Page 43 of Brazen
Because I wasn’t good enough? I held up my finger and smiled. “We’re engaged. And this is?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, yeah, Melissa Fine.”
Her eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn’t changed. I shook his girlfriend’s hand. I felt for her, but at least we hadn’t run into Patterson. He was way, way worse than Windell ever would be.
Patterson had dumped me at a fancy wedding then taken off because I wasn’t worth his time anymore, leaving me to pay for the hotel room. Charlie wasn’t like either of my exes.
“Well, we have to go,” Charlie said.
We waved and headed off. Once we were out of earshot, he asked, “Who's Ryan Windell?”
No need to ever be jealous. I sighed. “An ex who once said I was needy at my grandfather’s funeral.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “Wait. Where?”
I shrugged. “He was… a jerk and probably still is. Anyhow, let’s head in.”
The doorman saw us, and we headed to the elevator. As we entered, Charlie asked, “Do you want to talk about your grandfather?”
Oh no. Talking about myself ended things faster than anything. I met his gaze. “What?”
We stopped on our floor, and we walked out together. “I mean, grieving is something that should be normal for everyone.”
So he was proving he was better than my ex, which was easy, since everyone would be.
Fuller opened the door for us as I said to Charlie, “I’m good. He probably wouldn't have liked you.”
Fuller fixed our shoes and scurried off.
Charlie asked, “Why not?”
I plopped on the couch. “'Big ideas are usually full of hot air that no one should be excited about…' His words, not mine.”
Charlie sat next to me. “What did he do?”
I tensed and knew he’d not understand me. We were completely different, but I guess it didn’t matter. “He was a loan officer at a bank.”
His shoulder brushed against mine. “Well, I can see where that could jade someone, but I promise I’m charming.”
I laughed. He was right. I was getting too worked up about liking Charlie too much. “You are that.”
He took my hand. “And we’re home now.”
“And alone,” I whispered. In bed, we made sense.
He patted my thigh. “When I was thirteen, I took Clarissa for a hot air balloon ride.”
My mind raced. “Clarissa? I think I met someone in your family with that name.”
He took my hand. “Elon’s wife. She’s the daughter of my father’s driver and Maman’s maid.”
My lips quirked higher. “Oh. So you took your brother’s girlfriend for a ride.”
His face turned red, and he cringed. “Oh, don’t say it like that. She’s more like a sister, and I knew she needed a laugh. I didn’t know what was happening at the time, but her parents had locked her away.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no.”
He nodded. “So then I took us up when the fair owners were having their lunch…”
