Page 57 of Slapshot Summer
A sharp knock on Lexi’s door startled her.She reached it in two strides—her living room was only a few strides wide.“Who is it?”
“Flower delivery.”She exchanged a look with Anna.
“Told you,” Anna laughed.
Lexi opened the door and froze.There stood Josh, a huge smile on his face and a bouquet of flowers in his fist.“Miss me?”
Every circuit in her brain scrambled.Her jaw dropped, and she gawped at him.Blinked.He still stood there.Maybe hewasreal.Helookedreal, from his neatly groomed chestnut locks to those quicksilver eyes and that chiseled body she’d had her hands all over mere days ago.He wore a brown leather jacket over a white button-down, blue jeans that fit him like a glove, and a pair of leather sneakers.My, oh my, he looked good enough to eat.
He gently lifted her chin and closed her mouth.“Can I come in?”
“W-what are you doing here?”
He thrust the bouquet at her.“I brought you flowers.”
She swiveled her head toward Anna, who was behind the door and out of Josh’s line of sight.“He brought me flowers,” she said dumbly.
The smile slid from his handsome face, and he shoved his free hand through his hair.“Shit.You’ve got company.I should have called.”
Lexi’s brain began to come back online.“No, no.It’s only Anna.”
“It’s only me,” Anna echoed.
Lexi pulled him in by the wrist and slammed the door.“Um, Josh Wylder, this is my best friend, Anna Adamik.Anna, Josh.From Destiny.The Sapphire Hotel.Vacation,” she babbled.A blush blazed across her chest and spread to her scalp.
“Hello, Josh from Destiny.”Anna gave him a quick once-over.“Lex, you didn’t exaggerate.Heisgorgeous.”
Josh beamed a confused smile.“Thank you?”He stood there, hand still extended and holding the bouquet.
Anna began hefting her pregnant bulk from the chair.“Somebody should put those in water before they wilt.”
Lexi jumped.“Oh!Um … No, Anna, sit.I’ve got this.”She snatched the flowers from Josh’s grasp and led him to the kitchen sink along one wall.She turned and narrowed her eyes.“So why are you here?”
Hesitation flickered in his grays.“Besides delivering the flowers, I came to ask you a question.”
“Why didn’t you just call?”
“This one needs to be asked in person.”
NotthegreetingJoshwas hoping for, but what had he expected?A hungry kiss with her tongue chasing his would have been nice.A hug, at the very least.All he got was an adorably flustered Lexi, which was great, considering how much he’d missed her, but her reaction wasn’t giving him much confidence in this crazy-ass venture he’d put together only yesterday.At least she still wore the pendant—she’d touched it at least five times since he’d walked in.
What if he’d grossly miscalculated?Too late to turn back now.
She rolled her eyes.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean the question the way it sounded.What I meant was you went to a lot of trouble to bring me flowers and ask a question.”
“It’s an important question.”
“Um, okay.”She went up on tiptoe and stretched for a vase on the top shelf of a cabinet, her fingers merely brushing it.She wore black leggings that showed off her shapely legs and that gorgeous ass of hers, along with a baggy sweatshirt that hid too much.
“Here.Let me get that.”Without intending to, he pressed against her back as he reached for the vase.Her sweet scent wreathed him, all oranges and flowers and Lexi.God, he’d missed that!As he brought down the vase, he stuck his nose in her hair.Couldn’t help himself.“Damn, you smell good,” he whispered and pulled away before he embarrassed himself further.
She turned her head and gave him a smoldering look that arrowed straight to his crotch.Maybe this hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.
He glanced toward Lexi’s BF, Anna, who gave him an eyebrow bounce and a pinkie wave from where she sat a mere ten feet away.Lexi’s apartment was smaller than his hotel room at the Sapphire had been.“Um, is there somewhere private we can go?”he said under his breath.
“Only the bathroom, but it would be a tight fit for two.Nothing like my suite,” she whispered back.To Anna she said, “Isn’t it time for you to pee again?”
“No, I’m good,” Anna announced cheerily.“Don’t mind me, kids.I’ll cover my ears.”
