It Happened One Night

Kiley stared at him for several seconds before she nodded and handed his phone back to him. “I’ll use the phone in my office.”

While she went to make the call to ask her parents about keeping Emmie Saturday evening, Josh thought of something else he needed to do. Kiley had mentioned she would need to find a dress for the ball, and he could imagine just what a dent the price of an evening gown would make in her budget. If she’d let him, he would like nothing more than to make things easier for her by giving her one of his credit cards to use. But if there was one thing he had learned in the past week and a half, it was how fiercely independent she was. She would no doubt tell him where he could put his card, as well as tell him to find someone else to go to the ball with him.

Deciding that he could use a little assistance with his idea, he made a mental note to call Piper Kindred first thing tomorrow. He had heard that she and Kiley had become friends when Piper taught a CPR class at the TCC clubhouse, and he had known Piper for years. He knew he could count on her to help him out.

“What did they say?” he asked when Kiley walked back into the living room.

“They’re thrilled that I’m going to the ball,” she said, frowning as she sat back down on the couch beside him. “My mother even told me it’s past time that I started dating again.”

“Your mom sounds like a wise woman,” he said, pulling Kiley to him. He was a bit surprised that her mother approved of Kiley going to the ball with him, considering the story Lori had planned on telling them after they broke up. Either Kiley’s mother had forgotten who he was or, at some point in the past three years, Lori had come clean and told them the truth about how their brief relationship had ended.

Deciding it didn’t matter, he gave Kiley a kiss that sent his blood pressure sky-high and caused his jeans to feel as if they were a few sizes too small. “I’m sure she just wants you to be happy.”

“I know, but I’m so…out of practice at the whole dating thing,” she said, shrugging one slender shoulder.

“The ball may be our first date, but it’s not like we haven’t spent a lot of time together in the past couple of weeks,” he said, kissing her temple. “And let me assure you that I plan on spending a lot more with you in the future.”

“Josh, I have Emmie…to think about.” She melted against him. “I have to think of what’s best for her.”

He knew Kiley’s reluctance stemmed from her concern that Emmie might become too attached to him and end up being hurt, not to mention the possibility of being rejected herself. The way that bastard of an ex-husband had walked out on her and Emmie, it was no wonder she was afraid of taking a chance on another relationship.

His heart came to a screeching halt and he had to take a deep breath. What the hell was he thinking? He wasn’t looking for anything long-term, was he?

It was true that he had been relentless in getting close to Kiley because he wanted her to admit there was an overwhelming chemistry between them. And she had done that. But beyond that, he hadn’t given it much thought. Did he want to try exploring something exclusive with her?

He wasn’t sure. But he was certain of one thing. Just the thought of anyone, himself included, causing her or Emmie any kind of distress was more than he could tolerate. Nor could he stand the thought of Kiley in the arms of another man.

“Honey, I give you my word that I will gladly walk through hell and back before I hurt you or Emmie in any way,” he assured her.

Needing to make sure she understood that he meant every word he said, Josh lowered his mouth to hers. For reasons he didn’t care to analyze too closely, all he wanted to do was make Kiley happy, to show her how special she was to him and to make things easier for her and her delightful little girl.

When Kiley placed her hand over his heart, the warmth of her palm and the feel of her caressing his chest through the fabric of his chambray shirt set off little electric charges throughout his being. Heat rushed through his veins and his body hardened with an urgency that left him feeling light-headed.

At that moment, nothing would have pleased him more than to remove both of their clothes and make love to her right there on her couch. But Kiley wasn’t ready and he didn’t care how many cold showers he had to endure, he wasn’t going to rush her. When they made love again, it would be because it was what they both wanted, what they could no longer resist.

“I think I’d better leave,” he said, breaking the kiss.

As he gazed down at her, he came close to losing his resolve. The passion and desire in her luminous brown eyes was breathtaking and he knew as surely as he knew his own name, they would be making love soon.