Stranded With a Hero by Karen Erickson, Cindi Madsen, Coleen Kwan, Roxanne Snopek Page A

us. All the what-ifs and the whys and the how did I let our friendship die like it never mattered to me.” Her gaze met his, full of sadness and regret and so much more than he could ever know or probably even understand. “Because it did matter to me. You were such a big part of my life for so long and then I let you go because I thought Marty was what I wanted. I focused on nothing else but him and our relationship. He didn’t…want me hanging out with you. He wanted me to all to himself and I believed I wanted that too, at the time. He never gave me time to consider what I really wanted.”
    Jealousy brewed within him but he tamped it down. Marty Fenton was a total asshole. “You thought you wanted it,” Josh pointed out, hating yet again how she always seemed to blame herself for her relationship and subsequent failed marriage. “You were young, Min. We all make mistakes when we’re young. Look at what a jackass I was. After you rejected me, I didn’t talk to you again for months. I had you in three classes that year. Yet I somehow avoided you like the plague.”
    “I hardly noticed,” she admitted, her voice soft and full of regret. “I was too wrapped up in Marty.”
    Yeah, she had been. Even though their school had frowned upon obvious public displays of affection, Marty had been the king and master of PDA back in the day. He’d had his hands and lips all over Mindy in the hallways between classes, at lunch, after school.
    It had burned Josh, seeing them together. How much he hated Marty for stealing his best friend. The girl he’d always wanted but had never been brave enough to make his own. Marty had made him feel like a loser and that’s what had burned the most.
    “But that’s dead and gone,” Mindy continued, shaking herself as if shaking all those old memories with Marty out of her. “Clearly, whatever you might’ve felt for me all those years ago is dead and gone, too, so I’ll just go ahead and do as you suggested. Grab a couple of extra blankets and head back upstairs so I can sleep it off. Good night, Josh. Hope the couch is comfortable enough for you.”
    She tried to make her quick escape but he was faster, grabbing hold of her wrist and not letting her go. “So that’s it? You make your request, don’t wait for my answer, and then leave me here, all within five minutes?”
    “I thought your non-answer was your answer.” She sounded—and looked—completely perplexed. And completely adorable.
    “I definitely didn’t answer.” He slowly shook his head, his thumb sweeping along the sensitive skin inside her wrist. Her fingers curled, the tips brushing against the edge of his hand and triumph surged through him. He knew he got a reaction out of her with that one simple touch. What if he really went for it?
    His brain was fully engaged now and out of sleep mode. Time to kick it up a notch.
    “What are you saying, Josh?” Her voice had dropped to a breathy whisper, full of all sorts of promise and potential and his brain kicked straight into overdrive.
    “This is by far the most confusing conversation I’ve ever had, all for a rather simple request, don’t you think?” He sat up straighter, pulling himself closer to her, and he braced his free hand on the couch, close to Mindy’s hip. “I mean, all you asked for was a kiss.”
    A trembling breath left her, with a hint of mint from her toothpaste and he wondered if she tasted minty, too. “It was stupid.”
    He raised his brows. “What? Asking for a kiss?”
    “Yes. I shouldn’t have done it. Here we are, trying to become tentative friends again and instead I’m blowing it. Asking for more than you could ever want to give.”
    “Who said I didn’t want to give you what you asked for?” He was mean, making her scramble but it was sort of fun. Reminded him of how he used to tease her when they were kids. “Like I said, it’s only a kiss.”
    “If it’s only a kiss, then why are we talking so much about it?” A