“Anything else?” he asked in a bland voice.
She flicked him a look. “Like what?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking. I can't read minds. But I can read body language and you are uptight about something. What?”
Michelle opened her mouth to tell him, then snapped it shut. She wasn’t sure she even knew what had her so upset. It had to do with the kisses he’d given her, and the feelings that churned inside her and the uncertainty about what she’d proposed.
“You’ve been this way since we arrived at your sister’s,” Josh added.
“Well, you didn’t help matters.”
“What?”
“Fiddling with my hair, putting your arm on my shoulders, kissing me.” She smoothed the material of her skirt, tracing the material with a fingertip.
“And here I thought we handled the romantic setting well. That’s what people do who are in love. I thought we were trying to convince your sister and her husband.”
Michelle nodded. She was being silly, she knew. But she’d never expected the wash of awareness and attraction that flooded through her just being near Josh. She couldn’t afford to let herself fall for the man. They had a business agreement. And she had to stick to her part of the bargain if she wanted him to stick to his.
And she did.
Wistfully she gazed out the window. She’d so wanted to find out about her father. Wouldn’t her old-family conscious grandmother have a fit to know Michelle hadn’t considered the Talmadges the be-all and end-all of families? She yearned to know about her Williams side.
“Michelle?”
“What?” She blinked and looked at Josh.
“I lost you for a moment. We were talking about acting like lovers at your sister’s.”
Acting like lovers. The image that sprang to mind was not easily banished.
Michelle stared at Josh in the sporadic light from other vehicles as he drove. He was not handsome in a traditional sense, but strong and masculine and totally fascinating.
What would it be like to be lovers?
She had never fallen in love, never lasting forever love.
What would it be like with Josh? He made her feel different—on the edge of something thrilling. He gave her a heightened awareness of the potential between a man and a woman. Her blood still raced through her veins and it’d been hours since his kiss.
She cleared her throat. “I guess you did what you thought was necessary to project that image.”
“Would you have had us behave as mere acquaintances?”
“No. It was just so unexpected.”
“Why? I told you I’d act the part. I’m good at undercover activities.”
She couldn't tell him the unexpected aspect had to do with her own reaction to his kisses, not his throwing himself into the role.
“I’ll remember that.”
“Are we going to spend a lot of time with Caroline and Brandon? Or your sister Abby?” he asked.
“Probably not, why?”
“Just wondered how often we’d have to play this game.”
Of course, without the audience they had to convince, there’d be no reason for kisses and caresses.
“Well, there will be some occasions,” she hedged.
While she didn’t think she could remain impervious to his touch, neither was she willing to entirely forego the pleasure in the future—if she could come up with a reason to indulge.
Good grief, was she losing her mind?
“We will see them next Saturday at the wedding. They’ll expect us to want to be alone for a while. So you won’t have to draw on your powers of subterfuge.”
“I wasn’t complaining.”
He reached out and captured one of her hands, linking his fingers through hers and resting them on one muscular thigh. Michelle caught her breath, aware of the tingle of awareness that shimmered through her from their linked hands.
“I liked it. Didn’t you?”
She mumbled something, once again caught up in the whirlwind of sensations that seemed to short-circuit her brain.
“I liked your sister and her husband. They almost make a man believe in marriage.”
“What?”
“My own experience wasn't so hot, but watching them is like peering into a private love fest. He obviously adores her and she hangs on his every word with matching adoration in her every glance. Haven’t they been married for a while?”
“Yes and no,” Michelle said slowly.
Josh glanced at her. “You’re good at that—ambiguous answers. They either have or they haven’t. Right?”
“They’ve been married over six years, but only lived together for a few months at the beginning, then were separated for five years. They got back together this spring.”
“The reason for the separation?”
“The miscarriage started it, but my grandmother perpetuated it,” Michelle said shortly.
“Ah, the same grandmother who drove your father away. She sounds like a real charmer. Sorry I missed getting to meet her.”
“I suspect you’d have given her a run for her money.”
“If we find your father, that will be the best revenge,” he said with another friendly squeeze on her hand.
“So after Saturday, you won't have to pretend to be in love for a while,” Michelle said, more to remind herself than to tell Josh. “Do you want me to get Penny a dress for the wedding?”
“Good luck. The kid doesn’t wear dresses.”
“Why not?”
“Shorts are good for play. The only time I tried to get her into a dress she threw a hissy fit, so I haven’t tried since. She, uh, might not want to come without her hat.”
“Does she sleep with it?”
“No, but she wears it all the time when she’s not asleep.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know—she likes it.”
“Well, prevail upon her to forego it for one day. I would think a little girl would love to dress up for a special outing.”
Josh shook his head. “I don’t know, Michelle. Maybe we should just let her wear shorts.”
“I could come over Wednesday night and take her shopping to see if we could find something for her.”
He was silent for a moment, then shrugged. “Fine with me. I’ll take us out to dinner and then we’ll see how it goes.”
He pulled in to the curb and stopped in front of Michelle’s apartment.
“No need to get out. I'll be fine,” she said brightly.
“No problem.” He stopped the car and got
