“Thank you.” He looked down at her bare toes with their dark blue-painted nails. She wore a little sterling silver ring on the middle toe of her right foot. “Mind if I take a shower?”

“Knock yourself out.” The wall air-conditioning unit was overpowering the little space, but she didn’t want to turn it off and let the muggy warmth back in, so she went into the bedroom to grab a blanket and curl back up on the couch.

Nature channel. Reality TV show. A sitcom. The news. She chewed salad and flipped through channels, not really paying attention. Most of her focus was on what Josiah was doing. The shower ran for a while, then switched off. Shortly after, he came out wearing black shorts that showed off the sinewy strength of his muscled legs and a T-shirt that strained across his wide chest and biceps.

Damn, was there anything about him that wasn’t sexy? What he had done to her with that firm, stern-looking mouth… She closed her eyes as her body pulsed.

She would be so lost over him if he had chosen a different life than the one he was living—any kind of different life—so, in a way, she should probably be grateful that he kept everything so crystal clear for her.

After some silence, he asked, “Is that all you’re eating?”

She lifted one hand in an indifferent shrug.

He approached to bend over and stick his face between hers and the TV screen. Their gazes collided. His soft, even voice was at odds with the volcanic force in his eyes. “Would you like a grilled cheese sandwich if I made one for you?”

Silently, she nodded. She watched as he went into the kitchen and found everything he needed. He knew his way around a kitchen, his movements purposeful and economical. His expression gave away nothing of what he was thinking.

When he returned, he carried a plate piled with grilled cheese sandwiches, another bowl of salad, and a glass of wine. She scooted over to make room, and then they sat and watched the news while they ate.

Once she took her first bite of sandwich, her appetite roared in and she ravenously ate the rest. He took away the plates and bowls, poured himself more wine, and when he came back to the couch, he put an arm around her and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

She held very still, but the warmth of his body was too much to resist. Melting against his hard length, she let her head rest tentatively on his shoulder. He cupped the side of her head and drank wine.