Chapter Fourteen
The next day, Josie danced around her bedroom as she wiggled into a pair of jeans. She lay down on the bed and tugged them up over her hips, then stood so she could button them. Lincoln had called and told her they were going rock climbing for their date. She didn’t know a thing about rock climbing but if she was ahead of Lincoln on the wall she at least wanted her butt to look good in her jeans. She dressed in a lightweight sweater over a T-shirt so she could take if off in case she got hot.
The neighbor’s cat jumped up onto her bed and sat near her pillow, lazily swishing his tail.
“Where’s my phone?” She pried it out from under the cat’s paw and slid it into her purse, then looked around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled and Josie hesitated. The thing made her think thoughts that were foolish. Like how different tonight would be if this was a real date.
The phone buzzed with a text from Lincoln. Running late. Helping at accident scene.
Be careful, Josie texted back. She blew out a breath, then decided that while she waited, she might as well as finalize Lincoln’s video for the contest. She only had to tweak a couple of things before he could submit it. He’d received the money from the councilman for the station, but winning the contest could still do a lot of good for the station since they were so underfunded. Plus, he deserved recognition for all his hard work for the community.
An hour late, Lincoln showed up. “I’m sorry. I was taking Rafferty to his place when we saw a car get T-boned at the intersection.”
“No problem. Is everyone okay?”
“Everything’s fine.”
The quick, clipped way he spoke made Josie wonder if he was protecting her from knowing the details the way his father had protected his mom. She could only imagine the things that they’d both seen in their line of work.
Outside at his truck, he opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. After he shut the door and walked around the front, Josie could easily read the tension in every line of his body. She didn’t want to push him. If he wanted to talk about it, then he would. She turned the heater vent onto her feet. “In all fairness, I’ve never been rock climbing, so be prepared to catch me if I fall.”
“You don’t climb without a safety harness and rope. My brothers and I go here all the time. They have a zero-accident history.”
“You know what a klutz I am.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you’re a klutz. You’re exuberant.”
“Nicely done. Very supportive.”
Lincoln grinned, but even then Josie could see he was distracted. Ten minutes later, he pulled up at the indoor climbing center and they walked inside.
Josie looked up at the high wall. Butterflies danced in her stomach. “I don’t know…”
“I’ll keep you safe.”
Lincoln’s quiet reassurance stilled the butterflies, but when she looked into his handsome face, butterflies of a different kind fluttered. Once one of the employees had the safety gear on her, Josie grimaced. “Not that comfortable is it?”
“No, but it’ll keep you from falling if you slip.” Lincoln checked to make sure she was secure. “A few things. When you climb, use both the inside and outside edge of the shoe to help you.”
“Edges, got it.” Josie nodded.
Lincoln put his hand on her stomach and she sucked in a breath. “You need to locate your center of gravity to balance yourself.”
“Balance myself,” she repeated as they moved closer to the wall.
“You’ll use the center of gravity to help you when you shift your weight.”
Josie reached for a handhold.
“Don’t let your butt sag away from the wall.”
“That’s all natural.”
Lincoln blinked. “Uh…”
Josie laughed. “Just kidding.” She tucked her butt in. “No sagging.”
“When you’re on the wall, don’t pull yourself up with your arms. Use the strength in your legs to help you climb.”
Josie took her first position and Lincoln said, “Straighten your arm and keep your legs bent. There you go.”
Josie made herself keep her mind on moving up at what felt like a snail’s pace. At this rate, she wouldn’t be done until Christmas. Lincoln kept pace beside her when no doubt he could have easily blown right by her. She would have taken a second to admire the muscles in his arms as he moved but she was too afraid to look away from the wall. The safety gear gave her a wedgie from hell as the straps gripped her thighs, but she pushed on, determined that she would not quit until she reached the top.
In what felt like ten hours later, she reached the top and paused there, wanting to pump her fist in triumph but afraid of losing her balance.
“You did it and in only forty minutes. Good job.”
“Forty minutes? I thought it was tomorrow already.” Josie clung to the wall. “This is more exhausting than it looks. Can’t I let go and let a net catch me?”
“There’s only the gear, honey.”
“Which will yank my legs up over my head when I freefall, I’m sure,” Josie said.
Lincoln laughed. “C’mon, you’ve got this.” He started back down but waited for her every step of the way.
Josie made the painstaking climb back down. When she reached the floor, she was thankful her legs were able to support her. As soon as the safety gear was off, she stretched. “Okay, that wasn’t so bad. I think I could get used to that in a few years or so.”
Lincoln laughed. “Once you get the hang of it, it is fun.” His laughter faded. “Let’s get something to eat and then I have a surprise for you.” He pushed open the door for Josie to walk outside.
“Give me a hint about the surprise.”
“It doesn’t involve climbing,” he said as they walked to the truck. “But you’re welcome to try and guess.”
Josie thought about it and after they were in the truck and headed to a restaurant, she said, “Skating?”
“Nope.”
She huffed out a breath. “Does it involve a crowd of people?”
“It’ll just be the two of us in the dark.”
Josie shot him a look, unsure if she should say what she was thinking.
Lincoln smiled. “I know you too well, Josie Moore. Get your mind out of the bedroom.”
“You should be so lucky.”
He gave her an amused glance. “Give up already?”
“I don’t quit easily.” She thought for a second. “Driving to the planetarium in Wellsford?”
“It’s already closed for the day.”
“Okay, I give up. Tell me.”
He shook his head. “It’ll lose something in the translation.” He parked outside a taco place.
Josie got out. “Did you ask your mom for date ideas?”
Lincoln arched an eyebrow. “Like she’d suggest I take you rock climbing.”
“Hmm…you’re right. That’s not her style.” Inside the restaurant, Josie turned to him. “Give me a strong hint.”
“There will be music.”
Josie frowned as they settled at a table. “Music in the dark. Just the two of us.” She sighed and waited a second until after they gave their order to say teasingly, “Making out?”
He gave her a look.
To get her mind away from things better left alone, she said, “Let’s share three things we like, love, and hate.”
“Ladies first,” he said.
“First category, things we like. I like raspberry white chocolate, dancing in the rain, and winter.”
He nodded. “I like rock climbing, sports, and action movies.”
“Next up is love. I love your family, and I also love books and animals.”
Lincoln rubbed his jaw. “I love my job, my family, and helping people.”
“Good ones,” Josie said and paused as their food was brought to the table. She picked up one of the taco chips and flicked off a piece of Jalapeno pepper. “I hate injustice, weak sweet tea, and ghost stories.”
Lincoln took the chip from her hand and tossed it into his mouth. “I hate frilly crap, seeing a woman cry, and loaning my truck.”
“It’s too bad that you hate frilly crap. I have a lot of frilly lingerie.” She grinned. “You’ve seen my lingerie thanks to the neighbor’s cat.”
“Trust me, I did my best not to look.” He leaned across the table and lowered his voice. “If this was a real date, I’d tell you that it was all I could think about when I went to bed that night.”
Josie leaned toward him, too. “I can buy you some to wear if you want.”
“Funny, but I’d rather see you wear yours.”
Surprised, Josie sat up straighter. “Um…”
“I didn’t mean to say that,” Lincoln said in a rush of breath. “You’re a beautiful woman, but just because I’ve thought…it doesn’t mean…I can’t…”
Josie crumpled her napkin at the expression on his face. “Relax, Lincoln. I don’t take you seriously.” She knew better. It was hard to sit across from him, look into his eyes and not want more than friendship.
“Favorite spot?” Lincoln asked, his voice cutting through Josie’s silent musings.
“I have too many to pick just one, I think.”
“Morning person or night owl?” he asked.
Josie didn’t have to think about that one. “Night owl. I love the night and when the sky is filled with millions of stars, I just can’t look at it long enough. I used to crawl out of my bedroom window when I was a kid and get up on the roof. I’d lay back and look at the stars.” She smiled.
“Did you do that often?”
“Every night when the weather was clear. I’d lie there, watching the sky and thinking that when my handsome prince showed up, it would be at night. There would be millions of stars filling the sky and he’d tell me he loved me.” She blushed at Lincoln’s intense stare.
“If anyone deserves a fairy tale ending, it’s you,” he said.
They finished eating and walked outside. The night air was colder than it had been when they’d walked into the restaurant and Josie shivered, but she didn’t know if it was a reaction to the temperature or the knowledge that soon this deal with Lincoln would be finished.
…
Lincoln silently called himself all kinds of a fool. Suggesting a fake date with Josie had been to keep up the pretense but tonight, underneath the light-hearted banter, he’d caught a glimpse of vulnerability in her eyes. Josie was a strong woman. He knew she was capable of anything, especially once she put her mind to it.
But that look, the one that said I trust you had smacked him upside the head. She trusted him to be a man of his word, which he was. She trusted him to be her friend, which he was. She trusted him not to hurt her…which left him with the determination not to but the fear that he would. And that would be a kick below the belt.
He glanced beside him to where Josie sat, bouncing lightly in the seat as she rocked out to the song on the radio. She caught his look and smiled. A brilliant, beautiful smile that made his heart stutter.
He forced his attention back to the road ahead and didn’t speak until he’d reached the destination.
Josie stopped moving and frowned as she looked through the windshield. “The old theater? There hasn’t been a play performed here in ages.”
“I know.” Lincoln nodded. “The former owners just sold it and left all the props and the equipment behind. I was in the right place at the right time and the new owner told me if I’d clean it out, I could have whatever I wanted. I thought you could look through the stuff and maybe use some of it for your video business.”
“Did you offer to clean it out just for my sake?”
Lincoln nodded, alarmed when her lower lip began to tremble. “If you don’t want anything…”
“No…I do…this is amazing.”
“Come on, then.” He got out and waited on the sidewalk for her to join him. Then he took the key the new owner had given him and unlocked the door. A whoosh of stale air greeted them and didn’t surprise Lincoln. The place had been closed for several months.
Josie followed him in and went straight to the stage after he turned on the lights. She stopped in the middle, cleared her throat, and began to sing as she pretended to waltz around.
Lincoln lowered himself into one of the front row seats.
She danced until she laughed and then stood breathless with her hands on her hips while he clapped. “Truly, I’ve missed my calling in life.”
“Nah. That’s just you, Josie. You’re good at everything you do.”
She beamed at him, then her attention was caught by a rack of vintage dresses on the left side stage. “Look at this.” She took one of them and held it against herself. “Amazing.”
“Why don’t you point out the stuff that you want, and I’ll start loading it into the back of my truck?”
Josie picked out some things and then gasped. “Muslin backdrops…I can use those.”
“Just add it to the pile.”
An hour later, with the truck loaded, Lincoln drove Josie home.
When they got out and began unloading, Josie pressed an impromptu kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. Do you know how much money you’ve saved me?”
His face tingling from the touch of her lips, Lincoln said, “Glad I could help.” They went back and forth and as soon as everything was stored in Josie’s spare bedroom, she walked with him to the door.
“Best date ever,” she said when she pushed open the screen and stepped outside with him.
Without thinking, he smoothed away a strand of hair that blew across her face. Her eyes were luminous, her lips parted, the corners pulled into a slight smile as she spoke. He imagined her closing her eyes and whispering, Kiss me, please.
He blinked. “Sorry, what?”
“I said you could stay for a cup of coffee and cake if you wanted. I made a fresh red velvet cake this morning.”
“No, I’ve got to go.” Before I do something so stupid, I’d have to level up just to reach moron status.
“You’re not going to the station, are you?”
He couldn’t tell her that he couldn’t be in close proximity with her for his own peace of mind. “Yeah, I need to check on some stuff, so I’ll just sleep there. But I’ll see you tomorrow for scouting wedding locations?”
“Sounds good.” She stood at the door watching until he got in the truck and backed out of the driveway.
It made Lincoln nervous that driving away from her was the last thing he wanted to do.