I blew out a breath. “I have told people that we’re dating. I’m quite proud of it, actually. I just overreacted.”
I searched his gaze for understanding.
And as usual when it came to Charlie Huxley, I saw it.
The man just got me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Charlie
This woman knew how to piss me off.
But it only drew me to her more.
Because I understood her. I understood her passion. Her fear. Her need to protect herself.
And goddamn, I loved how quickly she could adapt and realize she’d misread a situation.
“Tell me why you overreacted.” I moved around her desk and bent down in front of her, reaching for her hands.
She looked away before turning back to meet my gaze. “I just saw you in there with her, and I freaked out. I assumed you wanted her. I’m so conditioned to think something good is going to go bad.”
“And why would it matter if we’re nothing serious, like you keep insisting? Why would you be that worked up? You can’t stand me most of the time, right?” I pressed.
This shit needed to stop. I was all in. I knew she was all in.
The last few days had been great. Harper knew we were dating. But Violet was still holding back.
“I can stand you, Charles.” Her eyes watered. “I can more than stand you.”
“Yeah? Because I’m done holding back. I don’t want anyone else. I want you and only you. Even if you just made a scene and knocked a gallon of paint over. I still want you.”
She nodded and slowly released a breath. “Charlie.”
“Yes?” I chuckled because she was being serious, which was out of character for her.
“I love you, Charlie Huxley. And I’ve never said that to a man. But I love you.” A tear ran down her cheek. “I really do.”
“I love you too, Firefly. I have for a while now.” I used the pad of my thumb to swipe the tears away.
“Then why didn’t you say it first?” She gripped my shirt in her hands.
“Because I thought you would run.”
“Why would you think that?” she chuckled, not hiding her sarcasm. “I saw you with Logan, and I just thought the worst. And then a sharp pain hit my chest. I was afraid I’d lost you. I just found you, you know?”
I scooped her up off her chair and sat down, then pulled her onto my lap. “I’m not going anywhere. I waited a long time for you, Violet Delphinium Beaumont.”
“I’m going to torture Montana for telling you my middle name,” I said over my laughter.
“I looked at your driver’s license. That’s quite a mouthful.”
“So are you,” she said with a grin.
“Such a filthy little flower.”
“A filthy little flower that you happen to love.”
