Sailing at Sunset - Cindi Madsen Page 0,52
flames drifted over as Paige and Mark got the bonfire going. Now that the last rays of the day were on their way out, barely peeking over the horizon, they lit up the mottled clouds overhead, turning them purple and orange. With all the bright colors and the beautiful setting, it felt like she’d stepped into a stunning photograph that seemed too beautiful to be real.
Danae’s heart quickened as Josh walked over, and she held her breath, hoping he’d choose the spot next to her, but not wanting to draw too much attention by saying so. They’d already created quite a spectacle during their yoga session, and while she wouldn’t change a thing, she didn’t want to come across as unprofessional.
Even if her thoughts about Josh Wheeler weren’t strictly professional.
“Is this spot taken?” he asked, and she became acutely aware of everything about him. His whiskered jaw, the creases in his forehead, the way the sun lit up one side of his face while leaving the other in shadow.
“It’s all yours.”
As he crossed his legs and settled next to her, the glow from the flames caught the gold star on the jacket she’d had wrapped around her the other night. A second later, the bag of marshmallows nearly hit her in the face. She glanced over, and Franco winced.
“Sorry. I thought you heard me yell ‘heads up.’”
Maybe she would have, if she hadn’t been lost in all things Josh. Someone passed skewers around the circle, and then they scooted closer to the bonfire to roast their marshmallows.
The end of Josh’s marshmallow caught on fire, and he jerked it away. He whipped it back and forth until the flames were extinguished and he was left with a half-blackened marshmallow. A minute later, Danae lifted her perfectly toasted marshmallow and waved it in front of him, taunting him with her crispy golden success.
Josh gripped the skewer in the middle, and his eyes met hers. A thunderstorm of hoofbeats pounded through her body and echoed through her head. He leaned closer, the orange flames reflecting in his blue eyes.
Then he peeled off her marshmallow and popped the entire thing in his mouth.
Danae lunged, but she was too late. “Ah! That was mine!”
Josh slung his arm around her shoulders. “Oh, I thought with the way you were waving it in my face,” he said through a giant mouthful, “you wanted me to have it.” He packed a whole heap of smugness in his grin. “That one was perfectly done.”
“You’re gonna pay for that. I’m not sure how yet, but mark my words.”
He had the nerve not to appear the least bit worried about her threat. Perhaps if she hadn’t delivered it with a smile…
The bag of marshmallows crinkled as he lifted it with his free hand and extended it her way. “I’ll roast you another if you want, but I’m guessing I’ll burn it. I save my patience for the sea.”
Danae jabbed a marshmallow on the end of her skewer. As she held it over the fire, she fought the urge to lean into Josh, for warmth and stability, and because she wanted to. More and more, there was this thing building between them, growing and taking over her brain.
For a while, she’d considered giving up on dating, but there were other things besides dessert that were worth the wait.
Only she was trying not to get ahead of herself.
With sparks flying—and not just the ones from the fire—that was easier said than done.
“What’s that necklace you always wear?” Josh pointed at it. “I noticed it the other day in the lighthouse and again while we were doing yoga.”
Danae took the charm between her fingers. “My mom is obsessed with Greek mythology. It’s where the name Danae came from, but since she’s not as well-known, Mom gave me a necklace with Athena.”
“Goddess of wisdom, courage, strategy, and a whole mess of other things. That fits—you do seem to balance it all.”
Delight sang through her entire body, leaving her tingly and warm. She wasn’t sure she deserved the praise, and since she’d never known how to take a compliment, she figured she’d throw in some self-deprecation for good measure. “Don’t forget war. I suppose I encompass that sometimes, too, when I get a bit stubborn and set in my ways.”
“You? Nah.” Josh nudged her with his elbow. Then his expression became more serious. “You’re doing a great job, Danae. I’ve done several of these corporate bonding trips, and your team’s really coming together. I have no