“Shit, I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” I say.
She shrugs with indifference, but I see the hurt reflected in her eyes.
“It’s okay. You can ask me, but in answer to your question, no, nothing is going on. I like him, but not like that. Why did you ask?” She bites the corner of her lip. Her eyes roam over my chest.
I let out a breath. “I don’t know, just the way he is with you.”
She grits her teeth now. I see her jaw tick before she opens her mouth to speak. “And the way I am with him would have you believe something is going on between us?”
My hand moves to her shoulder, and I squeeze gently.
“No… it’s just I’m looking out for you. Flick—”
Her head tilts up and she gapes at me, her eyes go wide.
“Great… she asked you to babysit me.”
I almost want to smile but don’t; I love it when she gets feisty.
“No, not exactly.”
It’s true. Flick did ask me to keep an eye on her, hell even Simon did. But my intentions are purely selfish, and I’m brave enough to admit it, at least to myself. She has me tied in knots and doesn’t even know it. Her smell invades my senses, and like everything about her, I am hyper-aware of it. I know I shouldn’t still be standing this close to her, but I can’t even will myself away.
“Charlie, I am more than capable of looking after myself. I’m not completely useless.”
She steps away and turns her back on me, but I grab her softly by the elbow and pull her back.
“Sophie, I only want the best for you. I never meant to insult you. You know I think you’re awesome,” I say with a wink.
It works. She gives me a tiny nod of her head and a slight eye roll, but her lips slant into a small smile.
“Fine. In the way of an apology, you can buy me a drink.”
I laugh and pull her into my side as I kiss her hair like a fucking weirdo.
“Well, it is my bar,” I say as if that’s all the answer she needs.
She nudges me with her elbow. “No, you can buy me a drink, pay by cash or card. But I want to see you pay.”
I lean down to her ear; a tiny gasp escapes her lips as I whisper, “Just so you know, I always keep a mental tab, and take it out of my salary.”
She gazes up at me with a smile. “Of course, you do.” Grabbing my hand, she pulls me towards the bar. My hand has never felt so right in someone else’s, and I don’t ever want to let go. The thought sends a weird sensation through my body.
Chapter 9
Charlie
It’s finally quietened down. My eyes roam, in search of Sophie. When I spot her talking to yet another jack arse, she glances up and catches me. I shake my head and mouth the word, “Really?” She smiles, excuses herself, and heads my way.
“I may be a little tipsy. I didn’t eat much earlier. Not that I’ve had much to drink,” she says on a happy sigh.
I can’t help but smile at her waffling. Her tipsy equates to cute.
“Nothing wrong with letting your hair down. I need to clear out the stragglers. Are you cool to wait for me, or have you had a better offer?” I say, only half-joking.
Peering back over her shoulder, she giggles. “As if. He’s a bit of a tool, to be honest. I didn’t want to be rude. Besides, I told him you were my boyfriend. Hope you don’t mind?”
A surge of pride engulfs me. Under any other circumstance, it might bother me, but with her, I don’t mind. Not at all.
“I’m wounded. Talk about feeling used…” I reach out my hand to her face as I tuck her hair behind her ear. I like to see her face. Her eyelids flutter closed briefly then when she opens them, they’re sparkling. I offer her another drink then get to closing.
Approaching Sophie from behind, I lean in and whisper, “Boo.”
She spins. “Shit you scared me,” she says and punches me on the shoulder.
I laugh, shaking my head, and I ruffle her hair. Some girls would freak but not her. Instead, she playfully punches me in the stomach.
“Don’t know why you even bother. You couldn’t punch your way out of a wet paper bag,” I say.
“Ha, bloody ha, you’re so funny.”
“Looks like he moved on,” I say, pointing my thumb back over my shoulder as the jerk leaves with some other woman.
She stares past me. “Oh no, what will I do now?”
“I’m sure you’ll cope,” I say with a wink. “Ready to make a move?” She nods. Olly leans over the bar and kisses her goodbye. His eyes meet mine, that son of a bitch.
We head out the back down the hall. She’s humming to herself, and now that I know what she sounds like when she sings, I wish she were. Music has always been a kind of therapy for me.
“Charlie, do you ever think about what it would be like to have what Flick and Nate do? Does it ever make you want for something like that? Be honest…”
I pause before answering. Well, if that isn’t a loaded question.
“Honestly?” I ask.
“Yes, honestly,” she replies.
“For the right somebody, then yes, I guess so.”
Someone like you.
She stacks it right in front of me. I reach out and grab her waist.
“Shit, you okay?” I ask.
She bursts out laughing. “Yeah, I’m fine. At least I’m wearing flats—” Her laugh cuts her off. Her face free of burdens, there’s something different about her when she’s like this. When she’s happy.
“Sorry, I’m embarrassing myself yet again,” she says, peeping up at me.
“Not at all.” My eyes skim over her face.
“So why are you staring at me like that?” she asks as she pulls back slightly.
“I’m not… I was thinking about something I need to do.”
“Oh, I didn’t think. Have you got plans for later? I can get a cab.” She fumbles inside her bag.
I place my hand on her arm to still her. “No, I don’t, it’s not that… oh, what the hell.”
For the first time in a long time, I don’t think. Instead, I move to palm the back of her neck and pull her towards me. Her breath hitches as her lips part, eyes wide as I lean in. My body’s now flush with hers. Her warmth spreads over me as I walk her back towards the wall.
And then my lips touch hers. I swipe my tongue over the seam of her lips, and then I’m exploring her mouth, and she reciprocates. I groan, or she does, I can’t even be sure. It’s not like the kiss before, it’s charged with an unspoken want, a long, lingering need. Our mouths and bodies are in tune together. This is what it’s like to be kissed with reverence.
But just as quickly, the reality of what we’re doing comes flooding back. Her body tenses enough for me to notice, enough for me to break the kiss. I lean my forehead against hers. I’m not ready to see the regret in her eyes or the uncertainty. Her warm breath cascades my chin before her hands press on my chest to push me back, silently asking for space.
Whether I want to or not, my eyes have a mind of their own, roaming over her face. Hers are cast down enough to know she’s already regretting it. The material of her top moves with the erratic thump of her heart and I shouldn’t be eyeing her chest right now.