The Trouble with Bree (Spotlight #1.5) by Kristen Strassel Read Free Book Online Page B

that to happen to you, Bree.”
    “It won’t.” But before last night, I would have never thought Troy was capable of hitting me, either. “But I’m not sure I’m ready for anything right now.”
    I didn’t think Josh could look any sadder. “I understand.” He squeezed my hand.
    “That doesn’t mean I want you to go.” I couldn’t let him leave. If he did, he might not come back. “I don’t know what I want right now, but I’m terrified I’m going to lose you.”
    “You’re not going to lose me.” Josh’s face brightened as he smiled. “We’ll just figure it out as we go along.”

Chapter Nine
    “Josh slept over?” Landon asked me as I made breakfast. We’d fallen asleep on the couch, my head on his chest, watching movies and hardly talking after the kids went to bed.
    I’d woken up a few times during the night, and I should have gone into my own bed. But I didn’t want Josh to follow me in there. At least on the couch I knew we’d just sleep. All bets were off in the bedroom. And with his arms around me, listening to his heartbeat, I felt safe. Today was the day I had to deal with Troy and I needed every advantage I could get.
    I cringed. “Yes, he did.” Josh had left early, having to get to work, and I didn’t think the boys saw him. I should’ve known better, Landon knew everything. Someday, the CIA would be happy to have him.
    “Cool.” Landon dug into his waffles. “Can he sleep over again?”
    “Maybe some time.” I sat down at the table with my coffee. “You like Josh, don’t you?”
    Landon nodded, his smile ringed with syrup. “He likes to play with us.”
    So far, Josh checked off all of my boxes. He was willing to be patient with me, funny as hell, my kids loved him, and if he was as good at the other stuff as he was at kissing, I had a lot to look forward to. But he wasn’t supposed to be dating me.
    I grabbed a piece of waffle off of Landon’s plate, dipping it in syrup as he protested. “Josh is going to be one of your teachers.” I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going with this, but Landon’s face lit up. “When you go to school, you have to treat him like all of your other teachers. He might not be able to play with you there, because he’ll be busy working.”
    “Okay.” Landon seemed to understand. “But he can still play with us here?”
    Leave it to my four-year-old to make it so simple. “Yes, he can.”
    I knew I needed to let Josh worry about how he was going to deal with this at work, but the last thing I wanted was for the rug to be snatched out from all of us. He’d be crazy if he chose me over his career, if it even came down to that.
    We’d only hung out a couple times, and I’d waited for Josh to get in touch with me every time. That was the first thing I needed to change. “Your presence has been requested.” I told him when I called. “Landon wanted to know when…” I almost said when you’re sleeping over again , but that was way too suggestive. “He was happy you stayed over.” I finished the statement quietly.
    “We got caught? Oh.” I’d felt the same way at first.
    “It’s okay. He has no idea what it means, besides you like Legos and ice cream.” I laughed. “They think you’re pretty awesome.”
    “Likewise,” Josh said. “And so are you.”
    My cheeks flushed. “So how do we do this? I’m used to booty calls and guys that have wives. I probably should have asked you. You’re not married, are you?”
    Josh laughed. “No. My closet is embarrassingly skeleton free.”
    I wished I could say the same. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.” Just talking to him, I felt better. “When can I see you again?”
    “I thought you’d never ask.” Josh’s voice lifted now that I was finally making a move. “Have the boys ever been to the Children’s Museum?”
    “No.” I’d meant for him to come over and hang out, but I wasn’t going to say no to an adventure. “They loved the