by Nikki Paris
“I love you, Burke.” And then his lips crashed back down on mine. The wrong woman would have been alarmed by his strength and passion, but I craved it and met him breath for breath.
He broke the kiss. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m so damn sorry I hurt you. You were right about everything, and I’m an ass.”
“You are an ass.”
“Can we fix this, cutie? Can I have you again?” He trailed kisses down my neck and whispered in my ear, “Please.”
“Burke, I showed up at your apartment at 1 am, and I’m now naked in your bed. Read the cues, baby.”
He laughed and nipped at my neck. “Fuck, I love you, Charlie.” He slid away from me to grab a condom, then hovered over me again, taking my mouth in hungry, biting kisses.
I shoved him off and sat up. “We’re going to make this work, but I swear to god, if you try to make decisions about us for ‘my own good’ ever again—"
Burke kissed me and swallowed up my empty threat. “I won’t.” He trailed kisses down my neck and pressed my thighs apart.
I gasped when he entered me and wrapped my legs around his waist, locking him in place. I moaned with every thrust of his hips and dug my nails into his back. Burke let out his own groan of pleasure.
For the next few minutes, it was only us — our bodies, our breath, our love.
When we finished, he held me and whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
“Stop saying sorry. Just promise you’ll never push me away again. Promise me you’ll fight for us no matter what people think.” I traced the tattoos on his chest and tilted my head to look at him.
He gave me that strange look again, like I took his breath away, and nodded. “I promise.”
“Good.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Just so you know, my family won’t disown me if I date you, so if you’re harboring some stupid guilt again, let it go.”
Burke smiled and pulled me in a little closer. “I know. Evan told me.”
I sat up and raised both eyebrows. “My brother called you?”
“No. He showed up at my door, apologized for punching me, and told me to stop being stupid.”
I blinked and sat up. “He actually showed up here?” I couldn’t decide if I was pissed at my brother or grateful that he still had my back after everything.
I was grateful. I didn’t want to be angry anymore. I slid out of bed and pulled my t-shirt back on, then headed to the front door to grab my phone. I’d dropped it there when Burke started kissing me.
“Hey!” Burke called after me. “Where are you going? I’m not done with you!”
“I’ll be right back!” I picked up my phone from the floor and sent a text to my brother. I’m not a child, and I don’t need you to solve my problems for me. But… thank you.
I wandered back into Burke’s bedroom and climbed under the covers with him. “You wanna come to dinner at my mom’s tomorrow?”
He let out a slow deep breath, and I felt his heart rate pick up under my palm. “Yes.” Burke gave me a sideways glance and asked, “You wanna meet my ex-wife and her boyfriend next week?”
“Ugh.” I groaned. “Do I have to be nice to her?”
Burke let out his deep laugh and kissed the top of my head. “Yes. Tess will be there, too.”
I sighed. “I miss the shit out of that kid. Is she mad at me? Did you tell her I wanted to see her?”
“She’s not mad at you. I told her I messed up, and she looked at me like I was the dumbest fuck in the world.”
“Well… ” I smirked and lifted his hand to my lips, pressing a kiss against his fingers. “You have two flaws, Burke. You burn food, and you don’t let people get close to you. I can live with the first one if you give up the second one.”
“I let you get close, cutie.”
“I forced the issue. But my family will get all up in your space if you want to be with me. My best friend will want to get to know you, too. You have to let them get a little close.”
Burke gave me a sideways glance. “All right.”
“Thank you.” My fingers found the lines of ink on his left shoulder now—a compass. He told me once that he got it for Lexi and Tess when he started working the oil rigs, so he’d always find his way home to them. There were chains and flames running down his bicep, representing his desire to do the right thing, even if it made him miserable. Could I be his right thing that made him happy? I slid my fingers down the chains and asked, “What do you need from me to make this work?”
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “The hell you talking about? You’re perfect.”
“I’m not. What do you need, Burke?”
He laughed now and tugged me on top of his body. “Rough sex, patience, and forgiveness.”
I bit my lip as I felt him hardening against my thigh. “I can do all of that daily.”
“Then I think things will work out fine, Charlie.”
28
Burke
Most things in life didn’t rattle me like this. Storms out on the oil rig, the thought that Lexi could have taken Tess away from me, and meeting Charlie’s family were the only things that had ever made my palms sweat with nerves.
Charlie smiled over at me as we walked up to her mother’s front door together. “You nervous?”
“Do I look nervous?”
Charlie laughed out loud. I’d never get tired of the sweet sound. “Yes. You look like you’re going to throw up.”
I smirked at her. “I might.” I let out a deep breath. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t touch you while we’re in there?”
Charlie rolled her eyes and slipped her arm around my waist. “Touch me all you want.” Then she pulled open the front door with her free hand. Everyone was already there, sitting on a gray sectional in the living room.
Fuck. They were all looking right at me.
Sienna smiled and jumped up first to hug Charlie, then me. Evan cleared his throat and stood to shake my hand. “Good to see you, Burke.”
“Evan.” I shook his hand. Fuck, this was awkward.
I glanced over his shoulder at the couch where Charlie’s mom, sister, and niece were still sitting. Bea gave me a funny look, like a cross between irritated and sulking. I lifted a hand to wave at her. “Bea, how’s it going?”
Bea rolled her eyes and bounced her daughter on her knee. “Fine. I’m not happy with you, you know? I thought you were a good guy when we met, but then you screwed my baby sister and—"
“Bea!” Evan and Charlie both warned at the same time.
Bea rolled her eyes again. “Sorry!” she snapped. “I think I’m allowed to be upset that he hurt Charlie!”
Evan groaned and covered his face. “Bea, you know most of that was my fault.”
“Bea! Oh my god! You have to let it go!” Charlie put her hands on her hips and glared at her sister.
“Burke, come help me in the kitchen while these kids fight it out.” Charlie’s mom spoke up for the first time. She was petite, like Charlie and Bea, but she had deep brown eyes and dark hair. She stood and headed for the kitchen, beckoning for me to follow.
“Mom—" Charlie began.
“Charlie, I’d like to talk to this man alone.”
I squeezed Charlie’s hand to let her know I could handle it. She bit her lip and nodded, and I followed her mother into the kitchen.
“Tanya, it’s great to meet you. Charlie talks about you a lot.” I’d never been good at impressing mothers. They didn’t like my size, tattoos, or deep voice.
Tanya smiled and handed me a stirring spoon. “Well, Charlie didn’t talk much about you until her heart was broken.” She pointed to a pot on the stove. “Stir that chili, would you?” She pulled out a loaf of bread and a cutting board.
My heart lurched. I knew I broke Charlie’s heart, and it killed me. “I’m sorry I hurt her. I never wanted to. I thought it was for the best.”
“I understand that. Stir please. It’s going to scorch on the bottom.” Tanya didn’t look up at me. “What do you like to do
, Burke? I’m guessing bartending isn’t your passion?”
I hated cooking and small talk, but here I was, doing both for Charlie. I’d do anything for her. I stirred the chili. “Bartending is fine, but I do like working with wood.”
Tanya nodded. “I saw the notebook you made for Charlie. Beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I glanced over at Charlie’s mother, and she met my gaze. Were we going to talk about the age difference? Were we going to talk about the fact that Charlie and I kept our relationship quiet?
“So, you have a six-year-old daughter?”
“Yes.”
Tanya smiled. “I’d love to meet her.” She pulled a platter from the cupboard and arranged the bread she’d finished slicing.
“Sure. That would be great.”
“So where did you grow up, Burke?” Tanya pulled a stack of bowls from the cupboard next.
“A small town in New Hampshire.”
“And you came all the way out to Washington to be near your daughter.” Tanya smiled. “You can stop stirring now. Why don’t you dish these up?”
I took the stack of bowls she offered me and let out a deep breath. I should get this over with. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I fell for someone half my age? What I was thinking? What’s wrong with me?”
Tanya smiled. “I don’t need to ask that. My Charlie-girl is special. I know exactly why you fell for her.”
I met Tanya’s gaze and nodded. “She’s perfect.”
“As long as you know that and promise to take good care of her, I have nothing to worry about.”
“I promise.”
Tanya patted my arm. “Good. I think we’re going to be all right here, then.” She walked toward the living room. “Kids! Come eat!”
Charlie rushed into the kitchen first, her pretty blue eyes filled with concern. Evan and Bea followed, bickering, and Sienna brought up the rear with Sophia in her arms.
Charlie hurried over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I kissed the top of her head and said, “We’re all good, cutie.”
Charlie let out a sigh of relief. “Thank god. Did she grill you?”
I smiled and shook my head as I filled the bowls with chili. “No, Charlie. Things are going to work out fine.”
Charlie gave me her soft, sweet smile, and it hit me right in the chest. Her family accepted me — at least for the most part. Cutie really could be mine.
◆◆◆
“Charlie!” Tess practically screamed and jumped up from her seat when we walked into the Mexican restaurant. My daughter raced over and flung herself into Charlie’s arms.
Charlie laughed and sank to her knees, closing her eyes and hugging Tess tight. “Oh, sweet girl! I missed you!”
“I missed you, too. Did my daddy say sorry? Are you still mad at him?”
“He did. I’m not mad anymore.” Charlie smiled and ran her fingers through Tess’s hair.
“Charlie?” Tess cocked her head to the side.
“What’s up, Tess?”
“Do you love my daddy? Like prince and princess love?”
Charlie glanced up at me and smiled. “Yeah, Tess. Is that okay with you?”
She grinned and nodded. “My mommy doesn’t love him anymore, but someone should. Will you love him forever?”
“I will.”
“Good.” Tess took Charlie’s hand and tugged her toward the table. “You can sit by me!”
I watched my two favorite girls walking hand-in-hand through the restaurant and felt a flood of emotion. Charlie slipped so effortlessly into Tess’s heart and mine. She slipped right in and filled a hole that’d been there all my life.
When we reached the table, Lexi stood and scanned Charlie from head to toe. Then she turned to me and rolled her eyes. “Are you serious, Burke?”
Her boyfriend, Scott, stood too. He had short dark hair and wore a button-down shirt tucked into his dress pants. He looked like a passive fucking tool.
I ignored Lexi and shook her boyfriend’s hand. “Scott.”
“Burke, I’m glad we could finally do this. It’s needed to happen for some time, for our Tess.”
Our Tess? I took a deep breath. “Right.” I glanced over at my ex-wife. “Lex, this is Charlie, my girlfriend. Charlie, this is Lexi, Tess’s mom.”
Charlie smiled politely. “Lexi, nice to meet you. I can see why Tess is so beautiful.”
I smiled at Charlie as we took our seats and picked up our menus. I knew she would have rather slapped Lexi than compliment her.
Lexi narrowed her eyes when Tess scooted her chair a little closer to Charlie. “So,” Lexi picked up her menu, “Should we order a bottle of wine to share? Or…” Her eyes flicked over to Charlie. “I’m so sorry, Charlie. Are you even old enough to drink?” Lexi gave her a sweet, fake smile.
“Lex," I began, clenching my fists.
But Charlie put her hand on my arm. “I’m not drinking, but please don’t let that stop you.” She turned to Tess next, letting Lexi’s passive-aggressive question melt away. “Tess, thank goodness your dad isn’t cooking tonight, am I right?”
Tess giggled and nodded while I shot Lexi a warning look across the table. Lexi rolled her eyes and looked back down at her menu.
The dinner was tense and awkward. There was no other way to describe it, and at the end, Scott insisted on paying, giving me a smug, knowing smile. Charlie and I gave Tess hugs and then stood to leave, but Charlie said, “Hang on a sec.” She turned to my ex-wife and said, “Lexi, I want you to know that I’m sticking around, and I plan on staying in Tess’s life. She is beautiful inside and out, and I know that a lot of that is thanks to you. I genuinely hope we can keep an honest and healthy relationship between all of the adults in her life.”
Lexi blinked in surprise and glanced over at me. Then she let out a deep breath and nodded. “Uh, thank you, Charlie. I would like that, too.” Lexi slid her arm around Tess’s shoulder and glanced down at our daughter. “For Tess. She deserves the best.”
We all nodded, and then Charlie and I walked out, hand-in-hand. As soon as we stepped outside, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. “I love you, Charlie. You were perfect tonight.”
Charlie grinned and pulled my face back down to hers to kiss me again. “Damn. I was hoping you would slap my ass when we get back to your place, but if I was too good…”
I laughed and took her hand again as we walked to my car. “I’ll do whatever the hell you want me to do tonight, cutie.”
As we drove back to my apartment, Charlie sighed. “I wanted to be a little catty, but I love Tess, and Tess loves her mom. Also, I hope that eventually, we’ll get to have Tess a little more often, ya know? And that means that we have to keep things civil and mature with Lexi and Scott.”
I loved the way she was talking about my daughter and the way she kept saying “we.” I loved the way she frowned a little, like she was thinking deeply, and the way her eyes sparkled. I loved the way she twisted a lock of her silky soft hair around her pointer finger while she stared out the window and talked about how passive and boring Scott seemed and how damn crazy my ex-wife was for cheating on me. I loved everything about Charlie Cox.
No part of me deserved this beautiful soul, but I was going to hang onto her with everything I had.
29
Charlie
Two months later
I followed Sophia as she toddled around the reception hall to give Bea a break. Bea was struggling today. It was hard for her to celebrate Evan’s marriage when hers was officially over. I saw the almost dead look in her eyes during the ceremony when Evan and Sienna promised each other so many beautiful things. I watched her try to smile and hold her head up high, knowing that she was crying inside.
Bea wasn’t made of steel, but then again, no one was. She’d pull through, though. Bea would be okay.
Sophia tugged at the bottom of a black table runner, almost toppling the entire red rose centerpiece, but I caught everything just in time. I slipped a few stray fl
owers back into the mini wooden crates that Sienna asked Burke to make for the wedding. He’d burned rock band logos, guitars, and small images of cocktails into the sides of the crates. I took half a second to admire his work before Sophia escaped to the next table. I scooped her up in my arms and turned to see Burke walking through the door with Tess. He’d left right after the ceremony to go pick her up for the reception.
God. Damn. I’d already seen him all dressed up today, but he made my heart race all over again. He wore a fitted navy suit and a crisp white button-down with no tie. He’d cut his hair so he couldn’t pull it back anymore but left it long enough for me to still bury my hands in it. I didn’t hate it — it looked fucking good with his suit. But I’d take him any and every way. Burke’s gorgeous green eyes settled on me, and he gave me the sexy smile he usually flashed right before he kissed me.
I smiled right back at him and carried Sophia over to the entrance where Burke and Tess stood. I hugged them both. “Tess, your dress is so pretty!”
Tess gave me a sassy little smile. “It’s pink, Charlie.”
“It is. Pinkilicious.”
“Why is your dress black? Shouldn’t it be purple?”
I nodded and bounced Sophia as she started to fuss and squirm. “It should, but Sienna picked black for the bridesmaids, and she’s the boss today.”
“I want to see Sienna’s dress!” I could have sworn that little heart bubbles came out of Tess’s eyes.
“She’ll be out soon.” Sophia won. She squirmed out of my arms and took off again.
Burke gently tugged Tess’s curly ponytail. “Hey, sweetheart, why don’t you hold Sophia’s hand and walk around with her for a minute.”
“Okay!” Tess grinned and hurried off after my niece.
Burke eyed me and groaned. “That dress looks so damn good on you. It’s going to be hard to keep my hands off you all night.”
I was about to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him when a female voice called my name. “Charlotte! Oh my god! You are so grown up now!”