“Thanks.”
“You need a new PR person. That guy is an asshole.”
“Do you really have lawyers? As in multiple?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, Jonesy, I do. Which means now you do, too.”
I leaned into his hand when he placed it against my cheek.
“Fuck, you’re so pretty.”
“Charlie, we’re having a serious conversation.” I could feel the blush that was creeping up my neck and over my face.
He smiled. “I know, but you’re very distracting.”
Charlie climbed to his feet.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
He headed to the fridge, grabbed two hard ciders, and carried them back over to me, opening one and holding it toward me.
“Thank you.”
Charlie sat down. “You’re welcome, Jonesy.” He took a long sip from his own bottle before he winked at me. “I meant what I said. Eric is a dick, and you deserve better. Someone who can market you the way you deserve.”
“I don’t want to be marketable. I just want to drive a stockcar,” I told him.
He sighed softly. “Jonesy, my sweet, innocent little Jonesy. You have no idea, do you? That this is going to be a big deal. You’re gay, you’re a NASCAR driver, and you’re married to a man. A man whose father happens to be the governor of North Carolina and plans to run for presidentsomeday and your stepfather. Think about what that means. You’re going to be plastered on a lot of social media accounts. People are going to dig into your background, and mine, trying to prove you’re not the perfect man that you are. We’re going to get us some PR that can make us look good no matter what. Even if I’m not. And you’re going to fire Eric immediately.”
“But you are good, Charlie. You’re so good that it makes my insides shake and my heart burst from my chest. You’re kind, funny, and smart. You’re not this bad person you think you are. I wouldn’t be with you if you were,” I whispered, and when Charlie kissed me, I melted against him.
That familiar taste of cinnamon and apples ripped through my senses. I felt Charlie take the bottle from my hand, and he didn’t even pull away when he placed them safely on the floor. He pushed me onto my back and curled his fingers into my hair. He kissed me like his life depended on it. And it took my breath away.
“No one has ever said things like that about me before, Bashful. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I love you more than anyone. All I want to do is keep this smile on your face. The one you’re wearing right now,” Charlie whispered.
I cupped his head in my hands. “Keep loving me, and I promise that I will never stop smiling.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Charlie
I spent a good chunk of the afternoon on the phone with my lawyers. Jones went off with Ollie while I brainstormed with them, and they were able to find a PR firm that was going to work perfectly for us. It made me feel a little less worried about the situation. I knew that we were going to have to make some sort of statement. I just didn’t understand why. We were together. We were in love. That was it. What else were we going to have to say about the situation?
“Fuck.” I grunted.
I dragged my hands through my hair just as there was a knock on the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Curious, I climbed to my feet and opened the door. Kit glared up at me with his arms crossed over his chest. When he didn’t say anything, I shook my head and waved him inside. He moved to sit on the couch, that familiar scowl on his face, his lips set in a firm line.
I raised my brows as I sat down. “You need something? Or are you just trying to glare me to death?”
“Ollie went out with Jones.” His nostrils flared.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh-kay. They’re best friends. They hang out and do stuff together. It’s normal. It’s what they do.”
“But I wanted to spend time with Ollie.” Kit huffed. He gripped the back of his neck and ducked his head. “I think he’s mad at me. He isn’t answering my texts.”
Oh boy. “Isn’t that how it always is with the two of you? You fight, you make up, you fuck, you fight, and it goes on and on like that. It’s like your thing.”
“Yeah, but we...” Kit sighed softly. “He wants something I can’t give him.”
