“You’re more than welcome to try, but it’s not going to work. I’ve got some laser focus going on here, Seth. Laser focus.”
“We’ll see.” Seth waggled his shoulders. “So, Josie. What’s your favorite color?”
“Yellow.”
“Okay. And what about animals? What’s your favorite animal?”
“Sloth.”
Seth laughed but his eyes stayed trained on hers. “Interesting. Movie?”
“Don’t have one.”
“No? Not a big movie watcher? Okay. Moving on then…” He squinted and for a split second she thought he was about to full-on blink, but then his eyes rounded back open. “What makes you think a staring contest has anything to do with chemistry?”
“I read a list once about the seven markers of romantic chemistry. Intense eye contact is one of them.”
“You read a list about romantic chemistry?”
“Back in high school. One of those dumb online relationship quizzes or something.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. It just stuck with me.”
“Fair enough.” Seth tipped his chin. “But I think there’s a difference between intense eye contact and what we’re doing here.” He motioned his hand in the gap between them. “This is nearly an act of intimidation.”
Josie fought to keep from laughing. She would not let him win that easily.
“What else was on the list?” Seth puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath as his eyes got huge like he was doing everything possible to keep them open.
“The chemistry list? Oh, you know. Things like reading body language. Being comfortable with one another. Laughing together. Losing track of time.” She tried to recall each marker. “Something about how your body responds when you’re around each other.”
Seth didn’t have to purposefully widen his eyes at that response. They did that all on their own accord. “Gotcha. Interesting…” His shoulders lifted an inch. “I think we’ve got all of that.”
“You think we’ve got all of that?” she repeated.
“Sure. Don’t you?”
Josie’s eyes had gotten past the point where they were scratchy and dry. Now they just watered, begging to be closed. “I’m not sure…”
“I understand your body language. Like right now you’re telling me you will do anything to win this game. It’s evident in the set of your shoulders and your determined posture,” he explained, eyes still unblinking. “And I’m comfortable with you and I think you’re pretty comfortable with me. You are wearing my sweatshirt, after all.”
Josie chuckled at that.
“See? I make you laugh, too. That’s another,” he continued. “Any chance you have any idea what time it is?”
She shook her head. “I don’t.”
“Would you look at that? Looks like we’ve lost track of time, too.” He smiled. “Yep. All the markers.”
Well, all but one…
“Dang it!” Seth threw his hands in the air. “I blinked.”
He would have gotten away with it, honestly. Josie was still stuck wondering what his answer regarding his body’s response would be, but she didn’t have the nerve to ask.
“Looks like you’re the clear winner here, Josie. Congratulations.”
Balling up two fists, she shoved them into her eyes and twisted, the sweet relief almost as good as scratching a hard to reach itch. She yawned.
“I know.” Seth picked up on her obvious exhaustion. “I’m tired, too. Let me get those linens I promised so you can get some sleep. We’ve had a pretty eventful evening.”
Josie smiled. Seth really was a care taker, and a good one, too. It was easy to understand now why he got so frustrated with the people running his grandmother’s senior living facility. If it were up to Seth, Josie figured he’d just as well have Gramm share his home so he could keep an eye on her and make sure she was properly cared for. That was just his nature.
And that was the real issue at hand—it didn’t seem like much was left up to Seth at all. His parents made absolutely sure of that.
He returned moments later with a quilted, patchwork blanket, a set of twin sheets, and a down pillow so fluffy Josie felt like her head rested on a cloud. He stoked the fire once more and threw another log on before giving her a sweet smile and retreating to his bedroom down the hall. Josie slipped out of her jeans, then folded them neatly before placing them onto the coffee table until she would need them again in the morning. Her boots were tucked under it, no longer wet, but crusted with mud that would require a good and thorough polishing.
The sweatshirt Seth had loaned her was oversized, long enough to hit just above her knees. She hadn’t noticed until she was finally alone with her thoughts and all of her senses that it smelled just like him. Pine, spice, and musk. She burrowed under the quilt and pulled the soft fabric up under her chin. Resting on her back, she could see the fire dancing in her periphery. The pops and snaps, along with the plinking of raindrops on the rooftop, created the sweetest autumn lullaby.
Sleep came fast and easy, so much that she thought it was already morning when she awoke to a distant rustling sound. When her eyes first opened, the room was dim and much colder than before. But the walls suddenly flared orange and heat returned with a burst, like a flambé skillet doused in a splash of alcohol.
Seth’s shadowy figure stooped low by the hearth. He pitched another log into the growing flames.
Josie rolled over and squinted as his form came into focus. He was shirtless, wearing only flannel pajama pants that hung low on his hips. Cords of muscle pulsed in his back when he used the iron fire poker to rearrange the logs. Josie knew he was fit—it just went with the territory when it came to cowboys who did ranch work for a living. But Seth’s body was more than that. He was built, like he was carved from stone, molded from clay. Amber firelight kissed every patch of bare skin as it traced over his impeccable form. For a split second, Josie thought she might still be dreaming, the disorienting reality before her almost too much to process.
He suddenly pushed up with his hands pressed to his knees. Josie was still admiring him when he turned around and brought his gaze toward her, meeting her gawking stare. If his back had been a sculpture, everything else was a masterpiece. He had just the right dusting of hair across his chest and it trailed down rippling abs that would make a washboard look smooth in comparison.
Josie’s mouth went dry.
Seth seemed almost startled to find her awake. “I’m sorry. I thought I was being quiet.”
“You were.” She slid up on the couch.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. I just wanted to check on the fire. And I’m glad I did. It was almost out.”
Josie scratched the back of her head and smacked her mouth. “Power still out?”
“Seems to be.” He took one step toward her, then, like he suddenly realized he was standing there shirtless, he folded his arms quickly over his upper half. Not that it did much. If anything, it now pulled her attention to his strong, broad shoulders and the arms she now imagined bound solidly around her…
“I hope you’ll be able to get back to sleep okay. I really didn’t mean to wake you.”