Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(29)

“My parents help me out, and I work part-time at my father’s dealership. I have some student loans that pay for half of my boarding. I’ll probably be paying them back for the next twenty years, but it will be worth it.”

He motions to me with his fork. “I like that you have a plan. If only my son could take some pointers. He’s going to be living under my roof until the day I die.”

“Dad, come on. Not at breakfast. At least wait until dinner.”

Josh’s mom begins to laugh. “Don’t mind them. This is an every day conversation.”

I feel comfortable with them, and I can see that Josh knows it. He winks at me as we continue enjoying our meal.

I help with dishes, even though I’m told it’s no need. Once we’re finished, Josh pulls me up into his room, closes the door and then plants the biggest kiss on me. As he pulls away I can’t contain my emotions. “Breakfast was nice.”

“Lunch will be better.”

“What do you have in mind?”

He checks me out for a second. “You’re going to need to change your clothes, and then you’ll find out. Let’s just say it has to do with hills, and mud, and possibly a late afternoon dip in the family pond, clothing optional of course.”

“Optional?”

“When are you going to learn to trust me?”

I take him by the collar of his shirt and pull him into another maple-flavored kiss. “I’m working on it.”





This is terrible. I don’t want to like him this much.

But I do.

I’m crazy about him; like I want to throw caution to the wind and go for it without fear.





Chapter 13


Joshua


She’s the ultimate distraction from everything negative I have going on with my life. I’m starting to wonder if all the negative could have been left behind a long time ago, especially when I’m having this much fun.

Tamsyn has this way about her. When she walks into the room it does something to me, and for the few days we spent apart it felt like something was missing. I'm pissed at myself for never letting another woman into my life, but also glad because the one I'm getting to know now is the best of them all.



I have a full day planned. Ever since learning she's into dirt bikes and mudding, I'm determined to get us into some serious trails. I offer her one of my old long sleeved shirts, and manage to borrow a pair of pants from my mom that will fit her better than mine. She ties her hair back, but I offer a hat to pull it through anyway. She looks so damn cute I almost don't want her to get dirty -until I do.

We walk together toward the pole building where we keep the four wheelers. It's obvious she's a bit nervous about meeting my whole family. It's not like I asked if she wanted to. Since I'm used to getting what I want, I hadn't considered it would be difficult for her. This is one of my issues. I’m always in control, except now I can’t be. It’s tough. I’m walking on eggshells, afraid to say the wrong thing. I’m not used to dating a nice girl. The ones I’ve brought home know their purpose and oblige accordingly.

Now I’ve met someone who challenges my beliefs. She puts me in line by simply implying I could hurt her.

My family has an agreement about the equipment we all share. We’ve got to keep up with their maintenance, and always gas and clean them when we’re done. Figuring I have time to replenish, I toss her a set of keys, while I hold onto the other. “You ready?”

“I was born ready for this. Don’t pout when I leave you in my dust.”

Some of the things she says gets me worked up. Video game dominance and being awesome at motor sports. I mean, what guy wouldn’t want a girl version of themselves, just much prettier?

“I’m up for the challenge, but if I were you I’d let me lead. Some of the turns are tricky and come up out of nowhere. I’d hate for you to get hurt on my watch.”

“I’m going to hold you to that statement, Josh.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Helmets?” She asks.

“How rough are you planning on riding?”

She smirks. “Oh, I like it rough.”

We both get a kick out of it.

“I bet you do.”

We take the helmets along, just in case we start to get adventurous. For the most part I want to ride out to the hole, the family pond, and bask in a day of quiet. It’s been raining at night, so we’re bound to kick up a ton of mud. A refreshing dip will clean us off, and hopefully get me an afternoon delight.

I take her all through the trails in the backwoods, some of them created before I came along. While she follows behind me, my mind travels to the last time I brought a female back in these parts.

Liv.

My memories of her refuse to fade. I’ve compared her to every single female I’ve ever been involved with. She’s untouchable for me. She’s the one thing in this world I can’t have, and even though I feel as if I’m moving forward, I know a part of me will always wonder what if. It’s not like Tamsyn is a consolation. She’s everything Liv isn’t. We’re friends, which is a lot more than I can say for Olivia Parrish.

She taught me the meaning of a f*ck buddy, and I loved every minute of it.

My family says that when the right person came into my life I’d know it almost immediately, like I’d be able to sense that it’s just different than the others. I’m beginning to wonder if that’s what I’m experiencing with Tamsyn, and if it is, I want to do everything I can to be the man she needs, even if I have to change my ways, clean my room, and learn to put her first.