“I’ve been trying really hard to not like you, too,” I said. “But mostly just today.”
His eyes darted to the side, drawing my gaze in the same direction.
Max sat watching us with his tail wagging.
“Your dog is being weird again.”
“I know.”
“I should let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
“So that’s it?” I asked. “You just came over here to kiss me?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you plan that out beforehand, or–”
“No.”
His short, straightforward answers made me like him so much. I smiled at him. “I’m glad you did.”
“So we’re good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“Are you going to the festival tomorrow?”
“I have to for work.”
“Good.” He stepped back. “I’ll see you then.”
I watched him go, shaking my head in bewilderment. Had that just happened? Had Josiah just barged into my house to kiss me, and then left?
Of course he had. That was so him. He’d wanted me to know something, and he’d communicated more with that kiss than words could possibly have done.
The fact that it left me wanting more—so much more—was exciting rather than frustrating. I’d see him tomorrow.
And who knew what that would bring. For now, Josiah Haven liked me, and knowing that made my day.
CHAPTER 20
Audrey
I’d almost forgotten how cute a small-town festival could be. When I was a kid, I’d always looked forward to the little festivals and events in my hometown. In middle and high school they’d become less enjoyable, probably because they were times I was expected to be “on.”
Smile, Audrey, but don’t stand in front of your father.
Wave, Audrey, we need to make a good impression.
Still, I had fond memories of ice cream and honey sticks. Of parades and balloons and farm fresh produce.
But Pinecrest’s events had nothing on the weekend-long Tilikum Mountain Man Festival.
The town was bursting with people, as if every man, woman, and child in a hundred-mile radius had come for the festivities. Several downtown streets had been closed to traffic and were lined with vendor booths. It was like a farmers market on steroids. People were selling everything from the usual, like flats of luscious red strawberries and bunches of cut flowers, to the unusual, like squirrel repellent and yard art made of old car parts.
The market was just the beginning. Lumberjack Park, in the center of town, was also the center of the action. Men and women lined up to compete in a series of games and as far as I could tell, the prizes were nothing more than bragging rights. There was an archery tournament, wood chopping and log pulling contests, and other competitions showing off feats of strength.
It was riveting. I’d been to the festival with my parents when I was a kid—most Pinecrest residents went—but it was even better than I remembered.
Sandra nudged me. “You should take the occasional break from staring to take a picture or two.”
“I wasn’t staring.” I lifted the camera and took a few photos of the ongoing wood chopping contest. “I was just watching.”
“Yeah, right.”
It didn’t help that it was Josiah going head-to-head with his brother-in-law, Levi Bailey. Two shirtless men furiously chopping wood while the crowd around them cheered like it was a professional sports game? How could I not stare?
I zoomed in on Josiah and took another picture, wondering if it was possible to capture the way sweat glistened on his taut skin as his muscles flexed.
Just to be fair, I took a picture of Levi, too. After all, I wasn’t here to hang out, I was here to cover the event for the Tribune. I couldn’t spend all my time watching Josiah.
“This puts me in a very awkward position,” Sandra said.
“How so?”
“I’m either drooling over a married man or drooling over your boyfriend. It was easier when Josiah was single. He’s such a lumbersnack.”
“I don’t know if he’s really my boyfriend.”
“Oh fun, are we playing the denial game?”
“I’m not in denial, I’m just saying this isn’t middle school where you hold hands at lunch once and that means you’re together. So yeah, he kissed me, but that doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship.”
“He’s showing off for you.”
“No, he’s not. He’s just competitive.”
“He keeps glancing up to see if you’re still watching.”