Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
The idea of Charli in my house, her sitting at the kitchen counter while I cooked her a meal then showed her the work I’d done restoring the original wood flooring was oddly arousing to me. I really did have it bad.
“You bought a house?” Charli asked, curious.
I nodded. “It’s only a two bedroom, and it needed a lot of work, but I’m fairly satisfied with how I have it now.” I paused, glancing down a second before my eyes returned to hers. “I’d be happy to show you sometime.”
“Sure,” she replied, a hint of colour in her cheeks. “I’d like that.”
Our eyes remained locked for several prolonged seconds before she looked away, seeming a little flustered as she rose from the stool.
“I’m just going to wash up and change before dinner.”
“Go ahead,” Jo told her. “Ten more minutes until the food is ready.”
I watched her leave, my eyes drinking in the gentle curve of her hips and arse, the perfect size for my hands to mould around. What was it about her? She turned me into a horny teenager unable to keep filthy thoughts from my head. Being her friend was going to be challenging.
On an exhale, I noticed she’d left the open crisp packet on the counter. Without thinking, I picked it up and poured what was left into my mouth. Yep, I was officially comfort eating as I pushed all those filthy thoughts away and tried not to think about how soft and silky her skin would feel beneath my palms.
***
On Monday morning I texted Nuala asking for Charli’s number. Looking it up in her employee file didn’t sit right, felt a little invasive. Of course, Nuala wanted to know why I needed it, and I quickly texted back about giving Charli a lift to the tax office. That seemed to satisfy her.
The thing was, I could’ve easily walked across the hall and talked to Charli in person, but the last thing I needed was nosy Maeve listening in and reporting back to Steph.
I knew what my ex was like. Possessive in the extreme. Several times, we’d gotten into arguments about how I shouldn’t interact with other female members of staff at the hotel because they’d get the wrong impression and think I was interested in them. I’d responded that I could hardly do my job if I couldn’t speak to more than half of my coworkers since the hotel employed more women than men. Those arguments had always ended in stalemates, and Steph would give evil eyes to certain female colleagues she was convinced fancied me. It was another side to her I hadn’t enjoyed, and remembering those fights just made me even more relieved we were no longer together.
With Charli, though, if Steph found out about our history, she might try to make things difficult for her, and after our conversation in my car on Friday, I knew it was important to Charli that she get along with her new coworkers.
I typed up a text.
Me: Hey, it’s Rhys. I hope you don’t mind that I got your number from Nuala. You still need a lift to the tax office at lunch? I can meet you in the car park at 1 p.m.
A few minutes later, I received a response.
Charli: Well, hello :-) No worries about getting my number from Nuala. I should’ve thought to give it to you on Friday. I’ve now saved yours in my contacts. And yes, that sounds great. See you at 1 p.m.
An unexpected rush of warmth filled my chest at the idea of her saving my number. I liked her having it, knowing she could call me if she ever needed anything.
Later, I spotted her walking out the front entrance as I sat in my car. She scanned for me then started making her way over. I got out and opened the passenger side door for her.
“Is this your reserved parking spot?” she asked as she climbed in.
“Yes, why?”
“Oh, I just noticed you were parked here on Friday, too. Pretty swanky.”
I smiled. “I’m glad my parking spot impresses you.”
She chuckled. “I mean, it’s so close to the entrance. That is impressive. Or maybe I’m just easily wowed.”
“Nah,” I said fondly. “Being able to park close to the entrance in this country is always a plus since it’s lashing rain half the time.”
Charli smiled, and I closed the door before going around to the driver’s side. Again, her scent hit me as soon as I got in, and I had to focus on ignoring the memories it encouraged, how young and eager we’d once been for each other. What was I saying? I was still just as fucking eager, but I was old and wise enough to resist what I knew was a bad idea.
A few minutes into the journey, she said, “How is your mom, by the way? I completely forgot to ask about her.”