Page 43 of The Playboy's Most Unexpected Baby

“Persuade you.”

“You think you can really just talk me into anything you want, don’t you?”

“I talked you into marrying me, Olivia. I don’t think talking you into dinner would be that hard. Besides, it worked, didn’t it? You can’t really argue with results.”

She groaned. “You are impossible sometimes, do you realize that?”

“It’s been said.” He flashed her his most charming grin, and Olivia couldn’t help melting a little, just as she always did when he acted like this. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out there.”

They boarded the boat. Charlie was busy for a while, starting the engine and unmooring from the dock, pulling out of the harbor and into the water. Olivia sat in the bow and looked out over the water. The sun was just beginning to set.

This is so romantic.

She tried to stifle the thought. He hadn’t brought her out here for romance. That wasn’t the point of the excursion, and she was only setting herself up for disappointment by viewing it through that lens.

But the sunset, the smell of the salty air, the sight of Charlie at the helm of the yacht, squinting against the sun, his biceps exposed… it was all more than Olivia could take, and she began to wonder whether coming out here with him might not have been a terrible mistake.

After about half an hour on the water, he dropped the anchor. “Come on downstairs,” he said. “That’s where we’ll eat.”

She followed him down to the lower deck. A table had been laid with a white cloth, and there were plates covered with silver lids. Charlie lit a pair of candles.

Olivia felt her breath catch. How couldanyonenot be transported by the romance of this moment?

He gestured to her to take her seat. “I wanted to do this to thank you,” he said. “All the work that’s gone into the house — not least the marriage itself — it all means a great deal to me, Olivia. I know the sacrifices you’ve made for this, and I’m very grateful.”

“I’m grateful to you too,” she told him. “This was a wonderful opportunity for me. I’m glad I had the chance to be a part of it.”

She was startled, suddenly, by the sound of an explosion. She whirled around in time to see bright color raining down from the sky.

“Fireworks,” she said unnecessarily. “Did you do that too?”

“No, that wasn’t me.” Charlie’s voice was filled with something like wonder. “That’s awesome.”

There was a momentary pause. Then Olivia felt Charlie’s warmth behind her, his arms encircling her waist.

And for once, she didn’t resist.

She allowed herself to be drawn back against him. She let her head rest against his shoulder. Another firework exploded, high above them, and she leaned into him to take it in.

“This is beautiful,” she murmured.

“I’m glad we were able to be out here together,” Charlie agreed. “I’m glad we have this time together.”

She heard the part he didn’t say.Now that our time is almost over.

It was a shadow that hung over every day they spent together — but right now, the feeling of his embrace and the shine of the fireworks seemed to chase that shadow away. Right now the only thing that mattered to Olivia was this moment, and Charlie’s arms.

As if she had planned it — though in fact she was acting entirely on impulse — she turned to face him. His hands remained locked behind her lower back. She gazed up into his eyes, seeing the reflection of the fireworks there.

“Charlie,” she murmured.

He looked down at her, searching.

I’m not going to pull away this time. Whatever happened, whatever tomorrow might bring, she was going to allow herself to have tonight. She would take advantage of it, and she would enjoy every moment.

Finally, at long last, she stood on her toes and closed the distance between them.

The feel of his lips on hers was like something out of a dream. She had been thinking about it, and trying to restrain herself from thinking about it, for so long that it should never have been able to live up to the idea in her mind.

---