Toys and Baby Wishes Read Online Free PDF Page B

be very risky business.  Should she take the risk?

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    Josh was taking a risk and he knew it.  He was attracted to
Lexa though he still didn't understand what she was all about.  But she touched
him.  He wanted to hold her in his arms.  So this was an experiment.  Possibly
a dangerous one, but an experiment nonetheless.
    She started to shake her head.  "I really should get
home."
    He stood and held out his hand.  "One dance."
    Lexa took Josh's hand, stood, and let him guide her away
from the table.
    He surrounded her with his arm while he tucked her hand into
his chest.  His cheek brushed her hair and he caught his breath.  She was soft,
perfumed, feminine.  So feminine his senses reeled.  It had been a long while
since he'd held a woman like this, wanting to keep her in his arms for more
than a minute.  Somehow the past few years, finding a long loving relationship
hadn't seemed worth the trouble.
    His body tightened.  Uh-oh.  This experiment was turning
serious.  He released her slightly and leaned back to look into her incredibly
brown eyes.  "Do you do this often?"
    "What?  Dance with a strange man in a bar?"
    He grinned.  "I beg your pardon.  This is not a bar,
it's a pub.  And I'm certainly not a strange man, though you'd better not ask
Clare her opinion.  If I were strange, I'm sure you wouldn't be dancing with
me."
    As his thighs brushed against hers and his chest grazed her
breasts, he saw her swallow hard.  She asked, "Is dancing what we're
doing?"
    He dipped her back until she almost lost her balance and
then pulled her up.  "Yep.  That's what we're doing--dancing.  Relax and
enjoy the music."
    Who was he to tell her to relax?  Josh thought.  He must be
crazy.  With his body pressed against hers, her breath quickening, the
intoxicating experience of having a soft, lovely woman in his arms, how could
he relax?
    He closed his eyes for a moment, simply enjoying the
sensation he knew he'd have to soon bring to an end.  She was a career woman, a
busy woman.  He wanted scads of children and a wife who would enjoy taking care
of them.  He was beginning to believe that elusive lady was a figment of his
imagination.
    Their bodies melded magically, moved smoothly, became
acquainted.  He rubbed his chin along her ear.  "You're a very sexy
lady."
    She raised her head and there were doubts in her eyes.
    "You are."
    They seemed to be frozen in time.  Her eyes flickered with
emotion and he saw indecision.  He sensed that she could put a man off with a
look if she wanted to.  She was responding to him and he wanted to keep her
responding.  He wanted to kiss that beautiful, curvy pink mouth...
    Damn!  What was he doing?  He didn't know her.  She didn't
know him.  This could only lead one place and though that might be satisfactory
for one night, he suddenly realized it wasn't what he was searching for.
    She must have sensed his change in mood.  Raising her head,
her gaze asked what he wanted.
    Hell if he knew.
    She pulled her hand from his and stepped away.  "I
really have to go."
    He didn't disagree.  But he also felt drawn to spend more
time with Lexa.  He took her coat from the hanger and held it for her.  Like
before.  Only this time he didn't touch her.  "You'll have to let me give
you a tour of The Toy Tank some time."
    "Sure."  She looked as if she wasn't certain it
was a good idea.
    Josh left money on their table for their bill and tip and
escorted Lexa to the door.  There was an awkwardness between them that hadn't
been there before.  He didn't like it.
    As they walked back to the senior center, he said, "I
saw Clare's property today."
    "You mean Friendship House?"
    Josh chuckled.  "So they've named it."
    "What did you think?"
    The contractor had informed him the structure was sound, the
insulation was adequate, the siding provided an almost maintenance-free
exterior.  The roof should last another ten years.  "It's big.