| "I can't, Josh already made plans for me." She looked up at a very disappointed Justin, and tried again. "Justin, I am a busy woman, I need more than thirty minutes notice." "Fine, I'll work out all by myself." He slid from his place on the desk into a nearby chair, setting his hand to his forehead for affect. "I am not canceling my plans, why not get one of the guys to come over?" He listened to the tapping of the keys from her typing for a second, not sure if she really wanted an answer. "They don't like me." With his best puppy dog eyes and whine he tried one last time to persuade her into coming. "Well, go see what Josh has to say." She tried to stop his whining, knowing JC would not give into Justin. "No, he's mean. What about tomorrow?" He smiled, knowing JC hadn't made plans yet. "I'd love to." "To what?" JC entered the room, contimplating jumping onto the desk while it was unoccupied by Justin, but chose a chair instead. "Work out with me tomorrow." Justin stood and left the room before his friend had a chance to retaliate. "Your working out with him?" "Yeah, sorry, he got to me first." Glancing briefly at him, she returned to her work, trying to finish quickly. "I get day after." Only half joking, he claimed her for himself. "Well, I was planning on painting the guest room in the morning, how about dinner?" She saved her work, gathered her things, and stood to leave. "How about I help with the painting, and then we order in?" Standing to meet her, he put a hand at the small of her back to lead her out of the office. "Fine with me." "So you ready for lasagna?" Glancing down at her briefly, he pushed the button for the elevator, waiting for it. "Yeah, we just have to heat it, I made it last night. Then I'll make a salad and some garlic bread to go with it." "Sounds good." After they were safely in the elevator and the doors had closed, he playfully pinned her against a wall, keeping his face inches from hers, as he bent at the waist to be level with her. "What are you doing?" She tried to turn her head to the side, wanting to get his lips out of view, but he kept her face where it was with his hands. "Nothing, you?" An overly innocent look took his face, as he kept his position, seeing how long she would let this go on. "Why not, shouldn't you be sweeping me off my feet by now?" She raised her eyebrows at him, not willing to be the first to back down. "Sweeping you off your feet?" He let his lips pass her's, centimeters from touching, then let his head fall next to her neck. "Hmm guess not. How about just dinner and a movie?" Too many thoughts were running through her head to even know what she was saying, JC's warm breath was hitting her neck, while his hands slipped down to her hips. "But I'm hungry now, can I have something to nibble on?" Letting his lips come dangerously close to her ear, he pulled himself up, certain the elevator would stop any second. "Nibble?" She whispered to herself, letting the words sink in as she exited the elevator, JC a few steps ahead of her. "I'll follow you, okay?" JC informed hopping into his car, then watched her do the same. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The food was great." JC complimented, taking a seat on the couch as she did the same. "Thanks, you helped." She reached for the remote to turn on the television, but JC grabbed it quickly. "No TV, let's just talk." "Ok, what do you want to talk about?" She turned so her body was facing him, pulling her leg onto the couch. "Do you still think I am an asshole?" "What? I would never think that about you." She put a hand to her chest, and the other on his arm. "You should have, after the way I acted." He looked at her hand on his arm, he could imagine her soft fingers running along his body. "I will admit that I thought you were a sour puss, but not an asshole." She retracted her hand from his arm, fearful of the glances it was getting from him. "OK, do you still think I am a sour puss?" "Of course not, but I have a confession to make." She stood to retrieve the tape Justin had slid into her purse, then set it into the tape player nearby. "Go ahead." He urged her, watching her start the tape. When the conversation was over she regained her seat on the couch, ready for his reaction. "I'll kill Justin." He ran his fingers through his hair, embarassed that she had heard what he had said about her. "I just have one question. Who is Laura? If you don't mind me asking." "I don't mind, Laura is my ex, and sometimes you just have this way of reminding me of her. I guess that's why I was so mean to you. We just didn't work out, and I guess I was taking it out on you." He kept his head in his hands, not wanting to look up at her as he delivered the news. "How long ago did you break up?" She put a hand on his arm, trying to quide it away from his face so she could see him. "About a week before that day in the coffee shop." He let her take his hands from his face, turning his head to look at her. "Oh, well maybe we shouldn't..." She wasn't sure how to express her feelings, she didn't want to get into a rebound relationship, ecspecially if she reminded him of his exgirlfriend. "No, we should." He put his hands with hers, pulling her closer to him. "You may resemble her a little, very little, but you aren't her. Personality wise, you are complete opposites." "Josh, I'm just not sure it's a good idea." Pulling her hands from his grasp, she stood, trying to get as far away from him as possible. "I think it is." He stood, making it to her side in a few large steps, then pulled her hands into his again. "Josh.." She wasn't able to finish, he pulled her into a kiss much like the one they had shared at lunch time, causing her knees to shake slightly. "Brianne, you think about." "Josh, there's nothing to think about." She shook her head at him, hoping he would join her. "Yes there is, I'm going to go now." He left her standing where she was, still trying to control her knees. "Be careful." She called as he opened the front door, and received a wave of agreement. "Bye." "Bye." She ran a finger across her lips, trying to regain the sensation in them. "Damn you, Josh, you aren't making this easy. Look I am already talking to myself." She threw her hands up in defeat, not sure what she would do. |
| Chapter Ten |