Accidentally His: A Country Billionaire Romance

by Sienna Ciles

  Cassidy wasn’t alone.

  Josh stood right beside her, wearing a warm smile of his own that made my stomach flip-flop like a fish out of water.

  “Hi,” he mouthed.

  I went to meet him, ignoring the strange hissing noise behind me, followed by a cuss or two. Apparently, Faith had followed me out and was none too happy about Joshua’s presence at the bar.

  Chapter 10

  Joshua

  Eve strolled toward us, slightly pink and clasping a handbag to her side. Her dress, another cotton summer number, clung to her breasts and curves. Two seconds she’d been locked into my sights, and my heart already beat a drum against the inside of my rib cage. It wanted out. It wanted Eve.

  I’d only come to the bar because an old friend, Roger, had come to town from New York and he’d insisted we find something fun to do that didn’t include cooking in my ranch kitchen or passing the time in front of the TV.

  Eve reached us, or rather, she reached her friend Cassidy, and readjusted her grip on her handbag to accept the glass of vodka lime. “Thanks,” she said.

  “Look who I found,” Cassidy trilled, just above the music, then poked me in the upper arm. “Joshua. Joshua Jackson.”

  “I think she knows who I am,” I replied and grinned at the pair of them. “Hi. How are you?”

  “Hi,” Eve replied, and the blush still hadn’t drained from her cheeks. “I’m good. How are you?”

  “Good, fine,” I said. Missing you. Shit, no pressure. Why was this so awkward? We’d ended up sleeping together in the most romantic and spontaneous moment of my life but the feelings I had about it would only scare her off.

  She wasn’t ready for anything. I was past ready.

  Cassidy cleared her throat. The rock song that pumped through the speakers at the other end of the bar covered the awkward moment. Eve took a sip of her drink and looked around as if she found the Hope Bar infinitely fascinating.

  “So, what are you doing here, Joshua?” Cassidy asked. “You don’t normally come into the bar.”

  “I’m waiting for a friend.”

  Eve’s head snapped up. “A friend?”

  “Yeah, Roger. He’s an old buddy from college and he’s in town for the night. Should be here any minute, actually.” I checked my watch.

  Eve visibly relaxed again, and it struck me – had she been jealous? She’d assumed my friend would be female. Holy shit, was I in with a chance here?

  “In fact, why don’t we all sit together? Unless I’m interrupting your girls’ night, of course.”

  “You’re not interrupting,” Cassidy said.

  Eve shook her head, and I couldn’t make out whether she liked the idea of me joining their little group or disapproved of it.

  I opened my mouth to doublecheck but a hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Hey, there. Looks like I’m just in time for the fun.” Roger stepped forward and we hugged.

  “Good to see you, man. How was the drive down?”

  “You know, the usual. Wheels on tarmac, lights, and other idiots in the way,” Roger replied, then nodded to the two ladies. “Care to introduce me to your friends?”

  “Yeah, how rude of me,” I said, “Roger, this is Eve, and this is Cassidy.”

  Roger ran his fingers through his styled blond hair, then straightened his suit jacket and shook each of their hands. He lingered on Cassidy. “Nice to meet you both. I’ve heard about Eve but not about Cassidy. There must be something in the water here.”

  Cassidy bit her bottom lip and a tiny giggle escaped her. Roger had that effect on women, always had, but he didn’t use it to take advantage – part of the reason I was friends with him.

  “Man, I’m out of place,” Rog said, gesturing to his suit. He stripped off his jacket and dumped it on a barstool. “I’d better grab a beer and catch up. Anyone need anything?”

  We all shook our heads like school kids to a teacher, and Rog bustled off toward the bar.

  “He’s gorgeous,” Cassidy said, a little too loudly, just when the music lulled. Her voice traveled through the bar, and Roger glanced back at her. She pressed her glass to her forehead and shrank inward.

  Eve burst out laughing and slung an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I think he feels the same way about you. Come on, let’s go sit down.”

  We trooped to the far corner and took up residence at one of the tables. Rog joined us a couple minutes later, carrying a tray of four shot glasses and a glass of beer. “Jager time!”

  “Oh, god,” Cassidy said, “I don’t think I’ll be able to work tomorrow if I do that.”

  “It’s just one,” Rog replied. “I promise I won’t buy anymore.”

  “Live a little.” A prompt from Eve. She picked up one of the shot glasses, and we all followed her lead.

  “What’s the toast?” I asked.

  “To romance in a small town,” Roger said, winking at Cassidy. We all tossed the Jägermeister back and Cassidy choked on the fumes.

  “Too strong,” she said.

  “I’ll get you a glass of water.” Roger bustled off again, gazes chasing him across the dance floor. The women of Hope Creek had found a target. Fresh meat.

  “He’s such a gentleman,” Cassie said, between shuddering gasps. “Where did you find him?”

  “He found me at Harvard,” I replied, and left it at that because Rog probably wouldn’t appreciate me telling the story. He’d become my roommate after his engagement fell through – his fiancée had slept with his supposed best friend at the time. It’d taken a while for him to open up to me as a result.

  Roger returned with the water and scooted around to Cassidy’s side of the table. The two immediately engaged in conversation, just beneath the level of the music. Roger’s arm touched Cassidy’s, and she leaned upward to whisper into his ear.

  It was good to see her happy – in all the years I’d known her, she hadn’t had anyone. Not since that ass Greg had left her with nothing but a pregnant belly to show for their relationship.

  I looked over at Eve and she quickly averted her gaze. The music rocked on and I drank beer – anything to keep my hands busy and my thoughts away from Eve and how amazing it’d been to touch her the other night.

  I set down my beer just as the music slowed. “Tougher Than the Rest” by Bruce Springsteen.

  I swallowed. “Do you wanna dance?”

  Eve chewed her bottom lip, checked on Cassidy and Rog, who were lost in conversation.

  The lyrics were too close to the bone – were we tough enough for love or not? I pushed my stool back and walked around to her, held out my hand.

  She hesitated, then took it. I led her onto the dance floor, where folks had already split off into couples and wound around together.

  I took up a position in the center of the floor and drew her to my chest, the music vibrating through the floor and our bodies. I placed one arm around her waist, held her hand, and swayed with her.

  We circled slowly, and Eve’s chest rose and fell against mine, her light touch on my shoulder was everything I needed. I tuned out everything but the music and her in my arms. How could one person be this beautiful?

  She wouldn’t meet my gaze but scanned the other couples on the dance floor continuously, eyes flicking from side-to-side.

  “Hey,” I said, and my voice rumbled in my chest. “Look at me.”

  Eve finally looked up and chewed her lip again.

  I’d have given anything to kiss her now, to slide my fingers through her hair, and just inhale her. But I didn’t. I couldn’t because it wasn’t what she wanted right now. It would sound ludicrous if I said it out loud but I was more than happy to wait for her. Hopefully, she’d be ready someday.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “Everything’s okay, Eve.”

  Her shoulders relaxed a little. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin your evening.”

  “You couldn’t if you tried. You’re beautiful, you know that? More beautiful than any woman I’ve laid eyes
on,” I said, so much for taking it easy. The words kept coming, popping out of my fucking soul. “But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  “It’s not you,” she said, “it’s me. I’m making everything awkward because I don’t know how to handle… this.”

  “This?” We circled past another couple and I shifted my weight, ran my hand up her back and down again.

  “Yes, whatever this is,” Eve breathed, just above the music that thrummed through the space. She traced a line up my neck and around to the back of it, leaving a trail of goosebumps. “I feel like I did the wrong thing the other night.”

  “I tried calling you,” I said, “and it wasn’t because I wanted to pressure you for another date. I wanted to check you were okay. I wanted to apologize.”

  “For what?”

  Her breasts against my chest, heart beating hard, it was a miracle I could concentrate on this moment.

  “For what happened. I was worried you felt obligated to –”

  “No,” Eve said, and shook her head, her long hair bobbing gently with the motion. “I did that because I wanted to. I’m not ready, I still haven’t figured out who I am but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m drawn to you. I – it was wrong of me to lead you on. I promised I wouldn’t do that.”

  “You didn’t lead me on,” I said.

  Eve looked off to the side of the dance floor and grimaced.

  “What is it?”

  “It’s Faith,” she said.

  I followed her line of sight and spotted Faith Stone on the bar side of the dance floor, clutching a fruity pink drink, eyes narrowed at us. I gave her a cheery wave, then slid my hand up Eve’s back and drew her close again.

  She didn’t push back but relaxed in my arms and smiled up at me. “I don’t know what to think of you, Joshua. Running out at moving vehicles, saving goats, and winning teddy bears for little girls. Who are you?”

  I’m yours, that’s who I am. “Just a regular guy,” I said. The song ended and I led her back to our seats. I helped her onto her stool and reluctantly let go of her hand, then circled to my spot at the table.

  “Nice out there?” Roger asked, looking up from his in-depth conversation with Cassidy. “Looked like you two had fun.”

  “I haven’t danced in ages,” Cassidy said.

  “Let’s remedy that, shall we?” Roger swept her off the stool and out to the dance floor. The slow song was gone but they kicked up their heels to a faster beat, Cassie laughing hysterically at Roger’s expressions and moves.

  “I haven’t seen her this happy before,” Eve yelled. “She deserves a break. Is Roger staying with you tonight?”

  “No, he checked into a motel for his first night. He’s coming over tomorrow.”

  “Oh, okay,” Eve said, then shrugged and shook her head.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “No reason,” she replied, “just figured you must get lonely out on the ranch at times. I know I would.”

  “You would or you do?”

  Eve blushed and I mentally kicked herself. Way to go, jackass. I scooted my chair closer to hers. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that as an insult.”

  “No, I get it. I moved here and put everything in the past. Actually, the day I ran you over I was on my way to Heather’s Forge to get a puppy. Or a kitten. Haven’t decided which yet.”

  “Why didn’t you?” I asked.

  “You needed my help,” she replied. “It would’ve been pretty dickish of me to go pet shopping when your car was broken down on the side of the road.”

  I placed my hand on her thigh. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “What are friends for?” She shifted and my hand dropped away.

  Ouch. Put in my place. The attraction between us wouldn’t dissolve any time soon but I had to remember that Eve didn’t want anything with me.

  I watched Roger and Cassidy on the dance floor, laughing and fooling around, and pretended I didn’t ache for Eve on every level.

  Chapter 11

  Eve

  Cassie and Roger were in total party mode. The drinks weren’t exactly flying around but they’d spent the last hour on the dance floor, through fast and slow songs, laughing, dancing, and yelling at each other over the music.

  I stifled a yawn with my fist, then twirled my empty glass around on the wooden tabletop.

  “Are you as done with this as I am?” Joshua asked.

  It’d been painful to move away from him when he touched me but I’d done it. I didn’t want to lead him on, yet I craved spending time with him. He had such a relaxed vibe, a pervading sense of calm that settled me.

  “Yeah, pretty much,” I said and gave him a cautious smile. “I came with Cassidy, though. I don’t have much of a choice but to stay.”

  “Well, I came with my Ford, so I could give you a lift back to your place,” Joshua said, then raised his hands. “Don’t worry, I’ve been drinking water for the past hour. Ever since I got the hunch that these two wouldn’t be stopping any time soon.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a burden.”

  “How could you be?” Joshua raised an eyebrow at me. “Besides, I owe you one after you saved me the other day.”

  “Saved? More like almost killed.”

  “A rose by any other name,” he replied, and winked at me.

  My stomach did a flip. “Did you just quote Shakespeare?”

  “You’d have preferred something else? I figured To Kill a Mockingbird didn’t suit the current situation,” Joshua said. “At least, I hope not.” He waved at the two on the dance floor and didn’t give me time to marvel at him.

  A literary buff, eh? Sure, he’d been to Harvard but I’d never have suspected that the farm boy enjoyed reading. Never judge a book by its cover.

  Roger and Cassidy jogged over, still hiccupping from leftover giggles. “What’s up?” Roger asked.

  “We’re getting a little tired.”

  “Oh? Shoot, okay, Eve, I’ll grab my stuff and we can –” Cassie reached for her bag, disappointment radiating from her friggin’ pores. She really liked this guy, and it certainly wasn’t fair of me to deprive her of a fun evening when she didn’t get much of this kind of thing. Or none of it.

  “No, no, that’s okay,” I said, “Joshua offered to give me a ride home.”

  “Are you sure?” Cassie asked. “Is that safe?”

  “I’m fine,” Joshua replied, then held out his arms on either side of his body and mock-walked an invisible line. “See? Perfectly fine to drive.”

  “I live right around the corner, anyway,” I said. “You two stay and have fun.”

  “Okay,” Cassie replied. “If you’re sure.”

  “One hundred percent.”

  “Great,” Roger put in, “I’ll make sure Cassidy gets back home safe, too.” He touched her on the shoulder, a sweet gesture – Cassie positively glowed in response. It was shit of me but I couldn’t help wondering if he knew about Charlie.

  Ugh, now I’d gotten ahead of myself. I slung my handbag over my arm, drew Cassidy into a quick hug. “Be safe,” I whispered.

  “I’m fine,” she replied, “and you, too.”

  We parted ways and the men shook hands. Joshua and I walked to the exit together, once again, with female gazes tracking our every movement. The most eligible bachelor in Hope Creek with a woman who couldn’t satisfy him.

  Yep, that was me. I adored him, though I didn’t want to admit it but I could never give him what he deserved. Once again, getting ahead of myself.

  Joshua held open the door for me and I entered the chilly night. Not too cold, thankfully, but he followed me out and offered me his jacket right away.

  “I’m okay,” I said, and smiled at him. “Thanks.”

  “You wouldn’t perhaps feel like some coffee, would you?” he asked, setting an easy pace for us. His Ford waxed in the darkness, tires pitch black against the dirt of the makeshift parking lot.

  “Sounds great but I don’t think anywhere
is open,” I replied. “That’s the hazard of living in a tiny town, I guess. No noise but no late-night takeout, either.” McDonald’s was sacrilege but I couldn’t quit craving a Big Mac. It was the weirdest thing about their food. I knew it was bad for me, and I could whip up a better burger at home but I still needed one every now and again.

  “I – uh, I meant would you like to come back to my farm and have a cup of coffee?”

  “Joshua, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said, stopping dead in my tracks, boots crunching on the grit.

  “I didn’t mean like that, sheesh,” he said, “I mean actual coffee. I’ve got a new machine, you know, one of those fancy barista ones like they use in Starbucks. I can whip us up a cappuccino.”

  Now, that was true temptation. “Are you sure?”

  “Look, this is not a ploy to get you into bed. I’m not that type of guy,” he said. And all the rumors I’d heard confirmed that about him. He’d avoided every woman in this town like the plague. No one-night stands on record, according to Cassidy. “I just want to grab a coffee and talk a while. We could watch something, too.”

  “Netflix and chill?” I couldn’t help myself.

  “No, I –”

  “I’m fucking with you,” I said, and chuckled. “Yeah, okay, let’s grab some coffee. That would be nice, actually.” Hopefully, I’d be able to resist my baser instincts while on the sofa with him. It was easier out here, where I wasn’t exposed to his cologne and body heat.

  Joshua opened the passenger side door of his truck for me, and helped me inside, then shut the door and rushed around to his side. He started up the engine and we were on the road in no time, darkness flashing past the window, punctuated by the occasional silhouette of a house and then, expanses of fields.

  We crossed on to the dirt roads and the further we got from Hope Creek, the more nervous I became. This was a mistake. His scent filled the inside of the cab, and memories of us together twined through my mind.

  Sweat trickled down my spine, my core heated up. God, he hadn’t even touched me, yet somehow I was ready for him. On edge, desperate for his touch. This couldn’t be happening again. It was like I was possessed around him, and I didn’t enjoy that I needed him so much.