No wonder he chose to live there, she thought, feeling embarrassed for implying he was irresponsible. “I had no idea.”
“He hired the firm I worked for and I came out to do an audit. I liked the town. When I mentioned that to Josh, he said they were looking for a treasurer. I applied and got the job.”
“It’s a long way from Oregon,” she said, still trying to take in the fact that Josh was a business mogul.
“I don’t have a lot of family. I’m an only child and my parents were a lot older when they had me.” He smiled sheepishly. “Mom always said I was a miracle.” The smile faded. “They died a few years ago. I have a cousin, but that’s about it. I figured I’d make my own family.”
“I know the feeling,” she said, surprised they had so much in common. “I was raised by my mom. I never knew my dad. My mom took off when she was pregnant, and never told me where she was from. I always wondered if I had relatives out there, somewhere. If anyone knew about us. When I lost her, I felt really alone. I wanted a place to belong.”
“So you came to Fool’s Gold?”
She nodded. “A recruiter got in touch with me. I was looking to make a change.” Mostly due to a bad breakup, but why mention that?
“I’m glad you moved here,” Robert said, his dark eyes gazing steadily into hers.
He was nice, she thought as she smiled at him. Warm and caring and he shared a lot of her goals. He was the kind of guy she was looking for. At least on the surface. If only there was some kind of physical connection between them. Something that…
The hair on the back of her neck stood up. An unexpected warmth spread through her. For one brief shining moment she thought the chemistry had finally kicked in. The second of relief was followed by a mental groan when she saw Josh walking past their table and being seated on the other side of the room. He was with Mayor Marsha and apparently here for dinner.
“Speak of the devil,” Robert said lightly, nodding at the newcomers. Marsha waved.
“The downside of small-town life?” she asked.
“I told you. No secrets. Now everyone knows we’re out together.”
She was aware of Josh sitting within her line of sight and it took every ounce of control not to stare at him.
“I don’t mind everyone knowing,” she said, forcing herself to look at Robert as if he were the most interesting man in the world. The truth was she wanted to run over to Marsha’s table, push the older woman aside and snuggle up next to Josh. The fact that he had a steady stream of women ready and willing to be on call was the only thing that kept her in her seat.
“Good,” Robert said, looking pleased. “Are you ready to order?”
“Um, sure.” She glanced at her menu, wondering how she was going to be able to eat. Acting something close to normal was going to take all her energy and attention. Honestly, when she got back to the hotel, she was going to have to figure out a way to get over this Josh thing.
She randomly picked a chicken and pasta dish, then closed the menu and reached for her wine. Inadvertently, her gaze slipped a little to the right. Josh was looking at her, his eyes bright with humor. She found herself wanting to laugh.
Reluctantly she turned her attention back to Robert, who was a very nice man. A far better bet than Josh. Apparently she was going to have to keep reminding herself of that over and over again. Eventually it would sink in. It had to.
JOSH LEANED BACK IN his chair. “You did this on purpose.”
Marsha didn’t look up from her menu. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do. You’re one of the smartest people I know.”
She set down the menu. “And let me say how much I appreciate you saying people and not women.”
“You’re welcome, but not the point. You knew Robert and Charity were coming here for dinner.”
“Did I?” Marsha managed to look both innocent and smug at the same time. “Are they here? I didn’t notice.”
Josh knew better. “You asked for this table. You wanted me facing her.”
Marsha smoothed her white hair. “I am a very busy woman, Josh. I don’t have time to worry about your latest conquest, however interesting she might be.”
“Don’t play matchmaker.”
“Afraid it might work?”
The real problem was he didn’t want to hurt his friend. Marsha had been good to him and he owed her. “Setting up people never goes well. Don’t you watch reality television?”
“No,” she said. “And neither do you. Why don’t you like Charity?”
He studied the woman in question. Despite the fact that she was on a date, she was still dressed like a conservative schoolteacher. A plain dress, buttoned all the way to the collar. The loose fit and boxy jacket revealed nothing. Did she lack confidence or feel she had something to hide?
He found himself wanting to know which, nearly as much as he wanted to slowly unfasten each and every button and reveal the smooth, warm skin underneath. Just as troubling, he found himself wanting to talk to her. Just talk.
Not gonna happen, he reminded himself. At least sex was safe. But getting involved? No way.
“I like her fine,” he said.
“But?”
“She’s not my type.”
“You don’t have a type. That would require being picky.”
He raised his eyebrows.
Marsha sighed. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out. It’s just you haven’t gotten serious about anyone since Angelique. The divorce was over two years ago. It’s time to move on.”
His lack of dating or interest in dating had nothing to do with Angelique, but he wasn’t going to tell Marsha that.
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re lonely. And don’t pretend otherwise. I’m old and you have to respect me.”
“Even when you’re wrong?”
She stared at him, her blue eyes unyielding. “Then tell me I’m wrong. Lie to me, if you can.”
He couldn’t and she knew it. “Charity’s looking for something I can’t give her.”
“Such as?”
He shrugged. “She’s not the one.”
“You can’t know that until you’ve spent some time with her.”
“Can
