“No, it’s fine. I don’t even know why I’m upset. You’re just the guy working on the house next door who was nice to me a few times and apparently I’m that desperate. I get a tiny bit of attention from a guy who’s just trying to be a decent human and suddenly I’m like, oh Audrey, he’s so hot, and oh Audrey, what if he kissed you. I’m the ridiculous one and I know it, so you don’t have to say anything.”
He came closer, but this time didn’t stop, backing me into the wall. His arms caged me in and he leaned down until our noses almost touched.
“Audrey.”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
His lips crashed down on mine. The shock of hot contact left me breathless. He wrapped one hand around the back of my neck, threading his fingers through my hair, while the other went to the small of my back. He pulled me against him and held me in a firm grip while his mouth worked magic on mine.
Despite how much I wanted that kiss, anger welled up inside me. I planted my hands on his chest and shoved.
He let go, dropping his hands and separating his mouth from mine. But instead of pushing him back halfway across the room like I’d intended, he only moved a few inches away.
“You can’t just come in here and kiss me like that.” My voice was embarrassingly breathless. “Especially if you were just kissing someone else.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You looked awfully cozy.”
“That wasn’t my fault. My aunt Louise made me give her a ride home.”
“What I saw was not you giving her a ride home.”
He moved closer again, planting his hands on the wall on either side of me. “What you saw was me turning her down.”
Some of my anger evaporated, leaving confusion in its place. “Josiah, I’m confused. I don’t know what’s happening here.”
He stared at me, his gaze so intense I felt like I might melt. “I’ve been trying really hard to not like you.”
“If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it’s not working.”
“It’s just the truth. I didn’t want any of this. I didn’t want to care about you or worry about you. I liked my life the way it was before you showed up in my town.”
I had no idea what to say to that, so I just waited for him to continue.
He leaned in. “But it’s impossible to resist you.”
With his palms still planted on the wall, he kissed me again. This time, I put up no resistance. My eyes fluttered closed and I sank into his kiss. His lips were soft and warm, his beard rough against my skin.
He shifted closer, slanting his mouth over mine. I slid my hands up his broad chest and pressed myself against him. His arms wound around me as his tongue delved in, sliding against mine.
He took the kiss deeper, devouring me like a man starving. I was practically limp in his arms. Nothing could have prepared me for what it would be like to kiss Josiah Haven.
I lost track of time but eventually, he gently pulled back. We hesitated there for a long moment, just breathing.
“I’ve been trying really hard to not like you, too,” I said. “But mostly just today.”
His eyes darted to the side, drawing my gaze in the same direction.
Max sat watching us with his tail wagging.
“Your dog is being weird again.”
“I know.”
“I should let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
“So that’s it?” I asked. “You just came over here to kiss me?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you plan that out beforehand, or–”
“No.”
His short, straightforward answers made me like him so much. I smiled at him. “I’m glad you did.”
“So we’re good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“Are you going to the festival tomorrow?”
“I have to for work.”
“Good.” He stepped back. “I’ll see you then.”
I watched him go, shaking my head in bewilderment. Had that just happened? Had Josiah just barged into my house to kiss me, and then left?
Of course he had. That was so him. He’d wanted me to know something, and he’d communicated more with that kiss than words could possibly have done.
The fact that it left me wanting more—so much more—was exciting rather than frustrating. I’d see him tomorrow.
And who knew what that would bring. For now, Josiah Haven liked me, and knowing that made my day.
CHAPTER 20
Audrey
I’d almost forgotten how cute a small-town festival could be. When I was a kid, I’d always looked forward to the little festivals and events in my hometown. In middle and high school they’d become less enjoyable, probably because they were times I was expected to be “on.”
Smile, Audrey, but don’t stand in front of your father.
Wave, Audrey, we need to make a good impression.
Still, I had fond memories of ice cream and honey sticks. Of parades and balloons and farm fresh produce.
But Pinecrest’s events had nothing on the weekend-long Tilikum Mountain Man Festival.
The town was bursting with people, as if every man, woman, and child in a hundred-mile radius had come for the festivities. Several downtown streets had been closed to traffic and were lined with vendor booths. It was like a farmers market on steroids. People were selling everything from the usual, like flats of luscious red strawberries and bunches of cut flowers, to the unusual, like squirrel repellent and yard art made of old car parts.
The market was just the beginning. Lumberjack Park, in the center of town, was also the center of the action. Men and women lined up to compete in a series of games and as far as I could tell, the prizes were nothing more than bragging rights. There was an archery tournament, wood chopping and log pulling contests, and other competitions showing off feats of strength.
It was riveting. I’d been to the festival with my parents when I was a kid—most Pinecrest residents went—but it was even better than I remembered.
Sandra nudged me. “You should take the occasional break from staring to take a picture or two.”
“I wasn’t staring.” I lifted the camera and took a few photos of the ongoing wood chopping contest. “I was just watching.”
“Yeah, right.”
It didn’t help that it was Josiah going head-to-head with his brother-in-law, Levi Bailey. Two shirtless men furiously chopping wood while the crowd around them cheered like it was a professional sports game? How could I not stare?
I zoomed in on Josiah and took another picture, wondering if it was possible to capture the way sweat glistened on his taut skin as his muscles flexed.
Just to be fair, I took a picture of Levi, too. After all, I wasn’t here to hang out, I was here to cover the event for the Tribune. I couldn’t spend all my time watching Josiah.
“This puts me in a very awkward position,” Sandra said.
“How so?”
“I’m either drooling over a married man or drooling over your boyfriend. It was easier when Josiah was single. He’s such a lumbersnack.”
“I don’t know if he’s really my boyfriend.”
“Oh fun, are we playing the denial game?”
“I’m not in denial, I’m just saying this isn’t middle school where you hold hands at lunch once and that means you’re together. So yeah, he kissed me, but that doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship.”
“He’s showing off for you.”
“No, he’s not. He’s just competitive.”
“He keeps glancing up to see if you’re still watching.”
Just then, his eyes lifted. It was only for a second, while he raised the splitting maul to swing again, but she was right.
My stomach fluttered and I had to press my lips together to hide my smile.
“You’re so cute,” Sandra said. “Quit it, I’m getting jealous.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m just coming to terms with the fact that there aren’t any decent eligible men my age in this town.”
“Of course there are.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Who?”
“I don’t know, I’m still new here. But there must be. This town isn’t that small.”
“Miracles do happen, I suppose.”
A tingle ran down my spine and the hairs on my arms stood on end. I glanced over my shoulder, wondering why I suddenly felt like I was being watched. There were people everywhere, of course eyes would be on me. That didn’t mean someone was intentionally watching me.
I didn’t see anyone, but the image of Colin stepping behind a group of people to stay hidden came to mind.
No. He wasn’t there. No one was watching me. I was just being dramatic again.
The crowd started counting down from ten, drawing my attention back to the competition. Josiah and Levi chopped faster, their piles of split wood growing.