Chapter 18

THE KISS ENDED WHEN JOSHUA PULLED AWAY. He was still watching Clarice's flushed face under the streetlight with her eyes closed. Joshua smiled at Clarice's expression as he could sense how Clarice was enjoying the kiss without rebelling or resisting.

Meanwhile, when Clarice sensed that the kiss was over, she caught her breath and then opened her eyes. From such a close distance she could see Joshua, handsome and ... charismatic.

"You seemed to enjoy it, Clarice."

His words jolted her out of her slumber and into full consciousness. She sat up straight and the chair Joshua had pushed back returned with a triumphant smile.

"You took a chance!" said Clarice, venting her nervousness and annoyance.

But Joshua didn't say anything back. He just smiled and drove back to the car. He didn't want to talk too much when he was with Clarice, because if he did, then his happy expressions would be obvious and he didn't want Clarice to take advantage of that and oppose him.

"There will be no mor