Her hands touch my sides. I tip her lips to mine, and kiss her softly. Her perfect lips feel even better than I could have imagined. She pulls me closer and I deepen the kiss. If this is supposed to get it out of our system, maybe I should try harder to make the plan work. She kisses me back with all the intensity I feel for her. Our lips part a fraction of a second and then pull right back together, like this is where they’re meant to be.
She gasps for air, her hands sliding up my chest. I grab her hips and lift her off the ground. We kiss until Rex’s annoyed whine pierces the air. I pull back, still holding her body eye level with mine. “Did it work?” I whisper.
“Mhm,” she says, releasing her grip around my neck. I set her back on the grass. Rex pounces around the both of us, back and forth, wanting someone to pay attention and throw the ball for him.
“Great,” I say, flinging the ball again. Her cheeks are so flushed, she looks like she just ran a marathon. I grin, my heart still pounding in the best way. “I guess we’re cured.”
chapter twenty-seven
Charlotte
Cured. Yep. One hundred percent cured. All I had to do was get him out of my system, and now that I’ve done that I can go about my life without thinking about what it’s like to kiss Caleb Alden. I don’t need to daydream about how it would feel to have his arms around me. It’s no longer a mystery.
I am all better.
The drive back to my apartment happens in a blur. It’s one of those zoning out types of drives where once I park in my spot and shut off the engine, I’m a little confused as to how I even got here. My brain was on autopilot while my thoughts circled around Caleb and that kiss. That incredible, heart-stopping kiss.
“Phew.” Yep. I don’t just sigh. Iaudiblysigh as I get out of my car and walk inside. It’s not until I see the stack of freshly printed resumes on my coffee table that I remember all the stress in my life. Oh well. I’ll figure out the job thing later. Tonight, I’ll get through the gala, and I’ll do an incredible job at it because this is what I do. I’m good at it.
An event planner should dress professionally and be able to blend into the background. We are not the main character of theevents we plan, we’re the hidden puppeteers holding everything together. I stand in my closet, looking at the vast array of black slacks and black blazers and shirts. Any of these will work perfectly. Why is it so hard to choose one?
I flip through the pants, finally setting on an expensive pair of straight leg pants with a faint gray pinstripe. They look great with my black ankle boots. For my top, I choose a black satin camisole and a cropped black blazer. It’s the sexiest work outfit I have, which isn’t exactly that sexy. It’s still professional and covers all the inappropriate bits of my body. Still, my butt looks good.
Not that it matters.
Two hours later, my hair and makeup are exactly the way I want it, and my bathroom countertop is a mess with every single product I own strewn about. My nerves ramp up on the drive over to the Alden farm, and no matter how much I tell myself it’s just event day jitters, I know the real reason my hands are shaky and my heart flutters like it’s running on caffeine is because I’m going to see him again.
For the first hour I’m here, he’s nowhere to be found. Which is a good thing because I have an event to run. Catering is set up in the admin building and the food looks and smells delicious. The twins mowed the grass of the east lawn in a perfect way that makes it look like a parking lot, and they set out cones so people know where to park. The DJ is set up, playing music softly in the background while everyone gets things ready to go.
And the barn looks stunning. It’s so satisfying seeing my vision come to life, thanks to my awesome vendors. The Aldens could easily rent out this space for weddings if they want extra income. Of course, the occasional dog bark in the air kind of ruins the quiet romantic vibe a bride and groom might want, but it would be a perfect venue for dog lovers.
It’s shortly before six o’clock when I see the first Alden brother. Ethan wears black slacks and a dark blue long sleeve button up. He walks into the barn fiddling with his sleeves.
“Need some help?” I offer.
“Yes, please,” he says, holding out his arm. I fold the cuffs three times to the midpoint of his forearm. He gives me the other arm and I repeat the motion. “Do I look okay?”
“Yep,” I say, flashing him a smile.
He looks around the barn. “The place looks amazing. I’m glad we have you instead of that felony chick.”
I chuckle. “Me too.”
“Is she a real felon?”
“Apparently,” I say with a shrug.
Leo walks up, eyes bright with awe. “Charlotte, this barn looks incredible.”
“I know,” I say with a silly little dip of my head. “You hired a badass and I need you to tell everyone so that I can get more business, okay?”
“You got it.” He looks around. “Where’s Caleb?”
“In his office talking to someone who wants to adopt Rex,” Leo says. “It’s some lady with a huge property north of Dallas. She saw his story on the news.”
“Wonderful,” I say and as a pang of jealousy slices into me. Who is this Dallas lady and why does she want Rex? She doesn’t even know him.
Guests start arriving, so I take my place at the barn door, welcoming everyone by name. Nothing makes donors feel more generous like actually remembering who they are. It’s a skill I’ve mastered over the years. I’m shaking hands with Dr. Magana when Caleb walks up.
