Page 48 of Air Of Mystery
“I was,” he said. “No one to blame but yourself that you ended up with a sandwich.”
I patted his thigh under the table. “Don’t worry Charlie, you already impressed the hell outta me tonight—with your skills in the bedroom.”
That comment made him laugh. “You’re something. You know that?”
Deliberately I tossed my hair. “So I’ve been told.”
“Do you have plans this weekend?”
“The family is doing a barbeque Saturday...” I hesitated and checked the clock on the wall. “Make that today, before my parents head home Sunday morning.”
“In Alton, at the house on the hill?”
“Yeah, it’s big enough to hold all of us, and we’ve got the back patio area too, so long as the weather holds. You’re welcome to join us if you wish.”
He shook his head. “I work Saturday night and Sunday morning—there’s three weddings here this weekend and one ofthe weddings on Saturday is large—but Sunday evening and all-day Monday I’m free.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Let’s plan for Sunday evening and keep it simple. You come over to my place; I’ll cook for you. Do you have any food allergies?”
He smiled. “No.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll conjure us up something for dinner, and we’ll have the evening to ourselves.”
“Will your sisters be comfortable with me being there overnight?”
“I have my own private apartments on the third floor—in the attic,” I told him. “And yes, it’s fine.” Reaching for another chip, I did my best to sound casual. “You can stay the night if you want.”
“We could go out for breakfast on Monday,” he suggested.
“We could.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said, sliding his hand over one of mine.
I flipped my hand over so our fingers could entwine. “Sounds like a great plan.”
I stayed with Charlie for the rest of the night. After our midnight supper we cuddled on his couch to watch a movie, and before long the T-shirt I wore was gone and his shorts were tossed to the floor.
We didn’t make it to the bedroom that time.
When dawn rolled around, we were woken by Charlie’s cell phone ringing. It was Ryder calling to share the news of the baby’s arrival.
He and Angela had a girl. The baby weighed eight pounds and was twenty inches long. They were naming her Rosalind, and both mother and baby were doing well. After the phone callended, Charlie and I snuggled back up together and snoozed for a while longer.
Eventually I had to go, and as he walked me down the stairs to my car, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so relaxed and contented.
He took the keys and opened my car door for me. “Text me when you get back in Alton.”
“Sure,” I said, going up on my toes to kiss him goodbye.
He lingered over the kiss, and I sighed happily over it...and him.
***
The family barbeque was a blast, and on Sunday morning, I drove my folks to the airport. It was almost a two hour round trip—including me stopping to get the fixings for dinner and a quick zip into theHearth Witch Bakeryfor dessert. By the time I arrived home, I had the place to myself. Brynn was over at Austin’s, and Kenna was still at her bakery. I hustled up the stairs to the attic, put away my groceries, and gave my apartment a good cleaning.
Charlie called me around four and told me he would be leaving Ames Crossing soon. Gauging the amount of time it would take him to arrive, I checked the dinner I had in the oven. The food was done, so I switched off the oven and covered it with foil. Leaving it in the oven to stay warm, I went to change my clothes before heading downstairs to wait for him.
I settled on the sofa and kept my eyes on the front windows so that when he pulled up I would see him. Once I spotted his jeep, I rose to my feet and double-checked my appearance in the mirror over the fireplace.
