here. Back here, I mean. After college.”
“That was always the plan.” He drained the last of his coffee and got to his feet. “You want some more?”
She shook her head, and he carried his mug into the kitchen. This time she followed him. “Whose plan was it?” she asked. “Yours or your parents’?”
“Both.” He set his mug in the sink and turned around, resting his hands on the edge of the counter. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Run the farm and make cheese. Ever since I can remember. Just like you and math. It felt like my calling.”
Her hands tightened around her own mug. “And now that you’re doing what you wanted? Are you happy?” She genuinely wanted to know, after chasing her own dreams for so long, if finally getting what you’d worked for was all it was cracked up to be.
He appeared to consider his answer carefully. “Can anyone truthfully say yes to that question? Happy’s a state of mind that changes as much as the weather. Am I happy every day? No. But I guess I’m content.” He paused. “Mostly.”
It was on the tip of Mia’s tongue to ask what was lacking, what would make his contentment complete. But before she could say anything, his phone rang.
He fished it out of his pocket and smiled at the screen before holding it to his ear. “Hey, Birdie. What’s up?” His gaze flicked to Mia. “No, she’s still here.”
As he listened to his aunt speak, Mia finished the last of her coffee and leaned around him to put her mug in the sink.
His gaze followed her as she entered his personal space, but he didn’t move away. “Sure,” he said into the phone. “Yeah.”
She could hear Birdie’s voice on the other end, but not well enough to make out what she was saying. She seemed to be talking an awful lot.
Josh’s expression told her nothing. “Okay.” He rubbed the phone against his temple. “I will.” Pause. “Sure.” And finally: “Okay, you be careful. Thanks for calling.”
“Is everything all right?” Mia asked as he disconnected the call.
“Fine.” He shoved the phone back in his pocket. “She was calling to let us know her street’s flooded.”
“Oh no! Is she okay?” Mia’s mind conjured images of Birdie stranded as floodwaters raged around her, seeking shelter in her attic, requiring a rooftop helicopter rescue. Although she gathered from Josh’s calm demeanor that none of her panicked imaginings were imminent.
He smiled and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “She’s perfectly safe. It happens sometimes when we get a hard rain like this. Her street might fill up, but there’s no danger of the water rising anywhere near high enough to make it into her house.”
“That’s good.” Mia’s skin tingled where Josh had touched her. She fought the urge to rub the spot with her fingers.
“It’s not drivable though.” He paused, his gaze settling on her meaningfully. “She thinks you should spend the night here.” Another heavy pause. “Just to be safe.”
“Oh.” Mia swallowed as her heartbeat quickened. “And what do you think?”
Josh shifted closer, and his eyes locked onto her. “I don’t think you’ve got much of a choice unless you want to swim for it. Which I don’t recommend on account of the snakes and floating fire ants.”
She frowned, trying to figure out if he was messing with her. “Floating fire ants?”
Nodding, he edged even closer. “Whole colonies of them floating on top of the floodwaters.” His mouth quirked. “So it’s probably best that you stay here.”
Her head was swimming, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. “You know, I have this funny feeling that your family might be conspiring to push us together.” For all she knew, Birdie had lied about the street being flooded. After the way she’d abandoned Mia here this morning, it didn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility.
Josh’s hands settled on her waist. Tugged her against him so their knees bumped together. “They like you.”
There was nowhere for Mia to put her hands but on his chest. She flattened her palms, letting them slide over the front of his T-shirt. Wantonly caressing the muscles that lay beneath. “Their opinion isn’t the one that matters.”
He lifted a hand to her face. Traced his fingertips over the curve of her cheek. “I like you too.” Bending his head, he trailed his lips along her jaw. “Did I not make that clear enough?” His hot breath seared the words into her skin.
She inhaled sharply, letting her eyes fall