On the other hand, she felt at ease with Charlotte for the first time in over a decade. And she loved this kitchen. “I don’t really have anything else to do for the evening either,” Sutton decided. “I think I would love some tea.”
That same smile from moments ago slid over Charlotte’s face, bright and blinding. “Perfect. And how do you feel about Indian for dinner?”
Sutton blinked in surprise. It had been such an easy suggestion from Charlotte, she hardly followed, but, “I—sure, yeah, that sounds good.”
Charlotte reached out and squeezed her hand. Just once, and the contact was warm. Comforting. It only left Sutton feeling a little bit warmer, like her hand only tingled a little bit… manageably so.
It made her feel like acknowledging this was the right idea.
Wait—
“Um, just to check, before we… you’re not dating anyone right now, are you?” she blurted out, the thought from earlier, about how she didn’t truly know anything about Charlotte’s romantic life, returning unbidden. She needed to make sure she hadn’t stepped in the middle of anything with her actions yesterday.
Charlotte’s eyebrows winged up. “Excuse me?”
“I just mean—you never have mentioned, and I know you’re obviously publicly out, so maybe you do, but we just weren’t in a place to discuss it?” God, she could feel her cheeks burning, even as she grimaced at herself, but she couldn’t help it.
Charlotte laughed quietly, giving Sutton a fond look. “No, I am not dating anyone at the moment.”
That was the biggest relief. Maybe too big, but Sutton wasnotgiving that too much thought at the moment. No.
“Areyou?” Charlotte turned on her.
“You think I would—with you—when I was dating someone?!”
“Perhaps you found me simply too alluring to control yourself, Sutton. How am I to know?” Charlotte clearly teased, and Sutton?
Well, she almost wanted to continue to be offended, but all she could do was laugh.
Yes. This was the right decision.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Develop real friendship—off with a bang, if she said so herself!—while figuring out how her life fit together with Sutton’s, now, as adults. Beyond sizzling attraction and lovely conversation.
Figure out how to romance Sutton and make her see how much she wanted her, in every way.
Sweep Sutton Spencer off of her feet.
Charlotte really didn’t knowwhat to expect fromfriendshipwith Sutton.
Caleb and Dean were the only two people she considered her friends. One was her brother while the other was her brother-in-law, so she didn’t necessarily feel like they counted, if she was being honest with herself.
And maybe it should have alarmed her that she found herself on her fourth decade on this earth, still feeling like the concept of making a real friend was foreign to her. When she thought about it in those terms, it did seem rather concerning.
But it had never bothered her before.
