Page 47 of Play of Love
“I love San Francisco.”
“It’s cool. My family still lives there, they just…” His voice trailed off and a faraway look filled his eyes. “I mean they used to, all of them. It’s just my dad now.”
Pain etched over his fine features.
I realized that he was talking about his mom and sister as if they were still alive. That must have been so painful. I remembered the other day, too, when his dad called and he allowed the phone to go to voicemail. I didn’t know what that was about, but guessed that Josh was avoiding him.
“Josh, are you okay?” I looked him over and noticed the change in his appearance.
“I’m fine. I should probably go. Plus, you shouldn’t be getting back too late.” He stood up to go. I got up too.
“Josh. What are you going to do?” I knew he was going to drink. I could feel it. It was just like yesterday when he rushed out of the car and headed for the first bottle. I could only begin to imagine what he must feel. I’d never lost anyone that close to me and didn’t think I could survive if I did.
“That’s a big question, Kansas. You’re actually going to have to be specific.” The attitude had returned.
“What are you going to do right now?” Yesterday he’d been completely vile with his response of booze and bitches. I didn’t know if I could handle any responses like that, especially since I just spent a really nice day with him.
“Go home.”
“Go home and do what? You said be specific.”
“It’s Saturday night, Kansas, I might get up to all sorts of things.” He gave me a wicked smile.
“Does that include…drinking?”
“Kansas, you shouldn’t worry about me. I’m certain that even you have better things to do on a Saturday night.”
I continued to look at him. “Will you drink?” I decided to ignore the comment.
“Yes.” At least he was honest.
“And…call Allegra and bed friends?”
I didn’t know why I said that. The words just resonated from my lips from somewhere.
Maybe it was my failure to help, or…
Maybe it was my suppressed desire from the other day when we kissed and he couldn’t remember. I tried to forget the whole damn thing but found myself thinking about it at times, much to my great annoyance. It was like some kind of curse where I had to live with the memory and he just went about his normal life with these women.
Most people would think I was overreacting because it was just a little kiss, and yes there’d been a lot of intimate touching, but it was perhaps the most heated, passionate moment in my life. That was sad considering how old I was. I supposed it was down to my avoidance of serious relationships.
Thinking about it made me feel flustered. I didn’t know how I got to this point where I was here trying to convince Josh not to drink and hook up with his bed friends. The thought of both really peeved me off. “I mean you—”
Before I could say my next word he smoothed his hand across my cheek and sealed his lips to mine.
He moved so quickly that my brain barely had a chance to register that he was kissing me. His delicious lips fused to mine , sending a spark of electricity straight through me . Then something strange happened. Warmth gathered from the tips of my toes and propelled itself over my entire body. I felt it coursing through my veins like an awakened river zinging with vitality. It quenched my soul of a thirst I didn’t know I had and made me feel like I never wanted to be without him.
The kiss was brief, too brief, but it still had a powerful effect and stunned me .
He moved back a little to gaze down at me, but still touched my cheek. “No,” he said with that half smile that numbed my knees.
My cheeks burned and my lips tingled from the heated blaze of our kiss. I narrowed my gaze, not quite sure what he meant. “No…to what?”
“No, I won’t be calling Allegra and bed friends.”
I held his gaze, trying to decide what to say next. “You just kissed me,” I breathed.
He’d kissed me and he wasn’t drunk. This was the real him.
