by Nikki Paris
“She cheated while I was working the oil rigs in Alaska to keep a roof over her head. We tried to fix it, but there was nothing there to fix in the first place.”
“That sucks.”
He smirked at me. “Sucks balls.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Sucks freaking balls, Burke.”
“Daddy?” Tess’s hoarse little voice called out from her bedroom.
Burke jumped up and immediately answered her call. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? What do you need?”
Good god, his sweet tenderness with his daughter was sexy.
“My throat hurts,” Tess whined.
Poor kid. I grabbed a glass from the kitchen and filled it with water. Maybe it wasn’t my place, but when someone was in pain, I stepped up. For the last six months of my dad’s life, I assigned myself to pain medication duty. I couldn’t stand to see him suffering.
I carried the glass down the hall to where Burke held Tess in her doorway. “Here, Tess. Drink some water, honey.” I handed her the glass and stepped across the hall to retrieve the children’s Motrin. I filled a syringe with the proper dosage and gave it to Burke. He watched me with a strange look in his eye. I was overstepping. I should go.
“I should head out. I’ll see you around, Burke. Bye, Tess. Feel better.” I started to leave, but Burke caught my arm.
“Hold on a sec.”
I just nodded, my arm tingling where he touched me. Instead of leaving, I waited on his couch until he got Tess settled back in bed. When Burke returned to the living room, he still had that strange look in his eyes. It made me squirm. “Hey, I’m sorry if I was overstepping. I—"
“You’re amazing, Charlie Cox.”
My breath caught in my chest. “I’m not.” I shook my head. “I just don’t like seeing people in pain.”
“No, you are. Take the compliment and don’t argue with me.” Burke leaned against the wall. “Thank you for taking care of my little girl tonight.”
“Of course.” My voice sounded weird—all whispery. “Um, but I should head out now.”
“Sure. I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah. I mean, I sneak into the bar all the time, so I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”
I grabbed my backpack, stuffing my headphones into it, and headed for the front door. Burke walked with me, and we stood awkwardly gazing at each other. “Are we going for the handshake, the hug, or the kiss?” I blurted out and then clapped my hand over my mouth. What the hell kind of awkwardness was that?
Burke laughed out loud and ran his hand through his beard. “Damn, you’re funny. I’ll take a hug if you’re offering, cutie.”
I stood on my tiptoes and flung my arms around his neck before he could see how red my cheeks were most definitely turning. When his arms slid around my waist, I almost let out an involuntary whimper. Shit. Shit. Shit. He was so fucking strong and chiseled. I broke the embrace immediately after it began and mumbled, “Bye!” before practically running out the door.
My heart raced out of control as I rushed to my car, and I didn’t even notice Burke’s jacket still sitting in my passenger seat until I got home. Damn it! I meant to give that back to him. I picked it up and glanced around the dark neighborhood street before pressing it against my nose and inhaling. Good god, it smelled incredible, and I was being creepy. I flung it back onto the seat and pulled out my phone.
Hey, I typed. I have your jacket in my car. I meant to give it back to you, but I completely forgot. I’ll bring it to the bar on Monday! I pressed send before I could talk myself out of it, then promptly realized that Burke wouldn’t recognize my number. I had his, in case Tess needed something. He didn’t have mine. I face-palmed and then rested my head against my steering wheel.
My phone buzzed, and my head shot up to read the text. I’m guessing this is Charlie? If so, I have your notebook. You left it on my kitchen counter. Let’s trade hostages on Monday.
I grinned and bit my lip. Sounds good. We probably don’t have to involve the authorities. Then my stomach sank. I left my notebook in his apartment, the notebook full of my random thoughts and scribblings as I processed a world without my father. Some of it was dark. Um, don’t open the notebook. It’s private.
I accept your demands. Feel free to wear my jacket if you’re cold.
My body flooded with heat. I glanced around again, then grabbed Burke’s jacket and tucked it under my arm. I wanted to sleep with it and smell him all night.
Shit. I was psychotic.
I called Matteo as I walked up my driveway. He answered on the first ring because he always had my back. “Charlotte, my love! What are you doing?”
“Having a psychotic break.”
Matteo laughed. “Oh, sorry. Was that a joke? Sometimes I can’t tell with you.”
I shrugged and pulled open my front door. “It was half-serious.” The lights were all off, meaning my mom, Bea, and Sophia were already asleep. I lowered my voice. “I’m crushing hard on someone that’s almost twice my age.”
Now Matteo laughed for real. “Oh, honey. Who the hell cares?”
“He works for my brother.”
“Again, who cares?”
“He would probably never see me as a datable woman.”
“Then make him see you that way.”
I sighed and headed up the stairs to my room, gently closing the door behind me. “I love you, Mattie.”
“I know. Did you pick your Halloween costume yet?”
Ugh. I’d forgotten about his party. “No. Do you have any ideas for me?”
“Only like a thousand! I’ll bring you something fabulous.”
“Thanks. Have you talked to Jonah since inviting him to the party?”
Matteo groaned. “No! He RSVP’d yes, but then hasn’t said a word to me!”
I sank onto my bed, with Burke’s jacket still tucked under my arm. “Aw, Mattie, I think he’s a little shy. Don’t give up on him.”
“You think? I’m so not shy, so I don’t understand that personality type, and it stresses me out!”
“I know, boo. At least give Jonah a chance to come out of his shell a little on Halloween.”
Matteo sighed. “You’re right. Okay, I have to go. Love you!”
“Love you!” I ended the call and curled up on my bed, pressing Burke’s jacket back against my nose. Shit. I could get drunk off this smell. I was in trouble.
5
Burke
I didn’t open Charlie’s notebook, even though it taunted me on my kitchen counter all weekend. I had a feeling that girl’s mind was full of hidden gems, and I wanted a peek, but I also wanted to keep her trust. So, instead of opening it, I kept myself busy taking care of Tess and making sure she got better.
Tess’s fever went away Saturday evening, and then I was left with a cranky little six-year-old that didn’t want to rest or eat anything I cooked for her. “Daddy, you make disgusting food.” She snapped at me and folded her little arms, sticking her chin out in a pout.
I smiled and kissed her forehead, so grateful that it was cool under my lips. “That’s not very nice, Tess.”
“Well, it’s not very nice when you make me eat crunchy mac and cheese!”
I fought to hold in my laugh. “Hey, it’s not crunchy! I cooked the noodles exactly as long as the package said. I think…”
Tess rolled her eyes at me. “Yeah. Ya think. Did you set a timer?”
“I don’t need a timer, smarty pants.”
“Yes, you do.” Tess glared at me and pushed her bowl away.
I shook my head, unable to keep my laugh in check, and took a bite of the mac and cheese from the pan. Shit. It was crunchy. I glanced over at my daughter, who had both eyebrows raised at me. “Fine. You don’t have to eat it. I think there’s more of the soup Charlie made in the fridge. Do you want that instead?”
“Yes, please. She’s a much better cook than you. You should take cooking lessons from her or something.”
I laughed again as I heate
d the soup in the microwave. “Did you like Charlie, sweetheart?”
Tess nodded. “She was really nice.”
“Good.” Charlie was sweet, wasn’t she? Sweet and funny and sexy.
Shit. And nineteen.
After Tess finished her soup, I gave her a bath and then read her favorite Sleeping Beauty book three times. When she was finally asleep, I wandered back out to the kitchen. Charlie’s notebook sat on the counter, staring up at me. It was just me and a book full of an intriguing girl’s innermost thoughts.
I let out a deep breath and ran my hands through my beard. Don’t do it. I picked up my phone instead and reread the text messages I’d exchanged with Charlie the night before. I thought I’d scared her off with the hug, but then she texted. Maybe I didn’t scare her. I wanted to talk to her again. I posed Charlie’s notebook with the newspaper and sent her a photo. Proof of life. 10/26
She replied with a photo of my jacket next to a newspaper. Don’t ask for a phone call, or you risk never seeing it again.
Then she sent another. Also, why the hell do you still get a physical newspaper? There are apps for that, Burke. I had to dig around in my mom’s stack of papers to find this one.
I laughed out loud at her message and then spent way too long trying to figure out where my jacket was in the photo. It sure as hell wasn’t in the front seat of her car. Was it in her bed? My cock stiffened when I pictured Charlie all wrapped up in my jacket in bed. You are an asshole, Burke. She’s nineteen.
But I couldn’t help being attracted to her. Charlie was something special.
◆◆◆
Monday afternoon, I brought Charlie’s notebook to the bar. I could have handed it to her brother, but I wanted an excuse to talk to her. I wanted to see her smile and her stunning blue eyes. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them.
When she walked into the bar at 2:09 pm, the world stopped. Damn, she was beautiful. Charlie hugged her brother, who stood talking to Mason near the front door, then made her way to me. She had my jacket folded in her arms, and her smile made my heart race.
“Hey.” Charlie smiled at me. “How’s Tess?”
“Much better. Her fever was gone by Saturday night. I hope you didn’t catch anything from her.”
“I’ll be fine. I have an incredible immune system.”
“Good.” I rubbed my beard and gazed into her gorgeous eyes. “I see you have my jacket.”
Charlie nodded and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t see the notebook. Is this situation turning hostile?”
I smirked at her and pulled the notebook out from under the bar. “Right here, cutie.”
“Okay, I’ll put the jacket on the bar and back away. You put the notebook next to it, and we’ll make the exchange on the count of three.”
“I accept those terms.”
Charlie placed my jacket on the bar and took three steps backward, eyes never leaving mine. I set her notebook beside it and said, “On the count of three. One…”
“Two…”
“Three.”
We each grabbed our belongings, and then Charlie’s smile lit up her face. “Thanks. You didn’t open it, right?”
“Of course not. You can trust me.”
Her smile grew. “I know.”
“How do you know that, cutie?”
“You can tell from the eyes.”
I laughed out loud. “You can tell from my eyes?”
“Yeah. The eyes are the window to the soul, Burke.” Charlie laughed and shook her head, causing her pretty light brown hair to ripple around her shoulders. I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through it.
I pointed to the notebook she had clutched to her chest. “So what’s in there that you don’t want me to read? Is it like a diary or something?”
Charlie blinked at me like I was stupid. “I would never do something so pedestrian.” She slid the notebook into her backpack and ran her hands through her hair, just like I wanted to do.
I grinned at her. “Of course you wouldn’t, cutie.”
“It’s full of life observations, and yes, that’s different than a diary.” Charlie’s phone rang, and she pulled it from her back pocket. “Sorry.” She smiled and then turned away from me, leaning her back against the bar to answer her call. That did nothing to help my situation. Now her pretty hair was splayed across the shiny black marble in front of me, creating an even more tempting display.
“Hey, Mattie-boy!” Charlie laughed and then gasped. “He did? Shut up! I told you, you little spaz! He likes you.” She turned back around to face me, eyes cast downward. I took that moment to study every curve and angle of her face. When her eyes flashed back up to meet mine, I looked away and busied myself with wiping down the glasses that were fresh out of the dishwasher. “Okay. I’ll come and pick you up from work, boo. See you in twenty. Love you.”
Charlie ended the call and slid her phone back into her pocket. “All right, I’m heading out. My best friend needs help shopping for his Halloween party. Thanks for the notebook!”
“Of course, cutie. Have a good one.” I hoped her male best friend was gay. It sounded like he was gay.
“You too.” Charlie tapped the bar with one hand and bit her lip. Then she flashed me her pretty smile and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Bye, Burke.”
Fuck, I liked the sound of my name on her lips. I watched her ass all the way to the front door but tore my eyes away when she stopped to hug her brother. Evan would not appreciate the way I was looking at his little sister, and I needed this job to stay close to Tess. I was here for Tess, not to chase tail that I had no business wanting.
Tess was my world now, and she was all I needed.
I watched Charlie pause and rest her hand on Evan’s arm. Then she sighed and tugged him toward a table near the stage. I didn’t mean to listen to their conversation, but I heard every word.
“Dude.” Charlie stared at her brother. “You seem crazy stressed. What’s going on?”
Evan gave her a weak smile. “I’m fine, kid.”
Charlie raised an eyebrow. “No, you’re not. Talk to me.”
“You don’t need to hear me complain, Charlie.”
“But I can. That’s what family is for, so spit it out.”
Evan sighed and leaned against the table. “Okay. Yeah, I’m stressed out of my fucking mind. Running a business is a lot, and I want to talk to dad about it. I want to hear what he thinks about all the decisions I’m making. And it’s not like I need constant validation or approval. He just had this way of letting me know if I was on the right track.” Evan glanced up to meet Charlie’s concerned gaze. “But I’m fine. Don’t try to carry this for me.” He smiled and messed up her hair.
This time, Charlie didn’t smack his hand away. “You’re on the right track, Evan. I’ve never seen you so focused and excited. You weren’t even like this about soccer.” Charlie leaned into her brother and gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m honestly inspired by how hard you work, and I hope I find something to get so excited about someday.”
Evan smiled and slid his arm around her shoulders. “Thanks, Charlie. And thanks for making me talk.”
Charlie laughed. “I’ll always make you talk. I can read you like a book, and I already knew what was wrong with you. You learn more when you say the words yourself, though.”
Evan laughed aloud now and shook his head. “You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?”
“Yep. I’m amazing.” Charlie shrugged and grinned at her brother.
Yeah, she was amazing.
“K, I’m going to pick up Matteo, and you, sir, need to give yourself a break.” Charlie pointed at Evan’s face.
“All right, all right. Be safe. Have fun.”
“Always.” Charlie turned to walk out of the bar. When she reached the door, her gorgeous blue eyes flashed over and landed on me. She gave me a smile that was sweet and sexy at the same time.
It shouldn’t have made my heart rate increase. Hell, I shouldn’t have
even thought the word “sexy” in conjunction with a nineteen-year-old. Something was wrong with my head.
Once Charlie was gone, I stepped into the backroom to stow my jacket. Before I placed it on the shelf, I lifted my jacket to my face and inhaled. Fuck. It smelled like mint and coconut.
6
Charlie
I tugged at my impossibly short black skirt. If I so much as shifted, my ass was going to hang out. “Mattie, there is no way in hell that I’m wearing this.”
Matteo rolled his eyes and smoothed his dark hair in front of my floor-length mirror. He practiced his smolder before turning to me. “Girl, you look like a snack in that dress! Don’t be a little bitch about the costume I picked out for you. I gave you plenty of chances to get one yourself.” He grabbed the high-heeled knee-length boots from the foot of my bed and pressed them into my arms. “Put these on, pretty kitty.” Next, he picked up the pair of black sequined cat ears from my dresser. “And these.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I look like a sex worker.”
Matteo snorted. “That’s the entire point of Halloween! If I could get every cock in the room to stand straight up the way you will by wearing that dress, I would trade you costumes in a hot second!” He adjusted his purple suit jacket, picked up his top hat, and smirked. “I mean, I’ll probably raise a few cocks in this. I’m the sexiest shadow man I’ve ever seen.”
I laughed as I zipped up a boot. “Yeah, Mattie. I bet Jonah’s cock will burst right through his pants when he sees you.”
Matteo laughed out loud and pressed his hands together in a prayer. “God, please let that happen!”
“God has nothing to do with that, dude.”
Matteo snorted. “Don’t I know it. Just ask my parents.”
“Aw, shit, Mattie. I didn’t mean it like that.” I frowned and slid my arm around Matteo’s waist. My best friend swam through a river of Catholic guilt every damn day with his family.
“Sh. I know, beautiful.” Matteo smiled and hugged me.
Just then, my mom called up the stairs, “Charlie, honey, Bea and I are heading out to take Sophia trick-or-treating! Make sure you lock up when you go!”
