The dam finally bursts, desire rushing through me as I savor the feel of Josie’s mouth—warm and soft. I hold her closer, pulling her body flush against mine until she makes a noise in the back of her throat, a quiet moan that nearly undoes me completely.
I can’t get enough.
Every second I’ve spent pretending I didn’t want her, every morning I’ve walked out of that diner telling myself I could keep my distance—it all shatters the moment she kisses me back. Her arms wrap around my neck, a shuddery breath escaping her mouth as I suck on her bottom lip. My cock stirs between us, straining against my jeans, all my blood rushing downward as my hands grab at her soft curves, desperate to touch every inch of her. I want more. Need more.
Then Josie tugs away from me.
She takes a few stumbling steps back, and we stare at each other across the tiny bedroom, breathing hard. Her lips are red from our kiss, her sweater rumpled where I’ve been running my hands over her body. I’m already cold without her, desperate to close the gap once more, but the look in her eyes keeps me frozen in place.
“What’s wrong, Josie?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I can’t do this.”
My stomach sinks to the floor. “Why not?”
“I just…I can’t…” There’s a beat of silence while she tries to find the words. “I can’t handle all these mixed messages.” She takes another step away from me, her back almost against the wall. “One second you can’t even look at me, then you’re kissing me like…likethat.”
“Josie—”
“I don’t do casual hookups,” she continues, talking fast, “so if that’s all this is to you?—”
“It’s not like that.”
I can’t resist stepping toward her, grabbing her hands in mine. My heart squeezes at the sadness on her face, and all I want to do is wrap this angel in my arms and hold her tight.
“Listen to me, Josie…I don’t do this. I don’t…I’ve never—” I stop, jaw tight, trying to find the words. “Fuck, what I’m trying to say is there’s nothing casual about the way I feel.”
Something shifts in her expression—the sadness giving way to something softer, more uncertain. Like she wants to believe me but doesn’t dare to get her hopes up. It’s enough to crack me open.
Because I did this.
As I look at this perfect girl standing in front of me, eyes glistening, hands trembling slightly in mine, I know it’s my fault she’s standing here doubting herself. My fault she spent a month feeling invisible. I was so consumed with fighting my own feelings—so convinced I was doing the right thing by staying away—that it never once crossed my mind what my silence was doing to her. What she must have thought every morning when I walked into that diner and acted like she didn’t exist.
I’ve been such an asshole.
But she’s still here. Still holding my hands. Still looking up at me with those big green eyes like she wants to believe me. Like she sees a man, instead of the giant monster that most people see.
I need to fix this before I lose her forever.
She spent a month thinking I didn’t want her.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure she never thinks that again.
8
JOSIE
My lips are still tinglingfrom Brewer’s kiss, every nerve in my body thrumming with desire. I want nothing more than to melt back into his muscular arms and let the world fall away—stop my overthinking brain from whirring with thoughts and fears. But I stand my ground, even when he takes my hands in his, those dark brown eyes turning softer than I’ve ever seen them.
My heart is on the line right now.
I can’t risk it all for something uncertain.
“I’m sorry,” Brewer says after a heavy pause. “Really sorry, Josie. I hate myself for making you feel this way.”
I flinch at the self-loathing in his voice. “Don’t say that?—”
“Listen to me, beautiful,” he continues, his expression so intense that I feel my breath catch. “I want you. I’ve wanted you since the minute I laid eyes on you. So fucking badly.” He tightens his grip on my hands. “The only reason I go to Creekside every day is to see you.”
