“Josh,” Melrose breathed, crossing the room in two long strides, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her mouth to his.
Charity blinked in astonishment, then touched her own arm to make sure she really was there.
“Melrose,” Josh said, grabbing her wrists and holding her in place while he stepped back. “This is Charity Jones. My girlfriend.”
Girlfriend. Charity hadn’t been expecting that, and tried to figure out if he’d said it because he meant it or if it was a form of self-protection.
“Hello,” Melrose said, never taking her eyes off Josh. “You’re racing again. That’s good. The sport needs someone like you. God knows, I do. I’m staying in town tonight. I have a luscious room at a little B&B by the lake. Big tub, big bed, big fireplace. The interview will air tonight. We can watch it together. Naked. Say yes?”
Charity went from feeling less-than to pissed in a nanosecond. She stepped between Josh and the piranha, held out her right hand and forced a smile.
“Hi,” she said loudly. “I’m Charity.”
“We’ve met,” Melrose said coolly, still staring hungrily at Josh.
“Apparently not,” Charity told her firmly. “Hey.” She poked Melrose in the chest, right above her left breast. “Look at me.”
Melrose slowly lowered her cool, green gaze. “You didn’t just touch me.”
“I did and I’ll do it again, if I have to. Yes, Josh is very crushworthy. And the sex, as I’m sure you’ll remember, is fantastic. But there’s a line between wanting and being a complete cliché. No offense, Melrose, but you’re not in a prime-time soap. This is real life. And Josh is with me.”
JOSH HAD KNOWN THERE was a risk involved when he’d asked Charity to join him today. But he’d been willing to deal with her being pissed—mostly because Melrose wasn’t the kind of woman who accepted rejection easily. He’d thought having Charity along would make things easier. And he’d have a witness to anything that happened…or didn’t happen. He hadn’t expected her to unleash her inner tiger.
She stood glaring at Melrose, fearless, beautiful and determined. Not many women were willing to take on a powerhouse reporter. Damn, Charity was good.
Melrose looked from Charity to him, then back. “I haven’t heard Josh tell me no.”
“Josh, would you please respond to Melrose’s very graphic invitation?” Charity said.
She didn’t bother to turn around. He liked that she didn’t worry that she had to look at him or give hints as to what he should say.
“No, thanks,” he said. “I’m with Charity.”
“Fine,” Melrose snapped. “Whatever.” She glanced at her watch. “Let’s get this over with. If we hurry, I can still catch a flight out of Sacramento and get the hell out of this pissant town.”
Ten minutes later he was powdered and miked, sitting across from a still annoyed Melrose. But the second the red light went on above the camera, her face relaxed and she smiled.
“I’m here with Josh Golden, who dazzled us for years, winning every major race, including back-to-back victories at the Tour de France.” She turned her gaze to him. “Rumor has it you’re back in the game.”
“I’ve entered a race to be held here, in Fool’s Gold. We’ll see how I do there.”
“Not ready to formally announce you’re returning to the sport you love?”
“No.” He wasn’t ready to do much of anything but get through another practice session without freaking out.
“You were the best,” Melrose reminded him. “Don’t you want a piece of the glory?”
“There’s more to competing than winning.”
“Yes, but none of that really matters, does it?” She smiled knowingly. “I know how you like to come out on top.”
Josh thought about Charity, watching just beyond the bright lights and held in a groan. Melrose was nothing if not persistent. At one time he might have found that intriguing, but not anymore. Now he wanted something different. Someone different. And as soon as the interview was over, he planned to tell her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“DID I THANK YOU FOR coming with me today?” Josh asked.
Charity rested her head on his shoulder. “About fifteen times.”
“Want to make it sixteen?”
They were in his bed, propped up on pillows, watching the sports show. Josh’s interview was next.
“If it makes you happy,” she said. “I’m okay with what happened and I understand why you felt you needed protection.”
“I didn’t need protection.”
She smiled, then kissed his shoulder. “You sure did. Melrose was scary. What were you thinking?”
A stupid question, she told herself. No doubt he’d been thinking that Melrose was beautiful and sexually aggressive and exactly what he needed after a difficult divorce. If she just thought about the ridiculous exchange they’d all had at the studio, she was fine, but if she allowed herself to actually dwell on the idea of Melrose and Josh in bed together, she started to freak.