Page 145 of Stanton Unconditional

He raises his eyebrows and smiles broadly. “Good service.” He gives me a wink as he takes a sip.

I turn and start to butter the toast and he sits on the stool at the counter.

“What did you mean by that comment last night, Josh?” I ask as I turn. Oh great, just blurt it out why don’t you, so much for not saying anything. Idiot.

“What comment?”

“Nothing is wrong, that’s what is wrong,” I ask as I raise an eyebrow.

“Tash, don’t, I’m not in the mood for this shit today.” He shakes his head in frustration.

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“It means I don’t want to talk about it, it was nothing.”

I give him a small smile as unease starts to fill me. He’s giving me mixed signals again.

We sit in silence for a while. “What are you doing today?” he asks.

I shrug. “Nothing really, grocery shopping and laundry. I am going to the hospital this afternoon.”

He nods as he drinks his shake.

“Do you want me to invite Cam and Adrian over with the girls for dinner? I can cook,”

I ask as I give him a hopeful smile.

He shakes his head. “No,” he replies flatly. “Oh.” My face drops.

He smirks sexily at me. “I want you,” he tucks my hair behind my ear, “to cook me dinner and then put that edible white nightdress on and spoon on the lounge with me while we watch the game in peace. I want you to myself.”

I smile broadly as relief fills me. “You do?”

He stands and kisses me gently as he brushes his fingers down my face. “I do. I will meet you at the hospital about four then?” he asks softly.

“Ok, sounds good.” I give him a weak smile but as he disappears, I stare at the closed door he has just exited through.

What’s going on with me? Why do I once again feel insecure?

I sit in the car in the hospital parking lot waiting for Bridget to arrive. I didn’t want to risk being alone with Margaret. I’m such a wimp. I know I have to tell him…but when is the right time? I don’t even know what’s going on between us, without adding paternity into the mix. Joshua’s car procession comes around the corner and I smile. I watch in slow motion as he gets out of the car and walks around and leans on the hood as he speaks. His body language is tense, who is he talking to? He seems stressed as he hangs up. He then immediately dials a number as he stands legs wide and one hand on his hip. My eyes flick to the security behind me and I see one of them answer the phone. Joshua has just rung them, he is keeping tabs on me. He does know I went to lunch with Jesten…shit, shit, shit. His eyes scan the car park until they find my car and he smiles and makes his way to my car as I slowly get out of it. “Miss Marx.” He smiles as he kisses me gently on the cheek.

I smile nervously as my eyes flick to the ten men

surrounding us. “Hi,” I answer quietly.

“What are you doing out here?” he asks as we turn and start walking into the hospital, the guards dropping behind us as he takes my hand in his.

“I was waiting for Bridget,” I answer.

Cameron has been waiting there. “Hey Tash,” he smiles. “Hi Cam.”

We walk silently into the hospital, hand in hand, and then into the lift where the security drop behind.

“You guys are coming out tonight, yeah?” Cameron asks. “No,” Joshua answers flatly.

“We’re staying at home.” He picks my hand up that he is holding and kisses the back of it again and I find myself melting at his feet. Maybe I am just imagining the mixed signals thing?

Cameron screws up his face. “Oh God, how boring staying home on a Saturday night.”