Page 105 of Charlie and Her Sweet Escape
I looked at them all, gratitude welling in my soul that I was blessed with three siblings who accepted me—loved me—flaws and all. But someone integral was missing in my circle, and I didn’t want her outside of it for even a second longer. I let go of Rosie and reached back for Charlie. She stood behind us, a longing expression on her face.
Her eyebrows went up in surprise as I tugged her into our sibling huddle. Rosie’s arm went readily around her back, as did mine. “You’re a Forrester now,” I said firmly. “You belong in here.”
“Yep,” Jules said.
“One hundred percent,” Haydn replied.
“Yay!” Rosie squealed, hugging my wife even tighter to her side.
I looked from person to person, the weight dropping off my shoulders with each supportive smile, shoulder squeeze, and side hug. “I love you, guys. But…”
Charlie jumped in to save me. “We’re ready to have the kiss you interrupted.”
They laughed and gave us all a hug—involving a lot of suggestive eyebrow raises and elbow nudges—before going back inside the restaurant, finally leaving me and Charlie alone.
49
CHARLIE
I am Charlie Savage Forrester. I am loved. I am wanted. I belong. I’ll never forget that again.
—from the journal of Charlie Forrester
“Where were we?” Bennett backed me up against the wall again, bracketing me in with his arms. Exactly where I wanted to be forever.
“Thank you.” I moved a strand of hair that had gotten tangled in his eyelashes, marveling that I could touch him so casually like this. And by the heat that flared in his eyes, I not onlycoulddo it; Bennettwantedme to do it.
“For what?” He lowered his mouth and dropped a breath-stealing kiss to my jaw.
“For including me, just now.”
“Charlie.” His voice was low and rumbly as he continued to kiss down my neck. “I never want to be in any circle that doesn’t include you.”
I gripped the wall behind me to keep my knees from buckling, and I let out small gasps. “Same. But that’s the Forrester sibling circle. A tight group.”
To my disappointment, he pulled away from my neck to look at me. “It’s exactly where you belong.” He hesitated a moment. “If you want to be.”
“Yes, I do.” Why would he even ask that?
“I love you more than I could ever imagine loving someone.” The expression on his face was sad, almost regretful. “But now that we’re home … I’m just …”
It wasn’t like Bennett to stumble over his words, and my heart raced with fear.
“I’d understand if you …”
“If I what, Bennett? You’re scaring me.”
“If you didn’t want this anymore. Us.” He motioned at himself. “Me.”
He went to step back, but I latched onto this shirt and pulled him forward, into me. He wasn’t going anywhere. “Why would you even say that?”
“You can do so much better than me.”
“Nope.”
“Yes,” he said emphatically. “Someone who’s as smart as you. And not so old. With much less baggage.”
“I’ve had not-you, Bennett. And it was so horrible, I didn’t even realize how horrible it was until it was nearly too late. You’re intelligent. And kind. And generous. And lucky for you, I’ve always liked this particular older man.” I let my hands run down his chest and stomach, feeling the muscles grow taut beneath my touch, not taking my eyes from his. He needed toknow exactly how serious I was about this. “I don’t want torso privileges with anyone else.”
