Page 7 of A Summer of New Beginnings
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Zara was rudely awoken by her Florence and the Machine ringtone and, with closed eyes, she reached out to grab her phone.
‘Hello?’ she croaked.
‘Hello there, gorgeous. Have you missed me?’
Zara sat up and grinned. ‘Hey, Josh. I really have missed you. When did you get back?’
‘Oh, not until late last night so I didn’t want to bother you. How are you doing? I didn’t really understand yourtext. Something about hating Noah and being eaten alive?’ He chuckled.
She sighed. ‘Ugh… yes, he’s given me a terrible assignment and I can’t get out of it.’
‘Define terrible.’
‘Five hundred miles of cycling and bloody camping.’ She knew her despondency shone through in her monotonous tone.
‘Really? Don’t tell me he’s sending you on the NC500?’
Zara scowled. ‘How did you figure that out?And yes.’
‘Oh, Zara it’s a fantastic route. The scenery, the fresh air. Honestly, it’s bloody awesome!’
‘Says the man who’d happily live in a tent permanently.’
‘Yeah, I know but, wow. I’m actually jealous of this assignment. That’s a first, eh?’
It was true. Josh was outdoors obsessed. Whether it was rock climbing, white-water rafting, camping, you name it and he loved it. Zara often wonderedwhat the hell he was doing with someone so outdoors averse.
‘And you know what this means? You can come to the shop and I’ll kit you out. I can’t wait to see you in some sexy walking boots and combat pants,’ he said huskily.
She couldn’t help giggling at the mental image he’d just created. ‘Oh, yes, soverysexy.’
‘Oh, it will be, you just wait. And you never know, if it’s quiet we could sneakinto one of the fitting rooms.’
‘Josh! I’m not having sex with you in a bloody fitting room.’
‘Spoilsport. Anyway, movie and a takeaway at yours tonight?’
‘Sounds good. Can’t wait.’
‘It’s a date, then. See you later gorgeous.’
*
Zara cuddled up on the sofa with Josh but couldn’t help the twinge of guilt that tugged at her. Marco had chosen the same day to move in and, knowing Josh was cominground, he had exiled himself to his new room, insisting it was absolutely fine.
They were on to their second bottle of wine and the film had finished. Josh turned to her and stroked her cheek with his thumb. ‘God, I’ve missed you. We need to try and organise our time better so that our trips away coincide in future.’
He leaned close and brushed her lips with his. She slipped her hands into hisshaggy, dirty-blond hair and deepened the kiss as heat rose from within her and her desire for him grew. Josh was simply gorgeous, in that tall, rugged surfer way. Originally from the north east of England, he had a sexy as hell accent that she could listen to all day and never tire of it. He was muscular and lean on account of all the climbing he did, and his eyes were sometimes blue but sometimesgreen depending on the light.
He pulled away from her and rubbed his nose down the length of hers. ‘I want you naked now, Bailey.’ He grinned.
Her stomach flipped and she began unbuttoning her shirt under his watchful, lust-filled gaze. Once her shirt was open he swiped off his T-shirt and quickly unzipped and slipped off his jeans and boxers. Zara could feel her pupils dilating as she tookin the epitome of masculinity before her and she reached up to drag her nails lightly down his toned abdomen.
‘Ooh! Hi, Josh, it’s fine, thanks; I don’t need a parking space for my bike. Been working out, have you? Very nice,’ Marco said as he appeared in the living room.
‘Shit… fuck…’ Josh, now as red as the pillar boxes on the street, immediately crouched to grab his clothes and cover hismanhood.
