Page 41 of Bump and Run
“Hate to break it to you, Ollie, but I don’t need help with those things. I mean, flowers or whatever. Maybe something nice for dinner. I always make frozen pizzas. You know what Jonesy likes to eat. I can get takeout from his favorite place.” I clapped him on the back when relief flooded his face.
“We can do that,” Travis answered, and Ollie nodded in agreement.
I let out a big sigh of relief. “Great, then let’s go. I want to get this all done before Jones gets home.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jones
I pulled Charlie’s Jeep into the driveway of his house. Excitement had been growing inside of me since I left Charlotte. Almost to the point where it felt like I might explode. I couldn’t believe it. I had signed a contract to start racing in the Xfinity series next year. I was going to need to move closer to Charlotte, which meant apartment hunting. Everything was happening just the way I wanted it to, and it was all because of my boyfriend.
What if I hadn’t been out on the beach that night? If Charlie hadn’t been there, none of this would even be possible. I suppose I had Mama to thank, too. If she wasn’t marrying his daddy, then he would still be up in Boston, and our paths wouldn’t have crossed.
I glanced up to find Charlie leaning in the doorway of the house just watching me, his arms folded over his broad chest. The moment our eyes met, he started toward me, and I swore I couldn’t take my seatbelt off fast enough. I yanked open the door of the Jeep to jump into his arms, laughing as he rained kisses on my mouth.
“Thank you.” I murmured.
“For?”
Charlie didn’t stop kissing me as he started to walk back toward the house, my legs wrapped around his waist as hecarried me with him. His hands gripped my backside tightly, and my length plumped up inside my dress slacks.
I clung to his shoulders. “Making my dreams come true.” I gasped when I saw the rose petals inside the foyer that led up the stairs. “What... Charlie, what is all this?”
I wiggled in his arms so he would put me down. I reached for his hand the moment my feet hit the floor and laced our fingers together.
“It’s for you, Jonesy. All of it.” Charlie squeezed my fingers.
I stared at him, and my heart pounded loud and fast against my chest as I looked up at him under my lashes. “Why?”
“Because I wanted to show you how much you mean to me. How proud I am of you.”
We moved into the living room, down the hall, and to the kitchen, which was loaded with more rose petals as well as dozens of red, pink, and silver balloons.
My throat grew tight. “You didn’t... Charlie... You didn’t have to go through all this trouble just for me.” I wasn’t sure what to say. It was so overwhelming. Sweet, caring, and I never expected it.
“Are you saying I can just pop these balloons? Release them out into the world for everyone to see?” Charlie winked at me and let go of my hand. “I mean, if you don’t want them, I’ll just—”
“I want them!” I exclaimed, then let out a laugh. “Please, I want them, this, all of it, and you. No one has ever done anything like this for me before. It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s also”—I turned to look up at him—”veryromantic.”
Charlie released my hand so he could cup my head gently. “I wanted to make you feel special because you are. You deserve romance, amazing things, and someone who cares about you. Someone who shows you all the wonders of the world, sweeps you off your feet, and tells the world you’re his.”
“Is that you, Charlie?” I stared into his deep dark eyes, wishing the answer would be yes.
He nodded. “Yeah, Jonesy, it is.”
His lips curved up into a smile, then he grabbed my hips, swung me around, and lifted me up onto the counter. Charlie pushed my thighs apart so he could step between them. “I got your favorite takeout for dinner and your favorite dessert.”
“How do you know those things? Are you a mind reader now?”
“I might have had some help from your friends.”
I smiled happily. “Did you talk to Ollie and Travis?”
I reached up to drag my hands through his dark hair, dragging the tip of my finger over the perfect mole on his face.
“I might have spent a little time with them today. They’re good guys. They care about you.” Charlie chuckled softly and then leaned forward to slide his lips against mine. “They were very helpful.”
I tugged on the front of his shirt to pull him closer. “Thank you, Charlie, for all of this. I know that I said that before, but I needed to say it again. Every moment I’ve spent with you has been everything I’ve ever dreamed about it.”
