Page 13 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“Meddle.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just trying to get you home safe and sound.”

“By sending me off with a practical stranger?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Faith laughed. “Everyone knows everyone in Tenacity. And Josh wouldn’t hurt a fly. You don’t have to worry about him.”

“The other day you said you’d barely ever heard the man speak more than a few words.”

“Yes, in that gruff, stoic, lonely cowboy sort of way. Not in like a serial killer way.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “Wonderful.”

“You’ll be fine. Seriously. But call me if you start to feel worse after he drops you off and I’ll come home and take care of you.”

Amy grumbled. She didn’t need Faith to take care of her, and she especially didn’t need her sister trying to set her up with a man while she was trying her best not to hurl all over the interior of his truck.

Chapter Four

“Stay put for a second. I’ll give you a hand,” Josh said as he pulled into the empty driveway at Faith and Caleb’s place. A sun-bleached porch wrapped around the front of the property. It was a cozy, modern farmhouse filled with rustic country style. A wooden porch swing hung at one end of the house and two wooden rockers at the other. Vertical white siding covered the exterior of the house, stretching up to twin peaks with square windows. Amy thought it was the perfect little house in many ways. Right now it was perfect because her bed was just inside.

When Josh cut the ignition and the truck stopped rumbling, Amy felt like her insides were still shaking. Josh hopped out, hurrying around the front of the truck to collect her. He reached her door before Amy had even had a chance to open it.

“You don’t have to escort me,” she said as he swung the door open for her. “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself inside.” She took a beat to make sure she was steady, then stepped out of the vehicle. It was a long way down and Josh caught her as she hit the ground. Amy resisted every urge to huff. She was not an invalid. And she’d only been a little dizzy. Now she had Josh tripping over himself to help her, and she felt silly. She also felt a little of something else as the heat of his hands pressed against her upper arms. Something that made her heart skitter in her chest. But she wasn’t going to think about that or the flush that was creeping up her neck as Josh looked down at her, smiling a crooked smile.

Then he put a respectful bit of distance between them. “I don’t mean to impose my help, but you do know that Faith will have my hide if I don’t get you safely in the house, right?”

“What was that?” Amy said as an uncomfortable prickle of sensation washed through her. It wasn’t quite dizziness, but it swept away her thoughts and made her stomach queasy. What the hell was going on? The feeling crept up on her, then receded, and she took an exaggerated breath, trying to get control of herself.

“Amy? You good? Not gonna hit the pavement on me, are you?”

The way he said her name sent a shiver through her—delight, maybe?—and Amy wanted to shake herself. Get a grip, girl! He’s just being friendly. “I’m fine,” she managed.

“You say that so often I’m starting to not believe you.” He held out his arm to her. “I know you’re insisting you don’t need my help, but just humor me. Until we get you inside?”

Amy reached for him, latching onto his arm like one of those big suckerfish she and her sisters used to fish out of the river when they were young. She supposed this was the better alternative to fainting cold on the driveway. She had no doubt that Josh would catch her if she did in fact pass out, but how mortifying would that be? Then he’d have to drag her limp body inside while he called Faith and that was something she’d rather avoid.

“How’re you doing?” Josh asked as they wandered up the driveway.

“Good.”

“You don’t sound very convincing.”

Because with every step she felt like she was balancing on two spindles instead of legs.

“If it would make things easier I could just carry you inside.”

Amy snapped her head up. “Don’t you dare, Josh Aventura.”

“Yikes! What’d I do to deserve the full name?”

“It’s to let you know that I mean business.”

“Noted.” He pursed his lips and nodded. “Not a girl to be swept off her feet.”

Amy snorted at that. After Tru, the last thing she wanted was someone swooping in and trying to dazzle her. Though she knew very well Josh had meant those words literally not figuratively. Amy doubted he had any plans to try and dazzle her. They still hardly knew each other.

“How about we agree to this then?” Josh said. “I will not offer to carry you unless there is an obvious threat to life or limb.”