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I take a deep breath, trying to ignore him as I take my seat at the opposite end of the table. But it’s like my eyes are drawn to him, and I can’t seem to look away.
“Welcome, everyone,” Josh says, his gaze flickering over me before moving on to the others. “And thank you for being here. I was thinking we could start the meeting by going around and each sharing what we love most about Fletcher’s Pond.”
My heart does an agonizing flip. I have to speak?
I had hoped to blend into the background here. The whole reason I’m even at this meeting is because it gives me something to do when I need to take packing breaks.
Everyone goes around the room, sharing their memories of fishing or camping on the land. One couple shares how they became engaged there. Talk about a tough act to follow.
When it’s my turn, I feel like there are a thousand people watching me rather than a couple dozen.
Face hot, I stammer out the first thing I can think of. “I like how pretty the spot is.”
Josh’s eyes lock onto me, his gaze intense and unwavering. I feel like he’s seeing right through me, like he knows my words are empty and meaningless.
“Is that it?” he asks, his voice laced with skepticism.
I can feel my face flushing a deeper shade of red as the others in the room turn to look at me.
“Well, I mean, I haven’t spent as much time there as everyone else here, but I’m hoping to change that,” I say, trying to recover.
God. What am I even doing here? Maybe I should walk out the door right now and save myself from further embarrassment.
But then Josh smirks, and I feel the fight grow in me. I won’t let him chase me out of this meeting or off this project. I won’t be a quitter in front of him.
“Any other questions?” I raise my chin at him.
Josh’s smirk turns into a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “No, I don’t have any questions. Thank you, though.”
His gaze lingers on me a moment longer, and I can feel my frustration and attraction to him growing in equal measure.
Then he blinks and the moment is over. “Great, well, I love the sense of community here,” he says, his gaze flickering over me once more before moving on to the next person.
Once everyone has finished sharing, Josh goes over the details for the petition. I try to focus on the logistics, but my attention keeps drifting back to him. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about him that draws me in. He’s hot, that’s for sure, but it’s more.
Maybe it’s the way he carries himself, so confident and self-assured, almost like he can’t be bothered by anything.
And yet he’s here, taking up arms to save the land that means so much to him and other people. It’s a passion and dedication that I can’t help but admire.
As the meeting comes to a close, Josh stands up and thanks us all for coming. I pack up my things and head towards the door, trying to make a quick escape before Josh can catch me.
But just as I reach for the door handle, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Josh standing behind me, his blue eyes burning into mine.
“Erin,” he says, his voice low and rough. “I’m surprised you came.”
I lift my chin, trying not to think about how sexy it is to hear my name on his lips. “Why is that?”
He makes a face like it’s obvious. “Well, you don’t live here anymore. I would think you wouldn’t care about our little podunk town.”
I fold my arms. “That’s where you’re wrong, Josh. This town might be small, but it’s still my home. And I care about the land just as much as you do.”
It’s only partly true. Fletcher’s Pond is an important habitat for many animals, and they’re running out of places to be displaced to. But he’s right. I don’t really have personal ties to it.
He studies me for a moment, and I can feel the tension between us growing. I’m not sure what he wants from me, but I know that I want him — and I hate it.
What would it be like to brush my lips against his? Would the kiss be as electric as it was fifteen years ago?
I push the thoughts aside. I need to pull myself together. I’m probably just stuck on Josh because I haven’t had a proper rebound from Dan. If I were to hook up with another man, then this itch would be scratched.
