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“Happens constantly around here,” the redhead replied. “He’s not there.”
“Oh. I, well,” Lesley turned. “I guess I’ll come back later.”
Charlie sighed. She did not want to get up in the middle of this, but these two were being coy and it was annoying as fuck. “Wait.”
Lesley turned back toward her.
“He’s at his new place off post.”
The woman’s face crumpled, and Charlie pinched the bridge of her nose. “That fucking dumbass. He didn’t tell you. He got a house and moved in about a week ago.”
Lesley swiped her eyes and shook her head. “No. I’m sorry, this is silly. I should go. This isn’t your problem.”
“How do you figure?”
“Well, you’re his friend. I mean, I know nothing is going on with you and Ant, but you don’t know me from anyone. We’ve never even been introduced—and now I’m babbling because I don’t know what to say.”
Charlie stuck out her hand. “I’m Charlie Madden. It’s good to meet you.”
Lesley shook her hand and gave her a watery smile. “Lesley Prosser. Likewise.”
“And you’re wrong. This is my problem because I care deeply about Ant.”
Lesley tilted her head and opened her mouth to speak, but Charlie held up her hand and laughed. “Ant and I are strictly platonic. But good lord, have you seen that man? He’s fucking hot!”
Lesley cracked a smile.
A shadow of pain passed over Charlie’s face as she continued. “But no. He and I are not and never have been a thing. He’s been there for me through some shit, and I was there with the aftermath of Vicky’s bullshit.” She paused and pulled out a notepad from her pocket, scribbling quickly. She ripped off the sheet and handed it to the woman.
“Here. This is his new address. Go kick his ass. He needs it.”
Lesley took the paper from the woman. She’d noticed the brief change in her face, but she didn’t know her well enough to say anything. Everyone has their stories. “Thanks,” she said. “Though I’m not sure which of us needs our ass kicked at this point.”
“Doesn’t matter, really. As long as you two figure it out.” Charlie took a couple of steps down before turning back. “He’s in deep with you. Judging from the look on your face, I think you feel the same.” She continued on her way. “I hope to get to know you in the future, Lesley.”
Lesley looked down at the slip of paper in her hand. It was only a couple of blocks away from her house. She was surprised she hadn’t seen his car on the way to work or nearby, given that there were only two entrances to the area where she—they—lived. She tucked the address into her pocket and headed down the stairs.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
She slowed the car as she turned onto his block. There were two cars in the driveway, his, and one she didn’t recognize. She clenched her hands around the steering wheel, hoping that she could stop them from shaking. It didn’t work. Just as she was ready to turn into a neighboring driveway and turn around, his door opened, and a man came out. Carwell. Good.
The lights from his car blinded her for a second before she pulled forward and pulled into Antony’s driveway. Seconds later, she was about to knock when the door opened.
“What you forget, Carw—Lesley.” Antony stood there, mouth gaping. “How did you find me?”
“I went by your old place. Ran into Charlie,” Lesley said. The light streamed out from behind him, obscuring his expression. In the dim light, a glint shone in his eyes and the muscles in his jaw clenched. She shouldn’t have shown up unannounced. This was a mistake. She’d waited too long and should have taken the hint. “I’ll—”
“Come in.” He moved to the side and held out his arm. His face, the half she could now see, was unreadable as ever, but his eyes were glittering black. So, he was inviting her in so he could break it off without an audience. She threw her shoulders back and took a step forward.
He closed the door behind her and, before she could turn around, he spun her and pulled her to him. She gasped as he crushed her to his chest and buried his face in the hair at the curve of her neck. She clutched at his shoulders and pressed her lips against his chin, and the prickle of his whiskers against her cheek and his heart beating against her chest caused her heart to flutter. They stood in silence for a few long minutes before Antony straightened, only to dip his head down to kiss her once, twice, before running the tip of his tongue along her lips. She opened her mouth and succumbed to the dizzying feel of him all over her.
Antony broke away, gasping for breath. “We should probably talk first,” he said.
Lesley shook her head and started working at the buttons on his shirt. “Later.”
“Lesley,” he said, grabbing her hands. He brought them up and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “I don’t have a lot of patience right now, and as much as I want to strip you down and touch you everywhere, we need to talk first.”
“I know.” She ran her eyes over his face. “I’ve missed you every damned second and I’m sorry I didn’t explain myself better. I thought that after the meeting, I’d messed things up for good. I was so dumb.”
