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“Shit like that necklace?”she repeated with glee. “Oh, this is the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
“You need to get out more, then.”
She hummed, and I could tell she’d taken a drink.
“What are you drinking? Finally get to your coffee from this morning?”
“It’s wine, thank you very much.”
I grunted. “Don’t see you drink much.”
“I usually only drink a glass or two when I feel like I can relax. I don’t like how it makes me feel when I’m out in public.”
“You needed me gone to be able to relax?” I asked.
She exhaled a soft laugh. There was a loaded pause before she spoke again. “I do kinda miss you,” she said.
My jaw clenched. “Do you?”
Charlotte went quiet. Maybe she was doing the same thing as me, gauging the tenor of the conversation.
She’d had wine. I’d had beer. And my asshole sister had told her I wanted pictures of her.
“A little,” she admitted quietly. “There’s no one here to tease me, and William is just too nice to take over the job.”
Jealousy roared hot and quick, and I fought to tamp it down. William, with his zoom-worthy arms, was only ten minutes down the road.
“That’s good, considering he reports to you in my absence,” I said gruffly.
“Don’t worry. He’s been a perfect gentleman. They all have.”
“Had to break out the crowbar since I left?”
“Just once,” she said lightly. “It’s very effective.”
I sat up. “Did you really?”
“No,” she said with a laugh. “Don’t worry.”
I let out a relieved exhale, and Charlotte must’ve heard it, because she emitted a quiet chuckle.
“You were worried.” Her voice was light and teasing, and I noticed the way the wine softened her words.
Hang up. Stop talking to her.
But there was something about hearing her voice as I sat in the dark. I decided to let myself be selfish for just a few minutes more.
I growled under my breath. “Is that bad?”
“No.” She took a sip of wine. “When are you coming back?”
I let my head fall back on the couch, then snatched my hand away from the waistband of my shorts when I realized it was still there. And I was still hard.
I pinched my eyes shut. I needed her to not say words likecomingwhen I could still too easily picture her in the room with me.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t sure I was needed there.”
Charlotte blew out an audible breath. “I think your presence is always ... wanted.”
