Page 114 of Tempting Promises
“I needed you, but I didn’t want to hurt you. You said you needed us to stop.”
“Because I was falling for you.”
I nod. “I know.”
“So, now what?”
“How the hell would I know?” I ask with a smirk. “I’ve never done a relationship. Ever.”
Charlotte rolls her eyes. “This’ll be super fun.”
“I’m the gift that keeps on giving.”
“Is there a return policy?”
I kiss the top of her head. “Nope.”
“A warranty?”
“It’s expired, but I’m happy to call you every day to see if you’re interested in extending it.”
She slaps my chest. “Ass.”
I pull her tighter, loving how she fits perfectly. “Only for you, baby.”
“Lucky me.”
“I think so.”
Charlotte sighs, wrapping her arm around my chest. “We’re going to have to tell my sister.”
That will go over real well. “If you want to be more than some relationship in the dark, then yes.”
She doesn’t look at me, but I can feel the change in her. I don’t know what I’d do if it were my siblings. We’re incredibly close, and I would do anything for them. It’s part of why I fought against it being more than just sex. Not just because I really never wanted to love another person and lose that control, but also because I didn’t want to come between her and Aurora—regardless of my feelings about her.
“I’m going to lose her,” she says, her voice cracking. “She’ll never forgive me for this.”
I shift, forcing her to move so I can look in her eyes. “They always say that love is kind and it’s not selfish, but knowing you could lose your sister feels selfish to me.”
Charlotte shakes her head. “No. It’s not. What’s selfish is that she left two years ago and never came back. She didn’t come here today, bringing waffles and ice cream. She didn’t show up last year because she knew I was alone and needed a hug. She called me today and went off about . . .”
“About?” I prompt.
“It started as you but shifted into how I might lose the house.”
That’s not going to happen. I don’t know what I can do to ensure it doesn’t, but she’s not going anywhere.
“What did she say?” I ask.
Charlotte sits up, her long brown hair falling to one shoulder. “She started yelling that I let this happen. That this is where our mother was raised and it’s all we have left of her. I’m basically an asshole for letting this happen.”
That fucking bitch. “Doesn’t she realize that you’re trying to avoid letting that happen?”
“She didn’t really ask.”
“Your sister . . .” I hold back because I really can’t say what I think of Aurora. “I wish she could see the work you’ve done.”
She moves to me, giving me a sweet kiss. “Today isn’t about anyone else, but me, and since it’s my day, I don’t want to know or talk aboutanythingthat’ll make me sad.”
