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“But I made it,” Grace says proudly. “Mission, accomplished.”
“My compliments to you and your…” She flicks a smile over at me. “Chauffeur.”
I give her a salute.
Katherine continues to her car, scarf swaying behind her. “I have to say, I’m impressed. I’m leaving on vacation tomorrow morning, and I’ll be in touch when I return next week. Expect my call, Ms. Sommerville.”
As soon as Katherine’s car has turned the corner, Grace spins to me.
“Ahh!” she squeals, pumping her fist in victory. I pick her up, unable to resist, and spin for effect. “What a rush!”
“You did it,” I say, setting her down. God, she’s cute, all flushed with excitement and pride.
“Wedid it,” she says.
And I have to admit, it sounds good.
“So, Grace Sommerville,” I say, in a voice like she’s just won the Super Bowl, “You’ve just landed your first client. Congratulations! What are you going to do now?”
She leans forward, as if speaking into a microphone. “Thanks, Charlie. I’m going to stuff my face. Apparently, success makes me hungry.”
I laugh, putting an arm around her as we walk back toward the car. “Does that mean I can take you out to dinner?”
“No way!” she laughs. “My treat. And the place is around the corner, so we can probably chance it with your car for another minute.”
We turn to find a hot dog stand with a yellow umbrella. Grace swears it’s the best in the city, so I tell her to order her usual for me, too. She chats with the vendor—who apparently has been getting birthday party catering gigs since Grace referred her to a client—and I enjoy the hell out of a loaded dog with spicy brown mustard and onions.
Maybe I’m hopped up on adrenaline from our mad dash to New Jersey. Maybe this hot dog really is the best in the city. But I find myself thinking that I could keep doing this for a while—Grace and me. It’s just so easy.
But no. That’s the trick. I shake my head, trying to get it back on straight. Of course it’s easy when there are no expectations but fun outings and good times and hot sex. I’ve seen exactly what happens beyond that, and I’m not doing it again. Not to myself, and not to Grace.
She deserves more than that.
And when she turns back with a radiant smile that is just for me, I feel certain. I know what I can offer. And we’ve already done the fun outing and good times part.
“So, where to next?” I ask, taking her hand.
“My place?” she asks, with a saucy grin.
And who the hell am I to turn her down?
“Lead on,” I say. I lean down to kiss her, the quick promise of more to come. “I’m yours for the night.”
As for the rest of it…
Well, we don’t need to think about that right now.
18
GRACE
The next week,Charlie and I waltz our way through another four weddings on his schedule. We drink champagne surrounded the Aquarium’s deep blue water, with sharks gliding by; consume our weight in wedding cakes, and then dance it out beneath the incredible domed ceiling of the Public Library building. Now I’m in the swing of things, I can hold my own with old college buddies, new in-laws, and exes alike.
But Charlie is my favorite part. He’s a prince to everyone we mingle with, of course, but I’m the one who goes home with him each night. That’s the Charlie I like best—with the charisma dialed down, he can let the charm fade and really be himself: Cursing in frustration over a delayed construction order, or cracking a corny joke for me, audience of one.
Because even when he’s not working a room, there’s just something irresistible about Charlie Fox. He’s considerate, a great listener, tons of fun. And, oh yes, devastatingly handsome. That would all be attractive enough—even it wasn’t coming along with hands down, the hottest sex of my entire life.
But still…
