Page 22 of Guarding My Love

“I am,” she said. “To myself more than my loser exes.”

“That’s all that is important then,” he said.

“We’ll let you get back to your work,” she said. “I’m sure you don’t have a lot of time to do things and it’s a big property.”

“Why do you say that? About the time?”

“You go to work early in the morning,” she said. “Sometimes I’m working late in my office and see you pull into the driveway late. I’m not spying or anything. It’s just hard not to notice when one of the windows in my office faces your driveway.”

“True,” he said. “But that just tells me you work a lot too.”

“Again, having to prove myself. Falls in line with one of those long stories.”

“And now that you own a home, on the weekend you have no time for fun,” he said. “More chores than ever before.”

“I’m learning that,” she said. “It’s fine. I need this. Marco and I can go for a walk to relax. Hey, before I leave. I know I don’t have access to the water. I can’t see it either, but is there a public spot I can walk to around here?”

He wasn’t sure what possessed him to say this. “If you’re looking to just see the water, you can come down my driveway and take the path on the right. It will take you right to my beach.”

The left brought him to his backyard and his deck. If she just wanted to see the water to relax or take a break, he wasn’t going to tell her no.

“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate it. I might do it when you’re working to get a breather. I don’t want to bother you.”

“No bother,” he said.

“Do you want me to put these on your porch?”

“Sure, if it’s not too much trouble. You can check out the path if you want so you know where you’re going.”

She smiled and he felt a fluttering in his belly like he had when he was fourteen and he found Braylon’sPlayboymagazine hidden under the mattress.

He knew what arousal was, but this felt as if it was something else.

Which might explain why he was comfortable enough to slip and say a bit about his family when he didn’t normally.

If he gave his last name, she could figure out who he was if she did a simple enough search. Most women do that now when they are dating someone new.

He wanted to get to know her more, but it was as he said—you learned more when people weren’t at their best and when they didn’t know who you were.

* * *

Charlotte triedto make sure there wasn’t a pep in her step as she walked toward Foster’s backyard.

Her back burned from where she felt his gaze on her and she could at least let her smile go freely knowing he couldn’t see it.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun talking to a man.

He was right—she wasn’t at her best.

She wasn’t prepared.

She wasn’t dolled up and ready to party.

She didn’t even have makeup on. Heck, there was probably dirt on her face!

But he flirted with her when she got the impression he didn’t do that with many.

The front of Foster’s house was nice, but it looked small. Until she made her way to the side and realized the land sloped down and the house was fairly huge.

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