Chapter 6
Chapter Six
TATE
Josie tucked one of her brown curls behind her ear as she laughed. I wanted to lean across the table and kiss her. Damn. She was so sexy and cute.
My body felt as if it were humming. Her presence was like a foot on a gas pedal, feathering and revving my pulse again and again and again.
I’d known Josie for as long as I could remember.
I’d always liked her as a friend, yet I’d never liked her like this.
When she rested her elbows on the table, I had to force my eyes away from the creamy swell of her breasts in the V of her T-shirt.
I cleared my throat, trying to behave normally. “You’re home, and I got the update on your work situation, but what about your personal life? Did you leave anybody behind? Break any hearts?”
Her curls swung as she shook her head. “Pretty sure I’ve never broken anybody’s heart, Tate.”
I had no doubt Josie had broken someone’s heart. She was cute and sexy as hell. I’d already had a few too many fantasies about where I could bend her over in the past hour because the sweet curves of her bottom were beyond temptation. I wasn’t about to tell her that.
“Aside from the big news about Kara, what’s the scoop on your life?
Should we start with whether you’ve broken any hearts?
” Josie made a show of looking around my house, which, in all honesty, was sparsely furnished and not thoroughly decorated.
“I don’t see any signs of a girlfriend or a wife.
In fact, this place is furnished like the one I’ll be staying in,” she pointed out.
Her gaze was teasing when she looked back at me.
“I’m not the best with decorating and will gladly accept any help you want to offer in that department. I'm not married and not even serious with anyone. Just minding my own business, being a single dad, fighting fires, and—” I shrugged.
“Snapping up real estate like a rich man,” Josie finished for me.
I rolled my eyes. “I wouldn’t describe it like that, but fine.”
The minute I said the word “fine,” my brain jumped tracks. Josie looked better than fine.
Unlike me, Josie could focus on the track of our conversation. “Have you broken any hearts, though? Actually, that’s a ridiculous question. I have no doubt you’ve left a trail of broken hearts. Do you have a bad reputation in town?” She waggled her brows.
I burst out laughing. “Fuck, no. Trying to date as a single father is too complicated for me to bother. Willow Brook is small, so you know how that goes.”
I didn’t expound on the truth, which was I only dated occasionally when I traveled.
I was very over the high school drama of my ex screwing around on me with my best friend.
What happened back then had taught me an important lesson—don’t shit where you live.
I didn’t plan to date in Willow Brook unless it was with someone I knew I wanted to get serious with. I didn’t need to be fending off rumors.
I should thank Kayla. She did me a favor.
Back then, I was young and dumb. I would’ve asked her to marry me because she was my first love.
We were too young, and I knew that now. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe people could change, but I knew now my feelings for her back then had been pretty shallow.
A decade had given me some wisdom in that regard.
The betrayal of Lyle had burned deeper because he’d been my friend.
That experience had forever etched caution into my heart.
I second-guessed almost everyone. Maybe that was why I hadn’t had a single serious relationship since then.
“You’re almost as boring as me,” she teased.
I chuckled. “It’s really good to have you back in town. I know your mom and dad are thrilled you’re here, and lots of other people will be too.”
“Probably not Kayla and Lyle,” she quipped.
“They made their bed, and they can lie in it, even if they’re not together anymore. I hope you’re really over that.”
She wrinkled her nose before letting out a soft sigh. “I’m just grateful I learned what they were both capable of before I put more into it.”
I studied her for a few beats before replying, “Agree. Life is funny like that. So you’re going to work for Janet and…?” I circled my hand in the air.
“Figure my life out. I’m still going to ski. I’m excited to hear you’ll be resurrecting the old ski trails. I was prepared to make the trek to Girdwood or even Diamond Creek to ski. But once the place here is up and running, I’ll be able to ski whenever I want.”
“Help me understand the finances of being a skier. I feel like you should be coasting.”
“To be honest, unless you’re at the tippy-top of the rankings, there’s not a lot of money in it.
Most people do it on the side and have something else to help them get by.
Endorsements are slim pickings unless you’re at the top, and it’s not like women’s downhill skiing is a major sport.
Most people only hear about it every four years at the Olympics.
Trying to train is also expensive. Most sports are like that, especially women’s sports.
When I did the math, it didn’t make sense to keep trying to train in such an expensive area.
I missed Alaska. I don’t plan to work long-term at a coffee shop, it’ll be perfect while I get settled. ”
When she smiled over at me, yet again that engine in my body revved. It was unsettling. I had never looked at Josie this way in my life.
She glanced out the windows, commenting, “It’s snowing.”
“It’s winter in Alaska,” I said dryly.
“Let me help you clean up.” She stood and collected our plates. Kara had put hers in the sink before she went to bed.
I followed her to the sink, reaching for the plates to wash them.
“I can get this,” she insisted.
“So can I,” I teased.
“But you bought the pizza,” she countered.
“I’m absolutely positive you will share a pizza with me at some point. You don’t have to keep score. You wash, I’ll rinse.”
The kitchen counters were wiped down a few minutes later, and the dishes were drying on the rack. “I’ll walk you to your place,” I offered.
As she slipped into her jacket and boots, I added, “By the way, pets are allowed.”
She slid her gaze to mine, her brows hitching up. “Really? Is that the best plan?”
I chuckled. “I don’t know. I was just thinking about your old dog in high school. He went everywhere with you.”
“Aw, I loved him.”
“His name was Harley, right?”
“You remembered!” She looked overjoyed.
“Of course, I remembered. He liked to put his head on the shoulder of whoever was sitting in your front seat when you were driving.”
“I miss him,” she said as I held the door for her.
“Remember Tiffany Mills?” I asked.
“Of course. She was a year or so ahead of us in high school,” Josie replied.
“Right. Well, she married Wes, who you also might remember. His mom runs the local animal rescue program, and he and Tiffany help out there. He’s a firefighter, so I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. Tiffany will show up in the coffee shop, so be prepared for her to sell you on a cat or a dog.”
Josie walked through the softly falling snow. “I’m not a hard sell on that.”
When we reached her door, I commented, “The switch for the outside lights is to the right just inside. The one for the back porch is in the kitchen by that door.”
She smiled up at me. I wasn’t thinking. At all. My rational brain fled as if I’d been caught breaking and entering somewhere. I was looking down at Josie. Her eyes were twinkling, and her lips were curled into a slight smile, and I just wanted to kiss her.
I could’ve sworn her eyes contained an answering flare of desire. I took a step closer, murmuring, “It’s really good to see you, Josie.”
Her palm landed on my chest, where my jacket hung open. “You too, Tate.”
I dipped my head, lifting my hand to palm her cheek.
She didn’t move. Her lips were plump and pink, her smile the tiniest bit lopsided.
A second later, my lips brushed hers. Electricity zapped through me, lighting my body up like lightning flashing in the darkness.
She made this soft sound in the back of her throat and stepped closer.
“Josie,” I whispered against her lips before claiming her mouth.