I sipped my beer while the conversation turned from Aunt Louise’s lack of matchmaking skills to Luke’s latest car restoration punctuated by commentary on the karaoke song choices. At least they weren’t talking about Audrey anymore.
Not that it kept her out of my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment when I’d almost kissed her. She’d been right there, giving me every indication she wanted me to. Hand on my chest, chin lifted, lips parted. And I’d have been lying if I’d said I didn’t want it too.
So why hadn’t I done it? Was I really so convinced I was too much of a grumpy bastard to even date her?
That was a lie too.
Granted, I was too much of a grumpy bastard to date a sweet thing like her. That was true enough. But it wasn’t what was stopping me.
Temporary, she’d said. Tilikum was temporary.
Audrey wasn’t the first woman in my life to feel that way. And I wasn’t letting it happen again.
CHAPTER 18
Josiah
I held the door steady while Dad put in the first screw to attach the door to the hinges. Hanging doors always took longer than it should. There were small adjustments to make and nothing was ever truly square, especially in an older house.
We were going with two-panel shaker doors, painted white. Simple and clean. And they were a hell of a lot better than the cheap hollow core doors that had been in here when we’d bought it.
The house still looked empty and unfinished, but it was coming along.
Dad finished screwing in the hinges. I stepped back and he swung the door closed, then opened it again.
“Good fit,” he said.
I grunted in agreement.
We moved on to the next door. I held it up while Dad screwed it onto the hinges.
“Everything all right?” he asked out of the blue.
“Yeah. Why?”
He shrugged. “You’ve been quiet today.”
“I’m always quiet.”
“Preoccupied, then.”
I was preoccupied—by a curvy brunette who wasn’t even home. But I wasn’t about to admit it. “Just thinking ahead. Tile guys haven’t gotten back to us with a date.”
“I’ll follow up in the morning.”
“Thanks.”
He set the cordless drill on the floor and stretched his back.
“You want to finish these tomorrow?”
“Yeah.” He twisted, cracking his spine. “I’m getting too old for this.”
I patted him on the back.
We picked up our tools and brought them to the garage. The last couple of interior doors were propped up against the wall and there was still sawdust on the floor. I needed to spend some time cleaning up in preparation for the next phase of the renovation.
“If you want some dinner, feel free to come up to the house,” Dad said.
“Thanks.”
The noise of a car approached and I glanced out. Aunt Louise’s beige Buick pulled into the driveway behind my truck.
“Damn.”
Dad patted me on the back. “Good luck, son.”
“You’re leaving?”
“She didn’t park behind me.”
I glowered at him. “Thanks.”
She got out, dressed in a hot pink track suit and oversize sunglasses, and waved. “Hi, Paul. Say hi to Marlene.”
“Will do, Louise,” Dad said as he got in his truck.
“Josiah.” She flashed me a bright smile. “Just the man I was looking for.”
The passenger side door of her car opened and a blond woman got out. She was dressed in a tank top and shorts, showing off a lot of tanned skin.
“This is Aida,” Louise said, as if that was supposed to mean something to me.
Aida approached with a smile and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
My brow furrowed as I looked at her outstretched hand.
“Josiah,” Louise chided. “Don’t be rude.”
I took her hand and shook.
“I’m glad we caught you,” Louise said. “Aida needs a ride out to her grandmother’s house. You know my good friend Florence. I’d be happy to take her myself, but I don’t have time.”
“Why not?”
She only hesitated for a second. “I have plans. And you know where Florence lives, it’s in the opposite direction.”
This was so transparent, it was ridiculous. “Really? Plans?”
“I misjudged the time. I feel terrible about it, but you’ll help your auntie, won’t you?”
Aida’s lips were pressed in a smile. I couldn’t tell if she was in on it or if I was being foisted on her as awkwardly as she was being foisted on me.
I let out a frustrated breath. I could stand there and argue or I could take Aida to her grandma’s and be done with it. Maybe Aunt Louise would consider her work done and leave me alone for a while.
“Fine.”
“You’re such a dear.” Louise stepped in and popped on her tiptoes to give me a kiss on the cheek. “Have a good evening.”
“Mm hmm.”
She waved to both of us as she scampered back to her car. “Goodbye, you two! Don’t get into any trouble.”
“Of course not, Louise,” Aida said. “It was nice to see you.”
She got in her car, backed out of the driveway, and left.
“Well, that was interesting,” Aida said. “I swear, I didn’t know what she was up to.”
“Whatever. Just get in.”
“Hold on.” She came closer and sucked on the end of her thumb, then swiped it across my cheek. “She got lipstick on you.”
My back stiffened. I didn’t particularly want her touching me. She wiped my cheek again and shifted closer, right as Audrey pulled into her driveway.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
I tried to move but Aida had me backed up against my truck.
“I didn’t know what she was up to, but I’m glad she did it. I saw you at the bar the other night and I couldn’t help but wonder about you.”
My brows drew in and I was painfully aware that Audrey was watching this.
“I’m just going to be blunt,” Aida continued, inching closer to me. “I know Louise and my grandma have been conspiring to get us together. It’s cute. But I also know that Louise probably told you I’m a nice girl.” Her eyes swept up and down and she licked her lips. “I’m not a nice girl, Josiah.”
I felt like a caged animal. Audrey called for Max. From the corner of my eye, I could see her as she led him inside. I wanted to run over there. Tell her this wasn’t what it looked like; it wasn’t my fault.
But I hesitated. And a second later, her door shut behind her.
I wanted to give Aida a ride about as much as I wanted a hole in the head, but I couldn’t tell her to walk. Her grandma lived off the highway south of town. Which was obviously why Louise had dropped her off. She knew I’d do it and figured a drive together might get me to ask her out.
“Let’s go,” I said, before Aida could try to give my face another spit bath. I brushed past her and went for the driver’s side while I swiped the back of my hand over my cheek, both to rid myself of the last vestiges of Aunt Louise’s lipstick and to wipe away Aida’s saliva.
Aida got in the passenger’s seat and shut her door. “Are you okay?”
No. The girl next door who I’m not supposed to have feelings for just saw me with another woman, which shouldn’t matter because I didn’t kiss her for a reason. But now I feel like garbage about all of it. “Yeah.”
“Are you sure? If you don’t want to give me a ride, I can—”
“It’s fine.” I turned on the engine and backed down the driveway.
“Sorry if I came on too strong. I just like to be up front with people. I’m only staying for another few weeks, so obviously I’m not interested in anything serious.” She paused. “I thought that might be appealing to you.”
“It probably would be for a lot of guys.”
“But not you.”
I shook my head.
“You’re kind of fascinating, Josiah Haven. You realize that, don’t you?” She seemed to expect a reply, but when I didn’t give her one, she kept going. “You’re exactly the type of guy I usually go for. Dark and brooding, averse to commitment. Emotionally unavailable but probably an animal in bed. And down to a man, they always want exactly what I want. But apparently not you.”
“Guess not.”
“What do you want?”
Audrey. I wanted Audrey.
Damn it. No, I didn’t.
“To be left alone.”
“I really want to ask who hurt you but I doubt you’ll tell me.”
“What are you, a therapist?”
“Actually, yes.”