My brother and sister grinned at each other as Charlotte leaned over and placed a kiss on my cheek. The pleased look on her face was enough to knock down my resolve a little, and the unexpected feel of her lips on my skin blasted the rest of the way through.

I was fucked with a capital F.

Chapter Eight

Charlotte

“Mornin’, this is Maggie. Can I help you?” the voice drawled through the phone.

“Hi, this is Charlotte Freemont. I’m calling about—”

“The Audi. Yup. Let me put Wayne on.”

Sitting down on the bed, I plucked a piece of lint off the fluffy down comforter while I waited.

“This is Wayne.” His normally gruff voice came out sounding apologetic. “Listen, sweetheart, I hate to tell you this, but I ran your car’s diagnostics through the computer, and you’ve got a bigger problem than I first thought.”

I listened as he explained that some converter switch was malfunctioning, and that it was going to add an extra day or two and some money to the repair work.

“Okay, got it.”

“That’s . . . that’s it?” he asked.

“Yeah. Just let me know when you’re through. I appreciate this, Wayne.”

“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll be in touch.”

I should have been annoyed, should have felt trapped and isolated, but I felt anything but. It was crazy, but part of me was excited at the idea of spending a few more days here.

I dialed Valentina next, who answered without even a hello.

“Charlotte, tell me you’re on your way. I’m freaking out.”

“Hello to you too.” I chuckled.

“Ugh, what’s happening? You’re not still stranded, are you?”

“I’m still here, yeah.”

“Whose ass do I need to kick? I’ll call the mechanic myself. Just tell me where you are.”

“No, it’s fine, Val.” It was weird, but the desire to keep this place a secret flared inside me. It was like if I could shield it from the outside world, I could stay here in peace for a few more days.

She let out a huff of frustration and cursed in Spanish.

We spent the next few minutes catching up on everything going on back home, in the real world, and it was weird. Normally, I’d eat up this kind of conversation. Gossiping with Valentina was practically an Olympic sport, one I excelled at, but today I was only half listening.

“Just a couple more days. I’ll see you soon,” I said, finally ending the call.

As soon as we hung up, my phone rang again. It was Molly.

“Hi, Charlotte. I was wondering if you’d want to have lunch with me today?”

My gaze drifted to the clock beside my bed. I had all day to kill. “Sure. What time?”

“I’ll meet you at the Garden of Eatin’ in thirty minutes.”

I picked up my purse and slipped into my nude Tori Butch flats before heading downstairs to ask Opal how to get to the restaurant. It turned out it was only three blocks away, so I’d get in a little midday sunshine and a brief walk. My time here was starting to feel more like a vacation than a death sentence.

The café was cozy chic with rustic little white-painted tables and mismatched chairs. It had character, and the menu was just as eclectic. Everything from chicken and waffles to grits (whatever those were) to spinach salad with fresh goat cheese. Maggie and I were soon seated at a table in front of the big front windows, each having found something on the menu to our liking.

“Thanks for meeting me.” Molly tasted her iced tea, then tore open a packet of sweetener and dumped it in.

“Of course. Not like I had anything better to do. Wayne thinks it’ll be another couple of days.” When her mouth puckered at that, I shook my head. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. Everyone’s been so welcoming since I’ve been here.”

“Luke has been more ‘welcoming’ than I’ve seen him with a newcomer in a long time.”

I thought Molly might give me a saucy wink or a smile with that comment, but her expression remained serious. She tasted her iced tea again and found it more to her liking before she continued.

“Listen, I think it’s great you’re interested in my brother, but I think there are a few things you should know.”

Ah. The real reason she asked me to lunch. “Okay.”

“Luke acts tough, and he is, but he’s been hurt before. He’s been through a lot; we all have. I just don’t want to see him get left behind again.”

I got the sense that she wasn’t talking about their mother’s leaving town. My mind churned with possibilities, and my curiosity was too strong to try to be polite.

Screw that. If anyone would know, Molly would, so if I had to pump her for information, I would.

“Has he been in a serious relationship before?” I asked point-blank.

Molly focused on her salad like it was the most interesting thing she’d seen all day. “He has. But that’s not my place to tell.” She then looked up and smiled at me as she turned the conversation to safer ground.

I was dying to push, but smiled back and let her have her way. Our conversation left me with more questions than answers.

Chapter Nine

Luke

If I didn’t know any better, I would say that Charlotte Freemont was really starting to like Shady Grove. The moment she came bouncing through the door of the bar with my sister, her face lit up when she saw the crowd. It was Thursday night and the Drunk Skunk was packed—packed with wandering eyes that followed Charlotte’s every move as she walked my way.

I got it, though. She was gorgeous and had an aura of mystery surrounding her that drew the attention of every hot-blooded man in the room. I hated every one of those motherfuckers looking at her.

Eyes off my girl.

My girl? There was a thought I didn’t have every day. Last time I’d wanted a girl to be mine, I’d ended up getting my heart torn to shreds. I needed to be careful when it came to Charlotte. I barely knew her, but somehow my subconscious was staking claim. And I’d had just enough to drink to roll with it.

“Evening, duchess,” I said, sliding an arm around her waist when she was close enough. A subtle vibration jolted through her as our bodies pressed against each other. She melded against me like it was right where she belonged.

“Hello there.” She looked up at me, her big blue eyes crystal clear and sparkling with excitement. “How was your day?”

“Better now. Yours?”

“Same,” she said, biting at her bottom lip.

The crowd around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us. It had been a few days since our last kiss, and I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. The way she’d tasted. The soft moans she let out. The way her body reacted under my touch. Even when we were talking business, the thoughts of ravaging her were always there.

Tonight was the night it was going to happen, come hell or high water.

“You look good enough to eat,” I said, loving the way her hair was loosely curled and her makeup was just enough to accentuate every beautiful feature of her face. The upper curves of her fantastically perfect tits were peeking out from her V-neck shirt. Taking a bite of her was going to be fun. I wet my lips as I ran a hand over her waist.

“I thought you two hated each other,” Duke said with a grin, drawing our attention.

“Things change.” I glared at him, needing my brother’s comments like I needed a hole in the head.

“Yeah, I think I kind of like him now.” Charlotte rested her head against my chest and gave Duke a shrug.

“Give it a few days. It’ll wear off,” Duke told her, earning a slap on the shoulder from me.

“Thanks, buddy.” I turned my attention back to Charlotte. “You want to eat? Dance? Have a drink?” I ran through the list of options for the night, hoping the lust-filled look in her eyes meant she was thinking the same thing I was, which was none of the above.

“Maybe you two need to just get a room,” Molly suggested, breaking the trance that linked the two of us.

“I tried.” Charlotte chuckled. “Your brother is too much of a gentleman.”

“I don’t have to be,” I whispered in her ear with a growl.