Dreams (New Beginnings Book 3) by Michelle Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

tried again, pressing lightly on the gas pedal this time. The sputtering lasted a little longer, but ultimately died once again.
    “Dammit!” She banged her head against the headrest.
    “Dead battery?” Josh asked.
    “Can’t be,” she sighed. “The battery’s brand new and it’s not like I left the lights on. It’s probably the alternator. It’s not the first time I’ve had problems like this.”
    Josh pulled a card from his wallet, dialed a number into his phone, and then spoke to someone for a few seconds before hanging up. “Tow truck will be here soon.”
    They waited for half an hour before the truck arrived. After Josh gave the driver instructions on which garage to bring the car to, he loaded it up and was on his way.
    “Come on,” Josh said. “I live nearby. We can grab my car, and I’ll drive you home.”
    “Yeah,” she said. “Okay.”
    As they walked, his shoulder bumped into hers and she almost froze on the spot, but then forced herself to keep going.
    It was getting dark, but the street lamps illuminated their path.
    “Shit,” Josh said suddenly.
    “What?” Taylor asked.
    “You didn’t feel that? I swear there were a few raindrops.”
    “You’re delusional.”
    Taylor felt a raindrop hit her face. “Shit.” She looked to the sky and they started to come faster. Josh tugged on her arm, trying to get her to move.
    “We aren’t far.” 
    Taylor started to run with him. Her glasses tried to slide from her face, but she pushed them back up her nose, her feet never slowing. She couldn’t remember the last time she ran.
    Her clothes were soaked, her lungs burning, but it felt good, free. The realization hit her that she was having fun. That’s what the feeling was.
    She knew Josh was holding back beside her, so she sped up and looked sideways at him in challenge. He matched her stride as he turned down another road. She followed him.
    By the time he stopped, her legs felt like rubber, but her lips were turned up in a smile, surprising even her.
    “If I knew that all it took to get you to smile was a little rain,” Josh started. “I would have planned it sooner.”
    He punched a code in to let them into his building. Taylor knew she was right. He must work in one of those high-rises to afford a place like this.
    They rode the elevator to the top floor and stepped out into a wide hallway. Leaving a trail of water in their wake, they walked towards a door at the opposite end.
    “My roommate is probably out,” Josh said, gesturing her inside.
    She walked into a large living room with a massive TV at one end, surrounded by leather couches. Large windows looked out over Columbus, the arena being the prominent feature in the view. Taylor quickly turned away.
    The kitchen sat open to the rest of the apartment. It was a little messy. Taylor raised an eyebrow at Josh and he shrugged.
    “Roommate’s a slob,” he explained.
    “Got it.” She held her arms across her chest and shivered under the blast of air from a vent overhead.
    “Let me get you some dry clothes.” Josh disappeared into one of the bedrooms and returned with a pair of sweats and an over-sized t-shirt. “Bathroom’s over there.” He pointed behind him.
    It had never felt so good to be dry. When Taylor returned to the living room, Josh had already changed. He now sported a Columbus Blue Jackets shirt. It’s just a shirt, she told herself. Her breathing quickened, so she took three deep breathes to calm it. That didn’t do the trick. Josh’s stare did. Concern deepened in his eyes at her strange reaction. He reached out and took her hand, instantly soothing her.
    “I don’t want to go back to the dorms yet,” she said before she could stop herself. Normally, that would have embarrassed her.
    He squeezed her hand. “Then don’t.”
    He led her to the couch and then sat next to her as he flipped through TV channels, looking for a movie. She settled in, but jumped every time their thighs touched. They were too