They made their way through the crowd all there to meet his siblings, mostly. He now had what he wanted-- Charlotte as his, beside him.
He never wanted this night to end. It wasn’t the money he now had in his bank account.
Or the clothes.
Or the attention of anyone else, from his family to hers. It was that he finally had Charlotte, and he never wanted to let go.
If he lost her in his life, he wasn’t sure what to do. She hadn't answered him about marrying him, not that he’d been clear that it was what he wanted most.
However the crowd thinned out with people who were avoiding the dance floor and stepped onto the veranda. But he was in heaven, with the one woman that ever mattered.
Once the last song ended, the DJ didn’t put another on right away.
He glanced around the nearly empty house and said, “The party is ending.”
“The night always ends.” Charlotte stepped out of his arms. The distance between them formed a huge crater and he feared that he would lose her if she went home, to her family. He reached for her hand and said, “Don’t go home, Charlotte.”
She glanced at his black leather shoes, her cheeks pink with a blush when she asked, “Where should I go?”
Confidence, Jack. He had almost everything now. He took a breath and said, “With me.”
She shook her head and his entire body stilled as she said, “Your mother’s house is…cozy.”
A small, fast laugh escaped his throat. She peered into his eyes and he stepped closer to bask in the warmth of her so near. “I don’t mean there. To my hotel room.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “You have a hotel room?”
He did, and it wasn’t far. He could drive her there in his new car. He nodded. “The Morgans rented out a hotel for the weekend. It’s supposed to be so we all get to know each other at some private functions.”
She trembled. He knew that meant she was interested but afraid. She’d tried to temper her enthusiasm for years because her stepmother had prevented Charlotte from living her own life. Jack had told her many times that Nancy was wrong, but Charlotte was like a soldier, accepting defeats she didn’t need to. “Your brothers-”
“Have their own room.” He held her fingers to his chest, his body on fire for her. “So does my mother and Lucy. I have a room, all to myself, unless you join me.”
Silence stretched for a long moment. He didn’t dare move but his heart picked up speed.
If she said no, he’d have to figure out how to win her another way because he couldn’t give up on Charlotte.
Ever.
Nerves caused perspiration to gather at his shoulders until she finally broke the silence and said, “Then okay, I’d love to go with you and not let this night end when the clock strikes midnight.”
“My car is this way.” He tightened his grip on her hand as they left the party together.
He didn’t see his family around but honestly he wasn’t looking for them. He texted them that he was heading to the hotel and giving Charlotte a ride, and then turned off his phone.
He didn’t need to read commentary on his life tonight.
He handed a ticket to the valet and his new Mercedes convertible was brought around.
Charlotte studied him as he accepted the keys, but didn’t say anything. He walked her to the passenger door and helped her inside.
The valet closed her door and Jack gave the guy a tip before getting behind the driver’s seat. It was all so new, and he was glad to share it with Charlotte.
“Your new car is a step up from the last Jackmobile.”
“This one doesn’t need a few pushes to get started.” He smiled at her, hoping she liked the car, since he’d chosen it with her in mind. She turned on the radio, like she would have in his old junker.
Familiar was good and he relaxed a bit on the short drive to the hotel.
