Page 190 of Charlie

"Charlotte came first," Jack says, ratting me out. "I was second. So I think that means you and Cam tied for first."

"Can’t wait for that dinner," Cam murmurs, holding his hand out to me and helping me off the bed. "Family shower, and then we're all going to get the best sleep of our lives."

Family. I like the sound of that.

103

Iwake up to the smell of bacon tickling my nose, dust motes dancing in the sunlight streaming through the windows. My cheek is warm pillowed against Cam's dark curls, Lach's arm draped over us both. I can hear Jack pouring coffee in the kitchen, humming under his breath. I wish I could stay here like this forever. Jack comes into the room holding two steaming cups of coffee, his hair pulled into a messy knot, his smile making my stomach flutter.

"Would you like to join me for coffee, Sassenach?"

I nod, carefully disentangling myself and sliding off the bed. I pull on underwear and a tank top before padding out to meet him. I stop in the doorway, overwhelmed by the beauty. The lake is glass under the fingers of mist dissipating into the brightness of the morning. Sunlight bathes Jack in an ethereal glow, limning his profile with gold as he turns toward me. I swallow hard, my breath catching as his whisky eyes rake over me.

I take one step forward, then another, wrapping my hands around the mug he hands me, leaning into his touch as he cradles my face in his palm.

"What kind of creature are you?" he whispers, studying me. "A siren born of misty mornings, luring unsuspecting men to their fate?" His thumb tugs at my bottom lip. "A selkie that shed her auburn coat among the crashing waves, venturing to land to find her lover?"

"Or a Charlotte that was discarded by her old life, grew a pair, and went on an adventure, finding more than she ever thought possible."

"They’re all fools not to see how fucking amazing you are," he says, tilting my chin so I'm looking him in the eyes.

"I know," I murmur, and for once, I mean it. I smile, pushing to my tiptoes and pressing my lips to his. We pull two chairs together and sit facing the water, sipping our coffee.

I hear Lach and Cam stirring after several minutes, both coming out laden with plates of food.

"You did all this?" I ask Jack, my mouth watering at the spread on the plate Lach hands me. Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, cinnamon rolls, and a glass of orange juice to wash everything down.

"Jet lag," he shrugs, "I'll probably get used to it the day we leave."

"So, what are you cooking us tonight, Carebear?" Lach asks, shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"Tonight?" My voice breaks, the word coming out more like a squeak.

"Unless you have other plans?" He knows exactly what he's doing with his lopsided grin, boyish freckles popping in the sun, eyes twinkling.

"Fine. But I’m dessert."

"Fucking deal."

"I can be your sous chef," Cam says, licking frosting from his fingers, his wink making my heart melt into a puddle of goo.

"Once you know what you want to make, give me a list, and I'll make a grocery store run," Jack says, reaching out for my empty plate.

None of us can bear to go back inside after breakfast. Lach is hunched over his laptop, his hair spiky from running his hands through it so many times. The echo of Jack chopping wood reverberates off the trees around us, and I'm almost tempted to find him except for the warmth of Cam's torso on my back as we scroll recipes on Pinterest together.

"What do you like to cook?" he asks after a few minutes, his lips against my ear.

"I don't like to cook anything," I say honestly.

"Okay... what can you cook?"

"Everything."

"You're a cocky little witch, aren't you?" he chuckles, catching the shell of my ear in his teeth.

"Not cocky. Just good at following directions."

"That's a dangerous bit of information." He slides his hand down my arm, taking my phone from my hands and setting it down on the deck.

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