Joshua

Dear God, save me now. Not only is this girl beautiful, but she’s also a virgin—a scrumptious, bikini-clad virgin who thinks I’m hot. While the age gap and lack of sexual experience are appealing, the fact that she’s an employee’s daughter makes her way the fuck off limits, no matter how delectable I find her. She has no idea who I am and it needs to stay that way. I told Teagan’s dad I would be out of the country as of yesterday, so as far as she knows, I’m just a carpenter finishing up a last-minute project for Mr. Kincaid.

But I’m not.

I am Joshua Kincaid.

Teagan’s dad assured me she’s responsible and would take good care of my house, but come on. She’s twenty-one years old. I live in the lap of luxury smack dab in the middle of paradise. Before I could feel safe leaving my possessions in the hands of someone I’ve never met, I needed to know first-hand that she wasn’t going to be a typical twenty-something and invite her friends over to party hard and trash the place even harder.

So, I decided to finish the pergola before I left the country. I didn’t tell her I was her dad’s boss, but I didn’t tell her I wasn’t either. All I told her was that I’d be here for the rest of the day to finish the work and then I’d be gone. She filled in the rest all by herself. Does that make me a little underhanded? Maybe. But life has taught me the importance of trust but verify. That’s my motto. And that’s exactly what I did here. I trusted Robert when he said his daughter was a good girl, but I took the time to find out for myself, as well. And holy shit, she turned out to be a very good girl, indeed.

A light splash draws my attention and I look towards the pool. Teagan climbs up the steps that lead out of the water, her hips swaying with each step. Her wet body glistens in the sun and she slicks back her dark hair and wrings it out, arching her back so her luscious breasts point towards the sky. I give my focus back to the job at hand before she catches me staring, but I’m aware of her through my peripheral vision all the same. She grabs her towel and dries off before walking towards me, wrapping the thing around her waist.

“So…” Teagan takes a breath. “I’m really sorry about that…” A blush flares across her cheeks and she drops her gaze to her hands. A smattering of freckles stands out across her nose.

I hook my thumbs into the back pockets of my jeans. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

Teagan shrugs, looking up at me through her eyelashes. “I know I’m the queen of awkward. My mouth runs before my brain has time to catch up, so there’s always something to apologize for.”

“That’s one way to look at it.” I grab the power drill and give my attention back to my work. “Or, you could say you live life unfiltered and say exactly what’s on your mind.”

The girl looks confused and then a smile works its way across her face. “Yeah, but I’d still end up apologizing all the time.”

“That’s my point. Stop apologizing for who you are.”

“That’s easy to say for someone like you.”

“That’s easy to say for anyone.” I glance at her and can’t help but smile. Her dark hair frames her narrow face, making her eyes seem even bigger than they really are.

She bobs her head, smiling in return. “Teagan.” She extends her hand. “Teagan Flowers.”

I press my palm into hers. “Joshua.” I don’t offer my last name and wait to see if she realizes that I am the one and only Joshua Kincaid, none other than her dad’s boss and the owner of the house she’ll be staying in for the next three months.

Something flits across her face and it isn’t recognition. It’s shock and I feel it, too. The air around us takes on a life of its own, expanding and contracting with each heartbeat. The universe draws us closer, pushing us together even as we stand still. I rub my thumb over her knuckles and then realize I’m still holding her hand and drop it like her skin burned me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Joshua.” Teagan blushes again and bites her bottom lip. A drop of water drips from her hair and makes its way down her chest, drawing my attention to her taut nipples poking through the thin fabric of her bikini top.

My dick stirs and I remind myself that not only is she more than half my age, she’s also a virgin. I focus on that as she walks away instead of watching her gorgeous ass, but I don’t know if those thoughts make things better or worse.