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“Ready?” He holds his hand out for me, and I place mine in his. He pulls me from the bed and hands me his shirt to put on. I should tell him that it’s too soon, but I don’t want to. I really like this version of Spencer. I know it’s a risk, but it’s one that I want to take. So I place my hand in his and allow him to help me stand. With our fingers laced together, he leads us to the door, pulls it open, and we make our way down the hall to the kitchen, where I smell coffee.
“Morning, Audrey,” Spencer says as we enter the room.
“Well, well, well, Spencer Pennington. When you asked about my big sis last night, I didn’t expect to find you parked in her driveway when I got home.”
“What? I’m not allowed to spend the night with my girl?” he asks. He lifts our entwined hands to his lips and kisses the back of my hand. My stomach flutters.
“Your girl?” Audrey’s eyes are wide as they bounce between Spencer and me. “Since when?”
Spencer turns to look at me. “I’ve always wanted her,” he says softly, “but I wasn’t allowed to officially call her mine until last night.”
“Charlotte Krause!” Audrey scolds. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
“No, I mean, not really. Things just kind of progressed, and he’s hard to say no to.” I meet my sister’s gaze, and I know she can tell I’m not willing to say more just yet. I’m in deep with this man.
This has my little sister tossing her head back in laughter. “I’m sure the tall, dark, and tatted has something to do with that.” She places her coffee cup on the counter, walks around the island, and pulls me into a hug. Spencer surprises me when he wraps his arm, the one that’s free, around both of us.
“I want all the details,” Audrey tells me.
“Why don’t you ladies go sit and talk, and I’ll make breakfast,” Spencer offers.
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell him.
He bends and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Let me spoil you.”
“Come on, Charlie.” Audrey pulls on my arm. “Thanks for offering, Spencer.” He grins and nods. “Just yell if you can’t find something.”
“Any requests?”
“Nah, we’re not picky eaters,” Audrey answers and tugs on my arm, but Spencer doesn’t let go of the other one.
“One more,” he whispers as he bends and presses his lips to mine. He smiles, drops my hand, and turns toward the refrigerator to make us breakfast. I keep my eyes locked on him while I focus on calming my racing heart.
Audrey tugs and I follow along behind her to the living room. With the open floor plan, I know he can see us, but I keep my back toward him, sitting in the same spot I was in when he got here last night. Audrey faces me on the opposite end of the couch.
“Spill.”
So I do. I tell her about the kiss while we were at the resort and every interaction since then. “Things just kind of happened.”
“He’s sexy as hell, and I told you all those barbs the two of you used to fire back and forth were a form of foreplay.” She grins, wagging her eyebrows.
“It’s complicated and scary.”
“Okay, let’s start with complicated. Sure, he’s going to be your new boss, but he said there are no rules against it. He’s the CEO, so he would know.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to be the center of office gossip.”
“Would you be? I mean, really? You’re going to be at the practice. Sure, you might have to go to the hospital at times, but you won’t be in the same building, and you won’t be reporting directly to him.”
“Yeah,” I agree. It still feels like I’m breaking the rules somehow.
“Okay, and the scared part. Tell me what scares you.”
“Oh, you’re not going to tell me?” I sass.
“I can. However, it’s better if you can admit it to yourself.”
“I’m not in denial, Audrey.”
