there were questions in her eyes. He knew what they were. What’s going on here? I thought you didn’t want me around. How come you’re being so nice?
How come? Damned if he knew. He only knew he was intensely aware of her, of the curve of her cheek, the sunlight in her hair, the glow of her eyes, the way she blushed, the lilt of her voice, every expression that crossed her face, every word she spoke. He didn’t want her out of his sight for fear he’d miss something.
He remembered the heated kisses they’d shared the other day, the warmth of her body and how she’d promised to keep her hands off him. He also remembered the guilt he’d felt afterward. But he didn’t feel it now. There was no reason to feel guilty. He was just being hospitable to a guest. Yeah, sure.
“But I don’t know how to throw horseshoes,” she protested as they walked across the field.
“Nothing to it.”
“Is it anything like operating a slingshot?”
“Same thing. Pull back, aim and let go. I’ll help you.”
He found that to help her it was necessary to be on her team. To wrap his arms around her. It was essential that her silky hair brush his cheek, that she fit in his arms like she was meant to be there. Working together, with his hand holding on to hers, holding the horseshoe, they won a few points. They also won the attention of several other guests.
“Foul play,” his sister yelled from the other end of the pit. “Two against one. I don’t have a chance.”
Bridget tried to pull out of his arms, but he tightened his grasp around her. “She’s a sore loser,” he explained just loud enough for Martha to hear.
When the game was over and his father took a seat in the middle of the crowd to open his presents, Josh’s sister sidled up to him where he was leaning against the cottonwood tree.
“What’s going on?” she asked under her breath.
“Going on?” he repeated innocently.
She punched him in the arm. “Don’t play games with me. Do you think I’m blind? Do you think I’ve been married so long I don’t recognize out-and-out flirting when I see it?”
“That’s all it is,” he said, suddenly serious. “I would never— You know I’d never get serious about anyone again.”
“Why not? You’re free, you’re over twenty-one, and you’ve got a lot to offer the right woman.”
“The right woman was Molly. And despite the fact that we had everything going for us—”
“She died. But you didn’t die with her. You’re alive, Josh. And so is this woman you brought to the party. She’s delightful. She’s charming and if I’m not mistaken...”
“But you are mistaken. You’re mistaken if you think I’d ever take a chance on love again. No matter how delightful and charming Bridget is.”
“So you admit it,” his sister said with a knowing smile.
“She’s delightful and charming, and she’s a career woman from the city. Do you think for one minute—”
“Yes, I do. I think if you gave her the time of day, she’d jump at the chance to give the country a try. I saw the way she looked around Mom’s kitchen. She even said she envied our family.”
“She did?”
“She did,” his sister said. “You take it all for granted. But to a city girl, it can look pretty idyllic. Can’t you see that?”
He shook his head.
“If you won’t think of yourself, think about Max, about how he needs a mother.”
“You’re not the first person to tell me that. But I’m not going to marry someone so Max can have a mother. I’d only get married again if I fell in love. Which I’m not going to do,” he added firmly.
“Oh, Josh,” Martha said, her eyes filling with tears. “I just want you to be happy. Ever since you were a little kid, even from the day they brought you home from the hospital, Lauren and I have watched you as you grew up, proud of what you did, envying you your skill at making friends, playing football, taming horses. It seemed like there was nothing you couldn’t do,
How come? Damned if he knew. He only knew he was intensely aware of her, of the curve of her cheek, the sunlight in her hair, the glow of her eyes, the way she blushed, the lilt of her voice, every expression that crossed her face, every word she spoke. He didn’t want her out of his sight for fear he’d miss something.
He remembered the heated kisses they’d shared the other day, the warmth of her body and how she’d promised to keep her hands off him. He also remembered the guilt he’d felt afterward. But he didn’t feel it now. There was no reason to feel guilty. He was just being hospitable to a guest. Yeah, sure.
“But I don’t know how to throw horseshoes,” she protested as they walked across the field.
“Nothing to it.”
“Is it anything like operating a slingshot?”
“Same thing. Pull back, aim and let go. I’ll help you.”
He found that to help her it was necessary to be on her team. To wrap his arms around her. It was essential that her silky hair brush his cheek, that she fit in his arms like she was meant to be there. Working together, with his hand holding on to hers, holding the horseshoe, they won a few points. They also won the attention of several other guests.
“Foul play,” his sister yelled from the other end of the pit. “Two against one. I don’t have a chance.”
Bridget tried to pull out of his arms, but he tightened his grasp around her. “She’s a sore loser,” he explained just loud enough for Martha to hear.
When the game was over and his father took a seat in the middle of the crowd to open his presents, Josh’s sister sidled up to him where he was leaning against the cottonwood tree.
“What’s going on?” she asked under her breath.
“Going on?” he repeated innocently.
She punched him in the arm. “Don’t play games with me. Do you think I’m blind? Do you think I’ve been married so long I don’t recognize out-and-out flirting when I see it?”
“That’s all it is,” he said, suddenly serious. “I would never— You know I’d never get serious about anyone again.”
“Why not? You’re free, you’re over twenty-one, and you’ve got a lot to offer the right woman.”
“The right woman was Molly. And despite the fact that we had everything going for us—”
“She died. But you didn’t die with her. You’re alive, Josh. And so is this woman you brought to the party. She’s delightful. She’s charming and if I’m not mistaken...”
“But you are mistaken. You’re mistaken if you think I’d ever take a chance on love again. No matter how delightful and charming Bridget is.”
“So you admit it,” his sister said with a knowing smile.
“She’s delightful and charming, and she’s a career woman from the city. Do you think for one minute—”
“Yes, I do. I think if you gave her the time of day, she’d jump at the chance to give the country a try. I saw the way she looked around Mom’s kitchen. She even said she envied our family.”
“She did?”
“She did,” his sister said. “You take it all for granted. But to a city girl, it can look pretty idyllic. Can’t you see that?”
He shook his head.
“If you won’t think of yourself, think about Max, about how he needs a mother.”
“You’re not the first person to tell me that. But I’m not going to marry someone so Max can have a mother. I’d only get married again if I fell in love. Which I’m not going to do,” he added firmly.
“Oh, Josh,” Martha said, her eyes filling with tears. “I just want you to be happy. Ever since you were a little kid, even from the day they brought you home from the hospital, Lauren and I have watched you as you grew up, proud of what you did, envying you your skill at making friends, playing football, taming horses. It seemed like there was nothing you couldn’t do,
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