Page 78 of Take It Offline

Her laughter is a balm.

CHAPTER 26

WINNER, WINNER, TAKE ME TO DINNER

EMMA

Ican barely contain myself. The rush of convincing the Engineering VP—Me; I did that—has me near euphoria. Below the worn and sticky vinyl-topped table we’re sitting at, I can’t stop tapping my foot.

It’s like I’ve had too much caffeine, or I’ve just taken the first sip of a perfectly light champagne. It’s the rocket jump of my heart when Charlie touches me.

“God, when he called the standard useless, I almost lost it.” We’ve been at Roger’s (I don’t care what Charlie says, these burgers are amazing) for the past hour, and I’ve been rehashing the meeting since we arrived.

Charlie settles back in the booth, his smile easy and warm. As though he’s enjoying my work rant. It’s so unlike the glazed-over look Logan used to get. It makes me a little giddy.

“You don’t need me at all, do you?”

“Of course I do. I couldn’t do this without you.”Please don’t go. I like having you here. I didn’t know how lonely I’ve been until now.

“We both know that’s a lie, but I’m happy to help.”

It’s a far cry from where we started. Now, the idea of not doing it together, not seeing him every day, turns my stomach over.

“You do help. More than you know.” With an elbow on the table, I angle closer. “What would you be doing if you weren’t here?”

“Still fixing cars. The older the better, especially if it’s a restoration. There’s nothing like getting your hands on a classic. Bringing it back to life.”

It’s impossible not to zero in on those hands as he speaks. Capable. Clever. Strong. Just like him.

I clear my throat, cool it down with a long sip of water. “Yours certainly left an impression at the party. My dad hasn’t stopped asking me about it. I haven’t seen him this excited since he discovered HGTV.”

“He’d love the antique place I go to. Next time he’s up this way, tell him to give me a shout. I can help him fill some of those blank spaces in the house.”

If only he could. My father would be a kid in a candy shop, and Charlie seems genuinely interested, which twists the knife a little deeper. Because there’s no way to say no without explaining why or rejecting him, and I can’t bring myself to hurt him. Not anymore.

“One trip to that store, and he’d come home with replacements for all the things we just got rid of.”

Charlie might play around most of the time, but he’s incredibly smart, and I see the way his eyes go sharp at the wordwe.

“Bit of a sore subject, I take it?”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“Does it have anything to do with why you live one step up from Fagin’s lodgings and take the bus everywhere?”

See? Smart.

I trace a watermark on the table, averting my gaze. “Yes.”

He hums. “Thought so. I picked up on the tension at the party.”

“Let’s just say my parents like change about as much as Baxter does.”

“And look how well you handled that. Have you talked to them?”

“Oh, I’ve talked to them.” I’ve lost my breath trying to get them to understand. “But they won’t listen to me. All I want is to stop worrying. If they just moved to a smaller place, stopped with the lavish parties, lived more modestly…”

I trail off. Who am I to complain about anything after having the world at my feet?

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