Josie. I fucked up. I pushed when I should have let you set the parameters. I thought I was being suave… a rescuer relieving your untouched drink and taking your hand to dance, but I really just wanted to talk to you.” Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip and he stared, wishing things were different. “I’m truly sorry for coming across so pushy. I promise I can do my job and protect you. One thing I’ve learned about you is there’s no bullshit. No playing games. It might have struck me as wrong, but you told me upfront that I’m not your type, so we’ll keep it professional.”
“Oh, Cobb, you have to know your type isn’t for me,” she said, her voice soft as her shoulders hunched.
His brow furrowed, and he leaned back. “Josie, what type am I, and what the hell do you think I can do about it?”
She pursed her lips as a deep blush rose over her cheeks. Letting out a ragged breath, she shook her head and said, “You really want me to say it? You need to hear me?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do,” he growled. “Tell me what the fuck is wrong with my type.”
“Jesus, just look into the mirror, Cobb. It’s staring right back at you every day. But I get it. There’s nothing you can do about it, unless… I don’t know… wear a bag over your head. Stop eating and get skinny. Don’t shower and start stinking.” She leaned back, her breath ragged as she snorted. “There’s nothing wrong with your type, Cobb. I’ve just never had any luck with guys that are… you know… really good-looking.”
He jerked his head back as air rushed from his lungs, uncertain he heard her correctly. “What?”
Throwing her hands up she repeated, “Good looking. You know… hot. Gorgeous. You look like a bodybuilder and a model all rolled into one. You’re the kind of man who walks into a room and every woman stares as though they are starving and you’re their next meal. Every man stares because you’re the competition they don’t have a prayer of winning against. The kind of man who expects women to fall at their feet because that’s what usually happens. Want me to go on, or have I stroked your ego enough?”
Her words stumbled around in his brain, but her irritation was coming through loud and clear. “You think I’m hot, and that’s why you think I’m not your type.”
“My previous experience would prove me right.”
“Well, Josie, I’m here to tell you that your previous experience is shit if any guy made you feel less. And I’m fucking glad to find out what you were thinking because I can work with that.”
9
Josie’s face burned with blush and she wished she could turn back the clock to where they were just talking about Cobb and not her mixed-up thoughts. Jesus, I just admitted I think he’s gorgeous, and I’m a loser. But his words made no sense. He can work with that? He can work with what? Licking her lips slowly, her gaze stayed riveted on his face, uncertain of his meaning.
She uncrossed her legs, ready to stand.
“What are you doing?”
“I…” she croaked, then cleared her throat. “I think at this point perhaps I should head to bed. Let’s pretend that we stopped the conversation earlier. Tomorrow we can focus on what you want to do with my house security.”
His hand jerked out and landed on her arm, gently holding her in place. “No… no pretending, Josie. We’re a classic example of two people not understanding the other and making assumptions.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I thought you were… well… a racist… that the type you referred to was my heritage.”
Gasping, her eyes shot open wide. “Oh, my God! No! I… I would never… that’s not… oh, my God!” She bolted to her feet, jerking her arm from his hand as her mouth opened and closed rapidly. He reached out again, but she skirted around the coffee table, not having a particular destination but needing to move. She stalked to the window, her gaze staring out into the deep blue night sky. Her chest tightened. “I can’t believe you thought that,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly. Turning, she forced her gaze to his, surprised to see him smiling. “I’m so sorry, Jorge. So sorry that’s what you thought. I can only imagine how difficult this job must have been for you, considering that you… well, you know.”
He stood and with two