Fangirl Down (Big Shots, #1)(81)
“We’ll just . . .”
Josephine and Wells started an awkward backward shuffle toward her bedroom. Why Josephine felt it necessary to throw in a polite wave, she’d never know. “This is sort of like . . . a team-building exercise,” she called over her shoulder. “Like a trust fall, but we’re moving as one entity. In the interest of golfer-caddie bonding—”
“You’re fooling no one,” Wells interrupted.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered furiously. “And seriously? It hasn’t softened at all yet?”
He winked at her. “That’s right, baby.”
Josephine gave him a disappointed look. Or she tried to, anyway. A smile threatened to ruin the reproof. They were in the hallway now—and out of sight—so they ceased their shuffling and entered the half-dark bedroom together with twin lunges, closing the door.
“Which part can’t you believe is happening?” Wells wanted to know. “Just out of curiosity.”
“My parents aren’t supposed to be aware I have sex!”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s . . . fucking ridiculous, Josephine.”
She waved her hands. “I mean, they probably know on some level, but I’m not supposed to just . . . rip off their blinders like that.”
Wells framed her jaw in his hand, tilting her face up. “Just to be clear, you’re upset that they caught you with a male houseguest. Period. Not that it’s . . . me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean . . .” He exhaled sharply. “We didn’t really have a chance to talk about this last night, since we were otherwise occupied. But my assumption is that you want to keep our relationship quiet.” Was it her imagination or did he look slightly worried. Exposed. “Does that mean from your parents, too?”
She was still stuck on the word he’d used previously. “Relationship?”
It took a full two seconds for his right eyebrow to reach its highest peak. “Was it not clear that we’re in a relationship?”
“I-I mean . . . not abundantly.”
His jawline ticked. “I don’t miss people to the point of torment, Josephine. And I don’t spend the night with women, waking up every couple of hours to convince myself they’re not a dream. I do both of those things with you like it’s my job. And a lot of other annoying things I’m not willing to admit yet, but they involve planning trips to Bath and Body Works and wondering if Wellsophine is a viable ship name.” He slapped a hand down on the door above her head and leaned down until their noses were almost touching. “I was very happy being alone until you showed up. You’ve ruined me.”
Her heart galloped in her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. I love being ruined by you. Bring it the fuck on.” He kissed Josephine hard, slanting his mouth across hers and licking deep, his fingers sliding up into her hair and fisting. “We can be a secret for now. I understand your reasons. But don’t ask me if we’re in a relationship when I can barely think straight around you.”
“We’re in a relationship,” she whispered against his mouth. “Of course we are.”
He let out an uneven exhale into her hair. “Good girl. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to go spend some quality fucking time with my girlfriend’s parents. Sound good?”
Swallowing proved impossible.
Oh God. She’d already admitted to herself that she’d fallen for this man, but her feelings were veering closer and closer toward love.
Let yourself fall. Just let go and take the dive.
That’s what Josephine’s heart compelled her to do. So what was holding her back from plunging down without a harness into the wind? Nothing.
Except the not-so-distant future when she’d have to put Wells’s interests aside and focus on her own.
She trusted this man. More than she trusted anyone besides her parents and Tallulah. But she wasn’t sure she trusted him to let her go so easily.
For now, though, she would let go, just a little more, and see where the wind blew her.
What choice did she have when Wells was looking at her like his next breath hinged on her answer? “Quality time sounds amazing.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mimosas were not Wells’s drink of choice.
The flute felt breakable in his grip. Champagne was for women.
But hell if he didn’t knock back three of those suckers without noticing.
He was too wrapped up in the stories Evelyn and Jim were telling about Josephine to pay attention to anything else. The best part was Josephine blushing and begging them to stop. Goddamn, he wanted to hear it all again, but with her sitting in his lap next time so he could tickle her, kiss those pinkening cheeks and neck.
He really needed to get a grip on his hunger for his girlfriend. At least around her parents.
Girlfriend.
Had he bullied her into it? He’d been worried about that initially—and then he remembered that his Josephine didn’t get bullied into anything. If she’d agreed to be in a relationship with Wells, that’s because she wanted to be in one with him. End of story.
Although . . . maybe later, he’d just double-and triple-check.
God willing, it wouldn’t be on the DL forever. He didn’t know how long he could manage keeping the whole thing to himself. Even before they started dating, he’d been pretty obvious about his growing feelings. Warning Calhoun away from her like a possessive beast. Escorting her all over a family-friendly resort as if she might fall victim to an ambush.