I was not the most adventurous when it came to food, and frog legs didn’t even factor into a discussion about things I’d never eat in a million years. He knew this about me. “I still can’t tell if you’re kidding,” I said.
He winked. “Only time will tell.”
“So you’re not telling me where we’re going?” I asked, relieved that we might have an option other than snails and frogs.
“Nope, but I promise it’ll be a place you’ll like.” He dropped an arm over my shoulder, not in a romantic way but in a way that perfectly fit the setting. Comfortable, casual, relaxed. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to have Shelby in my life, I’d probably consider him my best friend.
Suddenly, he tensed up. He slid away from me and tilted toward the edge of the bench, staring into the distance. “Look right between those two trees. See the dark-green one next to the one with the pink flowers?”
I looked. I could see the trees, but I had no idea what else was in his line of sight. “What am I looking at?”
“I think it’s pigeon sex,” he whispered, grinning like a kid.
I could see a fluff of grey tail feathers, but I was pretty sure I wasn’t seeing what he was seeing. “Yeah? You sure you aren’t imagining it?”
“Eh, who knows? I may be trying to live vicariously through birds.”
“I don’t feel bad for you. Sorry. You’ve got more going for you than almost anyone.”
“I almost can’t take the adoration.” Josh got up and made a display of strutting in front of me, pushing his hips forward like he was parading down a catwalk. He turned on his heel and strutted back, running a hand through his hair and giving me a smoldering look.
Maybe it was the two glasses of wine, the romance of the marble sculptures, and the gorgeous garden, but for a moment, I saw Josh in a completely different light.
I found myself wondering what it would be like to kiss him—not in the idle way I’d sometimes thought about it in the past, when I was trying to see what other women saw in him.
This time, I felt a spark.