Page 19 of Stay With Me

Me: Whatever! He’s Charlie. Crush or not, he’s out of my league. Plus, he’s Trina’s best friend.

Shay: Um, excuse the fuck out of me? No one is out of your league. You’re fucking amazing and any guy would be lucky to have you.

Me: LOL. You’re a good best friend, in case I don’t tell you enough.

Shay: Meh. I can never hear it too much. Now go have fun. Live a little. You’re single. Send me updates later.

Me: Nothing is gonna happen. We’re just gonna watch a movie. There won’t be anything to tell.

Shay: We’ll see…

I climb the basement stairs and head into the family room. I stop dead in my tracks at the scene unfolding before me. A holiday romance queued up on the television and Charlie, his back to me, kneeling in front of the fireplace in just his gray sweatpants and slippers, adding some logs to the fire. I have to fan myself when I see how his back muscles and triceps flex as he reaches over to grab a new log.

I snuggle into a spot on the reclining portion of the couch just as Charlie turns around.

“Hey, you stole my spot.” He flashes a heart-stuttering grin at me, and I nearly melt.

“It’s a double seater spot. Can we share it? Please?” I give him my best pouty face and he rolls his eyes.

He grabs the remote and walks over to the couch.

“Fine. But move over a little. I take up more room than that.”

I grin and scoot over to make room for him and he slips into the end spot. Then I sidle up next to him and we share the footrest.

“How’d you know this is the one I wanted to watch?” I ask him, curious.

“I didn’t. Just made an educated guess. I figured it was a holiday love story about a bakery owner needing a Christmas miracle, so you’d like it.” I glance up at him and he’s blushing, rubbing his hand over his trim beard and avoiding eye contact.

“Well, perfect choice. Thanks. You can hit play whenever you’re ready.”

Sometime within the first half hour of the movie, the steady rhythm of Charlie’s breathing alerts me that the film failed to hold his attention, and he’s drifted off to sleep. I look at him, really study at him. He’s a gorgeous specimen of a man, but he’s also just such a good guy. Solid. Quiet, but in a thoughtful, unassuming way. When I think of the number of times that Charlie has been there for Trina and me, I’m overwhelmed. How he’s still single, I don’t know.

I scoot closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder, and turn back to continue watching the movie. When it’s over forty-five minutes later, I forget that he’s sleeping and applaud.

“Five stars, Hallmark. Five stars.”

“Sunshine? Are you clapping for a movie in the comfort of your own home?”

I startle and peek up at Charlie. I got so comfy I lost myself for a while. His eyes are still closed, but he’s wearing an amused smirk.

“Yes, I am, Charlie. Are you making fun of me?”

He opens his eyes and my lower belly quivers when his sleepy hazel gaze meets mine.

“Never. I think it’s cute.” He’s full on smiling at me now. It’s one of the panty melting smiles he probably isn’t aware he has in his arsenal.

I throw my head back against the couch and stare up at the ceiling.

“Ugh. Women don’t want to be cute, Charlie. We want to be stunning and beautiful and sexy and?—”

The rest of my words disappear as I look over at him and see the way he’s watching me—his gaze fixed on my mouth—the desire in his eyes unmistakable.

He watches me for what feels like forever, yet it also feels like it’s not long enough. Then he gently places his index and middle fingers under my chin and caresses my lower lip with the pad of this thumb, all while peering into my eyes.

“You can be cute and be all those things, too.” His voice is rough, and desire consumes me.

I don’t know who moves first but, suddenly, our lips are touching… barely, but they’re touching. My heart pounds in my chest.

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