Page 30 of Tinley's Daddy
I cut a piece of chicken and dipped it in honey mustard sauce. I brought it to my lips with a fork and blew on it. I took a bite and groaned.
Josh stopped mid-bite and glared at me.
I dug into the mac and cheese next. It had a serious cheese pull. Just the way I liked it. I blew on it and took a bite. “Oh my God.” I pointed. “This is so good.”
“Yeah, well, take it easy. I’m sure your stomach is still a little sensitive.” He watched me take another bite of each. When I looked up, he turned his attention back to his food.
I had a lot of experience in knowing what men wanted. The subtle clues were not so subtle, but the involuntary clues were more telling. The darkening of the eyes or the tensing of muscles in the neck told me the truth. When it came to lust or desire, the way your body changed when someone wanted you and when you wanted them was like a sixth sense to me.
He held himself back from expressing his attraction to me verbally. It confused me, too. After what I’ve been through, how could I want him, too? Or any man.
Josh wasn’t any man.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” I asked between bits.
I knew the answer. If he had a little, he would be totally devoted to her. In the last forty-eight hours, I hadn’t seen him speak to anyone except for his bosses and his assistant.
“No.” He shook his head.
“Why not?”
“I guess I haven’t found the right girl.” He wiped his mouth. “I’m not sure what I’m looking for.”
My eyes scrunched up.
He chuckled.
“I know. It seems strange. I run a billion-dollar company and have hundreds of employees, can coordinate a thousanddifferent tasks and never drop the ball on any one of them.” He smirked. “But every single one of my past relationships has ended because it was the one thing in my life I found expendable.” He frowned, then blinked his eyes and looked away.
“Maybe you haven’t met the right one you consider making a priority.” I stuffed the last of my mac and cheese in my mouth and leaned back, rubbing my stomach.
“Maybe.” He grinned and finished the last of his meal before downing his scotch. “Why don’t you lie down and try to get some sleep. When you wake up, you’ll be back home.”
Home.
The word sounded foreign.
I stood and went to the bathroom at the back of the plane. I typically avoided mirrors, but I stared at my reflection for a while. I wrapped the braid into a messy bun on my head. It made me look like a kid. Along with the baggy clothes. My eyes were a little less sunken. The good meals were already working wonders. I picked up one of the bottles lining the sink. Hydrating cleanser. I washed my face and added some moisturizer. There were six other bottles I wasn’t sure what they did. Maybe I’d try them when I woke up.
The dishes had been cleared, and the couch had been covered with a pillow and blanket.
Josh had moved into the recliner opposite the couch.
I took a seat and toed off my shoes.
“Are you going to watch me sleep?” I giggled and slid my legs under the blankets.
“No, just want to make sure you don’t need anything.” He stood up and kneeled next to me. He held back from tucking me in. Settled on patting my leg instead.
“I’ll be right over there getting some work done if you need anything.” He pointed.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?”
He shrugged and opened his mouth but closed it.
I reached out and touched his hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He was chagrined after asking the question like it wasn’t obvious. He patted my hand on top of his. “You’re welcome.”
