Holy shit.
Josie looks more beautiful than ever. Her ponytail has been untied and her red hair streams in waves down her shoulders, soft and glossy. She’s still wearing blue jeans and an emerald sweater, but they’re no longer covered by her Creekside apron, and the way she fills out her clothes makes me bite back a groan. She looks just as shocked as I feel. Those bright green eyes blink up at me, and her pretty mouth falls open as we stare at each other.
What the hell is this angel doing in my brother’s cabin?
“I…” Josie whispers, as if she’s heard my question and wants to answer. But her voice dies to nothing as Savannah appears from the kitchen.
“Hi, Brewer!” she says, the words hazy and far away. All my focus is on Josie until Savannah says something that catches my attention.
“This is my best friend, Josie. I think you two have already met at the diner?”
I feel a jolt of surprise in my gut. I had no idea my brother’s new girlfriend was Josie’s best friend, and Idefinitelyhad no idea she’d be here for dinner tonight.
“Yeah,” I manage to grunt. “We’ve met.”
Savannah beckons me inside and takes the whiskey from my hands with a thank you, asking what I want to drink. I grunt out an answer automatically and suddenly she’s gone, disappearing into the kitchen where my brother is cooking.
Now, it’s just me and Josie.
My gaze hasn’t left her pretty face once since she opened the door. Hell, even when she looks away, I can’t stop staring. The restraint I’ve been relying on for the past month has crumbled,and my eyes are making up for lost time, drinking Josie in like it’s the first time I’ve ever seen her.
“Hi,” she says softly, her voice sending a shiver through me.
I swallow hard. “Hi.”
She still looks shocked—probably wondering what the hell the giant brute from the diner is doing here. But then she takes a deep breath and her freckled face melts into a smile.
“It’s good to see you again,” she says.
She seems to mean it, and I swear my heart almost explodes.
“You too.”
I’ve never been alone with her like this before, away from the bustle of the diner. It’s fucking intoxicating having her all to myself for once.
“Savannah didn’t tell me you were coming,” Josie says as we head toward the couch.
“She didn’t tell me you were coming, either. Hell, didn’t even realize you knew each other.”
“Yeah, Savannah has been my best friend for years. I’ve only met Clay a couple of times, though.”
She sits on the couch, stretching her legs out toward the fire. It’s a big couch, but not big enough for me, and my arm brushes Josie’s as I sit down beside her. The contact drives me wild. I’ve never touched this angel before—only dreamed about it. Now she’s sitting close enough for me to pull her into my arms, fill my hands with those soft curves and never let go.
Savannah comes back into the room holding a tumbler of whiskey and a mug of hot chocolate. Then she says something about helping Clay and disappears into the kitchen once more. I can’t help feeling relieved. I want to be alone with Josie.
Silence settles between us as we sip our drinks, but it’s not awkward—it’s loaded, pressing in on all sides, squeezing my chest like a vise, and making the room feel too damn small. Josieis looking at the fire, her eyes fixed a little too intently on the flames, cheeks pinkening beneath my gaze.
“Thanks again for earlier,” she murmurs softly.
“Don’t need to keep thanking me.”
Her thigh brushes mine and I shift in my seat, crossing my legs so she can’t see the bulge growing in my jeans. It’s torture being this close and not being able to touch her the way I want to. I thought my need for her was overwhelming before, but it’s nothing compared to the way I feel sitting next to her, our sides touching, her sweet, syrupy scent hanging in the air between us.
Goddammit, Brewer.
Control yourself.
“Those tourists ever come back?” I ask, trying to fill the silence.
