Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(9)

“Why would you think that? I had no clue what I was doing.”

“Because, if you look anything like you do now, he was probably freaking out. If I had to make an educated guess, I’d say he was only able to last twenty seconds.”

I place my palm over my mouth and laugh. “Probably less,” I correct him.

Josh shakes his head and shares in my amusement. “I knew it had to be something like that.”

The room is quiet as I peer out the window into the distance. He leans on the sill, his arm muscles flexing around the tight short sleeves of his shirt. I close my eyes and wonder what it would be like for him to really hold me. He’s built this way from years of working on the ranch. He doesn’t require a gym membership, or do it to impress the women. He’s naturally born and bred to look this way. I can literally imagine him driving me up against a wall and having his way with me. My whole body aches, but not in the way I’d like it to. I feel beaten and bruised. I’m exhausted, drained to the point of wanting to sleep for a week at a time. “I should call it a night, Josh. I’m not good company, and I can’t expect you to keep distracting me like you are. I’m sorry I’m not what you first expected.”

He stops me from walking away. “Tamsyn, hold on a minute.” The way he says my name gives me chills. I stop dead in my tracks and wait for his green eyes to lock in on mine. Right then I think about the way Livvy used to describe them when she spoke of Joshua Healy. She said his eyes were the color of a lime. She was right, but maybe a bit on the lighter side. The inner circle surrounding the pupils has a dark trace along the edge. They’re magnificent, and as he blinks it’s like slow motion. I’m captivated by his beauty, but also the fact that I’m standing this close to him, in such a strange predicament, not knowing how I’ve gotten to this point. “A woman as gorgeous as you are doesn’t deserve to feel the way you do. I may not be great at a lot of things, but I know for a fact I can make you forget about him tonight.” He lets his index finger drag over my lips. He’s so gentle. It’s all consuming. I’m falling victim to his charm. He’s seducing me and he knows it.

“I can’t. I don’t sleep around.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“Yes you are,” I say as I lightly shove him away. “You’re taunting me, and I’m not having it. I just broke up with my boyfriend.”

He puts his hands in the air. “Okay. I get it. You’re not interested, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up. Say the word and I’ll take you places you ain’t never been before.”

The sentence sends chills over my entire body. Is it bad that I’m picturing it; that I’m actually wondering if he can live up to his promises? “What word are you looking for?” I tease.

He approaches me again, making me wish I would have finished a second beer. “It’s a simple yes. Say the word and I’ll make you forget. There’s just one problem if you do agree to it.”

“What?” I curiously ask.

“You might like it so much that you want it to happen again.”

“You’re that good?” I imply while an air-filled laugh escapes me.

“Yeah. Yeah, I really am.”





Chapter 5


Joshua


I have her undivided attention. She’s biting down on her lip, thinking about everything I’m telling her. The idea of being able to forget her troubles for a time is appealing to anyone in her situation. I’m not pushing the idea, but simply feeding her enough to keep the curiosity going. If I’m anything, it’s loyal. I enjoy the company of a woman a little too much, but I also like feeling needed. Truth be told, I’m the only family member who doesn’t have someone to call my own. I’m not saying I want to get strapped down to one person, but it would be nice to have a beautiful woman by side when I want companionship. She may not be in the market, but it won’t stop me from offering.

“I’ve never had a one night stand.”

“Neither have I.” I can sense she doesn’t believe me. “I’m serious. It’s always been at least three nights, most more than that.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but words don’t come out. This pleases me. I’ve rendered her speechless. What I’ve also managed to do is keep her from crying for over an hour now. She’s entertained, which is a start. This one isn’t going to be easy, but now that I’ve started, I refuse to give up. She needs me just as much as I want to give it to her. She just needs to admit it to herself. “I’ve never been around someone so sure of themselves.”

“Turn off, or turn on?”

Her lips part, but it takes her a few seconds to actually answer. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Want to wager something?”

I have her intrigued. Her right brow cocks as she looks at me inquisitively for a moment. “A wager? For what? My innocence? You’re crazy if you think I’ll fall for that. No bet in the world could convince me to sleep with someone the first night after meeting him.”

She’s funny when she’s nervous. I get a kick out of seeing how far I can take my taunting. “The wager is minimal in the large spectrum of things. It’s just a kiss.”

“A kiss,” she chokes as she repeats it.