27. Josie
TWENTY-SEVEN
JOSIE
My heart slams against my chest, and my entire body feels warm due to embarrassment…and because of the aftermath of the kiss.
I can’t believe Tyson just kissed me…and it was the best kiss of my life. Not because of how intense it was—but because of how right it felt. Like my body recognized him before my mind could catch up. Like I didn’t have to think or second-guess or wonder what it meant.
I just…felt it.
I let Tyson pull me along the sidewalk that leads to Pembroke’s parking lot as my mind processes everything that just happened.
Along with the kiss, we were also caught with our tongues down each other’s throats by Jude Kensington and his girlfriend.
What a whirlwind of a few minutes.
I know I should probably be more embarrassed about being caught, but for some reason, I’m not.
I would’ve preferred no one find us, but Jude seems cool, and Tyson seems more than familiar with him.
It doesn’t feel like the end of the world.
It’s not like we were doing anything wrong, or that I’m even trying to hide that Tyson and I are spending time together.
I mean, I let him hold my hand in front of everyone at the restaurant.
And I didn’t just let him; I wanted it. I’m just not someone who likes to feed into the gossip of New York’s rich and famous, and since things with Tyson are new, that’s the only reason I’d want to hide anything to begin with.
We’re stepping out of the privacy of the lush green hedges and into the parking lot when Tyson’s voice breaks me from my thoughts. “Everything okay?” he asks, his hand giving mine a reassuring squeeze.
I look up at him through my lashes, my gaze immediately going to his lips for a moment as I imagine kissing them again. “Yes, just processing everything, is all.”
“I’m sorry. I probably should’ve waited to kiss you unt—”
“Don’t be sorry. That kiss…” My entire body tingles with the memory of it. “It was perfect. I was more so still processing the fact that one of your friends read my books and was talking about the sex within it.”
He lets out a bark of a laugh. “I’ve only met Charlotte a few times, but she really doesn’t have a filter. Jude doesn’t have one either, so they’re a perfect match.”
I nod because I didn’t get to speak with them for too long, but they both did seem to have large personalities. “Well, if I see them again, I can’t wait for Charlotte to bring up my books—and me being famous even though I’m not even remotely close to it—again.”
“Oh, she will. Just wait for it,” Tyson offers with another laugh.
We fall into a comfortable silence as we make our way back to his SUV. I don’t know why, but with every step closer we get to his car, the more my heart races with anticipation.
Will he kiss me again?
Was it a one-time thing?
Why does my stomach drop at the thought of never kissing him again?
Last night, he was so controlled about not kissing me, even though it was obvious he wanted to.
If I’ve learned anything about Tyson Bishop, it’s that the man has restraint.
He’s made it clear that he wants me and feels the same connection I do, but what he hasn’t been clear on is whether he’s going to act on it or not.
I’m so lost in overanalyzing everything that I don’t even notice we’ve made it to his SUV until he comes to a stop again.
“Should I be nervous that you’re quiet?” he asks.
I shake my head as I meet his gaze. I’m not normally one to be bold, but something about Tyson makes me want to step out of my comfort zone. Instead of keeping my thoughts to myself, I decide to say them out loud instead.
“No, I was just wondering if you were going to kiss me again,” I answer truthfully. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I wait for his response. I love that I’ve taken him by surprise. His eyes have gone wide, and his lips part slightly.
It takes a few seconds, but his lips twitch with the hint of a smirk as his gaze narrows on me. “Do you want me to kiss you again?”
I continue to bite my lip as I nod, needing to feel his lips on mine again.
Tyson drops my hand and takes a step closer, eating the distance between us until his toes touch mine. I expect him to immediately pull my body against his the way he did earlier, but he doesn’t. Instead, he reaches up and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“I can’t stop thinking about kissing you again,” he confesses. He traces his knuckle over my cheekbone, making my entire body ache for more of his touch. “But…we’re still in public, and the things I want to do to you—with you—are only to be done in private.”
My breath hitches. In fact, my entire body freezes at his words. I can barely think straight as I try to imagine what he means.
Tyson must find my silence amusing because a deep chuckle leaves his throat. His thumb dusts over my cheek before finding my lips. He traces my Cupid’s bow with his thumb for a moment, his gaze focused on what he’s doing.
A soft sigh leaves his mouth as his hand drops slowly, the tip of his thumb now on my bottom lip. He pulls it down slightly, his gaze still longingly on my mouth.
“Let’s get you back to the house so you can work,” he says. His thumb runs along my bottom lip one more time before his hand fully drops to his side.
He steps away from me before opening the passenger door. His mouth spreads in a smile as he tilts his head, directing me to get in. I sigh, wondering if I love or hate how patient this man is.
He’s right that we probably shouldn’t make out in the parking lot.
It’s even busier now than it was when we got here.
But when it comes to him, for some reason, I lose all sense of reason.
I forget that I’m shy and have never been one for PDA.
I forget how much I hate the gossip and chitchat that comes with the social circles I grew up in.
I even forget how stressed and overwhelmed I feel with a looming deadline.
It’s still new, but when we spend time together, I get so wrapped up in him that I forget about anything else.
“Thank you,” I say as I slide into my seat.
Tyson stands in the opening of the car door for a few moments, his gaze locked on mine. I squirm under the intensity of his stare. His jaw flexes as his focus moves to where my thighs press together in my seat. He lets out a long sigh before closing the door.
I smile as he rounds the front of the car. He may be showing some restraint right now, but I love the small indicators that show he wants to continue where we left off just as badly as I do.
The car ride starts off quiet, but a few minutes in, Tyson finally breaks the silence between us.
We make small talk—the good kind—the entire car ride home.
I enjoy the easy conversation with him, but despite how effortlessly we fall into simple conversation, there’s a tension between us that doesn’t go away.
The small talk continues until we make it back to the house. Instead of pulling into his driveway, he pulls into mine before putting the car in park. He turns the car off but doesn’t move, and I don’t either.
“I’m feeling really inspired to work, but I also really want to finish what we started earlier,” I blurt, forcing the words out before I can think twice about them.
For some reason, I want him to know how much I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.
No amount of small talk can wipe that from my mind.
Tyson lets out a low, throaty chuckle that sends a shiver down my spine. The sound deepens, and my mind wanders to what it would feel like against my lips.
“Oh, we will, but I’ve already taken up all your morning, and the last thing I want is to be the reason you don’t get this booked turned in on time. Just think of me while you’re writing as encouragement.”
I rub my lips together in an attempt to fight the smile threatening to overtake my mouth. “Oh, I don’t think I’ll have any problem with that.”
Tyson groans as he scrubs his hands over his face. “Fuck, it’s taking everything in me not to pull you inside and do all the things I’ve been thinking about doing to you after last night.”
I close my eyes for a moment as I squeeze my thighs together in an attempt to stifle the way I’m throbbing because of his words.
“You’re not making it any easier to want to go inside and write.” I moan, wishing I were here in the Hamptons for leisure instead of work so I could just spend my summer having fun with him.
“I know,” he mutters. “Let’s get you inside before I’m a bad influence.” He opens the door to his side and hurriedly curves around the front before opening my door for me.
I nod because, as much as I don’t like it, he’s right. The entire reason I didn’t want to get to know him in the first place was because I didn’t want him to be a distraction. I go on my first date with him, and suddenly, I’m doing just that—getting distracted.
“Thank you for the brunch. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get out of the house until today.”
Tyson gives me a smile, his eyes raking over my lips for a moment before he traces over the spot his eyes just moved over with his thumb. “Thank you for making time to go with me. I rather enjoyed myself.”
His lips tilt up in a confident smirk at the same moment my cheeks heat at the memory his words stir up.
“Same,” I whisper, unable to hide my smile. I more than enjoyed myself. I want to throw away all my responsibilities and make out with him again, but this time let it go even further.
“I want to give you time to work today, but I also want to make sure you eat. Can I drop off dinner tonight? If you’re in the zone, I can leave it on the porch without coming in to talk.”
I give him an excited nod. Hopefully, I can focus this afternoon and into the evening and get enough words so I won’t feel bad about spending time with him again tonight. “That works. You don’t have to bring food, though. I can make us som—”
He presses his fingertips to my mouth at the same moment his mouth spreads into a smile. “No. I’ll bring food. You focus on writing.”
I smile underneath his touch, wondering if his insistence is because he wants me to work…or because I’ve confessed to him how terrible a cook I am.
“Deal.” I lift my chin slightly, getting a better look at Tyson before I’m away from him the rest of the afternoon.
I can’t help but let my attention move to his lips for a moment, remembering the way it felt to have them against mine.
I already miss the scrape of his stubble against my skin.
I can’t stop thinking about the possessive way in which he kisses, my heart leaping at the prospect of doing it again.
“Maybe you could give me your number so I can check in to see how it’s going later?” he offers. His thumb softly brushes over my cheekbone as he waits for me to answer, his lips turning up slightly in a confident smile.
“That was a smooth way to get my number.”
He slides his hand to the back of my neck, his fingertips pressing slightly into my head as his smile grows. “I know.”
His free hand grabs his phone from his pocket. He holds it in the small amount of space between our bodies as he takes down my number. As soon as he has it, the phone disappears back into his pocket.
It’s only now that I realize how little he’s on his phone when we’re together and how attractive I find that.
He helps run an entire company; I know he’s a busy man, but I don’t know if he even looked at his phone once today at brunch.
His attention was only ever on me, despite what other things he might have going on in his life.
“Okay. I’ve got your number. Now, go write.”
I smile because the raspiness to his tone makes it obvious that it’s taking everything in him to let me go work.
“See you later, Ty,” I tell him, his name feeling good on my lips.
He leans in and presses his lips to my forehead.
The gesture sends my heart soaring. The action is so small, but it feels incredibly intimate.
I’ve only just met the man, and somehow, with a simple press of his lips to my hairline, he has my stomach filling with what feels like a million butterflies.
“I’ve never loved my nickname more than when you say it,” he notes. He takes a step back, putting distance between us as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. “Bye, Josie. Happy writing.”
Tyson winks before going to his SUV and sliding into the driver’s seat. I stand in the driveway even after he backs out.
The giddy smile on my lips as I unlock the front door and head inside is all because of him and the morning we shared.