Free California Sunshine by Tamara Miller Page A

screen on and noticed that he had tagged me in his post: 
                                "Look who flew all the way from Nashville just to go to a Halloween party                             with me? #Besties #MostGorgeousGirlInTheWorld."
                  I giggled and quickly liked it, adding my own hashtag to the comments:
                                "#BestiesForLife."
                  His phone dinged. I watched the smile spread to his eyes, and part of me fell even more in love. Wait...what? Love. No. Like. I reminded myself but then got upset for not allowing the love to let it's way in.
                  "We ready?" I asked, grabbing my suitcase.
                  "When you are. I'm just along for the ride remember?"
                  I smiled. "I do remember. I'll come back in the mornin' and get my rental."
                  "Sounds like a good idea." he replied, leading me to the door and down the hallway to the elevator.
     
                  Once we were back at his place, I realized that it was later than I thought. It was close to 3 AM. He took my suitcase into the spare room and I followed him. I flopped down on the bed on my stomach. I could hear him chuckle. I turned to look at him.
                  "I missed this bed."
                  "Yeah, I've missed you," he replied.
                  My heart began beating rapidly. "You missed me?" I asked, making sure he'd really said that.
                  "Like crazy." He sat down on the bed and I sat up next to him.
                  "Well, I don't feel crazy for missin' you now," I whispered, our eyes locked on each other.
                  "It isn't the liquor talking either."
                  I nodded. "Good. 'Cause I mean it."
                  "Think we should still take it slow?" he asked.
                  I nodded once again, slower this time. "Please."
                  "But I want to kiss you."
                  "Then kiss me." I whispered, barely loud enough for me to understand over my rapid heartbeat.
                  He gently put his hand on the side of my face and moved in. I met him in the middle, our lips colliding with the others. It was a passionate kiss. Full of want and desire. His fingers slid into my hair and pulled me further into the kiss. I could feel myself falling, falling further into the darkness. But this time, the darkness wasn't so scary.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                  I woke up the next morning, the kiss replaying over and over in my mind. It was something I wouldn't soon forget, and with any luck, he wouldn't either. I rolled over and grabbed my phone off the side table to check the time. The digital clock read 7:30 AM. I laid there for a few minutes, trying to figure out if I wanted to get up or not. Finally, I slid out of bed, grabbed my toiletries, and headed to the bathroom. I had just finished brushing my teeth and hair when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.
                  I made my way out of the bathroom and slowly opened the door.
                  "Good morning beautiful." Josh said, handing me a cup of coffee.
                  I smiled, taking the cup. "Good morning handsome."
                  "So I gotta ask, are you leaving tonight?"
                  I sat down on the bed. "I don't know yet. I'm torn, on one hand I know I need to get back so I can get back to work, but on the other I just want to