by Maree Green
His words sent my mind scrambling. Everything he was saying and doing was completely contradictory. “Wait, so you actually want something to happen between us?”
He sighed. “I shouldn’t.”
“But you do?”
“Of course I do,” he said, turning his hands palm up. “Isn’t it obvious? I can’t keep my hands off you, even when I try to!”
My God, he was confusing. “But you said nothing can happen between us.”
“Exactly!”
I drew in a steadying breath, struggling not to flat-out punch him. “Okay, so tell me again why you think nothing can happen between us, because I have no idea what the hell is going on here anymore.”
A crease formed between his brows as he thought about his answer. “Because I don’t want to hurt you, Liv.”
“How would you hurt me, Josh?”
Confusion flashed through his eyes. He shifted on his feet. “Because if we start something, it can’t go anywhere.”
My eyes narrowed, irritation rising again. Pushing it back down, I raised my chin a fraction. “Let me get this straight. You’re saying that if anything happens between us romantically, I’m going to be hurt when it ends? Because I’m inexperienced with these things?”
He shifted again, unease flickering in his eyes. “Right.”
“So, you’re deciding nothing can happen?”
“I—” he started, but his mouth snapped closed when he met my gaze again.
“No,” I said, straightening my shoulders.
Confusion made him pause. “No?”
I stepped forward and pressed a finger to his chest. “You don’t get to decide that for me. If you have another reason why you don’t want anything to happen, then that’s fine, but you don’t get to decide what’s best for me. That’s my job, and mine alone. I may be inexperienced, Josh, but I’m not some princess who has no clue when it comes to how things work. Neither of us lives here. It’s quite obvious that when you leave, I’ll never see you again. I haven’t got it in my head that some big whirlwind romance is going to happen here and we’ll live happily ever after. To be honest, I’ve got no idea what will happen at all. It’s called spontaneity. You take every moment as it comes and choose to be happy. That’s it.”
Josh stared at me, eyes wide and lips slightly parted with shock. My pulse raced, adrenaline pumping. Three heartbeats later, his lips crashed down on mine, his hands cupping my face, holding me to him as though he was frightened I would disappear.
When he finally broke the kiss, he rested his forehead against mine and tried to catch his breath. “What the hell are you doing to me, Liv? I’ve never had so much trouble staying away from anyone in my life.”
“It’s probably my lack of fashion sense,” I said, just as out of breath as he was. “It was always going to be a guy magnet.”
Raising his face to the sky, he pulled me into his chest, laughing softly into the air. “I think there might be more to it than that.” Leaning back, he looked down at me with kind eyes. “I know you said you like to take each moment as it comes, but I need you to understand that I still need to be careful with you. You’re special, Liv. You’re beautiful and kind and pure. Whether you want to see that or not. And I refuse to let myself take advantage of that.”
“You can’t take advantage of it if I’m aware of it and say I want it too,” I countered.
His expression withered. “Liv, don’t. It doesn’t help my cause.”
I grinned. “Exactly.”
Rolling his eyes, he pulled me into him. “You’re incorrigible. Let’s go back up to the house and watch a damn movie before you weaken my mind any more.”
As I took his hand and we moved back up to the house, I thought about where that left me now. I may have told him I preferred to take it a day at a time, but, in a way, he was right. I needed to have it clear in my head how this was going to end. Looking at it from a place of sensibility, Aunt Jenny was right. A little summer romance was the perfect scenario. It would give me my first taste of romance, without worrying about the disappointment of failure, or the expectation of future possibilities.
That was something I’d never get in the working world. Unlike Josh, I knew without a doubt there would be guys who wouldn’t think twice about taking advantage of me to get what they wanted. At least this way I could learn enough to know how it all worked. Well, that was what I was hoping, anyway.
Chapter 20
Josh
Perched on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, my gaze was fixed hard on the big flat-screen mounted to the wall. Leonardo DiCaprio was doing something absurdly crazy as the suspenseful music grew in intensity, but all I was aware of was Liv. Settled in beside me, she sat with her legs curled under her and a bowl of popcorn clutched in her arms, eyes wide as she intermittently fed herself without thought.
Silence fell on the screen, Leonardo poised, tension rising. Liv stilled, hand mid-motion, waiting with bated breath for the explosive moment we all knew was coming. Then, as the screen flashed white, and the dramatic music blasted into the room, Liv jumped, letting out a cute little squeal.
Throwing her head back, she let out a deep laugh before turning to look at me, her face shining with happiness. “I even knew that was coming, and it still scared the crap out of me.”
I laughed at her giddiness, my hand automatically edging forward, the backs of my fingers stroking the bare skin of her thigh.
Her eyes narrowed, but she was still smirking. “It’s totally not fair that you’ve seen this already. Isn’t there anything you haven’t seen?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m sure there is.” I wasn’t willing to admit I binge-watched movies like there was no tomorrow when I was between jobs.
Liv rolled her eyes and tossed another handful of popcorn into her mouth. “Yeah, right.”
It would take both hands for me to count how many times I’d acted out this exact scenario, yet this was the first time I knew what it felt like. I thought I’d imagined it so well back then, but I really had no idea. The mystification, the intrigue, the bewilderment . . . They were all things that could never be understood until experienced.
She shifted on the seat, adjusting her body into a more comfortable position, her thigh brushing against my hand. My fingers flexed, stroking her skin as I watched her.
Her eyes darkened, her gaze drawing me in. The tension inside my body tightened, my need to touch more of her increasing with every passing moment. Liv’s gaze moved to my hand, a tiny crease forming between her brows as her own fingers gingerly slid over mine. It was the simplest of touches, but it felt as though she’d set off a series of electrical shocks throughout my entire body. It was crazy.
She had no idea how hard this was for me. As careful as I was with who I played around with—if I played around at all—I had to admit, I was used to things within the dating realm being easy. Mostly, I just dated girls in the industry with me, and there were never any elements of innocence or abstinence. Ever.
Sliding my hand over her thigh until my whole palm pressed against her skin, I gently stroked my thumb back and forth. Her body’s reaction fascinated me. I watched the way her lips parted as she drew in a quick, deep breath, before her eyes fluttered a little and she exhaled shakily. Her gaze snapped up to meet mine as she softly sucked her lower lip, drawing her teeth across the plump fullness of it.
Her fingers tensed on mine, and her mouth opened as though she was about to say something—
“Oh, yeah!” Cain said, flopping down on the spare couch beside us. “I love this movie.”
Liv blanched and blinked at Cain, obviously surprised by his sudden entrance. I, on the other hand, glared at him. I knew what he was doing, and I couldn’t say I was happy about it.
Corey appeared behind him, leaning over the back of the couch. “Yeah, this is my favorite part.”
Two minutes later, Lance dropped down beside Cain, grabbing a bowl of chips off the table and starting to munch down. I w
asn’t sure where Daniel was, but I assumed it wasn’t very far away. He wouldn’t be as obvious as these morons, but he would be there somewhere, watching.
Drawing in a steadying breath, I decided it was time they got to know Liv a little better. Their wariness with her was becoming a problem.
As soon as the credits started to roll, I flicked the screen off and pinned them with a pleasant smile. “Who’s up for a game of cards?” I was met with varying shades of badly concealed skepticism. “Come on. It’ll be fun!” Shuffling forward on the couch, I clapped my hands together. “Go get Daniel. He’s playing too. And no, he doesn’t get a choice.”
I met Lance’s curious gaze with a firm one of my own. I wasn’t playing games. If they weren’t ready to trust Liv, then they would learn.
As the guys found the cards and went to get Daniel, I gave Liv a reassuring smile, trying to help her feel at ease with my overbearing friends. “Have you played Cards Against Humanity before?”
She frowned. “Uh, no. Sounds slightly horrible.”
I chuckled. “Some of the cards can be a little . . . tasteless, so you might want to prepare yourself.”
“Tasteless, how?” she said, giving me a withering look.
“Crude,” Corey said, dropping the box on the coffee table. “Dirty. Insulting.”
Liv nodded, her eyes wide with amusement. “All right, then.”
Lance split the deck, handing a pile to each of the guys to shuffle. “Josh said you’ve been living in Uganda for a while,” he said, glancing over at Liv.
Putting the popcorn to the side, she wriggled forward to the edge of the couch. “I was. For six years.”
“What was it like?”
She pursed her lips in contemplation. “Hard. But I loved it.”
Corey shook his head. “Why the hell would your parents want to go there?”
“Have you heard of the United World Aid Group?” she asked. “Well, they’ve been a part of that for years—since I was like six or something. We often helped with disaster relief after hurricanes and tornadoes and floods—that kind of thing. But when I was thirteen, they were asked if they’d be interested in a long-term position in Gulu. A month later, we were on a plane.”
“Whoa,” Cain said. “That’s harsh.”
Liv laughed and nodded. “I was in seventh grade then, so I don’t think I spoke to them for, like, a week.”
“Where did you move from?” Lance asked. He seemed completely interested in her story, but I knew the purpose, and there was nothing casual about his interest.
“Salt Creek Beach. I’m looking forward to going back one day. Mom and Dad still have their house there, but I’ll be moving into the city. Where are you guys all from?”
Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs, meeting my gaze before finding a place on the end of the couch.
“I’m from LA,” Lance said. “Daniel’s an NYC boy, and all these losers are Sac boys.”
Cain punched him in the arm and tried to shove him off the couch. “Speak for yourself, loser. Sac boys are the best ones out there.”
“You know it,” I said, holding my fist out for a bump.
Liv smirked at me before looking back at the guys. “So, are you guys into acting too?”
Corey laughed, and quite loudly at that. “That would be no. Josh is the only one of us who has that talent.”
“So, what do you all do?” she asked, grabbing a handful of popcorn. She had no idea how difficult that one little answer was for us.
“Uh . . .” Cain said, not looking too casual. “We’re all in security. We work for—”
“Daniel,” Corey said, cutting him off.
I was close to slapping my forehead. They all looked completely out of their depths. If I had to guess, I’d say they were regretting crashing my movie now.
Liv’s eyebrows shot up with interest as she turned her attention on Daniel. “You have a security business?” she asked, clearly impressed.
Daniel’s jaw tightened. He was not. “Mmmhmm.”
“Wow. That’s cool. How’d you get into that?”
His gaze swept to meet mine. He didn’t need to say a word. It was obvious he wasn’t happy. “It seemed like a natural choice when I left the marines,” he said.
Liv’s curiosity was obviously piqued. “Oh, I didn’t know you were a marine,” she said, her gaze softening. “You have my deepest respect. Thank you for your service.”
I watched Daniel assess her for a long moment, before he gave her a slow nod of acceptance. She’d already passed the background check, but it was right in this moment I knew she passed the final check. Sitting back, I exhaled and smiled.
Chapter 21
Olivia
I was in love.
Well, not really. It was more like puppy love—that young, teenage, giddy kind of infatuation—than the real deep, everlasting kind of love I’d read about in novels.
Don’t get me wrong. I was a true romantic, but I was also a realist. I wasn’t naïve about what I was feeling. It had been five days since Josh had first kissed me, so I knew it was nowhere near enough time for what I was feeling to be anything but temporary. God knew I didn’t have anywhere near enough experience to even use the word love, but I was enraptured nonetheless.
Why was I enraptured? Well, it was a culmination of many things. It was the tiny little butterflies I got every time I thought about him. It was the smile he gave me that I liked to think belonged to just me. It was the way he seemed to never be able to keep his hands off me—tiny little touches or caresses that lit my skin on fire. It was the husky sound of his voice when he told me how beautiful I was. It was the sound of his laugh, so light and carefree, when we were curled up on his couch together, listening to music. It was the encouraging words he gave me each day as I stubbornly persisted with my surfing lessons. As far as first infatuations were concerned, I knew I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
Making my way up the trail to Josh’s house, I smiled at Cain, who was perched on the deck, overlooking the ocean. It had taken the guys a few days to warm up to me being around, but they seemed to be okay with it now. Thank God. “Good morning, Cain. Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
He grinned at me and nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Josh answered my knock instantaneously, his gaze roaming down my body as I stepped inside. He inhaled slowly, his gaze darkening as it focused on my mouth. “I dreamed about your lips all night.”
The laugh that came out was soft and breathy. “Did you, really?”
“Yes, I did,” he murmured, leaning forward to brush his lips over mine.
The husky sound of his voice sent shivers through my body, and I instantly melted against him. My lips parted with a sigh, inviting him in, making his hands tighten where they held me, low on my back. God, I loved being kissed by him.
The sound of a phone ringing brought us both out of the moment. Josh growled deep in his throat. “What the hell are you doing to me?” I giggled as he released me, watching him check his phone before he quieted it and slipped it back in his pocket. “Do you want a drink?” he asked, striding for the kitchen.
“Please,” I said, sinking down into the soft cushions of the couch. Gazing out at the ocean, I heard the sounds of glasses chinking and liquids being poured. A minute or so later he reappeared with two glasses of juice.
I groaned when he sank down beside me and ran his hand up my thigh. I leaned forward, needing to kiss him, but footsteps on the stairs made me pause. I didn’t know why, but I got the feeling Josh’s friends where policing us or something when we kissed. It kind of felt like they didn’t approve for some reason.
Corey’s head appeared as he ascended the stairs. “Josh, Dean and the guys are here.”
Josh looked surprised. “I didn’t think they were going to stop in?”
Corey shrugged. “Apparently, Mia wasn’t feeling very well, so she decided to stay at home.”
I wasn’t sure why Mia, whoever she was, staying home chan
ged things, but I didn’t ask. Josh sat up a little straighter, putting me back from him a little. Corey looked at me, as though watching for my reaction.
“Are they coming up?” Josh asked.
“Yeah, Dean’s just grabbing his guitar.” He watched Josh stand up. “I’ve already spoken to them, but you can have a chat too, if you’d like.”
Josh gave me an uneasy glance before nodding. “Yeah. I’ll just go help them.”
I nodded, not understanding what was going on at all. It felt like they were talking in code or something. I watched Josh disappear before turning back to Corey. He was watching me, his brow creased with thought.
“Have you heard of Fighting Fate before?” he asked awkwardly.
I frowned. “As in the saying?” I said, still feeling like he was talking in code.
“Uh, no, as in the band.”
I searched my brain. Had I? I didn’t think so. Shaking my head, I shrugged. “I don’t think so. Have they been around long?”
His eyes narrowed slightly, like he was trying to work out if I was telling the truth. “About a couple years or so. They toured last year with The Dark Hybrid.”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, okay. I haven’t heard of either of them.” I couldn’t work out why he was asking me about them. “Do . . . uh . . . you like them?”
The corners of his mouth curved up a little. “Yeah, they’re both great.”
We were interrupted then by the sounds of more footsteps on the stairs. The accompanying voices were loud and playful. Cain appeared first, followed by Lance and Josh, then four other guys.
I stared at the newcomers in surprise. I didn’t know if they all came from Sacramento like Josh, but if they did, there sure as hell must’ve been something in the water there because, holy hell, they were all hot.
They filled the massive room, not with their bodies, but with their presence. I squirmed in my seat, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable being surrounded by eight guys.