I was curious about her conversation with Jace, and I wouldn’t put it past him to meddle, so I automatically assumed he’d set this up. Never in a million years did I think creepy guy volunteer Charlie would turn out to be gorgeous, can’t-get-her-off-my-mind Charlotte. She’s the first and the last person I want to see right now, and I have no idea why I feel that way after just two minutes of a stare down at the bar.

I don’t know exactly what it was. The way she was sitting at the bar by herself, playing around on her phone, not paying attention to anything around her, had me watching her. When she introduced herself, she had a sexy confidence, but I could see the hesitation in her eyes. I don’t know what it was, but something in that short time made me want to get to know this girl—which is exactly why I shot her down.

Fuck, I’m an idiot. I don’t know if it’s because of how I acted or because of how I’m feeling now. Shaking my head, I grab the remote and turn on ESPN, wanting something to fill the silence.

Charlie finally moves away from the door, grabs her briefcase, and sits on the couch facing me. She pulls out a notepad and a pen and then puts glasses on. They’re thick brown frames that highlight the color of her eyes rather than hiding them. Something about the combination of the glasses and the briefcase has me thinking naughty professor, and I’m kind of shocked that my dick is picking up on it.

Picking up the pen, she begins to ask me questions in detail about the explosion, my injuries and surgeries, and all the subsequent doctor visits since then. It’s not exactly something I like talking about. I give her as little detail as possible but just enough that she knows what she’s getting into. She listens intently, nodding and giving me sympathetic looks as I tell her what I remember about the incident.

There’s not much more that I hate than pity, so I try to end the conversation, but the girl is relentless with her interrogation. Her face softens as I tell her about waking up from the coma. The look she’s giving me is a combination of both sexy and sweet and I’m finding it hard to concentrate. She keeps chewing on the end of her pen, and my cock goes hard in two seconds flat as I envision those sweet, plump lips wrapped around it. Trying to discreetly readjust myself in my basketball shorts so I don’t scare her off with the giant tent, I grab the pillow from behind me and place it in my lap as she continues her line of questioning, frequently sucking on the pen. Finally, after about twenty minutes have passed, my dick and I get some relief as she puts her things away and stands. Thank freaking Christ that’s over with.

“I know your brother’s been here to help you, but this place looks like it could use a good cleaning, so I’m going to get to work. Need anything before I start? And is there any place in the house you want me to avoid?” she asks, and I’m taken aback at the question. Most women I know would be dying to snoop around.

“I’m good. I’m getting used to sitting around doing nothing. And no, there’s nothing off-limits.” She’s about to leave the room when a thought pops in my mind. “Hey, actually, there’s a book on my nightstand. Can you grab that for me? It helps pass the time.”

She nods and disappears, only to walk back in a few moments later, her eyebrows raised at the book she’s holding.

“You’re reading War and Peace? Don’t you already have enough trouble staying awake with your pain pills?” she asks teasingly as she hands me the second volume. The sexy grin on her face has me itching to grab her hand and pull her into my lap, but the bulky brace would just be in the way and I’m in no shape to pleasure her the way I want to.

“I’ve got nothing but time, sweetheart. And…well, Jace bet me a hundred bucks that I wouldn’t finish it, and I hate to lose,” I admit.

“Yeah, good luck with that. You’ll have to let me know how it turns out,” she says before grabbing her iPod out of her purse. She puts the headphones in and exits the room, leaving me alone with Tolstoy and the talking heads on ESPN.

An hour later, I’m still trying to lose myself in the world of the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys, but my mind keeps wandering to the brown-eyed girl who’s signed on to hang out with me over the next few weeks or however long she’s going to be around. I hate that I’m thinking about her, and I hate even more that I’m going to be tortured by seeing her every day. I know she’s attracted to me. I saw it in the way she checked me out last night and then in the way her eyes took in my bare chest this morning. I have to admit that it does something for my ego since it’s been killing me to stay inactive. I swear I can feel the muscle mass melting off me every single day that passes and it's doing nothing to help the bad mood that's been hanging over me for the past few weeks.

Closing the book and setting it aside, I contemplate going to find her to help ward off some of this loneliness that's been gradually creeping up on me since I left the hospital. If we’re going to be spending time together, we might as well get to know each other—platonically, of course. If she’s still around when I’m fully healed, then maybe we can test the physical waters. Maybe.

I’m about to get up and go in search of her when I hear her phone beep and notice it sitting on the table. Picking it up to take to her, I can’t help but glance at the screen. It’s a text from some guy named Drew.

Charlie, I love you. I’m back in town and I need, I want to see you as soon as possible. Please call me as soon as you get this.

Well, fuck me cockless. All sorts of accusations start flying through my head, and I determine this guy must be her man. So much for trying to get to know her. Now I don’t even want her around if that’s the type of chick she is. Either I misjudged her attraction or she likes to step out on this Drew guy when he’s apparently out of town. And to think I was getting ready to put myself out there.

“Hey, I found this grocery list on the side of the refrigerator. Cohen gave me some cash before he left. Want me to run to the store and pick this stuff up for you? I’ve got time. I don’t have anywhere I need to be today,” Charlie asks as she walks into the room, pulling the headphones out of her ears. She freezes when she sees me holding her phone and gives me a confused look.

“Oh, I think your day just got a little busier. Apparently your boyfriend’s back in town. Guess I’m fortunate that I didn’t sit down on the barstool next to you last night like my dick was screaming at me to do, sweetheart. One thing you need to know about me is that I don’t fuck other men’s women. And I sure as hell don’t respect a woman who’d step out on her man,” I spit out, pissed that what I thought could be a sweet girl I could get to know has turned out to be in the same category as Megan.

Her eyes first widen and then narrow at my words. I can see the anger spreading across her face, and while I’m confused by it, it doesn’t stop me from giving her a stare down. Who the hell does she think she is to be angry? I know she didn’t exactly hit on me, but her eyes last night told me that she wanted to. She’s standing frozen in her spot, and I can’t help but egg her on.

“What’s the matter, Charlotte? Didn’t expect me to find out? I guess that’s just too bad for you. Here’s the thing. I don’t do cheating and I can’t stand cheaters.”

Before I can get the last word out, she moves so fast that I can’t anticipate the slap that lands across my cheek. This isn’t the first slap I’ve ever gotten, but it is the first time it’s happened that I didn’t hear an apology immediately following it, the slapper’s eyes wide as she covers her mouth in an I can’t believe I just did that type of way. Nope, this girl meant for that slap to sting, and fuck, did it ever. I’m rubbing my jaw when I notice that her eyes look hot with anger, and I have to take a step back before she lands another blow.

I watch as she closes her eyes and balls her fists at her sides as she takes a deep breath. She stands there in that exact spot for a few moments, and I’m hoping she’s trying to calm down. I’m still the wronged party here, if you can even call it that, but I don’t feel like getting hit again. Slowly, she opens her eyes, unclenches her fists, and glares at me once again.

“I hope that leaves a mark, asshole.”

What in the fucking hell?


Charlie


THIS GUY has lost his mind. He is seriously delusional, and I’m questioning the validity of the assessment that he didn’t suffer brain damage. I’m about to suggest that he get a second opinion when he interrupts my thoughts.

“Sorry, sweetheart, but you’re going to have to hit a lot harder than that to leave a mark on my skin,” he prods, further irritating me, causing me to ball my hand into a fist again, ready to accept his challenge.

“Let’s get a couple of things straight here, asshole. First of all, when I introduced myself to you last night, did I say, ‘Hey, sexy, I’m Charlotte. I want a good fuck and you look just like the guy to give it to me’? Well, did I?” I ask, seething with anger as he hesitates to answer me. Sure, I may have thought about his lips on my skin, but I never would’ve gone home with him on the first night, no matter what Lucy advised me to do.

He blinks at me, looking from my fist to my face. “Uh…no?”

“Exactly, so you can forget that whole part of your argument, but thank God you’re so fucking noble that you won’t sleep with another man’s woman. Seriously. Fucking kudos. I’ll have to get you a cookie for that.” He snorts, and I glare at him, shutting him up. “So second of all, did you ever ask if I have a boyfriend? Not that it should matter to you since you blew me off when I simply told you my name, but did you ever ask if I had a boyfriend?”