Page 68 of Perfect Enough

He smiled and finished chewing his food before answering. “I loved watching my mother cook when I was younger. I would sit on the island in our kitchen and watch everything she did while we talked. I always considered it kind of our time, since it was usually just the two of us. Even up through high school, I did it whenever I could. I could tell my mom anything. I still can, and I love that we have that kind of relationship.”

For a moment, I allowed myself to picture a young Josh sitting in his mother’s kitchen, talking about his day with her. I blinked a few times to keep the tears at bay. It wasn’t like I didn’t have a loving relationship with my parents; I did. But I’d been closer to my father than my mother. I loved my mom…but to have such an open relationship with her, like Josh had with his mother, was something I’d never had. I envied him.

“Is it like that with your father, as well?” I asked, before shoving more of the chicken enchiladas into my mouth.

He stopped eating momentarily, as if thinking about how to answer my question. “Maybe not as open. I was scared to tell my father I wanted to be a firefighter, for instance. I thought he’dtell me that I needed to get my head out of the clouds, but he didn’t. He was more worried than anything. I know he’s proud of both of his kids, and he just wants us to be happy. But if I had something more personal to discuss, I would most likely go to Mom.”

I nodded and smiled slightly. “I wish I could say that about my mother.”

“Have you talked to her about her need to be so involved in your life?”

I set my fork aside, reached for my beer, and took a drink. When I set it down, I answered him honestly. “No. Never. When I was younger, I always assumed she would just argue with me about it. And after Dad died, when her behavior started to get worse…well… I don’t want to hurt her feelings. Especially when she’s grieving.”

“But you’ve been grieving, too, Soph.” He smiled slightly. “Sounds like you just need to find the right way to politely ask her to stay out of your business.”

Laughing, I nodded in agreement. “I think you’re right.”

“How do you like your dinner?” he asked, pointing his fork to my plate, where I’d practically inhaled half of my meal already.

“Josh, this is amazing. Can I get the recipe?”

“Well, it’s a secret family recipe. You’ll have to show me you can be trusted with it.”

I raised a brow. “What did you have in mind?”

His eyes darkened, and I had to keep from squirming in my seat when a sudden throbbing between my legs started. “If you keep looking at me like that, Josh, we’re going to have to do like they do in the movies and sweep everything off the table and go at it right here.”

He laughed. “I don’t want my first time with you to be on the dining table. However, Idosee where the use of a table could come into play.”

My heart rate increased, and I tried to take slow, deep breaths. “Really?” I asked, not even sure that was my voice coming out of my mouth. It sounded breathy and deeper than normal.

When he grinned, I nearly yelled for him to do whatever it was he was thinking.

“Are you finished eating, Soph?”

All I could do was nod.

Josh stood and took his plate and mine. It took me a few seconds to stand and help clear the table off. We worked in silence as we cleaned the kitchen from dinner. While I rinsed everything off and put items in the dishwasher, Josh packed the food into a container and placed it in the fridge. I could feel the sexual tension growing between us each time he brushed past me. If he didn’t kiss me—or better yet, touch me—I was positive I was going to explode.

I had just finished placing the last dish in the dishwasher when I felt his heat behind me. I stilled and closed my eyes when his warm breath tickled my neck. He softly kissed my nape, and my entire body shivered with anticipation.

What would he do? How far was he willing to go?

Suddenly, I wondered how far he’d gone with other women. Not that it mattered. I had a sex life before I met Josh, and even if he was saving himself, he’d said he knew how to pleasure a woman, had done so with his hands.

I moaned at the thought, and that made Josh turn me around. Our eyes met, and when his lips pressed to mine, I quickly found myself lost. Then I imagined those lips on my most intimate body parts, and I felt my knees go weak.

Josh swept me off my feet—literally. My arms wrapped around his neck, my legs around his waist, as the kiss deepened. He started to walk…

And went right by the table.

I ripped my mouth away and glanced from the table back to him. “The table?”

He huffed. “Sophia, the first time I touch you, it isnotgoing to be on my damn kitchen table. It’s going to be in my bed.”

My mouth formed an O, but nothing came out. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat in my ears.

When I was able to speak, I said, “Josh, we don’t have to…”