Hot for Love (Bachelor Billionaire #2) (15 page)

When
they were done with the popcorn, Lisa was tired. Josh put the pillow
behind his head, leaned back on it, and pulled her back against him.
She could feel the heat from his chest against her back and his warm
breath on the back of her ear. Lisa pulled the blanket up to cover
their legs. His steady heart beat against her neck calmed her, and
she drifted off to sleep.

Josh
woke up and looked around. It was bright in the apartment, so it must
have been morning. His head was back on the pillow and Lisa was
nuzzled into his chest. He was surprised by how rested he felt after
sleeping on the couch. He enjoyed the heat and comfort from Lisa
being there. Josh laughed to himself. He was glad they were friends.

He
thought about the night before and their conversation. His friends
knew that he lost his father in a fire, but he had never told anyone
his feelings about love. Lisa was the only person he had ever talked
to about it. Maybe it was because he knew she didn't want to find it
either. He felt himself getting closer to her and knew they would be
friends for a long time. It was nice to have someone to be honest
with. He knew she wouldn't judge him.

Josh
reached over and grabbed his phone. He opened it and looked for
messages. There was one from Patty, the girl he went home with the
week before. She wanted to know if he wanted to get together on his
day off. He sent back a message saying he was busy that week, maybe
the next week. He didn't want to leave Lisa home alone, in case she
needed anything. Josh realized he had only been out that one time
since the fire. He was just really busy and didn't have time. Once
Lisa went back to Becky and Gavin's house, he would be right back out
there.

He
slowly scooted out from behind Lisa and leaned her back onto the
pillow. It was early, but he decided to make breakfast. He made
omelets, potatoes, toast, and coffee. He felt someone come up behind
him and jumped. Lisa laughed.

“
I
smelled something amazing and had to come check it out,” she
said.

“
Leave
it to you to get up because of food,” he laughed.

She
smacked him on the arm.

“
What
are you making today?”

“
I
was in the mood for an omelet with extra cheese,” he answered.
“Go rest your leg. I'll have it out in a minute.”

Lisa
made her way to the table and sat down.

“
I
feel like I'm in a five star hotel. I get breakfast made for me in
the morning and dinner in the evening. You know you are spoiling me
for when I go back to Becky's. It's cereal in the morning and
whatever I throw together for lunch. Dinner is the only meal I eat
with them. I'm going to have to tell her about the royal treatment I
get here,” she yelled out to him.

They
were enjoying their breakfast and talking about the movie she fell
asleep during, when he heard the beep. He jumped up, took off to his
room, and came back dressed. Josh grabbed his shoes and sat at the
table. He shoved some of his omelet into his mouth as he put his
shoes on. He grabbed his phone and keys.

“
I'll
be back. Call me if you need anything,” he said, as he grabbed
his toast and headed to the door.

“
Be
careful,” she yelled, as he closed the door.

***

Lisa
finished her breakfast. She couldn't help but think about Josh. Where
was he going? Was everything okay? Was he in danger? How long would
he be gone? Her stomach hurt just thinking about it. How did he do
it, she wondered? He never knew when he would have to jump and run at
a moments notice. His delicious food sat cold on the table. He hadn't
eaten very much and was probably hungry. She thought about how he
could be gone for hours, or have to leave right after he got home
again. It was amazing to her. She knew he got paid, but she was sure
it wasn't enough. There were people at office jobs who made way more
money. He was out there risking his life for much less.

She
really appreciated him and the people he worked with. Lisa felt
horrible that she had never thought about it before the fire. How
selfish was she? They put their lives on the line repeatedly every
single day, as everyone else went about their normal lives. How many
times were they ever thanked for what they did? Probably only by the
people they helped, if that.

Lisa
got dressed and ready for the day. She took her plate into the
kitchen, wrapped his plate up, and washed the dishes. Being on
crutches was so irritating, but she was getting better at getting
around. She never realized what a pain they were. People always made
them look so easy to use, but they were not that easy. She picked up
the apartment the best she could. He was still gone, so she turned on
the television to take her mind off of him. How did their spouses and
children deal with them being gone? He was her friend and she was
nervous and worried.

She
sat on the couch waiting for the door to open. Finally, she heard the
door and instantly felt relief. Lisa got up and made her way to him.
When he walked past her, she noticed he had a cut on the back of his
arm.

“
You
didn't eat my breakfast did you?” he asked, with a laugh.

“
No,
I did not eat your food. How did you get a cut on the back of your
arm?” she asked.

Josh
shifted so he could see the cut. She could tell he had not seen it
before. He shrugged his shoulders.

“
I
didn't have everything on. I only had on my t-shirt and must have
rubbed up against something.”

“
It
looks dirty. Aren't you supposed to have your arms covered? Come with
me. We need to clean it off,” she said as she went into the
bathroom.

Lisa
went through his cabinet and found stuff to clean it and some
bandages. He laughed at her.

“
It's
not funny. You don't want it to get infected. What did you scrape it
on?”

“
I
don't know. I never even felt it. You are getting all worried over a
tiny cut. Good thing you haven't seen me come home worse than this,”
he said, messing with her.

“
I
can't imagine how families of firefighters deal with it all the time.
I was on pins and needles every second you were gone, and we're not
together. I can't imagine feeling that fear for someone every day.”

She
cleaned his arm and bandaged it up. He thanked her for caring so much
and went to heat his food up. She got him a cup of fresh coffee and
sat with him while he ate.

“
How
is it?” she asked.

“
A
little dry, but it's not too bad.”

“
Thanks
for making it. It was really good,” she said.

The
rest of the week was more of the same. Josh cooked for her and they
ate together. She found herself leaving her bedroom and spending time
in the living room a little more each day. When he got a call and
left, she would worry until he got back. They talked, played cards,
and watched movies together. She felt comfortable and safe with him.
Her dreams about the fire didn't happen as much, and she was starting
to feel better about starting over.

Lisa
really enjoyed being around Josh. There was never a moment she felt
bored. She was surprised, because at Becky's she felt sad and lonely.
He was an amazing man. She knew that someone would change his mind
about love one day. It made her happy to think about him having a
family someday. He deserved happiness after everything he did for
everyone else.

When
Becky called to tell her they were home and she could have Josh drop
her off, her stomach dropped. She felt sick and nervous, but she
wasn't sure why.

Josh
came home and walked past her room. He stuck his head in the room.

“
What
are you doing? Are you okay?” he asked.

She
was packing her clothes in her bags. He walked into the room and took
her hands in his to stop her from moving.

“
What's
going on? You look sad. Why are you packing?” he asked.

“
I'm
not sad. Becky called to say they are home from the trip, and you can
bring me back anytime. It will be nice to get back into a place of my
own one day. I appreciate what you guys are doing for me, but I feel
like I'm living out of a bag.”

Lisa
laughed when she thought about it. She looked up at Josh's face, and
he looked upset. Oh no, she thought. She didn't mean to sound
ungrateful.

“
I
didn't mean it like you are taking it. I truly appreciate all of you
guys and what you are doing. I don't know where I would be without
you. I just meant it feels weird only having enough stuff for a few
bags. I haven't gotten used to that,” she said.

“
Why
don't you just stay here?” he asked. “Becky and Gavin
have so much going on with that huge project at work and their
planning a wedding. I'm a single guy. It would be nice to have a
roommate for a few more weeks. I'll make sure not to walk around
naked.”

“
You
can walk around naked,” she laughed. “It's a pretty nice
view.”

He
shook his head at her.

“
I
mean it. It's nice having someone eat the food while it's warm. You
already have your stuff here. Why not just stay?”

Lisa
thought about it. She knew she should go back to stay with Becky, but
the thought of leaving Josh's was sad. She had to stay somewhere.
Maybe she could help him with his business or something while she was
there. She did want to find something to do. It would be at least
another four weeks before she could get her cast off and several more
before she could go back
to
work.

“
I'll
stay, but only under one condition,” she said.

“
Okay,
I'll walk around naked.”

Lisa
burst out laughing.

“
Hey,
that wasn't supposed to be funny,” he replied, with a fake
frown.

I
could look at that naked chest and ass all day long, she thought.
Lisa felt her face flush.

“
That's
more like it,” he winked. “I wonder what just went
through your pretty head to make you blush like that. You know I look
good naked.”

She
smacked him on the arm.

“
Back
to what I was saying. Let me do work for you for the restaurants. I
have a business degree, and I am great with numbers. I know that
probably shocks you. I have the job that I have because I love to
travel, it is fun to meet new people, and I'm single. You haven't let
me buy groceries or do anything, and I don't have any money coming in
right now. There is no way I can stay here, unless you let me do
something to pay my way.”

Josh
put his hand on his chin and looked deep in thought. She knew he was
just being an ass. He tapped his lips with his finger and his left
eye went up at the corner.

“
I
can think of a few ways you can earn your keep,” he laughed
loud.

She
rolled her eyes and tried to hold back her smile.

“
I'm
being serious. That's the only way I will stay. You go in and out of
the apartment all day. Wouldn't it be nice to have some help with
stuff? I promise you, I am good at what I do. Just give me a chance.
If you're not happy with my work, I'll stop. It's your business. You
need to feel good about it.”

“
Okay,
you can help me. If I lose any money, I'm taking it out of your ass,”
he smiled.

“
Josh,”
she said.

“
I'm
being serious. It will be nice to have a fresh set of eyes on things.
Maybe you will have a great idea and come up with something I
missed,” he said. “You are going to learn to cook. I'm
going to teach you.”