Page 47 of Protecting Josie
He had a new mission in life…Josie.
It took them three trips to get everything Remi and Wren had bought into his little guest bathroom, and there wasn’t much room on the counter after everything was transferred. It occurred to Blink that his en suite bathroom had a lot more counter space, but he wasn’t going there. It was too fast. But that didn’t make the thought go away.
He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, there was another knock at the door. “That had better be the groceries, and not the rest of the guys,” he muttered.
Josie giggled again, and Blink smiled. “Enjoy your shower. Don’t bother too much with your hair, I’ll take care of it for you when you get out. Just enjoy the hot water and being clean.”
Then he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips.
He didn’t plan it, just did what felt right and normal. And he was instantly ready to apologize, until he realized that Josie didn’t look upset or taken aback. Instead, she gave him that familiar shy smile.
Blink forced himself to back out of the room before hedid somethingreallystupid—like pick Josie up, set her ass on the counter, and kiss her the way his heart was demanding.
“Food,” he muttered to himself.
When he opened the front door, he saw that indeed, Remi and Wren had definitely gone overboard with groceries too. But at least he and Josie wouldn’t have to leave the house today, after all. They certainly had everything they needed in order to make some hearty, healthy meals.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Josie’s lips tingled. Even after standing in the hot shower for twenty minutes. The various soaps Remi and Wren had bought her smelled heavenly. She’d tried all four of them. It was extremely difficult to get out of that wonderful shower and get dressed, but she was hungry. And she wanted to see Nate.
That kiss. It had surprised her, but she wasn’t upset about it. Not in the least. In fact, she wanted more. She’d been physically attracted to him from the first moment, even bloody and beaten in that cell. Of course, she wasn’t interested in doing anything but getting out of the hell she’d found herself in back then. But now?
Bringing a hand to her lips, she traced them with her finger. She was safe. Away from terrorists, and beatings, and from the threat of starving to death. Now she wanted tolive.
Josie had figured Nate saw her as someone who neededtaking care of. More like a sister than anything else. But that kiss changed things. At least for her.
Maybe he didn’t mean it? Maybe it was a spontaneous thing that he now regretted. Looking down at herself, Josie wrinkled her nose. She wasn’t exactly a cover model. Too skinny, too short, too…quiet. She’d surprised herself with the ability to speak to others today. True, she hadn’t exactly been a chatterbox, but words were coming easier now.
Staring into the mirror, she continued to study herself…and frown. She wasn’t the kind of woman who men fell all over themselves for. Especially after what had happened to her. Everything about her was plain. Her best feature used to be her hair, and even though Nate said he’d help her with that, the urge to cut it all off was strong. She didn’t quite have dreadlocks, but it was close.
Lowering her head, Josie braced herself on the counter and closed her eyes.
What was she thinking? Even stoic, Nate was larger than life compared to her. He needed someone who was outgoing to balance his introverted side, good in social situations, and who didn’t look as if she lived out of her car or something.
“Josie?”
Her name on Nate’s lips scared her so badly, she jerked away from the sound and almost tripped over the small throw rug in the bathroom.
But Nate was there, his arm around her waist, saving her from falling on her ass.
“Fuck! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you heard the door open.”
Josie shook her head as she looked up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
How could she explain what she was thinking? That she was pretty sure she was falling in love with him, but she didn’t think there was any way he could ever feel that way about her? That she wasn’t good enough for him. That she dreaded going back to her lonely life in Las Vegas.
But as usual, Nate seemed to understand how on edge she was. He pulled her close, and she gladly buried her nose in his chest and clung to him.
“You smell good,” he murmured.
Josie wanted to snort. Of course she did. She’d used four different soaps and wasn’t wearing the same stupid beach cover-up she’d worn for weeks and wasn’t wallowing in the dirt anymore.
“Vanilla with hints of peach and some kind of flower,” Nate said with a chuckle.
Josie looked up at him with a small smile on her face.
