“You saw my ass.” She sounds cautiously amused.
I turn and I can’t help my smirk. “It’s a great ass.” I shrug before continuing. “Let me just go and grab my nurse and we’ll get these stitches taken care of.”
She nods, and when I step out into the now empty waiting room, I discreetly adjust myself and then go in search of Kyla.
Twenty minutes later we have said goodbye to Kyla and the cat is falling asleep in Charlotte’s arms, thanks to the painkillers I gave her, and I’m going over some instructions with Charlotte.
“She’ll be fine, so long as the wound stays clean. Just try and keep her inside for a few days and bring her back next week so I can see how she’s doing.”
“I will, thank you.”
She’s been much more relaxed since I broke the ice and mentionedAss-gate, as I’ve come to think of it, so I decide to press my luck.
“Look, Charlotte—”
“Charlie,” she cuts me off. “My friends call me Charlie.”
“Charlie.” I smile and I know I probably look like a complete dick right now, so I take a moment to appreciate the fact that Camden isn’t here to witness my first step toward pussy-whipped-ness. “I’m just going to lay it all out there. I think you’re beautiful and funny and I’d like to take you out for a drink and get to know you more.”
It takes a moment for her to respond, and when she does, it’s not what I was hoping for.
“You saw my ass.” Her voice is barely above a whisper and she’s biting her lip anxiously.
“I did,” I agree. “Would it help if I show you my ass?” Her eyes widen and then drop down to my butt as though trying to see through my jeans. “I mean, my ass is nowhere near as spectacular as yours, but if it’ll make you feel better about seeing me again, I’ll drop trou right here.”
Her laugh is light and genuine, and she looks almost surprised, as though the sound is foreign to her. Right then and there I decide I want to hear it again. And again. And possibly a-fucking-gain.
“That won’t be necessary.” The heat in her eyes tells me that’s not the answer shewantsto give me. “Okay, one drink can’t hurt, right?”
“One, five, let’s just see how the night plays out?”
She giggles, fuckinggiggles,and suddenly my dick is standing to attention as though he thinks that sound deserves a standing ovation. I shift uncomfortably, grateful for the clipboard in my hand.
“My number is on the form I gave to your nurse, message me and we can arrange something.”
Before I can come up with a witty reply, she’s walking out the door, kitten bundled in her arms, and an unmistakable sway to her hips.
“Pass the corn, Nugget.”
Tallulah eyes Grayson like he just asked her to kill a puppy and pulls the bowl of corn toward her chest.
“No.”
Gray looks at her plate which is remarkably free of any corn since she can’t stand it. “You don’t even like it,” he returns indignantly.
“Do to.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Do.”
“Don’t.”
“For Christ’s sake, Grayson,” my dad barks.
“Christ’s sake, Ryson.”
“Tallulah, no,” I warn. “Dad, seriously?”