[ His grin falls just a hair, barely noticeable except for how close they are to one another. The bright, teasing lilt to his voice stays just the same when he says, ]
Don't believe there's a man alive in Rose Creek that's earned that privilege.
[ After all, she did say there wasn't a single man who has caught her eye. He doubts anyone would live up to the shadow cast by the late Matthew Cullen.
But his mind shies away from that thought as soon as it materializes. He moves to prop himself up on an elbow, only to find that the weight of her is keeping him pressed down. He could easily dislodge her, and he doesn't doubt that she'll obligingly shift away once he truly sets to it, but instead, he freezes, blinks up at her.
As if he's only now appreciating just how damned close she is.
The fall of her red hair over her shoulder. The brightness of her eyes. The scant few inches between his mouth and hers – a distance he could easily close if his strength hadn't suddenly left him. His heart would have skipped a beat, if it could. The breath might've been knocked out of his lungs.
Maybe Emma Cullen hasn't swooned over him, but Josh Faraday apparently will damn well swoon over her.
The revelation is like a punch to the gut.
He clears his throat, gaze quickly darting to a point on the ceiling as he moves to prop himself up again. ]
I— [ He hesitates, at a loss for words, and gamely starts over. ] Oughta clean up these cards.
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Don't believe there's a man alive in Rose Creek that's earned that privilege.
[ After all, she did say there wasn't a single man who has caught her eye. He doubts anyone would live up to the shadow cast by the late Matthew Cullen.
But his mind shies away from that thought as soon as it materializes. He moves to prop himself up on an elbow, only to find that the weight of her is keeping him pressed down. He could easily dislodge her, and he doesn't doubt that she'll obligingly shift away once he truly sets to it, but instead, he freezes, blinks up at her.
As if he's only now appreciating just how damned close she is.
The fall of her red hair over her shoulder. The brightness of her eyes. The scant few inches between his mouth and hers – a distance he could easily close if his strength hadn't suddenly left him. His heart would have skipped a beat, if it could. The breath might've been knocked out of his lungs.
Maybe Emma Cullen hasn't swooned over him, but Josh Faraday apparently will damn well swoon over her.
The revelation is like a punch to the gut.
He clears his throat, gaze quickly darting to a point on the ceiling as he moves to prop himself up again. ]
I— [ He hesitates, at a loss for words, and gamely starts over. ] Oughta clean up these cards.