Page 27 of Mixing Temptation (Second Shot 3)

“What the hell? Are you from Palo Alto?” Ryan cocked his head.

She shook her head. “I know how she feels. Alone. Afraid. I’ve been there. Most days, I still am. I can help her.”

Maybe.

But she suspected she had a better shot than Ryan. He might love her like a sister, but he still loved her. And bonus, Caroline had already tossed away her military career.

“No,” Noah snapped. “You can’t go, Caroline.”

“Looks like I missed the party.” Josh’s happy-­go-­lucky voice sliced through the tension as he pushed open the door leading to the staff parking area. “Change your mind about letting her take a dinner break, boss?”

“Your girlfriend just volunteered to visit California,” Lily said.

Josh turned to her and raised an eyebrow. “We’re going on a road trip?”

“No.” She looked straight into his beautiful green eyes. “Just me.”

“Forgetting that you don’t have a car or a license?” Josh said. “I happen to have both. And a pile of vacation days ready and waiting to take my girl on a trip.”

“I’ll manage on my own. I don’t need to drag you into this.”

Or the little side mission she’d been plotting since Ryan first announced his intentions to follow Helena to California.

It had been over a year since she’d run away fearing Dustin was hot on her trail, ready to turn her in—­or worse. And listening to Helena, she’d realized that running came with its own issues.

She needed to see for herself that her former CO no longer posed a threat. On her way down to Palo Alto, she planned to swing by Dustin’s hometown. But no one needed to know that part of her plan.

“So you’re dumping me?” Josh asked. “Before the third date?”

“Josh—­”

“I don’t pretend, Caroline.” He pushed through the group and headed for her. Lily stepped aside to make room for him.

She could have backed away. Ran. But no, she was done rushing off at the first hint of fear. And Josh didn’t frighten her. Although if she stepped back and thought about his public insistence that they were honest to God dating she might say . . .

Yes, join me.

He stopped within arm’s reach and raised his hand. His finger brushed her right cheek. “And I have a rule about letting my girlfriend walk or, hell, hitchhike across state lines.”

“You and your damn rules,” she muttered.

He smiled and lowered his hand. “I’ll take that as a yes. When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow. First thing.”

He nodded. “I’ll pick you up at seven. And I’ll bring the coffee and doughnuts. Seeing as this will be our third official date and all.”

“Before you go,” Ryan jumped in. “We need to talk.”

“I’m listening,” she said, keeping her gaze fixed on Josh while Ryan demanded to know her plan.

Josh had changed into a long-­sleeve, button-­down shirt for their one-­hour dinner date. He’d dressed up for her. He liked her. But if they had any hope of moving beyond ‘like,’ she needed to face her past. She would knock down her fears one by one on this trip. And then maybe they would have a chance at something more. She would still face the threat of arrest. But a fugitive’s happy-­ever-­after was better than nothing.

She glanced at the man who’d traded his go-­to flannel for a dress shirt. She’d heard him talk about his siblings. His brothers and sister had their ups and downs on their way to happy-­ever-­after. But now they were living the dream—­Josh’s dream. There was even a rumor that his oldest brother, Brody, planned to adopt a child soon. And she knew for a fact his sister was expecting her first child in five or so months.

Would her constricted version of love be enough for him?

Chapter 8

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