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"I’m meeting some of my school friends too but honestly, peace sounds nice," Charlie remarked.
"It does, doesn't it?" Eve gestured to the computer. "I need to go back to sorting this out but I'll book that course for you first."
The biggest smile broke through on Charlie's face. "Thanks. I'll leave you to it. I think you could use a little bit of pre-peace before the weekend."
Eve chortled while she massaged her temples, a futile attempt to rub the stress out of them. "You have no idea. See you later."
Charlie waved on her way out, her lips still donning that lovely smile. "Later, Eve."
A tingle danced up Eve's spine from the way Charlie said her name. It sounded mischievous and playful somehow, and hearing it made some of her frustrations slip away. She watched the mechanic saunter away, her hands deep in the pockets of her coveralls.
Eve shook her head as she turned her attention back on the records. There were many reasons why she shouldn't get involved with Charlie like that. This job wasn't just temporary, dating one of her dad's employees sounded like a big mistake, and she only suspected that Charlie was interested in her like that.
Yet none of those reasons curbed Eve’s desire to get involved.
Seven
Charlie
* * *
Charlie smiled as she listened to the happy chattering and cackling of her secondary grade friends. She liked having a job with all male colleagues but every now and then, she enjoyed going out with the girls. It was a different atmosphere, different conversation, and cocktails at a bar was a nice change of pace compared to pints at the pub.
Her oldest friend Tasha tipped her glass of wine back, draining it to the last drop. "Ahh, that's the stuff. It's not every day Hubby agrees to watch the kids. I'm not going back home until this bar is dry!"
"We're definitely leaving before that,” Elise said, although she was already working on cocktail number three. "I need to take my kids to soccer tomorrow, I can't show up hungover. I'm not going to be one of those mums."
Georgina held her martini glass up to Charlie. "Here’s to being childfree. Cheers!"
Chuckling, Charlie toasted to her good fortune. She wasn't against kids, far from it, but she definitely didn't want them yet. She liked her freedom too much and she'd rather have a partner to raise kids with. Preferably her fated mate, but she hadn't found that blessing just yet.
While her friends chattered away about inconsequential things, Charlie sipped from her strawberry daiquiri, the kind of girly drink her guy friends at the garage would jest about. Absentmindedly, she let her eyes dart around, scanning the occupants until her gaze latched onto a woman sitting at the bar. Even with her back turned, there was a lot to be admired. Perfectly soft curves, a tight grey dress, legs that went on for days. It was almost irrelevant what her face looked like, she was hot. If Charlie hadn't been with friends, that was the kind of woman she'd chat up.
"Charles, settle something for us," Tasha interrupted her thoughts.
She tore her gaze away from the sexy brunette and back to her friends. "Yeah?"
"Classy dinner or trashy kebab later?" Elise listed on her fingers. "I vote trashy kebab. I could demolish a whole, umm, spit-rotating-thing by myself."
Charlie chuckled at the ridiculous image. "No, you couldn't."
"If I was in my bear form, I could." The conviction in Elise's voice was clear.
"Good thing for us you're not in your bear form then." Charlie finished her drink and set the empty glass back on the table. "And I don't mind what we do for food, I'm not picky."
A light snicker came from her side and Georgina nudged her in the side. "No, Charlie wants to eat something else. I saw her staring at that lady at the bar. Real subtle."
Instantly and embarrassingly like they were still in school, her other two friends turned their heads to look.
"I miss the days of casual hook-ups," Elise sighed wistfully. "So who are we looking at? Is it the woman in the red leather jacket? Oh, or the blonde in the flowery dress?"
Charlie rolled her eyes at her friends. "Let it go, I'm here to hang out with you all."
"Fine, but let us at least live vicariously through you," Tasha encouraged while she pouted over her empty wine glass. "I want to hear epic love stories and conquests. I'm sick and tired of being surrounded by parents of young children who can only talk about school, diapers, and day care."
"I'm afraid my non-existent love life will bore you then. I've been flirting a little with a bartender at a local pub but nothing besides that." As Charlie said that, her traitorous mind conjured an image of Eve. Beautiful, not-at-all-what-she-expected, totally off-limits Eve.
Maybe some fun with a stranger would be a good distraction.
