Page 55 of Brazen
Chapter Thirty-Four
Charlie
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Her friends talked and laughed for the entire trip. Hope seemed more relaxed, so I breathed easier. Still, I needed to get her alone. However, as we piled into the limo, I realized we would have no quiet moments just yet. I wished I’d told her earlier.
Britney asked, “Will Kir be at the wedding?”
Avril turned bright red.
I nodded. “He’s already in Hawaii. He flew out last night.”
Britney said, “I thought since y’all were working together?—”
Avril interrupted, “Britney, stop. Kir was just a dance. Stop forcing things.”
Interesting. Avril being shy meant she took things with Kir seriously. She normally would have joked back with a guy, if she didn’t care. I kept my lips sealed for most of the trip while the women discussed how friends helped and didn’t help when it came to romance. I met Hope’s gaze a few times when we were used as examples of Britney’s good meddling.
Hope held my hand, and I took it as a sign that she would feel the same way.
As we made it to the hotel where my family was staying and the wedding was to take place, I waited near the limo. Once her friends passed us, I told Hope, “Let’s take a walk.”
Her eyes were wide as she pointed. “Don’t you want to check in first?”
I needed to tell her now. I kissed her knuckles. “I want to talk to you.”
She blinked and had no idea that her nearness alone calmed me. “We can do that in our room.”
She wasn’t ready for the beach, and I’d change the plans. Our own room, now that she was calm and relaxed, was also fine. I held her hand and nodded. “Okay.” Then I walked her fast. “Hold on.”
In the lobby, I tapped Fuller's shoulder. “Which key is mine?”
Without even looking at me, he held it out. “Here, sir.”
“Perfect.” We'd hardly lost two steps. I kept her close. “Let’s go.”
As we made it near the elevator banks, Kir stepped out, blocking the path. “I wanted to quickly talk to you both.”
I bounced. “About?”
Kir met my gaze and looked like I was strange. “Work. Hawaii is well serviced on the East Coast, but there are many airports not coming here. The hotel two doors down would partner with us.”
He needed a girlfriend so he would stop getting in the way. I nodded. “That sounds like an interesting research topic for next week.”
“Right, well, I need your expertise about planes, so be focused on that, Charlie.”
Planes, distancing, how staff might handle flight conditions—I would enjoy that but not now.
Hope said, “I’ll run profit margin reports for you.”
No. This isn’t the time to talk business. Hope had been so miserable last night, but she was different and seemed ready to listen if I got my shot.
Kir nodded. “Thanks, Hope. Talk to you both soon.”
Good. He was out of the way. We made it to the elevator, and I ran my card. We crammed into the elevator with fifteen other people, then once the last person got out, we'd made it to the top floor.
I said, “Walk faster.”
