12. Tyson
TWELVE
TYSON
I’m fascinated by Josie. I can’t exactly explain why, but I know she’s one of the most interesting women I’ve ever met.
We finished dinner over an hour ago, and I’m wishing time would just slow down so I can continue to get to know her. With each moment that passes by, I get nervous that she’s going to get up to leave, and our evening together will be over.
“Want to go sit outside?” I ask, wanting to find an excuse to keep her here longer.
Josie watches me closely for a few seconds. She purses her lips before her eyes dart to her lap. “I probably should get home.”
“Or…you could stay a little longer, and we can enjoy this beautiful weather outside together.” My heart races in my chest with anticipation of her answer.
I know my request might be a little too forward.
I can’t figure out if it’s better to be forward with her or bide my time and use the friendly neighbor angle, but there’s something in the way she hesitates to get up and the way she holds eye contact that makes me wonder if she wants to stay as badly as I want her to.
“I’ve got to work tomorrow, and I’ve already stayed later than I thought I would.”
“What’s a few more minutes, then?” I push, telling myself that if she says no again, I won’t say anything else. I don’t want to upset her by asking. I just hate the thought of the night ending here.
Josie stares at me for a few beats. The moment her lips turn up in a smile, my chest relaxes a little. “Okay,” she says under her breath. Her smile grows as she sits up in her seat. “But only a few more minutes, and then I do need to get to bed.”
I don’t give her any extra time to change her mind.
I just stand up and hold my hand out for her to take.
She stares at it for a moment before finally placing her hand in mine.
I try to ignore the way my pulse spikes because of the feel of her skin against mine.
I’ve kept a respectable distance from her this evening, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
Sure, I’m incredibly attracted to her. How could I not be?
But I’m also genuinely interested in getting to know her, and I don’t want to rush anything or make her feel uncomfortable in the slightest. Because of that, I made a point not to let my leg brush against hers as we sat at the counter next to each other.
I fought the urge to reach across the space between us and tuck behind her ear the stray piece of hair that kept slipping into her face while she spoke to me.
I wanted to find ways to let our bodies connect, and that’s new territory for me.
I’ve never been so instantly attracted to a woman, and I’m not sure how to proceed.
Trying to push away the thoughts of how much I love the feeling of her hand in mine, I help her to her feet.
I hold her hand only a few seconds longer than necessary to make sure she’s steady before letting it go.
I miss the feel of her skin against mine immediately, but I still ignore the urge to find a connection between our bodies.
Instead, I stuff my hands into my pockets and make my way toward the back porch.
I hold the door open for her and try not to stare at how much of her back is exposed due to the low cut of the dress she wears.
I want to place my hand at the small of her back and guide her to the seats by the pool that overlook the pond behind us, but I don’t.
I’m enjoying her company, and the last thing I want is to scare her off.
“It’s beautiful out here,” Josie says from in front of me. She looks over her shoulder and gives me a soft smile.
I return her smile, too distracted by the way she looks under the moonlight to even glance at the view around us.
The pale light traces every soft curve of her face, catching the glass on her lips and the sweep of her full lashes.
A few loose strands of her blonde hair move with the breeze, and I have the sudden, overwhelming urge to reach out and tuck them behind her ear, just so I have an excuse to touch her.
“It really is,” I respond, nodding toward a set of chairs by the pool. “Want to sit there?”
“Sure.”
It’s quiet as we both take a seat and then take in the views of the night around us. The moon is high in the sky. It isn’t quite a full moon, but it’s large enough to illuminate our surroundings perfectly.
“I know you said you just bought the house, but how long have you lived here?” Josie asks.
I stare ahead of me at the large pool a few feet away from us. “Me owning it is still very new.”
“How new?”
“This is my first week in it. That’s why there are renovations happening.”
She nods as she looks around at the yard. “What made you want to buy a house here?”
I sit up straighter at her question, loving that she’s even interested in the first place. “My sister. She and her husband come here for the summer season, and she finally convinced me that I should too.”
“Are you liking it so far?”
I hold her gaze. “I’m really starting to enjoy myself here.”
Her eyes go wide, and her full lips part. If I knew her a little more, this would be the time I lean in and ask if I could kiss her. It’d be the perfect moment under the moonlight after a night that was so enjoyable I never want it to end.
But I’ve only just met her, and I don’t want to rush anything.
Even so, I can’t help but let my stare move to her lips for a few seconds before I meet her gaze once again. Her hazel eyes are still wide and focused solely on me. I let the silence engulf us, dragging the moment out while I wait for her to respond.
Her tongue peeks out to wet her lips before her mouth spreads into the beginning of a smile. “Me too.”
My shoulders relax. “What about you? Do you come to the Hamptons often?”
“No, not really. Not since I was a teenager. I kind of forgot my grandfather owned a house here until he mentioned it.”
I lean forward, propping my chin in my palm as I watch her closely, soaking in every word she says.
“What brought you here this summer, then?” I ask, genuinely curious to know the answer.
Josie pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as her eyes dart over my shoulder.
Her gaze flitters around some before she meets mine again.
“Work,” she answers, her words quieter than they have been.
“I turned in a manuscript, and my publisher hated it. I was on the verge of a breakdown when my grandfather offered up the idea that maybe I need a change of scenery.”
“And is the change of scenery helping?”
She smiles as she lifts a shoulder. “I haven’t completely broken down yet, so maybe it’s working. Too soon to tell.”
“What are you planning to do out here when you’re not working? Do you know anyone?”
Her nose scrunches a little as she thinks through my question.
“Not really. I know Scarlett’s family is members at Pembroke and visit here, but as far as I’m aware, she doesn’t travel here often, especially since her career took off.
As far as my plans for the summer…I kind of just planned on working and hanging out at the house. ”
I click my tongue as I lean in a little closer to her. “Unacceptable.”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t come all the way to the Hamptons and work the whole time.”
“I know we don’t know each other well, but you strike me as a man who does exactly that.”
I can’t help but laugh because she’s right. The entire reason I bought the house down here in the first place was to try and force myself not to work. Now, after talking to her, I think I’ve found something that could take my mind away from my job.
“Okay, well, we’re both workaholics, and I say we change that this summer.”
“I can’t change that. I have to turn a book in to my publisher in six weeks.”
I let my gaze travel over her face. The soft wind blows stray tendrils of hair in the air.
The strands dance across her sharp cheekbones, the stray pieces brushing her skin the way I wish I could.
Eventually, my gaze meets hers again. She stares at me expectantly, waiting to hear my response to her excuse.
“That’s fine. I’ll give you time to work. But you can’t spend all your time working. Spend the rest of the time with me.”
Josie stares at me with the whisper of a smile on her lips. It seems like she wants to say yes. I don’t move an inch, hoping that if I’m still and silent as I await her response, it won’t break the moment, and she’ll agree to my offer.
Eventually, she lets out a long sigh. “I’d better get going.”
It feels like my entire body sags in defeat. I swore I had her, but instead, she’s not only not giving me an answer, but she’s leaving.
I want to ask her to stay, but I’ve already made it known that I want to spend more time with her this evening. If she wants to go, I’m not going to try and change her mind.
We hold each other’s gazes for a few beats before I’m the first one to break eye contact. I rub my palm over my mouth before I stand up and hold out a hand to help her from her seat. “Let me walk you home.”