Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)(70)
JOSH HAD KNOWN THERE was a risk involved when he’d asked Charity to join him today. But he’d been willing to deal with her being pissed—mostly because Melrose wasn’t the kind of woman who accepted rejection easily. He’d thought having Charity along would make things easier. And he’d have a witness to anything that happened…or didn’t happen. He hadn’t expected her to unleash her inner tiger.
She stood glaring at Melrose, fearless, beautiful and determined. Not many women were willing to take on a powerhouse reporter. Damn, Charity was good.
Melrose looked from Charity to him, then back. “I haven’t heard Josh tell me no.”
“Josh, would you please respond to Melrose’s very graphic invitation?” Charity said.
She didn’t bother to turn around. He liked that she didn’t worry that she had to look at him or give hints as to what he should say.
“No, thanks,” he said. “I’m with Charity.”
“Fine,” Melrose snapped. “Whatever.” She glanced at her watch. “Let’s get this over with. If we hurry, I can still catch a flight out of Sacramento and get the hell out of this pissant town.”
Ten minutes later he was powdered and miked, sitting across from a still annoyed Melrose. But the second the red light went on above the camera, her face relaxed and she smiled.
“I’m here with Josh Golden, who dazzled us for years, winning every major race, including back-to-back victories at the Tour de France.” She turned her gaze to him. “Rumor has it you’re back in the game.”
“I’ve entered a race to be held here, in Fool’s Gold. We’ll see how I do there.”
“Not ready to formally announce you’re returning to the sport you love?”
“No.” He wasn’t ready to do much of anything but get through another practice session without freaking out.
“You were the best,” Melrose reminded him. “Don’t you want a piece of the glory?”
“There’s more to competing than winning.”
“Yes, but none of that really matters, does it?” She smiled knowingly. “I know how you like to come out on top.”
Josh thought about Charity, watching just beyond the bright lights and held in a groan. Melrose was nothing if not persistent. At one time he might have found that intriguing, but not anymore. Now he wanted something different. Someone different. And as soon as the interview was over, he planned to tell her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“DID I THANK YOU FOR coming with me today?” Josh asked.
Charity rested her head on his shoulder. “About fifteen times.”
“Want to make it sixteen?”
They were in his bed, propped up on pillows, watching the sports show. Josh’s interview was next.
“If it makes you happy,” she said. “I’m okay with what happened and I understand why you felt you needed protection.”
“I didn’t need protection.”
She smiled, then kissed his shoulder. “You sure did. Melrose was scary. What were you thinking?”
A stupid question, she told herself. No doubt he’d been thinking that Melrose was beautiful and sexually aggressive and exactly what he needed after a difficult divorce. If she just thought about the ridiculous exchange they’d all had at the studio, she was fine, but if she allowed herself to actually dwell on the idea of Melrose and Josh in bed together, she started to freak.
She didn’t need ongoing proof that they were from different worlds and possibly headed in different directions.
She didn’t want that, she thought. But if Josh did, then that’s what he should do.
The show host announced the interview, doing a quick introduction, then the screen switched to the recording of Josh with Melrose.
“I’m here with Josh Golden, who dazzled us for years, winning every major race, including back-to-back victories at the Tour de France.”
Charity had seen the whole thing happening live, but it was worse on the flat-screen TV. “Oh my God! She wants to have sex with you. I knew it before, but you can see it in her eyes. The way she looks at you.”
Josh reached for the remote. “I can’t watch this.” He clicked off the TV. “I’ll get feedback tomorrow. Steve, my former coach, will let me know how it went.”
“He’ll probably want to know if you’re current on your shots.”
Josh rolled toward her and grinned. “Someone’s being defensive.”
“Apparently someone needs to stand between you and every single woman on the planet. I’m not sure if I should find this funny or have a total freakout.”
“Do I get a vote?”
She stared into his hazel-green eyes, then lightly touched his cheek. “I’m laughing on the inside. Did stuff like this really happen all the time?”
He hesitated. “Some. Before I was married. I was young and willing and so were they.”
She wondered if he could give an approximate count on the “they.” A hundred? A thousand? Did she want to know?
“Once I got into a relationship, the rules changed. I’m always faithful.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Seriously?”
“Never cheated once. I wasn’t tempted. I always figured if I was interested in someone enough to want to sleep with her, then there were problems with my current relationship. So I either fixed those or ended things. I was faithful during my marriage, and even during the divorce. I waited until the paperwork was signed.” He grimaced. “Angelique didn’t share my reticence.”