LITTLE BIT STRONGER | A COUNTRY ROMANCE

Chapter Thirteen

Josh absorbed the feel of Kate's mouth on his and tried to pretend his heart wasn't threatening to pound out of his chest.

It wasn't easy.

He cautioned himself not to hold her too tight when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and never let go.

Kate had been hurt badly and wasn't healed from her last relationship. There was probably still a part of her that loved her ex-husband - and they shared a son.

She was the kind of woman worth waiting for.

He'd felt an instant connection to her the night she'd caught her husband cheating on her. It was mainly protective but pain recognized pain...and he'd felt similar heartache and betrayal himself.

Not looking her up to make sure she was okay was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. His barber assured him the salon owner's sister was as well as could be expected.

Josh got the man's word to keep him posted...and he had. After all, Peter was an old romantic.

Kate was a woman who loved being happy and making others happy. In the past year, he'd discovered that most people knew her and genuinely liked her.

She'd get back to herself with patience, respect, and love.

Josh wanted her to love him. He hoped she'd let him love her back...because he was already further along than he could admit.

The knowledge would scare her to death.

Josh desired the woman in his arms to an almost irrational degree. Sending a prayer - more like begging - out into the universe, he requested that her heart open to him.

He broke the kiss and she released a long sigh.

"Thank you, Josh."

"For what?"

"Helping me feel more normal than I have in over a year."

"It's my pleasure." He stroked his fingers through her hair and marvelled at its softness and the way the sunlight reflected in it like flames. "You're beautiful, Kate. I don't think you remember how beautiful you are, inside and out. Maybe you'll let me remind you."

Tears welled in her eyes. "I'd like that."

He dropped another kiss on her lips and murmured, "Let's get another plate, keep talking, and avoid the awkward questions from my family."

"I like the way you think."

He felt like his smile went to the bone.

* * *

Kate called her sister when she got home just after dark. "I spent the afternoon with Josh and his family."

There was a long pause. "You didn't sleep over?"

"I'm not nineteen. Things are different in your thirties..."

"Oh, the hell it is. You like him. Brian never made you blush...even in the beginning. Being honest, I can't remember any man ever made you blush."

"Krista..."

"Don't Krista me. You want that man and he's a good one. I've been asking around about his reputation, his family, and what happened with his ex."

"I-I have to take things slow."

Her sister released a long-suffering sigh. "Just promise me you won't overthink everything. Right now, you're probably jumping ahead ten places and wondering about Caleb, what folks would think, and how the situation would work co-parenting with Brian. Let it happen."