Page 13 of My Sweetart Holidate

And Kash was simply playing a part.

12

Kash

It takes all my restraint not to chase after Charlotte as I watch her hurry to the elevator. I want to explain everything, but I also want to respect the space she’s asked for. She’s rightfully upset and hurt. And hell, why shouldn’t she be? Nothing Maggie said was a lie. I had to be begged —at first.

I’ll give her space. But hell if I’m letting her leave this hotel without saying goodbye.

When I return to the dining room, I find Maggie at the bar nursing a mimosa. Bachelor number seven, along with the nosy reporter, are nowhere to be seen. Several couples sit at intimate tables, some feeding each other breakfast. All of them of in a lovey haze and fucking oblivious to my world breaking apart.

“Maggs?”

“I’m sorry, Kash.” She’s on the verge of tears. Dammit all. I draw her into my arms and squeeze her tight. I give her the time she needs, silently cringing when she sniffles against my shirt. “I’m okay,” she finally says, pulling away. “I’m just overwhelmed.”

“Where’s bachelor number seven?” The question is laced with ice. Idarethe man to get within ten feet of Charlotte again. I don’t care what some statistics have spit out of whatever computer system Maggie uses to create her matches. He is not the one for Charlotte.Iam.

“He’s checking into his room.” She lets out a heavy sigh, reaching for her mimosa. “He’s upset that I gave his perfect match away to my brother. So, I have to some damage control to do there.”

“Then why is he staying?”

Maggie shrugs. “Guess I’ll find out.”

“What about your reporter?”

“I think it’s safe to say she sprinted to her room to edit the article. Can’t blame her for eating up the scandal, can I?” Maggie lets out a pitiful laugh. “Maybe it was stupid to think I could revive my matchmaking career. I mean, I didn’t see the implosion of my own marriage coming. What makes me think I can help others find their soulmates?”

“Are you kidding, Maggs? Look around this room. The only couples who aren’t hand feeding each other strawberries and sneaking cans of whipped cream in their purses are in their rooms, too lost in each other to care about breakfast. There’s so much love and happiness in the air it’s making me fucking sick to my stomach.” I feel the slightest bit of relief when she cracks a smile. “Youbrought them together. You did this.”

“Yeah?”

“And I know it was a fluke, but you brought Charlotte and me together too. Not all matches can be made on some computer program. Some are just…”

“Instinctual?” she offers.

“Yeah.”

“You love her, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” The admission slips out so easily, without a second of hesitation. “I didn’t think I’d ever let anyone in again after—”

“She-who-shall-not-be-named,” Maggie says.

“I thought my heart was turned to stone. Permanently.” I shrug, remembering how much I’d just wanted to go home on that first night, after I’d brought the second round of cookies. “And I was okay with that. But now, I can’t imagine going a day without seeing Charlotte’s smiling face. I don’t know what magic you worked, but you did. And now I might lose her.”

“Then you have to tell her, Kash. You have to tell her how you feel.”

“You both talking about bachelorette number seven?” Dustin asks, inviting himself into the conversation. It takes considerable restraint to keep my hands at my sides. I never considered myself a jealous man, but I’m sure as hell a territorial one. “She just checked out.”

“What?” Maggie and I say at the same time.

“She’s leaving,” Dustin clarifies.

“Go!” Maggie shoves at me until I nearly trip over my own feet. “Run!”

13

Charlotte

---