I'm The Alpha's Challenge

24

Josh furrowed his eyebrows, but his dazzling blue eyes glinted. "Who?" he asked.

I sighed, a hint of red shading my cheeks. "No one. Nevermind." I said, staring at my feet.

"Should I be worried about this J?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I scoffed, shrugging. "You might." I said, smiling up at him.

"Should I be jealous?" he asked, smirking.

I stepped away from him, batting my eyes. "Oh, definitely." I said, playing with the hem of my shirt. I felt awkward in the blouse; like I didn't belong. I felt ugly; I didn't feel like…myself.

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered, looking down.

"You just did." He teased.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious."

"Fine, fine!" he laughed deeply.

I shivered and it was moments before I could find my breath again. "Do I look…okay?" I whispered lowly, my voice cracking.

He didn't answer me for a while, and I looked up at him. He was gaping at me, his eyebrows raised. "Why would you ask me that?" he groaned, running his hands down his face.

"What do you mean?" I muttered.

"Because if I answer the way I want to, you'll get mad at me." he sighed.

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Never mind." I started off towards the door, but he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to his chest.

His lips brushed my neck. "Do ya really want me to answer?" he breathed and inhaled a deep breath.

A shiver ran through me and I leaned back into him. "I don't know…" I replied, biting my lip.

"You look absolutely amazin'; you always do." He said, and I could feel his breath on my ear. He mumbled something, but I couldn't understand him.

I looked down, shaking my head. "No I don't." I said, disagreeing with him. I had never been pretty a day in my life.

Josh growled, or groaned, I wasn't sure which, and my feet left the ground as he swept me into his arms. I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. "You shouldn't think like that." He smirked down at me.

I shrugged. "It is how it is." I whispered.

"But you're so much more than that." He said, his eyes gleaming.

"JOSHYWA!" a small voice screamed as little footsteps sounded. Josh quickly set me down just as a little one year-old showed up in the doorway. "Bweakfist's weady! C'mon, siwy!" she grabbed his hand, pulling him out the door. He caught her around the waist and pulled her up and onto his shoulders. She smacked his head. "Go horwsy, go!" she screamed.

He nodded down the hallway, his eyes locking with mine. "You comin' Danny?"

"Only if I get to ride the horse, too." I teased, following them out the door.

He raised an eyebrow, holding out his hand and smirking. "Well, a course. I can't leave one of my girls behind, can I?"

I blushed, taking his hand hesitantly and he locked our fingers together. "Yee haw!" Hanna screamed, clapping her hands together. "Wait! I need my hat! I cawn't wide my howse wifhout my hat!" she bent down she slapped Josh's cheek over and over again until he responded. "Joshywa!"

"What?" he asked, humoring her.

"I need my haaaaat!" she whined.

He took her by the waist and set her down. "Go get it, then." He said and she took off running into one of the rooms. He glanced at me, shrugging as he smiled. "She's very demandin'." He said, chuckling.