Page 38 of The Playboy's Most Unexpected Baby

“I did,” Charlie admitted. “I’m not used to feeling that way about it.”

“What changed?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s different. I just know that I felt… awake in there, in a way I haven’t before.”

“Well, whatever it is, I hope you keep it up.” Cory socked him on the shoulder. “It was nice to have someone in there who doesn’t just want to stick to the status quo. Hey, would you like to get a drink with me?”

“That sounds nice.”

“There’s a bar down the block. I think you’ll like it.”

The two men walked down to the elevator together. Charlie was stunned at the way the day had gone — first the meeting and now this. He had never imagined that he would become close with someone from the office, but this felt like the beginning of a friendship.

It felt good to do something successfully. It felt good to have tangible evidence that he was more than the family black sheep, that he was actually fit for the job he had been handed by his father.I can do this. I can do this well.

For a moment, he thought of Olivia again — of what she would say if she were to find out about today’s events. He had no doubt that she would be impressed. She would make a joke about the fact that she had once thought of him as nothing more than a rich boy, a skirt-chaser and a philanderer. He would be able to show her that there was more to him than she’d known.

It was a wonderful thought — but did he dare to discuss it with her?

The idea of getting close to Olivia again after what had happened the other night was incredibly intimidating. He hadn’t been able to restrain himself from the kiss he had known was coming. If she hadn’t pulled away, it would have happened, and Charlie didn’t know how to feel about that. He suspected it would have been a very bad idea. It would have muddied waters that needed to remain clear and complicated things between the two of them. The line between the professional and the personal was important to maintain — it was vital if they were going to continue along the path they’d started on.

It was simple. They had to sell the house, divide the money, and move along.

That wouldn’t happen if he allowed himself to get drawn in by his desire to kiss her — a desire he hadn’t even wanted to admit that he had.

But it could no longer be denied. In addition to being beautiful, Olivia was sensitive with him in a way no other woman ever had been. She gave him something he had always longed for, and he wanted more of it.

He hated the fact that he was in this position.

If only they weren’t professionally entangled… but no, he wouldn’t have been able to get involved with her under those circumstances either. He would have run the risk of driving her away, and that was something he couldn’t stand to do. He didn’t want to lose her like that. It would be far better to keep the wall up between them. It would be better never to start anything with her at all than to risk losing her.

He turned his attention back to Cory. They would celebrate their victory in the board meeting together, and for today, that would be more than enough.

CHAPTER15

CHARLIE

“Well, you two certainly are the picture of new love,” Carl Rogan said.

Charlie couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He never could when he had Olivia by his side. And even though he felt a pang at the suggestion that they looked like something more than they were, he also enjoyed it. It pleased him to think that his affection for her shone out so brightly, that it was such a real and visceral thing that other people couldn’t help but see it.

“We’re very happy,” Olivia said. It sounded so real. Charlie knew he had to take care. It was difficult not to simply allow himself to believe that she was speaking the truth.

To a degree, she probably was. Theywerehappy. They were getting along wonderfully, and the home repairs were going great. Their days were full of laughter, and the evenings always contained some sort of meaningful conversation.

He would miss it when it was gone.

“I’m awfully sorry you’re required to keep having these visits,” Rogan said. “I can see perfectly well that what’s between the two of you is very real. If it was up to me, I would call a halt to the whole thing right now and let you be on your way — but I’m legally obligated to keep this going until the six-month window is up.”

“We don’t mind that,” Charlie said. “We know you’re only doing your job, and we’re happy to go along with it — though I hardly think it’s necessary for my entire family to be here every time we have one of these meetings.”

“It isn’t necessary,” Rogan said. “They’re not at all required to attend.”

“But they will anyway,” Charlie smirked. “Won’t you, Cait?”

Cait fluffed her hair. “We have every right to be here.”

“Nobody says you don’t.” He sighed. “Are we good to go?”

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