Obsession Falls (The Haven Brothers #1)

“Do you like it?”

“It’s not bad. Sandra is a hoot. Lou is kind of grouchy but I don’t really blame him. Trying to keep a dying newspaper alive is bound to get old.” I shrugged. “It’s just temporary, anyway. I’m still looking for something else.”

“Here in town?”

“I sure hope not.” I laughed but the expressionless mask he wore threw me off. Did he not think it was funny or was that just his face? “Tilikum is fine but I never planned to move back to this area.”

“Hm.” He turned and headed for the stairs.

“Come on, Max.”

I followed and Max came down after me. He caught the scent of something and started following it around the perimeter of the room.

Josiah glanced at him. “Your dog is kind of weird.”

That made me giggle. “Oh my gosh, I know. He’s a total weirdo.”

“Cute, though.”

“Isn’t he? Come here, Max.” He zipped over to me, dropped to the floor and rolled onto his back. I crouched to give him a belly rub. “You’re the cutest weirdo, aren’t you good dog? Yes, the goodest dog ever!”

I realized I probably looked like as big of a weirdo as my dog. But Josiah just looked at us with that almost smile that made my stomach tingle.

“Anyway.” I stood and smoothed out my shirt. “He’s a lot of fun. Thanks for letting us see the house. I’ve been curious about what it looks like inside.”

He nodded and his eyes lingered on mine. For a second, it looked like his gaze flicked to my mouth. But I might have imagined it. Still, my nerve endings fired, my lips tingling, and I had an almost insatiable desire to know what it would feel like to kiss that big, bearded man.

Thankfully, he turned away before I did something awkward, like move in closer hoping he might kiss me.

Kiss me? What was I even thinking? He probably wasn’t even interested in me. Not like that. Sure, he’d been nice to me, but that didn’t mean anything.

I followed him outside, sternly telling my silly heart to be quiet. I didn’t need to start wishing for things I’d never have. And Josiah Haven was certainly one of them.

CHAPTER14

Audrey

The lightin the office restroom was surprisingly flattering. I washed my hands and glanced at my reflection. My skin didn’t look half bad. Maybe the at-home mask that my dog had tried to lick off my face last night had helped.

My hair, on the other hand, was in a state.

I dried my hands and tried to fluff my listless locks. It had been ages since I’d had a haircut. Trips to the salon had been one of the first things to go when I was unemployed. Now the ends were dry and it had no shape.

I came out of the restroom and went back to my desk.

“Are you okay?” Sandra asked. “You look uncharacteristically melancholy.”

“Do I?” I sat up straighter. “I’m fine. I was just lamenting my sad hair in the mirror.”

“You have pretty hair.”

I held up a strand. “I haven’t had a haircut in forever.”

“I can help with that.”

“You do hair too?”

She smiled and picked up her phone. “No, but I know who does. You have to see Marigold Martin at Timeless Beauty. It’s right up the street. She’s a magician.”