We ate our dinners and sipped our drinks. My friends were a distraction, but the gorgeous man next to me was ready to drive me wild. All I had to do was say yes and give in.
His phone rang, and I saw his brother Kir’s name on the screen.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. He kissed my cheek and headed out the door to talk.
Britney asked, “So, what’s going on?”
I sipped more of the wine and figure out my words. “I’ve never been really good at being a girlfriend.”
“Those guys didn’t deserve you,” she said.
Maybe she was right. I shrugged. “Britney, you’re sweet. I’m just wondering if I’m biting off more than I can chew.”
I met Britney’s gaze. She was the mother figure of the group. I hadn’t realized it until now.
“Is his dick that big?” Kelly asked.
“Kelly, stop.”
She was always the one who surprised us with her humor because she would let it fly while looking like an angel and caring for others like an elementary school teacher during the day.
Charlie retook his seat. “So, what did I miss?”
Kelly smiled. “Hope is having wedding jitters.”
His eyes widened. “Why?”
I held my wine glass and looked at myself in it. “My life is so up in the air that I have no grounding. I’ll be fine.”
He placed his hand on my back. “Remember, I’m a pilot, so if you ever need help, I’m your guy.”
My friends were awed. I closed my eyes. He was getting to me, and I wanted to forget everything and just enjoy him.
Then we finished our cocktails, and Charlie paid for everyone.
“We should get going," I said. "It’s been a long day.”
“Have fun, you two," Britney said. "See you tomorrow.”
I was all nerves. Denying him was getting too much.
As we stepped outside, he asked me, “Where are we going?”
I lifted my chin. We needed to renegotiate. Maybe that would cool me down. For now, I said, “Home. We need to talk.”
“Sounds perfect.” He directed me into the limo.
If I made the choice to be with Charlie, it had to be because I was maybe falling for him. Money needed to be out of consideration for this to ever work. That sounded crazy, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted anymore.
Chapter Eighteen
Hope
* * *
My heart was beating fast enough to make my skin vibrate as we walked back in the door. This time, I joined Charlie and took off my shoes. I took a deep breath, but then his butler came and straightened out the shoes.
My face was hot. I’d almost talked about sex. I wasn’t sure how now, so I headed to the living room. I heard them talking about his night off.
