Page 51 of Brazen
“He… I need to talk to Charlie.”
“Okay.” She hugged me back, and as I let her go, she said, “Thanks for inviting us all to Hawaii. I never go anywhere.”
I wanted to ask her how things had gone with Kir the night we’d left. My eyes burned from unshed tears, though. I would ask later. I stepped back. “Let me talk to Charlie before you pack your bags.”
She waved at me. “You found yourself a good one.”
“Thanks.”
At least I had friends. Charlie and I would be over sooner than I'd expected, since there was no way Kir would want to work with us or if there was even an us to worry about. Charlie valued his family. I had no idea what would happen to me now.
I walked home in a huge blur, but I somehow made it back. And as opened the door, Fuller stood behind it. I stepped in and took off my shoes, staring at rose petals. Charlie was being wonderful again. I followed the roses to the living area.
Charlie stood there with a bottle of champagne. “You're home.”
I gazed around the room, and the tears flowed. “What’s this?”
“I’m surprising you.”
Then I held him tightly. “Charlie…” Tears wouldn’t stop. I would miss him.
Chapter Thirty-One
Charlie
* * *
The flowers, the champagne, the music, and the lights—everything was set to tell her I was one hundred percent knee-deep in love. However, Hope was full of tears and trembling. Clearly, this was not the time.
I rocked her, and neither of us moved. When she was ready, she took my hand but sat on the couch. The second I sat, she wiped her face. “So, I got a message from my ex I told you about.”
My pulse raced, and I stepped back. “And you rushed off to see him and lied to me?”
“I didn’t lie. I wanted to fix everything for you like you do for me.” She lowered her chin and shook her head. “I rushed to find out what the hell he had to say, but it turned out he bugged my phone.”
I took a deep breath. She wasn’t wishing for another. Then I processed what she'd said and jumped up. “So he’s listening now.”
Her eyes widened, and she grabbed her phone. “I need a new phone.”
“One second.” I took her phone. In the hallway, I said, “Fuller, please dispose of the listening device right away and get the newest model for Hope.”
He nodded. “At once, sir.”
When I turned back to Hope, her face was bright red. She rocked in her seat and shook her head. “I didn't even think… I shouldn’t have brought it here, and you don’t need to replace it.”
I rejoined her on the couch and took her hand. “It’s a gift.”
Her nose wrinkled. “You won’t want to give me anything.”
My entire body tensed. “Why? What’s going on?”
She met my gaze. “We’re toast.”
Adrenaline rushed through me. “Why?”
Her eyes widened. “He knows you paid me to be your fake fiancée.”
Heat rushed through me. I realized now I’d made a huge mistake with that offer. I’d said it because I wanted to keep her close and hadn’t realized my feelings. I rubbed the back of my neck. “About that…”
