Page 52 of Take Two

She wraps her arms around my neck and looks into my eyes. Her smile disappears, and she becomes serious. She looks away, but I grasp her chin and force her eyes back on me. “What is it, darlin’?”

“Nothing. I love being with you. That’s all.” Her words shouldn’t shock me, but they do. She must sense it because she says, “You’re always honest with me so I’m going to be honest with you. It makes me a little sad too.”

“Why? You must know that I love being with you too.”

“I do, but you’re leaving in a few weeks.” I take both her hands and squeeze them. “I haven’t let myself think about it, but the reality is you live a thousand miles away. You own a business there, and I own one here. I’m worried that when you go back and we’re apart, this will fade, and we’ll end.” She pulls her hands away and runs one through her hair. Then she takes a breath and gives me her back.

I put my hands on her shoulders and pull her to me. As strong as she is, she’s small next to me, and the idea of being a thousand miles away from her makes my stomach sink to my feet.

I slowly turn her around, but she won’t meet my eyes. “Look at me, darlin’,” I command. When her brown eyes meet mine, I say, “Do you know how big of a fool I would have to be to not fight for this? For us? The reason I didn’t date all this time is not only because I was workin’ on myself. Yes, I did that, but I was nervous about datin’ because I didn’t want to go from one failed relationship to another. I didn’t want to have to kiss dozens of frogs before findin’ my princess. Darlin’, I hit the jackpot with you. I got beautiful, sexy, smart, sweet, successful and kind all in one package, and on my first try. I’m going to do everything in my power to make this work. You have to know that—”

The rest of the words die in my throat when the front door opens, and I hear voices and several steps of feet. There’s laughtertoo, so I know they had a good night out. I pull Violet into my chest and wrap my arms around her. That’s how my family finds us in the kitchen.

Mama puts her hand to her chest, and Vickie gives me a smug look. I know she’s taking the credit for me and Violet getting together even though she has nothing to do with it.

Colt is the only stoic one as he looks on. Not willing to think about his issues with my relationship, I look away from him and kiss the top of Violet’s head.

“The kids are in bed,” I tell everyone. “How was the play?”

“I think Mama’s finally realized I’m not the play type of son. Next time Vickie and Mama can go have a girls’ night and not torture me,” Colt says. He goes to the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water. “Dinner was good though.”

“Colt fell asleep fifteen minutes in,” Vickie says. “Started snoring until I elbowed him in the ribs.”

Violet giggles, but my brother shows no shame.

“It was borin’,” he says in his defense. “If they didn’t want me to fall asleep, they should have put on a good show.”

“Well, I’m off to bed,” Mama says. “Thank you, Colt and Vickie, for a wonderful evenin’. Unlike my uncultured son, I had a great time.” She kisses Colt's cheek and then Vickie’s. “Maybe next time Violet and Charlie can come.” She kisses me and Violet before leaving us.

“I hope the boys weren’t too much trouble,” Vickie says.

“Not at all. They’re sweethearts, and they love their Uncle Charlie,” she says. “Especially Johnny who didn’t want me anywhere near his uncle.”

Chapter 27

Charlie

“Oh my goodness,” Violet says the instant we get inside her apartment. We just made it inside the building before another thunderstorm hit. “Has your brother always been so controlling? I felt like a high school kid under all his questions. I was five seconds away from lying and saying you’re coming over so we can study, then I remembered we’re both fucking adultsand don’t owe him an explanation.” She stomps to the coat closet, takes off her shoes, and tosses them inside.

“He’s not that bad,” I say, but he kind of is. He demanded to know if we were going straight to Violet’s or if we were going out. Then he asked when I’d be home. We didn’t answer either of those questions. “Yeah, he is,” I admit. “I guess I’ve never seen this side of him before.”

“Someone needs to remind him that you’re an adult and that he has two small kids. He can helicopter dad the hell out of them, but you’re mine. And let me tell you something. It will be a cold day in hell when I’d allow him to question me or dictate what I do. Next time, I’m gonna tell him where heandhis questions can go.” She holds her hand out. I take it and pull her to me, making a note to talk to my brother tomorrow, but for now, I’m going to put him out of my mind because I have other things to do than to think of him.

“Forget him. How about we get in bed, and you let me give you a massage?”

“Yes, please,” she says, grinning up at me. She reaches for my belt and unbuckles it. “You can massage my pussy all night, but I need to ask you something first.”

“Whatever it is, the answer is yes,” I say.

“Oh, that’s dangerous, Charleston. What if I ask that you—”

“That you what?” I ask against her lips. “You know you can have whatever you want when it comes to me.”

“That you kiss me right now.” And I do. I kiss her deeply and tenderly. “You’re such a good kisser,” she says once the kiss ends.

“You can have these lips anytime you want, but that’s not what you want to ask.”

“You’re right. Terri blabbed to my mom about you, and she wants to meet you right away. She wants it to happen beforeyou meet Dad because she has this weird competition with him when it comes to me. I’ll understand if you don’t want to—”

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