Page 18 of Stay With Me

Forty-five minutes later, our bellies are full and I’m more grateful than ever I wore my favorite gray sweatpants, so my waistband has some give.

I stretch back in my chair. “Damn, Emily. You’re a talented cook. Seriously.”

A pretty pink tinge appears on her cheeks, and she smiles, lifting her eyes up to meet mine, her ocean blue irises gleaming with pride.

“Thanks. I’m glad you liked it.”

“It was great,” Trina adds. “Do you two mind if we do the dishes now so I can leave to get to the station? I promised one of the guys I’d cover for him for a few hours so he can go have pie with his family.”

“You go, Trina. Emily cooked. I’ll handle the dishes.” I rise and start clearing the plates.

“I’ll help you, Charlie. It’s not a big deal.” Emily stands and picks up a couple bowls of food from the table.

Eventually, Trina leaves and Emily and I work together in the kitchen to get everything cleaned up. She tells me all about her new job as we work. When we’re just about done, she clears her throat.

“Hey, Charlie?” Her voice is soft, almost a whisper.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Is there… Is there any chance you want to stay and watch a holiday movie with me?”

I’m not dense. This is likely her first Thanksgiving evening she’ll be alone since she and Teddy broke up a few months ago and she’s been with him in past years.

When I glance over at her, she’s intently looking down at the pan she’s drying.

“I’d love to.” I peek down at my T-shirt, which is wet from doing the dishes. “But can we throw this in the dryer for a half hour, so I’m not soaked the whole evening?”

“That’s what she said,” Emily says. She giggles, then rolls her eyes when she notices my astonished stare and gaping mouth. “What? I’m twenty-two, Charlie. I can make pervy jokes. I’m not as innocent as you and Trina would like to believe. Now take off your shirt so I can put it in the dryer, you prude.” She winks saucily at me.

I smirk at her and chuckle, happy to see her laughing and joking after all she went through a few months ago. I reach for the collar of my shirt and pull it over my head, then hand it to her.

Emily’s eyes grow as large as saucers and they’re laser-focused on my bare chest and abs. She rakes her heated gaze up and down my upper body and I’m suddenly grateful for all that wood I have to chop and stack all year—it keeps me in shape. Something in me wants to growl at her approving perusal, but I know I need to shut that shit down.

I decide humor is best and I place a finger under her chin and lift her head until her eyes meet mine. “My eyes are up here, sunshine,” I tease.

She hesitates, then recovers. “Whatever… I thought I saw a worrisome mole, so I was trying to get a closer look. It’s just lint.” She swats at my side as if she wiping something off me. “Can you go put on the Hallmark channel and I’ll go toss this in the dryer?” She grabs the T-shirt from me and heads out of the room, not waiting for an answer.

* * *

EMILY

Holy hell. Charlie Fitzgerald without a shirt on is a site to behold. Sculpted abs and shoulders I want to sink my teeth into. Christ. One look at his bare chest and I’m an instant horn dog. Geez, I’ve only been single for a few months.

I toss Charlie’s shirt into the dryer, turn it on and pull out my phone to text Shayna.

Me: I just saw Charlie Fitzgerald without his shirt on and I’m pretty sure I’m ruined for all other men.

A few seconds later,my phone dings.

Shay: Ooooh. Yummy?

Me: Um, yeah. It’s been four years since I saw him shirtless at my eighteenth birthday pool party and, let me tell you, he’s all hard edges and sexy man now. Not that he was too shabby then.

Shay: Too bad Trina’s there. You could go for it.

Me: Trina’s not here. She went to the station for a bit to cover for one of the guys.

Shay: Whaaaat? It’s a sign then. You’ve been secretly crushing on him forever and don’t say you haven’t.

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