Page 58 of Of Course, Cutie

I smirked at her. “I might.” I let out a deep breath. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t touch you while we’re in there?”

Charlie rolled her eyes and slipped her arm around my waist. “Touch me all you want.” Then she pulled open the front door with her free hand. Everyone was already there, sitting on a gray sectional in the living room.

Fuck. They were all looking right at me.

Sienna smiled and jumped up first to hug Charlie, then me. Evan cleared his throat and stood to shake my hand. “Good to see you, Burke.”

“Evan.” I shook his hand. Fuck, this was awkward.

I glanced over his shoulder at the couch where Charlie’s mom, sister, and niece were still sitting. Bea gave me a funny look, like a cross between irritated and sulking. I lifted a hand to wave at her. “Bea, how’s it going?”

Bea rolled her eyes and bounced her daughter on her knee. “Fine. I’m not happy with you, you know? I thought you were a good guy when we met, but then you screwed my baby sister and—"

“Bea!” Evan and Charlie both warned at the same time.

Bea rolled her eyes again. “Sorry!” she snapped. “I think I’m allowed to be upset that he hurt Charlie!”

Evan groaned and covered his face. “Bea, you know most of that was my fault.”

“Bea! Oh my god! You have to let it go!” Charlie put her hands on her hips and glared at her sister.

“Burke, come help me in the kitchen while these kids fight it out.” Charlie’s mom spoke up for the first time. She was petite, like Charlie and Bea, but she had deep brown eyes and dark hair. She stood and headed for the kitchen, beckoning for me to follow.

“Mom—" Charlie began.

“Charlie, I’d like to talk to this man alone.”

I squeezed Charlie’s hand to let her know I could handle it. She bit her lip and nodded, and I followed her mother into the kitchen.

“Tanya, it’s great to meet you. Charlie talks about you a lot.” I’d never been good at impressing mothers. They didn’t like my size, tattoos, or deep voice.

Tanya smiled and handed me a stirring spoon. “Well, Charlie didn’t talk much about you until her heart was broken.” She pointed to a pot on the stove. “Stir that chili, would you?” She pulled out a loaf of bread and a cutting board.

My heart lurched. I knew I broke Charlie’s heart, and it killed me. “I’m sorry I hurt her. I never wanted to. I thought it was for the best.”

“I understand that. Stir please. It’s going to scorch on the bottom.” Tanya didn’t look up at me. “What do you like to do, Burke? I’m guessing bartending isn’t your passion?”

I hated cooking and small talk, but here I was, doing both for Charlie. I’d do anything for her. I stirred the chili. “Bartending is fine, but I do like working with wood.”

Tanya nodded. “I saw the notebook you made for Charlie. Beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I glanced over at Charlie’s mother, and she met my gaze. Were we going to talk about the age difference? Were we going to talk about the fact that Charlie and I kept our relationship quiet?

“So, you have a six-year-old daughter?”

“Yes.”

Tanya smiled. “I’d love to meet her.” She pulled a platter from the cupboard and arranged the bread she’d finished slicing.

“Sure. That would be great.”

“So where did you grow up, Burke?” Tanya pulled a stack of bowls from the cupboard next.

“A small town in New Hampshire.”

“And you came all the way out to Washington to be near your daughter.” Tanya smiled. “You can stop stirring now. Why don’t you dish these up?”

I took the stack of bowls she offered me and let out a deep breath. I should get this over with. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I fell for someone half my age? What I was thinking? What’s wrong with me?”

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