Page 89 of Take Two

“I can work with that. The only thing I won’t do is go to a home improvement store.”

“But you’ll have to. That’s where the cabinets are.” I groan in frustration when he puts his lips back on mine. “And the tiles. And the paint. You get to pick the colors. And about a mile away is where we need to go to pick out the carpet.”

“Fine, but after that, never again. I don’t even want to hear about a home improvement store.”

“Deal, but you have to do something for me,” he says. He takes both my hands in his, and my heart skips a beat. I lick mysuddenly dry lips and wonder if he’s going to get on one knee and propose.

Colt said that Charlie talked about marriage to him, but he has never broached the subject with me. I stand there, frozen to my spot as I wait to see what he does next.

“You can’t tell Vickie,” he says with a smile. I smile back, but that’s only to mask my disappointment. “I hate doing laundry.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “Is that why your mom still does it for you?”

“Yes. Now I want my girl to do it for me.”

“Do I look like the kind of woman who does a man’s laundry?” I ask.

“I don’t know what that looks like, darlin’.”

“I guess since you do all the cooking. Fine.” I step into his arms and look up. “I’ll do that for you, but the thing is, I don’t care who knows. You know why?”

“Why, baby?” he asks.

“Because I love you, and I’ll do your laundry if doing laundry is your weakness. And because you do so much for me. Like the slice of peach pie you’re going to warm up for me after you shower.”

He lifts me off my feet and brings me to his naked body. “I want you in the tub with me. You ever gag in the shower before?”

Chapter 48

Charlie

Two more days. She’ll be here in two more days, and she’ll be with me for three. I booked her flight before I left New York, but even knowing I would be seeing her in a few short days didn’t dull the pain of leaving her. She didn’t cry this time, but she buried her face in my chest until it was time for me to go through security. Things have been busy since I’ve been home. Between the restaurant and working on the house, I haven’t had a moment of free time, which is good. I want all my free time to be with Violet.

I check my watch, stand in my office and stretch. I decided to pull the trigger and schedule a DNA test after speaking to Holly. We met at the lab this morning, where the child and I got our cheeks swabbed.

We barely talked, and when I looked at the little girl, I felt nothing. No connection. She looks nothing like me or anyone in my family. Beyond that, she was short for her age. Me and my brother get our height from both sides of our family. Most of the women on Mama’s side are six feet tall or more. My father was the shortest of his brothers at six feet six inches. We also don’t have any fair-haired individuals in the family. Mama might have dirty blonde hair now, but she dyes it that color. Her natural hair color is dark brown.

This little girl has platinum blonde hair and short legs. She’s a beautiful child, but there is nothing about her that says she’s mine. Genetics can be funny though and looks sometimes don’t mean a thing. This time I hope they mean everything, even though there’s a part of me that’s ashamed of my thoughts. The child didn’t ask to be here. She didn’t ask to be in this situation. Adults are responsible, but she’s the one who’s going to suffer, and all I can do is think of myself.

It only took a few moments for them to swab my cheeks. Holly was standing in the lobby when I got done. She has her hand on her protruding belly, and I wonder why she decided to have another child.

“You look good,” she says while she walks over and stands much too close to me. I step back. “I’m sober now,” she says.

“I hope so since you’re pregnant,” I say.

“I have visitation withmy son too,” she says. “Even though his father is a fucking asshole.” She doesn’t try to lower her voice around the child. I point to Charlene and put a finger to my lips. “Oh, she’s fine. She’s heard worse.”

“Well, we should get the test results in about two days.” I start to walk away, signaling that there’s nothing to talk about until then, but she follows me and practically drags the child.

“Stop,” the little girl whines. “It hurts.” Holly lets her go and approaches me.

“We need a ride.” She stands too close to me again, and her perfume makes me nauseous. I remember that fragrance. It was that combined with the stench of stale beer.

“How did you get here?” I ask.

“A friend dropped me off. I don’t have a rich brother. I don’t have a car. And Charlene is hungry, and so is this baby.” She taps her stomach. “You can invite us to eat at your restaurant at least.”

The last thing I want to do is invite this woman into my place of business. She’s a part of the life I left behind, and I’m not going back there. I look at the little girl, who is sitting on the ground sucking her thumb.

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