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“Maybe. Just a tad.” He laughed when she stuck out her tongue.
“It’s important, and I enjoy it.”
“Have you ever thought about opening a café or something like that? I’ve tasted your cookies. They deserve more attention than I or Erin can give them.”
Her cheeks burned hotly. “Don’t be silly.”
“I’m not being silly,” he told her easily. “You should consider it. I can tell…” He broke off, unsure if now was the time to mention something like this when they’d just been discussing Jamie. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was judging her way of life or her choices.
“What?” Samantha tilted her head as she stared up at him. “What can you tell?”
He shrugged. “That you’re bored. Especially when Erin’s at pre-school.”
She winced, and just when he’d thought he’d hurt her, she grimaced. “I know. When he’s at school, who knows what I’ll do with my days.”
“Well, why not do something you love?”
“I don’t know. My friend, Jessica, has a café. Well, she owns a part of it. It’s hard work.”
“You can afford to hire staff to help out.”
“It’s Erin’s money,” she countered.
“Then I’ll help out.”
“Josh!” she declared, astonished. “Don’t even joke about that.”
At that moment, the feelings he felt for her almost overwhelmed him. Not by one ounce had she expected his offer. She didn’t want his money, and though he’d known that, having it confirmed and so obviously settled something in his soul.
He shrugged. “The offer’s there.”
“No. I don’t want money from you.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about doing something different. Something that you love.” He peered at the passion fruits she was studying. “And let’s face it, you love all this.”
“All this,” she repeated with a laugh, then she peered up at him, rocked onto tiptoe and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
He just laughed, because she was the only person in the world who’d ever dare to say that.
And she was the only one who’d get away with it too.
Chapter 18
Josh
Six months later.
When she tumbled into his arms with a laugh, Josh had to chuckle. They were getting better at this dancing shit, and Samantha was molding even more into his arms.
He loved it.
He’d never appreciated clingy women, but Samantha wasn’t like that. She was strong and fierce, and strangely independent. Not that he wasn’t used to the latter, but she made odd strident claims at the most bizarre of moments—like she was trying to make sure he knew she had the right to make her own decisions.
At the time, he’d think it was weird, but later on, as he had a shower or processed the day, he just realize
d that was the after-effect of Jamie’s chokehold on her.
In many ways, she was still finding herself, and the truth was, he was proud that she’d picked him to be with as she did so.
