Page 7 of September's Kiss (Loving the Curvy Girl)

“Suck it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“You made out with a stranger then slept in a bridesmaid’s dress,” he countered. “You were a wreck.”

“Fine,” I said, my tone irritated as I breezed past him to put my purse in the office.

The truth was, I hadn’t slept much since passing out drunk Saturday night. My dreams had been plagued with very inappropriate visions of Joshua every time I’d closed my eyes.

I’d turned on my phone and stared at his number over a dozen times the day before, trying to get up the nerve to call him, but always chickening out. He’d wanted me to be able to get ahold of him, so I wasn’t sure what I was so afraid of.

Okay, that was a lie. I knew exactly what I was scared of. I’d never been with a man before. Had never really dated, just a few disastrous first dates set up by well meaning family and friends. I was a loner. Most guys thought I was too smart for my own good, or had ‘too healthy an appetite,’ which was about the most politically correct way of calling someone fat I’d ever heard in my life.

Whatever. People could think what they wanted about me. I was happy with my life. Granted, I was starting to consider getting a cat, but I had a great job where I got to work with my best friend every day, I owned my own home, got to travel whenever and wherever I wanted and I was comfortable in my own skin. I was happy.

Or, I’d thought I was. Then Mr. Huge, Broad and Handsome had turned up and suddenly I was starting to wonder if I was lonelier than I’d thought.

Barely meeting Joshua had pulled the rug out from under me and I’d felt dizzy ever since. Even after the wine had worn off.

I knew I should just pull up my big girl panties and call him. It was stupid not to. But I was scared. I’d spent so long being on my own, I didn’t even know how to start something with a man.

What if he wanted to go on a date? What if he wanted to do the sex? I didn’t know anything about sex and it terrified me. Plus, he was a really big man. Which probably meant he had a really big—

The bell chimed for the front door, making me jump and pulling me out of my thoughts. I shook my head and told myself to stop thinking about Joshua. I needed to get to work.

There were stacks of boxes in the back that needed to be unpacked and shelved. Plus, Geoff would be on his honeymoon next week and I’d be manning the store alone. There was too much to do for me to be standing in the office thinking about Joshua’s…well, Joshua.

I walked back out into the store and smiled at the customer who was talking to Geoff at the counter. He looked familiar, but I didn’t want to stare. I couldn’t place exactly what about him it was, but I definitely felt as if we’d met before. Probably someone who just came into the store every now and then. Not a regular, but someone I’d waited on before.

As I walked around the counter the man handed Geoff and envelope and I heard Geoff chuckle even as I headed toward the back of the shop. I made a mental note to ask him about it, but then got to work.

A couple hours later I was hot, sweaty and starving. I’d settled onto the floor in the romance section to shelve all of the bare-chested men books and for some reason, every cover model managed to remind me of Joshua.

I’d imagined him on the helm of a ship, as a prince with a secret baby, as an international spy and as a tough as nails bodyguard, sweeping in to save me…his damsel in distress, naturally.

Damn it, I had it so bad for this guy, and I didn’t even actually know him.

“Hey, Ember!” Geoff called. “Wanna call it a day?”

I got to my feet and dusted my hands on my jeans as I walked up front.

“Got a hot date or something?” I teased him.

“Or something,” he said. “Finalizing wedding stuff. Damn, dude. I can’t believe that in just a few more days Kathy is really going to be my wife.”

“Are you getting nervous?” I asked.

“Actually, just more excited,” he admitted.

“It’s got to be a nice feeling,” I said as we walked into the office together. “Knowing you’ll have her with you for the rest of your life.”

“It is,” he confirmed. “I mean, yeah, we wake up together every morning, but it will be awesome to know she’s contractually obligated to be there forever.”

“How romantic,” I teased. “If you want, I can lock up tonight.”

“Nah, I think I’m just gonna close up for the rest of the week, actually. I’ll pay you, obviously, but there’s so much to do and I’d like you with me for some of it if you don’t mind. And I know Kathy could use your help, too.”

“Of course!” I said, smiling as I put my hand on his arm. “Whatever you guys need.”

“You’re a peach,” he said. He blew out a sigh. “Let’s blow this pop stand.”

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