You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors #1) - Layla Hagen Page 0,12
But I’d compartmentalized that easily enough. I’d made a clear distinction between Hunter the man and Hunter the friend.
Those walls had completely shattered when I’d kissed her. The way she’d responded... fuck. I almost got hard just thinking about it. She’d opened up without a second’s hesitation. But I knew the moment I’d tasted the cocktail on her lips that the only reason for that had been the alcohol.
I repeated that mantra, but it was no use. The second Josie opened the door, I could practically taste her on my lips. I drank in the curve of her waist, the way her dark hair bounced just above her breasts. It was as if that one kiss had opened the floodgates.
“Hey!”
She smiled brilliantly at me, then looked over her shoulder toward her living room.
“Kendra’s already here. That’s a nice surprise.”
I was very pleased with myself when Kendra greeted me. I’d personally called before and talked to her. I had a little surprise in store for Josie.
The vendor winked at me when Josie wasn’t looking and said, “Shall I begin taking out the selection?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Right away. Congratulations, by the way.”
I laced an arm around Josie’s shoulders, pulling her closer. She smiled shyly. My heartbeat intensified. I couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she saw the selection.
Kendra turned to the metal case next to her, opened it, and pulled out a tray with forty rings.
I studied Josie’s face closely as she perused the rows, and knew the exact moment she found the sapphire, because she didn’t look away from it.
“Shall I take that one out for you?” Kendra asked excitedly. Then, as if deciding there wasn’t any reason to continue keeping the secret, added, “Your fiancé called before and asked if I had it in the store and to include it in the selection. I thought that was so romantic.”
Josie looked up in surprise.
“Kendra, can you excuse us for a moment?” I asked.
“Of course.”
Josie and I went into her small bedroom. Once Kendra was out of earshot, Josie asked, “How did you know about the ring?”
“I asked Tess.”
“That’s sweet,” she murmured.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that... I want that ring when I get engaged for real.”
I hadn’t thought about that. And what was it with the knot in my stomach? I nodded tightly.
“Do you think Tess will catch on if we show up with another ring?” she whispered.
“No, I’ll just tell her I messed up and had the wrong ring brought up or something.”
“I’ll just say I changed my mind. Which one do you want to buy?”
I shrugged. “Whichever you want. Doesn’t matter to me. Something you see yourself wearing for some time.” I forced myself to sound detached, like it was all the same to me. When we returned to the living room, Josie glanced at the rings again, and ended up picking one with a round, modest diamond.
Kendra didn’t seem all too surprised that Josie had chosen another ring.
“Don’t sweat it. We women sometimes change our minds,” she said.
I just nodded curtly. What could I say? Josie hadn’t changed her mind. She still wanted the sapphire ring and a future. She just didn’t want that future with me.
I’d known all that, I had no idea why I was feeling so off-kilter. Because I’d wanted to do something nice for her, and it had completely backfired. That was the reason. The only reason.
As Kendra packed up the tray and Josie put the ring on her finger, I wondered if we shouldn’t act more like a couple.
No, this was just fine. We didn’t have to put on a show twenty-four seven. That would get tiring fast. Even real couples weren’t all over each other all the time. Buying the ring was probably one of those moments that did involve emotions though, judging by the disconcerted look Kendra gave us.
But I sensed that Josie needed some space, and I wanted to give it to her.
For the first time, it occurred to me just how much I was asking of her. I’d never given marriage any thought, mostly because I didn’t think anything could last. My own parents’ marriage crumbled when the financial problems started.
But Josie was more optimistic than I was. This was harder for her, going through the motions while possibly comparing it to what she’d imagined.
She was silent after Kendra left. I wanted to leave her with her thoughts but gave up after exactly twelve minutes.