Hidden Barriers (22 page)

“You said ‘what we had.’ What you meant to say was ‘what we
have
,’” I emphasize my last word as my thumb rubs over the back of his hand. Josh’s eyes widen when he realizes that I’m not done working on what this is between us. With a broad grin, he grabs both of my hands in his as he sits now with one leg up on my bed, facing me.

“I don’t understand. Back at Vines, you said…What made you change your mind?”

“Your sister made me realize that despite your faults, you are worth taking a chance on.”

“Fuckin’ Courtney. That’s what she meant.” He laughs.

“What’s so funny?” I ask as the mood in the room begins to lighten.

With a smile that lights up the room, he moves closer to me. “She sent me a text before, saying I could thank her later. I had no idea what she meant, but I do now. So, you…me… Are we good?”

With a deep breath, I find my voice. “Josh, I can get past what you did over the years, but what you did
that
night, I need to know it’s never going to happen again for this to work between us.”

“Sam, you have no idea how torn I was over that night. I never… shit! Let’s just say the situation with her has been taken care of. From here forward, it’s just you for me. Nobody else, I promise.”

“Okay, but if you so much as do anything like that again, I will have no problem making you suffer. Besides, you really don’t want me to get your own sister to beat you up, do you?”

“Seriously, do you think I’m afraid of my sister?” He scoffs at the idea. He’s too busy laughing to notice my fist connecting with his bicep. “Shit, Sam! What the hell was that for?” Josh grunts as he rubs his arm tenderly.

With a scowl on my face, I point a finger at him before I say, “That’s for what you did with
her
and for thinking your sister can’t beat you up.”

“Fine, I deserved that.” He pauses. “Sam, really, what happened tonight that Lucy had to call me?” Sensing my apprehension and pushing up on the bed, he slides up so his back is resting against the headboard. He pulls me between his outstretched legs, cradling me in his arms against his chest. The soft vibration of his voice against my ear soothes me. “Talk to me, Sam. What happened?”

I close my eyes as he continues to comfort me. “I got a text from Drew. Stone’s parole hearing has been pushed up to next Tuesday. A part of me already knows he’ll be released, and for the first time in three years, I have to fear he may actually come after me.”

Josh releases a hissed breath. “Everything will be fine. If he comes anywhere near you, he’ll violate the restraining order, and he’ll go back to jail. Plus, he’ll have to go through me to get anywhere near you.”

His words do nothing to make me worry less. Yes, I feel protected, but even Josh can’t protect me twenty-four-seven. He has to work, and so do I. Wrapping my arms tightly around his
chest, I know I’m safe for now. “Josh, I hope you’re right. Something tells me if Stone finds me, he won’t care about that restraining order. He’ll go back to jail if it means he finishes what he intended years ago.”

Pulling up my chin, I look into his eyes before he places a soft kiss on my lips. “Then, I guess I’m going to have to actually do my job, and I
will
protect you with everything I have in me.
Do you trust me enough to know I will do everything I can to keep you safe?”

“I can’t let you put your life on the line for me,” I whisper with uncertainty in my voice. Goose bumps form on my arms and a new, overwhelming feeling I’m still unsure of forces its way through my body.

“Sam, I will do whatever I can to make sure you remain safe, because if you haven’t figured it out by now, you should know I’m falling for you, hard and fast. I think I’m
seriously
falling for you.”

Warm tears fall from my eyes and run over my cheeks. I’m completely speechless as Josh confesses his true feelings. In just a couple of short months, we’ve grown so attached that it’s hard to believe it’s come to this stage already.

With blurry eyes, I gaze into his eyes and see the truth I’ve refused to admit to myself for a while now. Running my hand over his cheek, I lean in and kiss him as my emotions overpower me. I push my tongue into his mouth as his hand at the nape of my neck pulls me deeper. My heart pounds through my chest, and my pulse races so fast I have to pull back to catch my breath.

I rest my forehead on his before uttering the words that I never thought I’d say in my life. That is, until this man altered my senses and turned my world upside down. “I think I’m falling for you, too.”

My work phone buzzes in my coat pocket as the sun begins seeping through the bedroom window. Slowly pulling away from Sam, who is snuggled tightly into my side, I move across the room, grabbing the phone and flipping it open to view the incoming text.

Troopers needed ASAP for road coverage. All off-duty troopers report immediately.

I guess I’m going into work. Tossing my phone back into my coat pocket, I make my way over to Sam, who is still fast asleep in bed. I throw on my sneakers that are by the side of the bed before leaning over to admire the quiet state of her face. Leaning down to her ear, I softly whisper, “Sam, I’ve got to head to work. I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Mmmm Hmmm,” she mumbles, still not awake. I find a piece of paper and pen on her bureau and write a short note, saying I was called into work.

I place a warm kiss on her temple before moving away. I hear her rustle in the bed and then moan softly as I stand at her door. Turning, I see she’s still asleep, but a smile forms at the edges of her mouth. I barely make out the words as she murmurs, “I love you.”

A grin spreads across my face at the honesty of her words. Yeah, I’m pretty sure I love that girl, too. She may not know she just said them aloud, but I heard them loud and clear. Every girl I have ever slept with in my past is all forgotten now. From this point forward, she’s all that matters in my life.

Years might have passed while I never realized how stupid I was not to move on from breaking up with Sue, but given the beautiful woman in front of me right now, I’d have suffered another ten years if it meant I’d still end up with Sam. I know now I have to finally make amends with my decision and apologize to not only to her, but also my family for distancing myself for far too long.

Pulling Sam’s bedroom door shut behind me, I quickly make my way to the stairs. I am almost to the front door when the girls catch my ears. Kim’s voice is the first thing to stop me from going any farther.

“Yo! Officer McSteamy Pants, need some coffee before you go?”

Turning to head to the kitchen, I see Kim holding out a travel mug filled with steaming coffee, enticing me. I’m hooked the second the aroma hits my nostrils. “Thank you, Kim,” I say before turning to the others. “Good morning, ladies. I can’t stay long; I’ve been ordered into work. Please, tell Sam I’ll call her later.” Twisting the cover on the mug, I turn to head back toward the front door. Before I get there, Lucy stops me.

“How is she?” she questions.

“She’s better, Lucy. If anything happens again, please call me.”

“Josh!” Lucy shouts, as I’m about to open my Jeep door. “Thanks again for helping her.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to that woman up there. She means too much to me,” I say as I hop into the Jeep and put the key into the ignition. Turning on the wipers to remove the March dew from the window, I see Lucy standing there in the doorway, smiling at me with her hands cupped over her heart.

Shit.

I just professed my deep feelings for Sam aloud, didn’t I? Well, that information should be spreading like wildfire very soon. As long as Courtney doesn’t get wind of it, I should be safe for a while.

Sunday rolls around in a flash. I owe my family not only an appearance at dinner, but also an apology. I have spent almost every ounce of free time with Sam since Monday that even I think she is sick of seeing me.

Everything has been working out between the two of us now that we finally know what direction we are headed. That direction typically has us rolling around naked in my bed once she closes up shop at Vines. We’ve connected even more than I ever imagined, physically as well as emotionally. I have to say sex with Sam is off the charts amazing, and I’m glad Nick doesn’t mind my half-naked ass walking around the townhouse after listening to the noises coming from my room.

While pulling into my parents’ driveway, I see everyone’s cars are already here. My palms suddenly become sweaty at the notion of what I have to get off my chest today. I had hoped Sam would be next to me to give me the strength I need to get through this, but she is working this afternoon at the bar. It also isn’t exactly an ideal time for her to meet Sue.

Can you picture it? So, here I am telling Sue I’ve basically loved her since I was nineteen, and bam, nine years later, she gets knocked up by another dude, and I meet Sam, the new and true love of my life. Oh, and she just so happens to be sitting next to me. Sam, meet Sue. Sue, meet Sam. Can you say
awkward
?

Plus, I’m still not ready for my family to meet Sam yet. I need a little more time with her alone before my mom sweeps in to marry me off. Right now, she has her hands full with Jeremy and his relationship with Emily, which is apparently also a topic of conversation today. Jeremy sent me a text yesterday saying he had something he needed to talk to me about that involved her.

As I make my way up the front walk, Jeremy catches me before I hit the steps. “Hey,
Josh. It’s about time you showed up for a Sunday dinner. You got a minute before you head in there?” he asks as he zips up his hoodie sweatshirt. The March sun is still not warm enough to really enjoy being outside.

“Yeah, let’s talk in the garage. I need to check on my baby anyway,” I say as I blow hot air into my hands.

Josh heads into the garage before me, and the minute my eyes land on her, the memories come flushing back. I bought my 1967 Chevy Impala SS right after I graduated from the police academy. She was my gift to myself and was in decent condition when I bought her. I’ve taken one ride in her. It was the same day I broke up with Sue, and ever since, she has been sitting in my parents’ garage. My dad is basically the only one who takes her out for a spin these days.

Running my hands over her pristine, shiny hood, I contemplate the idea of finally taking her out myself this summer. I picture driving with Sam in the passenger seat as we take a road trip to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire or the beaches of Cape Cod.

Sam.

A deep chuckle rumbles through my chest at the thought of her in my life, my future. God, I really have fallen hard for that girl.

“Dude! Are you even listening to me?” Jeremy asks, trying to get my attention.

“What? Sorry, I wasn’t listening,” I say, keeping my thoughts of Sam to myself.

Jeremy starts laughing as he sits on Dad’s workbench. “What’s going on with you lately? You’ve been acting odd, even on the phone. Anyway, I need a favor from you, and you have to keep it a secret. Only those in that house know, but you can’t say anything to Emily. Got it?”

“Okay?” I draw out, wondering what he’s got going on. “What’s the favor?”

“I need you to go on a little family weekend trip to Savannah in May with me. I’m asking Emily to marry me, and if Mom can get it arranged, I am hoping to marry her there the same weekend.”