“But that’s not the point,” Grace argued. “Surely you don’t think it’s a good idea for Josh and Olivia to get married for a year.”
Brad shrugged and asked Olivia, “Would it be so bad if you guys were married? Are you sure you couldn’t love each other?”
Emily joined the group. “That’s right Olivia. Marriage is great when you have a great guy, like Josh.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Puh-leeese! This marriage thing is a farce. Josh isn’t in love with me, and I’m not in love with him. And I’m not ready to be a mother.”
“But Olivia,” Emily argued. “What if you’re wrong? What if Josh is in love with you?”
“I’m not wrong.”
“Grace,” said Emily. “Help me out here. You agree with me, don’t you?”
“I absolutely agree. I think Josh is in love with my sister, and I think she loves him back, and doesn’t even realize it.” She turned her head to wink at Olivia. “And I think when they figure it out, they’ll live happily ever after.”
“Grace,” Olivia’s voice was almost a snarl.
“Don’t worry, Sister,” Grace said, rubbing her arm. “Just trust me.”
JOSH TRIED TO KEEP his temper in check, but his heart hammered when he saw Derek kissing Charlie. She must have changed a lot in the last two years. Even a private kiss had earned him a slap on the face from Charlie. Now she was letting Derek paw her in public. Well, he wasn’t exactly pawing her, but he did kiss her. Her face was as red as a beet, and she didn’t seem to respond with any passion. Was it because she didn’t really feel anything for Derek, or simply because they were in public? Maybe when they were alone, she kissed Derek like she’d kissed him two years ago.
He let his mind drift back to that night in the hallway. He played the scene over in his mind as he had for the past two years.
“We’ll see, Josh. Seriously, let’s wait and see. Give yourself a week or two, and you’ll work me out of your system. I think I’m just an anomaly.”
“It feels more like cancer to me. I think you’ve metastasized, and I’ll never be able to get rid of you, even if I wanted to try.”
“Okay. Whatever you say. But don’t worry—I won’t get my feelings hurt when you realize this relationship is way more trouble than its worth.”
“You’re definitely a lot of trouble.” He cupped her cheeks with his hands, tilting her head back. “But like I said before, you’re worth it.”
He lowered his mouth to hers and touched their lips together, ever so lightly. Then he’d brushed his lips across hers and planted tiny kisses around her mouth. He continued to tease her lips until her mouth surged toward his, seeking his warmth. But he held her at bay, gently stroking her lips with his tongue until they parted and her own tongue slipped forward to tentatively touch his.
When his tongue found hers, he groaned and pressed his mouth against hers, his hands tangling in her hair. She tasted so sweet. Ragged breaths emerged as her kiss raged against his senses. Time froze. There was no one else, nothing else in the universe. Only Charlie and the heady, overwhelming sensation of her lips against his. Her arms around his neck. Her heart pounding rapidly against his chest. As his embrace had tightened, she molded herself against him. For the first time in his life, he’d realized he didn’t just want this woman in his bed. He wanted her in his arms and in his life. He didn’t just want her body. He wanted her. He wanted Charlie Best.
Forever.
All of that from one kiss.
Josh was in anguish imagining Charlie responding like that to Derek. He wanted to pommel Derek’s face into the ground. But he had to tamp down his emotional response. Charlie wasn’t his. He was going to marry Olivia. Even though it would be platonic and temporary, he’d be faithful to her. There was little chance Charlie would still be available after they ended the marriage. Even if she weren’t in a relationship, she probably wouldn’t want to marry a divorced man with two children. And since he was admitting he still loved her, he reasoned her happiness was more important than his own. If Derek could make her happy, he wanted that for her. Josh had never quite forgiven himself for making her cry when he talked to her at the Emily’s wedding, and he never wanted her to be that unhappy again. He had to put Charlie first.
As Derek moved to join them, Spencer accosted him. “What’s the story with you and my sister-in-law? You only met her a week ago.”
“What’s the big deal? I only kissed her. It’s not like I’m sleeping with her... yet.”
Josh’s hand flew forward and caught Derek by the shirt collar, jerking him forward. “She’s not that kind of girl. Charlie doesn’t sleep around.”
“Cool off buddy,” he said, shaking himself loose from his hold. “I’ve never forced a girl to do anything, and I’m not about to start. I think it’s her decision when she wants to sleep with me.”
Spencer pushed in front of him, and spoke in a low menacing tone. “Derek, I’m warning you one time, for your own good. Don’t let anyone hear you talking that way about Charlie. More people than Josh and I will be offended. My wife would slap you. My sisters would kick you where it counts. And Steven Gherring might just toss you off the plane.”
He paled a bit. “Okay! Okay! I’m kidding. She’s already laid down the law for me. I know not to try anything.”
Josh was so angry he could barely control himself. What did Charlie see in this guy? And Olivia had been flirting with him as well. He didn’t really have the right to say anything to Charlie, but surely he could talk some sense into Olivia. He stomped off to find her, but Emily intercepted him.
“Hey Josh, I was wanting to ask you a medical question.”
“Uhmm, okay. Did you need to talk to me now?”