“So am I, baby.Let’s be scared together.”He kissed her fingertips.
They slid from his mouth.“No, let me finish.I’m scared, but I don’t want to be.Something tells me I’d be an idiot to let you walk away, and I’m done being an idiot.”
He rested his hands on her hips.“You’re no idiot, Lexi.Well, unless that’s the only argument that will get you to say yes, and then I’m on board with that narrative.”
She tapped his pec.“That’s dishonest.”
“Isn’t it, though?You better believe I’ll do whatever it takes, baby girl.”He leaned in and hovered his lips beside her ear.“I want you, Lexi, and not just in my bed.Say yes.Please.”He drew back and stopped breathing.
Lexi opened her sweet mouth, and he was sure it was poised to say yes when rustling caught their attention.
“Anna!I’m so sorry we forgot about you,” Lexi exclaimed.
Josh released Lexi to help her BF, but Anna held up her hand to stop him.She had hoisted herself upright and stooped to pick up a purse from the coffee table.“That’s a good thing.Means your focus was where itshouldbe, and that’s on each other.Now that this Hallmark movie has concluded with its requisite happy ending, I’m going home tomyhappy ending.Please do me the courtesy of waiting until I’m out the door before you maul each other.”
She waddled to the front door, opened it, and gave Lexi a smile filled with warmth.“I think you found yourself a good one.”Then she shifted her gaze to Josh.The smile dropped, and a warning glare hardened her gaze, sending a shiver through him.“And if he’s not, I’ll kick his ass.”Her face transformed back to the bright smile.“Nice meeting you, Josh.”
“Uh, nice meeting you too, Anna.”When she closed the door, he stared down at Lexi.“She’s fucking scary.”
“She wasn’t serious.”
“I’m hoping she was.I like knowing someone like Anna has your back.”
Lexi slid her hands up his chest.“Do you know what happens at the end of a Hallmark movie?”Her gorgeous green eyes brightened with a mischievous gleam he loved.
“Please tell me someone tears off someone else’s clothes.”
She batted him playfully.“No!But theydokiss.”Fisting his jacket, she pushed up on tiptoe, lifted her face, and angled it in invitation.“I love you, Josh.”Her lids dropped to half-mast.
Joy broke free in his chest.He wove his fingers through her silky strands.“You do realize this isn’t actually an ending, right?”
“I do,” she murmured, “as long as you realize it’s the beginning.”
“I do.”
“Now shut up and kiss me so someone can tear off someone else’s clothes.”
He gave her a wicked smile right before he lowered his mouth to hers.“I love it when you take charge.”
THE END
