arms drop to his side. He couldn’t think clearly with Em so close, with her wonderful scent teasing his senses.
Watching the sudden confusion he felt reflected in her eyes, Josh realized he’d better get a grip on his wayward thoughts before he scared Em. He was her friend, always had been, always would be. She trusted him, and until now had absolutely no reason not to and he wasn’t about to ruin that friendship by entering a place Em had made very clear she was never going to go again.
He would never do anything to damage the trust they’d shared for so many years.
How many times had she reminded him that she didn’t want or need a man in her life? How many times had she told him that she intended never to fall in love again, never intended to depend or trust another man again?
Not just for her sake, but for the baby’s sake as well.
Glancing up at the sun, Josh decided it was just the afternoon heat that was frying his brain, making his mind travel to places it shouldn’t be going.
Not now. Not ever.
Still, he glanced at Em, standing before him with her hand over her belly, her eyes wide in surprise, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her—forever.
He quickly channeled his thoughts in another direction, back to their conversation.
“That’s a very kind thing to do, Em,” he said quietly, struggling to get control of his emotions. “I’m sure Mrs. O’Connor appreciates it.” It wasn’t enough that she was taking care of herself and the baby by herself, now she was taking care of Saddle Falls’s elderly.
He knew Em had always had a soft spot for Mrs. O’Connor and for anyone else who was alone and without a family to care for them. When they were in high school, Mrs. O’Connor had fallen and broken her ankle. Every day for almost two months, Em had gone over to the woman’s house after school, checking on her, running errands for her, cooking for her. She’d even borrowed her father’s truck to take Mrs. O’Connor to Doc Haggerty’s to get her cast removed.
Em sighed, trying not to let on how her pulse was jumping or her heart thudding. Josh so carelessly touched and kissed her—in friendship, she knew, and nothing more. And of course, she reasoned, it was only natural since they spent so much time together.
Only natural for two friends.
Em wanted to scowl, realizing she was beginning to hate the word. Friends.
If she just thought of Josh as a friend, how come every time he touched her or kissed her, her knees grew weak and she wanted to cling to him, to hold him, to lean on him in a way she’d sworn she’d never, ever do again.
Feeling fearful, and a bit embarrassed that she’d made a fool of herself, Em decided to get some perspective on the situation, not to let on to Josh how much his touch, or his kiss was affecting her.
“Are you hungry?” she asked abruptly.
“Hungry?” He cocked his head to look at her. “Am I getting senile or didn’t we just have lunch after we left Doc Haggerty’s office?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said, letting her grin slide wider. “We did.” She hesitated a moment, her grin growing wider. “And your point is…”
He laughed, relieved that his own tumultuous feelings apparently weren’t effecting her—or her appetite. “Okay, what do you say we stop and pick up something to eat—”
“Double cheeseburgers and fries?” she asked hopefully and he nodded.
“Double cheeseburgers and fries it is. Then afterward, once it cools down—”
“If it cools down,” she interrupted.
“Yeah, if it cools down, we can sit on your front porch and have ice cream?”
“Chocolate decadent fudge?” she asked with a lift of her brow, making him laugh.
“Is there any other kind?” Josh glanced back at the furniture warehouse, and a thought began bubbling in his mind. Em refused to take his help. She refused to take his money. But, she certainly wouldn’t refuse a gift? A baby gift for Baby Cakes. Would
Watching the sudden confusion he felt reflected in her eyes, Josh realized he’d better get a grip on his wayward thoughts before he scared Em. He was her friend, always had been, always would be. She trusted him, and until now had absolutely no reason not to and he wasn’t about to ruin that friendship by entering a place Em had made very clear she was never going to go again.
He would never do anything to damage the trust they’d shared for so many years.
How many times had she reminded him that she didn’t want or need a man in her life? How many times had she told him that she intended never to fall in love again, never intended to depend or trust another man again?
Not just for her sake, but for the baby’s sake as well.
Glancing up at the sun, Josh decided it was just the afternoon heat that was frying his brain, making his mind travel to places it shouldn’t be going.
Not now. Not ever.
Still, he glanced at Em, standing before him with her hand over her belly, her eyes wide in surprise, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and hold her—forever.
He quickly channeled his thoughts in another direction, back to their conversation.
“That’s a very kind thing to do, Em,” he said quietly, struggling to get control of his emotions. “I’m sure Mrs. O’Connor appreciates it.” It wasn’t enough that she was taking care of herself and the baby by herself, now she was taking care of Saddle Falls’s elderly.
He knew Em had always had a soft spot for Mrs. O’Connor and for anyone else who was alone and without a family to care for them. When they were in high school, Mrs. O’Connor had fallen and broken her ankle. Every day for almost two months, Em had gone over to the woman’s house after school, checking on her, running errands for her, cooking for her. She’d even borrowed her father’s truck to take Mrs. O’Connor to Doc Haggerty’s to get her cast removed.
Em sighed, trying not to let on how her pulse was jumping or her heart thudding. Josh so carelessly touched and kissed her—in friendship, she knew, and nothing more. And of course, she reasoned, it was only natural since they spent so much time together.
Only natural for two friends.
Em wanted to scowl, realizing she was beginning to hate the word. Friends.
If she just thought of Josh as a friend, how come every time he touched her or kissed her, her knees grew weak and she wanted to cling to him, to hold him, to lean on him in a way she’d sworn she’d never, ever do again.
Feeling fearful, and a bit embarrassed that she’d made a fool of herself, Em decided to get some perspective on the situation, not to let on to Josh how much his touch, or his kiss was affecting her.
“Are you hungry?” she asked abruptly.
“Hungry?” He cocked his head to look at her. “Am I getting senile or didn’t we just have lunch after we left Doc Haggerty’s office?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said, letting her grin slide wider. “We did.” She hesitated a moment, her grin growing wider. “And your point is…”
He laughed, relieved that his own tumultuous feelings apparently weren’t effecting her—or her appetite. “Okay, what do you say we stop and pick up something to eat—”
“Double cheeseburgers and fries?” she asked hopefully and he nodded.
“Double cheeseburgers and fries it is. Then afterward, once it cools down—”
“If it cools down,” she interrupted.
“Yeah, if it cools down, we can sit on your front porch and have ice cream?”
“Chocolate decadent fudge?” she asked with a lift of her brow, making him laugh.
“Is there any other kind?” Josh glanced back at the furniture warehouse, and a thought began bubbling in his mind. Em refused to take his help. She refused to take his money. But, she certainly wouldn’t refuse a gift? A baby gift for Baby Cakes. Would
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