She had figured him out all right.
“What do you want, Charlie?” he repeated.
“If we’re talking about the otters specifically, there is one thing.” She paused. “Okay, two things.”
“We are talking about otters. Or at least we’re talking about anything except you wanting to have a fling with me.”
“For now.”
“For good.” He shook his head. “It’s off the table, Charlie.”
“So you’re going to try to resist me?”
“With everything in me,” he said with a nod. “I realize that that’s a difficult concept for you.”
“It really is,” she agreed. “So much so that I’m not sure it’s going to sink in.”
He had to fight to keep from snorting. Her confidence and audacity, while sure to be a huge headache for him, was amusing and, yes, attractive. “I’m sure if you give it enough time, you’ll get used to it.”
“Well, the thing about resisting something is that it means it’s something that you want.”
“I never said I didn’t want you.” And that was exactly the wrong thing to say.
She clearly really liked that answer. “True. You said you weren’t interested in a fling.”
“Correct.”
“So you want to be my boyfriend?”
He most definitely did not want to be her boyfriend. “No.”
“So what do you want to be?”
“Your boss.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Too bad. Just my boss isn’t an option.”
“No? And why is that?” And when was he going to learn to quit engaging in these conversations with this woman?
“Because we’re already more than that,” she said. She waited just a beat.
Which was enough time for him to recall all of the things they had done that bosses and employees really shouldn’t do to one another.
“We’re friends,” she told him.
They were? But of all the labels they could put on this… thing… between them, he supposed that was the safest.
“Okay,” he agreed. “We’ll be friends.”
“Great.” She looked pleased. “And now that we’re friends, I need a favor.”
She wouldn’t actually ask for sex as a favor between friends, would she?
And if she did, he would most certainly say no, wouldn’t he?
“I’m not really into baking cookies, and I’m pretty bad at painting fingernails, and I’m absolutely certain I would be a terrible wingman if you’re going to pick someone else up.”
She laughed. And the sound made heat streak through his gut.
“You think that women friends get together and bake cookies and paint each other’s fingernails?”
“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” he said. “I’m just telling you what I won’t be good at.”
“Those are the only things you’re not good at?”
There were all kinds of innuendos dripping off those words. Which he resolutely ignored. Mostly.
“And making snow cones or whatever you have in mind for this concession stand,” he added.
Her eyes widened. “How did you know I was thinking about snow cones?”
“Well, it’s a concession stand. And it’s summer. Why wouldn’t you have snow cones?”
She was grinning as she nodded. “Exactly.” She tipped her head. “But why would you be a bad wingman if we went out, and I was looking for someone who was into a short-term fling? Seems you could help me identify the assholes.”
He snorted. He completely understood her it-takes-one-to-know-one insinuation. “Because I would never be able to tolerate another man touching you.”
Right. Another thing he shouldn’t have said out loud if her reaction was any indication.
Her brows arched nearly to her hairline, and her mouth dropped partially open. She stared at him for several seconds before saying, “Wow. That does not seem like you’re not interested.”
“I’m not interested in having a fling with you. I’m also not interested in making snow cones. And I’m not interested in watching other men hit on you. Simple.”
She swallowed hard as she considered everything he just said. “Then I guess that only leaves one other favor that I need you for.”
Griffin told himself not to ask. Not to encourage her. Not to seem at all willing to help her with any of her crazy ideas.
But he didn’t have to ask. This was Charlie. She clearly rarely had a thought that she didn’t share out loud, just like a Landry.
“I need someone to help me put signs up at the otter enclosure.”
Griffin shrugged. “Mitch does all of the construction and repairs to the enclosures and pens. I’m sure he can help you.”
“Oh, I don’t mean actually hanging the signs up. I mean deciding what to put on the signs.”
“What kind of signs?”
“Otter facts. Trivia. Interesting things about the otters.”
“Facts about river otters?” he asked.
She nodded. “Of course.”
“Of course,” he repeated dryly.
“Will you help me?”
“You think we need signs with otter facts on them at the enclosure?”
“I do.”
“Fine. If you write out the facts, I will review them and add anything I think is important.”
She nodded. “And…”
He sighed. He should’ve known there was more to it. He knew there was always going to be “more to it” with Charlotte.
“I need you to repeat these facts. And more. Out loud. On Friday.”
“No.”
“Oh, come on, Griffin. Doesn’t that word ever get old? We have a group of kids visiting the enclosure on Friday to learn all about otters. It would be so amazing to have the veterinarian who works with them on a regular basis there to give the kids the information and answer any questions they have.”
“I wasn’t aware there was a group of kids coming to visit on Friday.”
“That’s because you’re the first person I’ve told.”
“So how did you find out there was a group of kids that wanted to learn about otters?”
“I would think any kid would want to learn about otters.”
“Is there actually a group coming Friday?” Griffin asked.
“Sure there is. As soon as I invite them.”
Griffin shook his head. “So there might be a group of kids coming to visit on Friday.”
“Oh, there will be kids here,” Charlie said. “I just haven’t gotten the word out yet.”
“And you’re so sure it will work?”
“Griffin, there is something that you should know about me,” Charlie said.
He braced himself.
“I always make things work.”
Yeah, that didn’t surprise him. That was a lot like if she’d said, “I always get my way.” Not at all hard to believe.
She was tempting as hell. She wanted him. They already had a scorching hot encounter that had been fueling dirty dreams for him for weeks. And now she was here, to stay for a while, but not permanently.