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“I’m claiming temporary insanity,” she answered, still trying to extricate her hand from his grasp.
“Well, Josh. While you were outside somehow coercing my sister to stay, Spencer beat your time on the last climb.” Spencer looked absurdly pleased at her praise.
“I’ve never quite made it before, but I copied Josh’s route,” he said graciously.
“And I was following Charlie’s advice,” Josh admitted.
“It’s so unfair!” Charlie stomped her foot. “I can do everything perfectly, but I don’t have enough strength to make the climb. Sometimes it really sucks to be a girl.”
Josh gave her a goofy smile. “I’m glad you’re a girl.”
Emily saw Brad attempting to contain his laughter at his friend’s atypical behavior. He whispered something to Grace, and they laughed together.
Charlie sat beside Josh, her only possible option since he continued to hang onto her hand. They watched as Brad and Spencer made their climbs.
Grace scooted next to her on the bench. “I’m having a hard time keeping my tongue in my mouth. Brad’s got the best body I’ve ever seen. Don’t you think?”
Charlie appraised his nicely proportioned build. But I think Josh’s muscles are even nicer. Yikes! What am I doing?
“So, it seems like you two have hit it off.”
“Yeah, I like him a lot. He’s so fun. And I just broke up with my last boyfriend—he was getting too clingy.”
Charlie noticed her fingers throbbing.
“Josh, I promise I won’t run away. But you’re cutting off the circulation in my hand.”
He blinked, gazing at their joined hands as if he hadn’t realized he was holding hands with her. He tilted his head. “Sorry. I just… I’m not sure… I think maybe I’ve never held hands before. It was nice.”
He let go, and she messaged her hand. “Seriously? There’s actually something you haven’t done before?”
“Not much, but there are a few things.” His smile disappeared, and he swallowed. “I know I’ve never been in love.”
“Yeah? Well, you can write and let me know when that happens.”
The climbers changed clothes at the gym before the group went out to eat.
Emily was acutely aware of Spencer’s presence as they sat at the table. His arm was around the back of her chair while his hand rubbed her shoulder, sending tingles down her spine. And she couldn’t help thinking about after dinner. Would he try to kiss her again? Ever since she’d laid down the law about not kissing, she could hardly think of anything else. That was the whole reason she shouldn’t kiss him again. She was becoming obsessed with him and losing her perspective. And she really didn’t know if she could control
herself with him. Kissing other guys had never affected her like kissing Spencer.
She watched him talking, unaware of her perusal. He was so handsome. He wasn’t nearly as cocky as he’d seemed at first. Now she knew him, she found he had a vulnerable side. Sometimes he was almost shy. He turned to her and caught her gaze. When he smiled at her, his eyelids lowered slightly, causing her to remember his expression when he kissed her the night before. His hand moved to trace a line from her shoulder up the angle of her neck to her jaw. Her eyes closed involuntarily, and she could have sworn tiny sparks flew from his fingertips.
How did he know exactly what to do? He could control her reaction with the slightest touch. It felt so good, but she wasn’t sure she liked the idea of him controlling her. When the waitress came with their food, she was relieved as he pulled his hand away to eat.
She turned her attention to her sister who’d been awkwardly quiet since they left for the restaurant. She couldn’t imagine what Josh had said to change her mind, but she intended to find out later. She had never managed to deter her stubborn sister once she made a decision. Well, not never. She knew a few little tricks to get her way with Charlie, but those were closely guarded secrets.
“When are you coming back to New York again, Charlie?” Grace asked.
Josh appeared to be almost holding his breath, anticipating her answer. “Uhmm. I don’t know.” She studied her napkin with sudden interest.
“Don’t you have a break between rafting season and ski season?” Emily asked.
“Uhmm, yes. Usually. But I’m thinking about starting school again this fall.”
“That’s great,” said Josh. “You could come to New York and study at NYU.”
“But, I actually already got accepted in Colorado.”
