“Maybe we shouldn’t have the kids on set,” Blue said somewhere in the distance.
“Maybe none of us should be on set,” Anna said. “Good.Grief. Is this video going to have a Mature rating? People need to be warned.”
“Oh, come on.” Blue laughed. “Remember our first kiss? Steeaamy.”
“Dad, noooo,” Blaze and Belle groaned.
Charlie smiled against my mouth but she didn’t break the kiss.
“This isn’t their first kiss. Hawaii, remember?” Griffin said.
“Come on, guys,” Mom scolded. “They’re trying to focus.”
“I think Cash’s focus has never been more on point,” Liam snickered.
“Knock it off,” Dad finally said, but I could hear the pride in his voice.
Between trying not to laugh, the overwhelming joy I felt, and fighting back the urge to haul Charlie to the nearest bedroom—a big nope in the Dupree family—I couldn’t breathe. I tore my lips from hers, searching for oxygen. One gulp was enough for my brain to shout,who needs air when you’ve got Charlie Dupree?
I pressed kisses down her throat, letting all my feelings release with my words. “I love you.” Kiss. “I love you.” Kiss. “I love everything about you. Your gorgeous face.” I started across her collarbone. “Your sassy personality.” Kiss. “I even love it when you call me Dollar Bill.” Kiss. “You’re perfect.” Kiss. “In every wa?—”
The words died in my throat when she froze, going stiff in my arms. I opened my eyes to find her face twisted in horror. That’s not the reaction you want when you tell a girl you love her.
I cupped her face in my hands. “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t want to love me, Cash.” She tried to shake free but I held on tighter. “You don’t.”
“I do. It’s theonlything I want. It’s all I think about. Surely you know that.” My voice was frantic, on the verge of all-out panic.
She squeezed her eyes shut like my words were more than she could handle. “You don’t want me.”
“I do,” I insisted, confused as to why this wasn’t making her as happy as it made me.
“I’m a mess. Inside and out.”
“I love you exactly how you are.”
“No. No, you don’t.”
“Yeah. I do.” Was this about her scars? I’d clear that up right here, right now. “Who did that to you?” I placed a kiss between her brows, my lips needing to touch her every few seconds. “I saw those cuts.” Another kiss to her right eyelid. “On your thighs.” Then one to her left. “Did Lorne do that to you? I’m gonna kick his?—”
“No.” Her hands fell from around my neck and she slide sideways out of my arms, looking so ashamed. Then she whispered the most devastating words I’d ever heard her say…
“I did it to myself.”
She disappeared under the water.
I stood there, open-mouthed, in a daze. Why would she hurt herself like that? I couldn’t fathom it.
My head gave a little shake when Bennett called, “This is perfect! Didn’t even tell her to do that!”
I dove under, swimming as fast as I could to catch her. Once I was around the waterfall, I came to the top and wiped the moisture from my eyes. Charlie was already halfway up the stairs on the far end of the pool. Three cameramen filmed her every move.
I threw my hands up. “Charlie, come back!”
But just like the day she’d sprinted from Lorne, she took off across the fields, barefoot this time, undoubtedly running from me. Hands at the back of my head, I watched her go, trying to wrap my heart around it all.
“Cut!” Bennett yelled. “My word!” He tugged at his hair, wild-eyed like a mad scientist who’d just discovered the secret to immortality. “That might be the best acting I’ve seen in my entire career.”
