Page 73 of Her Cadillac Cowboy
“Sit down kid. What’d you say your name was?”
“Will, William Arthur Talmidge, IV.”
Josh walked away shaking his head. Will might just be the best thing that every happened to Carl Carson. And if there was hope for Carl, there just might be hope for Josh’s relationship with Sara. He didn’t want to admit how hurt he’d been when she ran out on him after they’d made love. That she’d been not simply willing but eager had given Josh more hope than he’d felt in months. Did he imagine the strength of her desire for him? Had it all been about sex? He refused to believe that. They needed to talk, but she wasn’t taking his calls.
???
She tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk. “Yes, Carol?”
“Mr. McKinley is on the phone.”
“I can’t take his call right now.” She’d avoided the man for more than a week, but not the memories. Little things, like a glimpse of the ocean. Will’s smile when he saw her in the body shop. Heck, even the budget line item for the floodlights brought their shared passion to mind. She’d grown absentminded and had started doodling his initials at odd times during meetings. She was being an idiot.
“He says it’s about a rental deal.”
“Put him through to Mr. Reynard. Gene knows all the details. And tell Gene I want to see him in my office as soon as he’s finished talking to Mr. McKinley.”So I’m avoiding him. The minute he sees me he’ll accuse me of being a coward and we’ll argue. But coward or not, I don’t want to have to choose between him and Carson’s, between him and Dad. Not seeing Josh was the best way to maintain peace.
An hour later, the door opened and Gene’s voice preceded him into the office. “Sara, I’ve got those contracts ready for the Cadillac rental.”
She looked up from her computer screen. “Good. Let me finish drafting this letter to the city council thanking them for the lighting variance. Then I’ll glance at it before we send it over to McKinley.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
At the sound of Josh’s voice, all thought of council members and floodlights fled. “Josh. What are you…? Er, what a surprise.”
“Really?” He sauntered in behind Gene, leaving the door ajar.
“Why, yes.” Sara cleared her suddenly constricted throat. “The heart of Carson territory isn’t exactly the place I’d expect to see you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair.
“Carson’s and Springboard have been doing a lot of business together lately.” Josh took a seat, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles. His hands relaxed on the arms of the chair. He looked completely at home.
“True.” She felt her shoulders tighten.
“Besides, things aren’t as simple as when we were in high school.”
“No.”
Gene looked from Sara to Josh and back, then placed the contract on her desk. “I’d better leave and let you two hash this contract out together.”
“No, don’t leave, Gene. I’m certain the contract is just fine,” Sara shot out. “If Mr. McKinley agrees, we can sign it now. We’ll need you as a witness.”
She didn’t — couldn’t —be alone with Josh. She couldn’t trust herself not to do something foolish.
“That’s fine with me.”
The careful casualness of his words should have warned her.
“Gene, why don’t you get Carol for the second witness and bring back some coffee, please?” Josh continued. “I want to chat with Sara for a minute about past times and narrow escapes.”
Gene gave Josh a puzzled look. “Uh, sure. Be back in a couple of minutes.”
Sara turned her head away, but she couldn’t avoid facing Josh any longer.I’m the managing head of Carson’s Cars. Dad will have to respect me now. So will Josh. So stop acting like a teenager scared of her first crush. Show him, show the world, that you’re strong and able.
She turned back, but her gaze slid away from his challenging stare.
Coward. Look him in the eye.She lifted her chin and fixed her gaze with his.
“If you intend to chastise me for leaving the way I did the other night, don’t bother. It was rude. Believe me when I say I was just embarrassed. The whole thing was a mistake, and I didn’t know how to make a graceful exit.”
