what I was doing, I slipped into the backseat of Derek’s truck and tagged along.
Looking at Josie now, I knew I made the right decision. The surprise on her face as she watched me sweep away the mess was priceless.
An hour later you never would have known the disaster zone it had been. Derek’s appearance worked better than calling fire, and as calmly and as casually as they possibly could, people found themselves heading for the exit. Josie’s ‘helper’ had burst into tears before promptly tossing her apron on the bar and racing out the door as fast as her high heeled boots could carry her.
“That’s it! We’re done!” Josie declared as she poured four beers and set them on the counter before whipping off her apron and tossing it in the direction of the till.
“Cheers!” Derek shouted.
As I poured the beer down my throat, beer I barely tasted, I looked over the rim at Josie. Again. There was something about this chick. Whenever I was in her vicinity, my dick was at half-mast. She didn’t do anything to encourage it, she didn’t have to, it just was what it was. Since that day at the river, I’d had more than one thought about that ass and those magnificent tits that pressed into me as she held onto the back of my bike. That was something I wanted relive again. And now!
The moment she stripped off her polo shirt, revealing the extremely well-fitted thin grey tank, I moaned. Out loud. I couldn’t stop myself if I tried. And everyone heard it. Including the object of my lust.
“You right there?” Josie called me out.
“Fine.” I spat out the word between gritted teeth, finishing my beer in a few huge gulps
When we pulled into the driveway of my decrepit and embarrassing abode, I ducked my head in shame. Derek had already seen the place, hell, he’d been the one to help me fight through the million and one spiders to get inside the laundry, but that didn’t mean I wanted anyone else to see it. Especially not Josie. For some reason, one I couldn’t quite wrap my head around just yet, I wanted her to be impressed, not terrified of catching some deadly disease when she entered. I knew eventually she would enter. I don’t know how I knew, I just did.
“It’s a work in progress,” I heard myself mutter.
“It’s a gorgeous place. I can’t wait to see it once you’ve worked your magic on it,” Mia exclaimed as she bounced in the front seat.
If I was sure Derek wouldn’t beat my ass, I would have clambered over the seat and kissed her. Her excitement was infectious, and it put my very real fears at ease. If Mia could see what it would become, not what it was, then I had a fighting chance.
“Thanks, Mia. And thanks for dinner too. It was delicious!” I said, meaning every word. Somehow, I wasn’t exactly sure how, but I was going to get myself an invite to Mia’s for dinner again. Damn, that girl could cook.
“Any time.”
“Well, thanks for an…interesting night.” I winked at Josie as I jumped from the back of the car. “Derek, I’ll come by in the morning and grab my bike, if that’s cool.”
“Sounds good.”
“Have a good night, Nate. Sorry about interrupting your dinner, and the drama and…”
Unable to stop myself, I reached out and took Josie’s tiny hand in mine. Her fingers were like ice. Cold and clammy, and when I glanced down, they were almost white. Rubbing my thumb back and forth across her palm, I affirmed, “Don’t even give it a second thought. It wasn’t your fault. You were just in a shitty situation and you did the best you could.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Josie! What are you doing tomorrow?”
“N-nothing?”
“Take a ride with me? We can get on the bike and just drive until we find somewhere to eat, have dinner, and come home?”
Shit! Where the hell that came from, I’ll never know. Sure, I’d checked out her ass more than once, and thought about that soft skin against mine one too many times, but I’d never planned to do anything about it. Never planned to ask her out. Never planned to get involved. Seeing the distress in her eyes, and the fear written all over her beautiful face that she’d ruined my night, made me forget everything else. I didn’t care about anything other than putting the smile back on those lips I was dying to taste.
“I-I can’t.” As Josie said the words, she yanked her hand from my grip and her eyes dropped to her lap. It was like she couldn’t bear to look at me a moment longer than absolutely necessary.
“Bullshit!” Derek cut the silence with an affirming boom. “She’ll be ready at five.”
