AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right here.”
I give him my best professional smile and hand over the small velvet bag. “Apparently, this jewelry designer is all-the-rage with the over-seventy set. But she’s been sold out absolutely everywhere since aVoguefeature last season.”
Dash raises an eyebrow. “How’d you manage it?”
I wink. “A concierge never tells her secrets.”
He grins like a scoundrel. “I can respect that.”
“Well,” I say, feeling awkward now. “Good to see you again. And… Thank you. For the ride home.”
“Don’t mention it,” he says, kindly. He slides the jewelry bag into his jacket pocket. “Is it weird if I text you again in the future about stuff like this?”
“Not at all,” I assure him. “No reason it should be weird between us just because Charlie’s…”
“Charlie,” Dash finishes. But he’s looking over my shoulder, with a surprised expression.
I turn around, heart crashing toward the floor. Charlie is strolling into the bar, though he stops dead at the sight of me.
“Grace,” he says, the shock clear on his face. “Hi.”
“Hey,” I say evenly.Don’t cry, don’t cry. “I was just doing a gift service drop-off for Dash.”
“Very satisfied customer,” Dash says from behind me.
“Oh. Right.” Charlie nods.
“Nice to see you,” I say, briskly. I can already feel another little sob building up, and I have to get out of here.
Charlie has landed back in a painfully neutral expression. “Yeah, you too.”
I’m beelining to the door when a gorgeous woman enters, smiling toward the bar. “Hey, Charlie.”
Dammit. Of course he’s already moving on. Back with girls who will expect nothing but a brief fling. I hurry out into the midday sunshine and try to face the light. Fine. Good for him. I’m better off, my head insists.
If only I could get my heart to agree.
24
CHARLIE
Talkabout a fucking punch to the gut.
I’ve spent three straight days trying not to think about Grace, and there she is, right in front of me.
Looking way too good to resist.
The door slams behind her, but I stand frozen to the damn floor, reeling from the sight of her. Hair curling in the humidity, a smudge of mascara under one eye.
Still gorgeous enough to make my heart stop in my chest.
“Charlie? Earth to Charles!”
Dash’s voice breaks through. I snap back, to find him looking at me like, ‘I told you so’.
Which I definitely don’t want to deal with right now, so I turn to the other person in the bar.
“Yes, I’m Charlie,” I manage, facing the woman I’m supposed to interview for our open bartender spot. “Nice to meet you, Rosalind.”
