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“I need more time to think it all through,” I said. “In the meantime. . .” I put my head down. I’d screwed up, not trusting Lucas. But this was the same guy who’d wanted to pretend to date me as a test, so what the hell was I supposed to think?
Sensing my father’s presence, I looked up to find him standing in front of me. Once again feeling ten years old, I stood. His arms encircled me. When was the last time I’d given my father a hug? I couldn’t remember since he wasn’t a big hugger. Never had been.
“Take the time you need. I shouldn’t have said anything in that meeting, Charlee.”
Instead of No, you shouldn’t, I choose the less-Charlee and more adult response. “Thank you for saying that.”
He pulled back.
“So. . .” He was clearly uncomfortable. Poor Dad.
“So. Why don’t I bring Lucas around. Maybe for dinner or something?”
That is, if we were still on speaking terms. Maybe I wouldn’t mention that to my father.
“Sure. In the meantime, since you’re here. . .” He glanced at his desk.
“Oh no, I was afraid of this. I’m gonna end up working the day away, aren’t I?”
“No,” he said, without much conviction. “But I could use a second opinion on this refresh.”
A good opportunity to make a pitch for Zoe. “Let me see,” I said, following him back around the desk.
With a full heart for the best talk my father and I had had in a long, long time, I took a peek at the drawings on his desk, my mind wandering to the bigger problem of the day. I may have been able to pave the path for a Dad-Lucas reconciliation, but there was one part of that equation still very much in limbo.
But hopefully, not for long.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
lucas
I hadn’t been sitting on my couch for three seconds when I thought I heard a knock at my door. It had been a long day—from a full schedule to Nate’s injury plus Dad’s revelation, one I’d confirmed with some quick research—and I hadn’t gotten a chance to decompress.
To consider next steps with Charlee.
I was stubborn enough not to text her, even though I wanted to. . . wanted her. But she hadn’t gotten in touch with me either. I smiled as I made my way to the door. Two stubborn old goats. It wasn’t a good mix, and when we eventually did connect, we’d have to talk about that.
Because we would connect. Charlee and I were meant to be together. I knew it as well as I knew any reservations the town had about my shop were quickly dissipating. Gian and the others had been showing off their tattoos, which had gone a long way to help.
The mayor had come in that afternoon to congratulate me on “such early success” and it seemed every day brought new clients without me spending a dime on advertising. Eventually, I’d need to. But in the meantime, I would ride the “new kid on the block” wave.
There was only one other tenant in the building, above me, so I assumed it was him at the door. Instead, when I opened it, I found a vision in cream. From her jeans to her sweater, everything was off-white. Her hair was down and in stark contrast to the sweater, which showed a perfect amount of cleavage. I didn’t even pretend not to look.
“Christ, you know how to make an entrance.”
“Technically,” Charlee said, “I didn’t enter yet.”
A bag was slung over her shoulder. I nodded to it as I stood aside for her to come in, inhaling that unique Charlee scent as she walked by.
“All fixed,” I said. “So what’ve you got there?”
She dropped the bag at the door as I closed it. “My things for tonight. And some things to leave here permanently, like a toothbrush and hair-care stuff. Shampoo and conditioner, since I assume you don’t have any of the latter.”
She said it so matter-of-factly that it took a second to register.
So many things to say. Questions to ask. But none of them mattered more than her being here, having made that bold statement. I pulled her to me and kissed her. Not just kissed her, but consumed her. My lips glided across hers, Charlee’s mouth opening wide for me. Plunging my hand into her sweater, unable to resist such a delectable display, I found my way beneath her bra and cupped her breast with my hand.
“I want you inside me,” she said, pulling away just enough to say that.
