“No, they did well, actually.” I stop pacing and turn to him with a wide smile.
“I hope that means yes because I’m not ready to be apart from you, Charlotte. I don’t like being away from you.”
How in the hell can I say no to that?
He folds me in his arms and hugs me close. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
Chapter Eighteen
~Charly~
We’re leaving for London tomorrow. The past week has flown by as I prepared to be away from the shop for two whole weeks and Simon worked more and more remotely. I know he’s ready to be home, and I couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to see him in his own space.
I’m still reeling a bit that he asked me to go.
“Did you sleep at all?” he asks as he rolls over and wraps an arm around my waist, tugging me closer to him.
“No,” I admit with a smile and push my fingers through his hair. His face is soft from sleep, stubble sprinkled over his cheeks. I kiss his forehead. “I kept going over all of my lists.”
“You can sleep on the plane,” he says and kisses the ball of my shoulder. He scoots even closer to me, turning me on my side and tucking my ass against his hard cock. “I love waking up to you.”
“Mm.” I can’t say anything else. My mouth won’t work. He cups my breast, pinching my nipple into a hard bud.
“You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispers into my ear. “I want you to close your eyes, and just feel, Charlotte.”
I’m a step ahead of you. I can’t do anything but feel him. His hands, his hardness, the rasp of light hair on his thighs against mine. His stubble rubbing against my shoulder as he places wet kisses all over my back.
And then he’s inside me, and I’m lost in the rhythm of his hips and touch. I don’t know where I end and he begins.
Every nerve ending is on fire, every hair follicle standing on end. His breath is on my neck as he moves slowly, all the way in and then out again, taking his time with every stroke.
But even more than that, I can feel myself fall further in love with him. He’s tender and sweet. He’s solid and sure, taking charge without being an overbearing ass.
He’s mine.
Oh yes, I feel. I feel everything, and it’s new and wonderful and I don’t ever want this feeling to end.
“So sexy,” he mutters. “I can’t get enough of you.” He kisses my neck, making me clench around him. “You’re the closest to heaven I’ll ever be, Charlotte.”
I love you.
Tell him! Swallow your fucking pride and tell him how you feel!
But I can’t. Not now, in the middle of the best sex we’ve ever had. I need the first time I tell him to be when we’re not mindless with lust.
Instead, I cover his hand with mine where he’s gripping my hip and link our fingers as I bite my lip and ride out the sweetest orgasm of my life.
“You’re going to bloody kill me,” he says and rolls me onto my back so he can kiss me deeply. “But fucking hell, what a way to go.”
I smile and cup his face, the words on the tip of my tongue.
“I’ll come fetch you for lunch today,” he says.
“I can’t join you,” I reply, disappointed. “I have too much to do today to get ready to leave tomorrow. There’s a lot to see to since I’ll be gone for two whole weeks again.”
“I suppose I can survive one day without you,” he replies. “I see you’re mostly packed already.”
“Of course. We leave tomorrow.”
“I usually pack at the last minute.”
I stare at him, horrified. “Don’t you make lists of what you’ll need? I have spreadsheets.”
He laughs and tugs a piece of my hair. “Now I know what your sisters were talking about in the bar. You’re incredibly organized.”
“Of course I am.” I bite my lip. “So you’re just going to throw everything in your bag in the morning, just all willy-nilly?”
“I rarely do anything willy-nilly, darling,” he says with a laugh. “But yes, I’ll throw it in the bag.”
I cringe. “I can do it for you if you like.”
“You’re busy enough. Trust me, I’ve been packing this way for years. I won’t forget anything.”
“If you say so.” I kiss him, then climb out of the bed, satisfied when his eyes dilate as the bedsheet falls away from my naked body. “Don’t give me that look. I have to go to work today.”
“You’re the one walking around naked, all willy-nilly.”
I laugh and shake my head, finger combing my hair. “I’m taking a shower.”
“Excellent idea.” He bounds out of the bed and jogs toward me, making me run ahead of him into the bathroom, both of us giggling like kids.
Jesus, he’s fun. I couldn’t love him more than I do right now.
***
I glance at the time on my phone and frown. How is it possible that it’s barely one in the afternoon? This day is dragging.
Painfully.
“Charly, someone is here to see you,” Linda says as she pops her head through the stockroom door. I’ve been spending all morning placing orders and drawing up plans for displays for the girls when I’m gone.
My hopes are immediately boosted, certain that it’ll be Simon who comes walking through the door, but instead I’m shocked to see Ryan saunter in.
“Thanks, Linda,” he says and winks at my assistant, then tosses me his most charming smile. “Boy, you’re a sight for sore eyes, darlin’.”
Ugh.
“Ryan—”
“I know, it’s been a while, but hear me out.” Linda disappears into the store, and I’m left alone with the one man on this earth that I’d rather not see. Not because I hate him, or even feel anything for him, really. I’ve moved on from him.
“I really don’t have time.”
“All I need is five minutes.” He drags his knuckles down my cheek and leans on the counter next to me, caging me in. “You’re beautiful, Charly.”
“Thanks. Now, if that’s all you came for—”
“You know better,” he replies and smiles, and all I can think is, what in the hell did I ever see in him? He’s kind of… smarmy. And he hasn’t grown up even one bit since college.
“What can I do for you, Ryan?”
“I want to see you. Later.”
“Not possible.”
“Come on, don’t be stubborn, baby. I’m telling you, what you heard Pam say was all a misunderstanding.”
I snort. “Right. And I’m the tooth fairy.”
“I’m not seeing her,” he insists. “And I miss you. I miss what we had together.”
“What did we have together, Ryan?”
“Are you going to deny that the sex was fantastic?”
I sigh and rub my fingertips over my forehead. “No. I’ll give you that. The sex was pretty great. But at the end of the day, that’s all it ever was, Ryan.”
“And we both knew the score, Charly. You never complained about that.”
“You’re right.” I nod. “I didn’t. And maybe I should have.”
“Are you saying you want more?” he asks, and seems to be genuinely intrigued at the idea, and I simply chuckle.
“I don’t think so. Look, Ryan, you’re not a bad guy.”
“I’m a great guy,” he says, all full of ego and arrogance, only turning me off more. I want to roll my eyes, but it’s almost funny now. “And you like me.”
“I always liked you,” I concede. “I’m not positive that was ever returned.”
“I like you.” He leans in closer and rubs his hand over my hip. “I want you. I miss you, baby.”
I sigh, looking up in his green eyes, and realize for the second time today just how much I love Simon. Ryan touches me and I feel nothing.
When Simon touches me, I’m on fire.
But if I start this conversation with Ryan now, I’ll never get him out of here, and I really don’t have time to argue with him.
&nb
sp; “Ryan, I have a lot of work to get through, and I’m leaving town in the morning.”
“Don’t send me away with nothing,” he says, almost pleading.
“I’ll call you when I get back to town.”
I will so not call you when I get back to town.
“Excellent,” he replies and kisses my cheek. “I can’t wait.”
He winks and leaves, a spring in his step, and I can only shake my head. I guess I should be thankful for Ryan and the lessons I learned from him.
But it’s completely over between him and me. I have closed that chapter in my life, and I’m happy with the chapter that Simon and I are writing together.
I smile at the romantic path my thoughts have taken and turn back to the computer, just as Linda walks back into the storeroom carrying a brown paper bag.
“You just missed Simon. He brought you lunch, but said he couldn’t stay.”
“Oh, how sweet.” I smile, but I’m disappointed that I missed him. “Thank you. Is everything okay out there?”
“I’m fine,” she says and pats me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you hired Abby. She’s great with the customers and that girl loves shoes.”
“That’s the first priority,” I reply with a smile. “If you love the shoes, selling them is easy.”
“I like her.”
“Good. Because I need to know that everything will be handled here while I’m out of the country.”
“Don’t worry, boss. We got this.” Linda winks and leaves me alone with the delicious smells coming from the bag Simon delivered. I grab my phone and type out a quick text to him.
I’m so sorry that I missed you! I was dealing with some needless drama, but all is well. Excited to see you tonight! And thank you for the food. <3
I hit send, dig into some gumbo and get back to work, hoping to wrap things up early so I can get home, see my man, and finish packing.
***
“I’m going to London, uh huh, uh huh,” I sing, changing the words of the song on the radio as I turn down my street. I’m dancing in my seat, jamming out, on top of the world.
“Now I’m just cheesy,” I mutter as I kill the engine and dance my way toward the door. “And I don’t even care.”
I giggle as I open the front door. Simon’s car is parked at the curb, so he’s home already.
“’Ello, Govnah,” I say in the worst imitation of a British accent ever. “I’m home! Are you ready to—”
My voice dies and I stop cold when I see Simon standing in the living room. His suitcase is sitting next to him. He’s wearing jeans and a polo; his hair is still wet from a shower.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve decided to leave tonight,” he says. His voice is cold, and I’m completely thrown off balance.
“Oh, okay. Well, I’m mostly packed, just give me fifteen minutes to finish up and I’ll be ready to go.”
“No.”
My gaze flies to his. He’s not looking me directly in the eyes.
“I’m going alone,” he says. I don’t know who this stranger is.
“What’s going on, Simon?”
He shakes his head once. “This isn’t going to work out, Charly. I think we both know that.”
“We do?”
He nods and shoves his hands in his pockets.
“And you’re leaving.”
“I was always going to leave,” he replies. “I just changed my mind about you coming with me.”
“Why?”
“Because I did.” His jaw ticks as he clenches it; his blue eyes are ice cold. Every muscle in his body is tight.
He’s pissed.
And by God, so am I.
“You were never going to take me with you.”
He simply shrugs, and I see red.
“So, when I bought a four-thousand dollar airline ticket last week, you didn’t think that would have been a good time to tell me that you’d changed your mind?”
“You can afford it,” he replies. “Don’t pretend like it was a hit on your trust fund.”
Direct hit.
My fists clench, but I make myself keep my face passive.
“You’re a dick,” I say.
He shrugs again.
“And you’re a motherfucking hypocrite. You spew all these ideals about communication and knowing your worth and then you play me like this? Was this always a game for you?”
“It doesn’t matter what it was for me,” he replies and grabs the handle of his suitcase. “I stayed to say goodbye.”
“Well, thanks for small favors,” I reply. “I don’t have to take this from you.”
I walk to the front door and open it, holding it open for him.
“Someone taught me to stand up for myself and to not settle for less than what I want. You should meet him sometime. He’s a hell of a man.”
He sighs and walks to me, pausing before he walks out. He reaches up to drag his hand down my face and I jerk back before he can touch me.
“No. You don’t get to manipulate me and then touch me. You don’t have any right to be anywhere near me.
“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you need to get the hell out of my house. Now.”
“I didn’t manipulate you.”
“Wrong.” I lean in until my nose is inches from him. “You’re no better than your ex-wife. You deserve each other. Thank God I found out now, before I fell in love with you.”
He steps onto the porch and I slam the door shut, standing in the middle of the room, stunned.
Am I in an alternate universe? Am I asleep? Is this some stupid episode of Punk’d?
No, that show went off the air years ago.
I hear Simon’s car start and pull away, and I’m numb with pure anger.
“Serves me right,” I say as I march upstairs to my bedroom and begin unpacking my bags. “I knew from the beginning that he wasn’t forever. I knew it. And I let myself fall in love with him anyway.”
I shake my head, disappointed in myself, as I carry my underwear into the closet. “It’s better to find out that he’s a lying, manipulative piece of shit now. Who needs him? I don’t. I don’t need anything from him.”
My phone buzzes with an incoming text. If it’s Simon, I’ll smash my phone against the wall.
What a prick.
But it’s not Simon. It’s Van.
Have a blast in London! Take lots of pictures.
I smirk and reply, I’m not going. He dumped me and left.
I toss the phone on the bed and set to work unpacking the rest of my things and wiping him away from my life. I need him gone. Now.
If I let the anger pass without using it to fuel my need to wipe any trace of him out of my house, I’m afraid that I’ll crumple and not get back up.
That asshole.
“Don’t let him do this to you, Charly.” I stow my empty suitcase under my bed and strip the sheets off it, shoving them in the washing machine with jerky, angry movements. “He’s got the problem. Not you.”
I’m leaning over the bathtub, giving it a good scrubbing when I hear footsteps behind me.
“What the hell is going on?” Van asks.
“I’m cleaning.”
“I see that.”
Suddenly, Kate calls out from downstairs. “Where are you?”
“Upstairs,” Van yells back.
“You called Kate?” I ask and sit back on my heels, glaring at my sister.
“Of course. Callie’s with her.”
Both women come running into my bathroom and frown when they see me kneeling at the tub.
“What’s happening?” Callie asks.
“I’m having a Mardi Gras party in my bathroom,” I reply, my voice clipped. “Why are you all in my house?”
“We’re here for the party,” Kate says. “Gabby won’t be here for a couple of hours. That’s what sucks about living so far out of town.”
“I don’t need any of you to be here,” I reply, angry all over again. “I
’m not a child. I can handle this.”
“What, exactly, are you handling?” Van asks. “And would you please stop cleaning the tub? I’m sick of talking to your ass.”
“It is a nice ass,” Kate says.
“He’s gone.” I stand and throw my rag in the sink, then tear off my gloves. “Simon went to London.”
“Without you,” Callie adds.
“Without me. He said he changed his mind, and that this wasn’t ever going to work out between us.”
“What the hell?” Callie demands and props her hands on her hips. “That makes absolutely no sense.”
“He’s a man. They rarely make sense,” I reply with a shrug and march out of the bathroom, through my bedroom, and downstairs to the living room. The girls follow me down like baby chicks following their mama.
Baby chicks.
I shake off the memory and wrap the anger around me like a warm blanket.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say finally. “He’s right. I knew he wasn’t the one for me, and I let myself get attached. That’s my fault.”
“You’re pinning this on yourself,” Van says in surprise and I shrug.
“Well, it is my fault. I trusted him, and I let him in. I shouldn’t have. It’s on me.”
“I want to deck her,” Kate says to Callie, who nods. “But I’m not a violent person.”
“I can be,” Callie replies. “This is not your fault.”
I stop pacing and let my hands fall to my sides, staring at Van. Her eyes are sad, and that just tears me apart.
“I want to stay mad. If I don’t stay mad, I’ll fall apart, and I refuse to shed even one tear over that British pain in the ass.”
“Okay.” Van nods with encouragement. “Being mad is good. But at him. Not you.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I say at last. “I’m confused. How can he go from being the sweetest, most loving man this morning to a stranger this evening?”
“You didn’t fight?” Callie asks.
“No. We made love this morning. And then he attacked me in the shower. And then I went to work. Nothing happened. I haven’t even seen him all day.”
“This is on him,” Kate says, shaking her head. “Something might have happened with him, and it scared him off.”
“Or he’s a piece of shit who was manipulating you,” Callie adds.
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