Page 92 of Easy
Addy snorts. ‘What family? It’s just Kallie. She doesn’t even have a goldfish. And don’t ever buy her a plant; it’ll be dead within the week.’
I find myself blushing as Addy manages to make me look like a child again.Can’t visit her family. She’s not even responsible enough to own a pet...but as my eyes meet Josh’s, his apparent amusement makes my blush deepen.
‘I don’t believe it,’ he says, his words heating my insides. ‘No way you’re single.’
Yeah, me. The total babe . . .
‘You can’t meet someone if you don’t do anything but work!’ Addy guffaws. Meanwhile, I blush hard, ignoring my brothers jibes to bask in Josh’s compliments.
Boy, the man is handsome in that confidentI-don’t-give-a-fuck-what-you-thinkway. His eyes just as green as I remember, his dirty blond hair about two haircuts past respectable. And I like it. I’d like to rub my fingers through it. I’d like to hold fistfuls of it between my legs as his mouth works me to the brink of—
Stop! I can’t think of those things. Not until I’m alone in my bedroom, at least. It’s been a while since I jilled off to Josh.I might just need to reinclude him in my regular spank-bank rotation.
‘Why don’t you date?’ Josh’s response isn’t a question, more like something he’s trying to work out.
‘I’ve been focusing on my career,’ I reply, my shoulder rising and falling in a slight shrug.Not defective or into women. Just focused and.. . stuff.
‘Rachel’s the same,’ he says, referring to his sister. ‘Only, she just managed to have a baby.’
Rachel managed to make time for sex. I feel there maybe a lesson here.
‘How cool! I’ll have to pop in and see her while I’m here.’
Josh nods slowly as though he approves but I don’t fail to notice his eyes travelling over my skin. It’s not a casual glance, and more like a thorough inventory. I feel the perusal of his gaze like a physical touch. And he knows it—does it on purpose. All under the nose of my oblivious brother.
Even on the brink of manhood, Josh was always the kind of boy who knew what he wanted. And he knew how to go after it. Though what we had was never physical, he made me feel things I didn’t understand at the time. I know now he didn’t take advantage of my crush out of respect—respect for me, not only because of Addy.
But that was then. What I’m feeling from him now is different. Oh, but I’m sure he would still respect me. And I would let him. I’d let him respect the shit out of me, respecting my body so well and so thoroughly that—
Oh crap, I’m doing it again.
I swallow and try to take a deep breath. I’m thinking dirty thoughts about him at a time that’s so inappropriate. My dad just died after all, and Addy is still in the room. This is inappropriate on so many levels.And kinda fun.
If Ads picks up on the tension that suddenly fills in the room, he doesn’t let on as he stands.
‘I’ve gotta run,’ he announces. ‘I need to do some work shit.’ He touches me on the shoulder as he passes. ‘Catch up with you later. Help mum in the kitchen, yeah?’
I flip him the bird as he leaves the room, then Josh and I are suddenly sniggering like maniacs. But then, the room falls quiet. but for the sound of our breathing.
‘Mum should have dinner ready, soon,’ I say, filling the space between us. ‘Can you stay?’
He flashes me a smile that makes my heart beat a little faster. ‘I’d like that,’ he answers quietly. ‘Dinner with my favourite family sounds like just what I need.’
‘Don’t you like your family?’ I ask teasingly.
‘I love them,’ he answers simply.
I find myself ducking my head to hide my responding smile. I’m more than a little thrilled that he’s staying. Excusing myself, I head to the kitchen to tell mum we have one more. It’s not until we’re in the hall and his shoes are echoing on the tile that I realize he’s followed me out. For a mad minute, I wonder if he’s checking out my ass. I glance over my shoulder at him.
And what do you know. He is. And when his eyes meet mine at the kitchen doorway, there isn’t a hint of regret or embarrassment there.
‘Dinner isn’t going to be ready for a while, Mum says, pulling my attention from the man behind me. ‘You’ll stay for dinner, won’t you Josh?’ When he says that he will, she adds, ‘Why don’t the two of you get out of the house? Go for a walk or something. Catch up.’
My cheeks burn again. Am I so obvious? And if I am, why didn’t she say these sorts of things when I was younger?
One word: Dad.
‘What?’ I ask, finding his smiling like he’s just ingested a slice of melon. Okay, not ingested. It looks more like a huge slice has gotten stuck between his lips.
