Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
JOSIE
A few days later
“You want me to fix the heater even though you’re crashing with Tate?” Beck asked.
I narrowed my eyes at my nosy cousin. “Where I sleep is really none of your business,” I pointed out, striving for a dismissive tone.
Beck snorted and rolled his eyes. “It really is none of my business, but it’s totally my business.
I know you’re not my little sister, but you might as well be.
You were always at my house when we were kids, and I’m older than you.
You also don’t have an older brother to be protective, so it’s kind of my job,” he explained.
My cheeks heated, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “Fix the heater, Beck.”
“Sure thing,” he replied easily and got to work.
Even though I really wanted to see Tate because I pretty much always wanted to see Tate, much to my chagrin, he arrived in the middle of this.
When Beck saw Tate walking in, he glanced over. “I have it working, but I still think you should have the people who installed it come out because a few parts need to be replaced. It’ll manage for another week or so,” Beck said as he straightened. “And that’ll cost you…” He glanced at his watch.
“That’ll cost nothing,” I said dryly.
Beck flashed a grin and winked at Tate before he waggled his brows. “I know you two are shacking up, and I was just explaining to Josie—”
I lightly swatted him on the shoulder. “Shut up, Beck. Please stay out of this,” I ordered him.
His gaze sobered as he glanced between us before his eyes landed on Tate. “If you hurt her, I might have to kick your ass. How are you handling it with Kara?”
Tate sighed, resting a hand on his hip. “I’m sleeping on the couch as far as Kara is concerned.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, could you get out of here, Beck?” I muttered.
Tate had enough wisdom to stay silent after my comment.
After Beck left, Tate and I looked at each other for a long moment.
Whenever I looked into his eyes, I felt tingly all over, and butterflies amassed in my belly.
With my heart pounding hard and fast, it felt as if he held a link to it, a silken rope that bound us together.
Emotion rushed through me in a startling wave.
“The heat works.” My voice sounded a little rusty.
He nodded, pressing his tongue into his cheek as he studied me. “So you could stay here tonight if you wanted.”
I didn’t want that. At all. “What if I don’t want to?”
His eyes darkened. “I’d love for you to stay with me,” he finally answered, just when I thought I might topple over from the anticipation.
“I mean, I’m sleeping on the couch,” he teased.
Even though he was joking, my early morning schedule made it easy for us to be up and about well before his daughter woke up, so it was convenient.
The moment suddenly felt light, as if someone had opened the curtains in a dark room and sunlight flooded in with a fresh gust of air. I felt my lips curling into a smile, and then, inexplicably, I giggled.
Tate’s eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile stretching from one side to the other as my belly spun in wild flips. I thought maybe I needed to explain myself, but this was Tate, and explaining things never seemed all that necessary with him.
He chuckled and looped his arms loosely around my waist. “Stay with me, sweetheart.”
“You mean that?” I pressed as joy fizzed inside.
He nodded slowly. “Every night.”