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The salon “ohhs” and “ahhs” behind me. I think I even hear someone slap their leg in glee. I wince. Well, when he said it like that it sounded bad.
“I didn’t run out on you,” I try to defend myself. “I just…” Damn, how could I put this nicely? “When I found out who you were, I panicked. I didn’t think you’d want to see me again, especially if you learned who I really was.”
He takes a step forward, causing my chin to tip up so I can keep our eyes locked. “What part of last night made you think I would be mad at learning who you were? That I wouldn’t want you to be there when I was done my speech, sunshine?”
That I couldn’t answer. Deep down, I knew sneaking out of the event was a mistake. A rational adult would have stayed, admitted the truth and prayed for the best. But my heart wouldn’t have been able to handle the rejection if he’d pushed me away. If he’d admitted to wanting Gillian over me. I should’ve never kissed him without telling him the truth. Without finding out his feelings for…my sister.
“Why didn’t you wait until Monday to ask my sister about…all this?”
“Your sister is on a Grecian beach right now and not accepting any calls. And why would I go to her when it’s you I want to talk to?”
I hear only the first part of his sentence. “She’s what!” I cry, my voice once again cutting through the chatter in the salon. “I thought she was, like”—my arms wave up then fall dramatically back at my sides—“in Brooklyn or something. I didn’t think she’d actually got on a plane!”
“She’s fine, if that’s what you’re worried about. She’s not alone.”
I wasn’t worried about her safety, but you better believesheshould be when she gets back to the city. Here I am, thinking that she needed to lay low for a while due to exhaustion or something when in reality she left me to do her dirty work so she could laze about on a beach. Oh, she was in big trouble. BIG trouble.
“Well, I guess that’s good news,” I mumble, rubbing the back of my neck.
When his hand comes up and runs down my hair in a soothing gesture, I feel my pulse kick up for a different reason. I wish I could be indifferent to him. I wish there wasn’t so much on the line and we had met in a different way.
“I knew you weren’t Gillian from the very beginning,” Charlie says, voice low and hypnotizing. “Everything that happened between us was real. It was you I was thinking of. Only you.”
And just like that, my greatest fear dissolves. He’d wanted time with me.
“How?” I ask, needing the answer. Not many people could tell Gill and me apart. Certainly, no past boyfriend or significant other had been able to. How had Charlie known?
“These,” he says, cradling my head and running a thumb along the smattering of freckles I have under my left eye. “And I’ve worked with your sister for over four years now. I know her mannerisms and voice. I knew the moment you fluffed up your gorgeous hair that you weren’t her.”
“She twirls her hair when she’s anxious,” I say, mostly to myself, realizing my error.
“Yeah. And you called me Charlie. No one calls me Charlie.”
“So, you really knew it was me?”
“I will admit I knew Gillian had a sister, but I didn’t know much about you.” Ouch. That hurt a bit. “But as soon as you were pulled backstage, I got my security team to look into it.” He takes another tiny step forward. We’re so close now that I can feel the heat of his body, smell his intoxicating male scent. “I wanted you, Kim, from the moment we met. Didn’t you realize that I never once called you by your name?”
“You always called me ‘sunshine.’”
He nods, a tiny grin twisting his lips.
“Umm, I hate to interrupt,” Shelly’s voice cuts in from behind me, her tone filled with far too much joy. “But your twelve thirty is here.” I wave her off, telling her I understand but not wanting to break the moment with Charlie. There were still some things I needed to say.
“I’m sorry that I deceived you. But I was only trying to help my sister.”
“I know. I don’t like it, but I understand the need to protect the ones you love.” His gaze darts over my shoulder. “I’ll let you get back to work, but I’d like to take you out tonight.”
“Like a date?”
“Yes, like a date.”
Warmth blooms in my chest and it takes everything in me not to break out into dance I’m so happy. I do rock up and down on the balls of my feet. Needing the movement to get some of my energetic excitement out.
“Well, you did bid on me…so, yes. Yeah, that sounds fun. I, umm, work until three today.”
“Then I’ll be at your place at five if that works.” I nod, not able to speak around the fluttering of my heart. “I’ll see you then, sunshine,” he says, seconds before his soft lips brush my forehead. With a final ruffle of his hand down my hair, he turns to leave. I watch him go, eyeing one of my favorite parts of him before he disappears through the front door.
“Holy hell, girl. That is one fine man.” Shelly saunters up beside me. “Now, tell me everything while you do Mrs. Cartwright’s hair.”
I snort at my friend. Of course she wants the gossip. And right now, I’m in such a great mood, I’ll happily give it to her.
