Page 57 of Of Course, Cutie

“Good.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Just so you know, my family won’t disown me if I date you, so if you’re harboring some stupid guilt again, let it go.”

Burke smiled and pulled me in a little closer. “I know. Evan told me.”

I sat up and raised both eyebrows. “My brother called you?”

“No. He showed up at my door, apologized for punching me, and told me to stop being stupid.”

I blinked and sat up. “He actually showed up here?” I couldn’t decide if I was pissed at my brother or grateful that he still had my back after everything.

I was grateful. I didn’t want to be angry anymore. I slid out of bed and pulled my t-shirt back on, then headed to the front door to grab my phone. I’d dropped it there when Burke started kissing me.

“Hey!” Burke called after me. “Where are you going? I’m not done with you!”

“I’ll be right back!” I picked up my phone from the floor and sent a text to my brother. I’m not a child, and I don’t need you to solve my problems for me. But… thank you.

I wandered back into Burke’s bedroom and climbed under the covers with him. “You wanna come to dinner at my mom’s tomorrow?”

He let out a slow deep breath, and I felt his heart rate pick up under my palm. “Yes.” Burke gave me a sideways glance and asked, “You wanna meet my ex-wife and her boyfriend next week?”

“Ugh.” I groaned. “Do I have to be nice to her?”

Burke let out his deep laugh and kissed the top of my head. “Yes. Tess will be there, too.”

I sighed. “I miss the shit out of that kid. Is she mad at me? Did you tell her I wanted to see her?”

“She’s not mad at you. I told her I messed up, and she looked at me like I was the dumbest fuck in the world.”

“Well… ” I smirked and lifted his hand to my lips, pressing a kiss against his fingers. “You have two flaws, Burke. You burn food, and you don’t let people get close to you. I can live with the first one if you give up the second one.”

“I let you get close, cutie.”

“I forced the issue. But my family will get all up in your space if you want to be with me. My best friend will want to get to know you, too. You have to let them get a little close.”

Burke gave me a sideways glance. “All right.”

“Thank you.” My fingers found the lines of ink on his left shoulder now—a compass. He told me once that he got it for Lexi and Tess when he started working the oil rigs, so he’d always find his way home to them. There were chains and flames running down his bicep, representing his desire to do the right thing, even if it made him miserable. Could I be his right thing that made him happy? I slid my fingers down the chains and asked, “What do you need from me to make this work?”

He cocked an eyebrow at me. “The hell you talking about? You’re perfect.”

“I’m not. What do you need, Burke?”

He laughed now and tugged me on top of his body. “Rough sex, patience, and forgiveness.”

I bit my lip as I felt him hardening against my thigh. “I can do all of that daily.”

“Then I think things will work out fine, Charlie.”

28

Burke

Most things in life didn’t rattle me like this. Storms out on the oil rig, the thought that Lexi could have taken Tess away from me, and meeting Charlie’s family were the only things that had ever made my palms sweat with nerves.

Charlie smiled over at me as we walked up to her mother’s front door together. “You nervous?”

“Do I look nervous?”

Charlie laughed out loud. I’d never get tired of the sweet sound. “Yes. You look like you’re going to throw up.”

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