Obsession Falls (The Haven Brothers #1)

“That wasn’t my fault. My aunt Louise made me give her a ride home.”

“What I saw was not you giving her a ride home.”

He moved closer again, planting his hands on the wall on either side of me. “What you saw was me turning her down.”

Some of my anger evaporated, leaving confusion in its place. “Josiah, I’m confused. I don’t know what’s happening here.”

He stared at me, his gaze so intense I felt like I might melt. “I’ve been trying really hard to not like you.”

“If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it’s not working.”

“It’s just the truth. I didn’t want any of this. I didn’t want to care about you or worry about you. I liked my life the way it was before you showed up in my town.”

I had no idea what to say to that, so I just waited for him to continue.

He leaned in. “But it’s impossible to resist you.”

With his palms still planted on the wall, he kissed me again. This time, I put up no resistance. My eyes fluttered closed and I sank into his kiss. His lips were soft and warm, his beard rough against my skin.

He shifted closer, slanting his mouth over mine. I slid my hands up his broad chest and pressed myself against him. His arms wound around me as his tongue delved in, sliding against mine.

He took the kiss deeper, devouring me like a man starving. I was practically limp in his arms. Nothing could have prepared me for what it would be like to kiss Josiah Haven.

I lost track of time but eventually, he gently pulled back. We hesitated there for a long moment, just breathing.

“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?