Her blue-green eyes shone brightly in the soft lighting. I wanted to skinny-dip in them, and I’d never considered baring myself to someone in that way. Body and soul.
“Well, I guess that explains your lukewarm apology.”
“I didn’t want to be too assuming ... I never imagined you’d wait for me. I wasn’t that important or whatever. When you reached out, I said yes right away.”
I’d e-mailed her on a whim. A funny thing had happened on the set—there was a dog and he was doing a trick but ended up barfing—and I couldn’t stop laughing. The actor was so disgusted. Without thinking, I attached a video clip to an e-mail and asked to see her, asked for a chance to make her laugh in person.
She’d agreed, and I booked a flight. It was a bit risky, but I had to know if she liked the new version of me.
Apparently, she liked the old one.
I spent several beats staring at her, drinking her in. She was better than beer or Black Label. Way better than the most expensive bottle of champagne.
“Okay, here you go.” The server set our drinks on the table and asked, “You ready?”
“Well, the burger of the night feels like the way to go, but the onions? I guess they only work if we both eat them?”
It was a veiled question, a wimp’s way of asking what I wanted to know. Did she like the new me inthatway?
“I’ll have that,” Charli said.
“Two specials,” I said to the server, and then looked back at her. “And fries?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“And fries to share,” I told him, mentally adding,And now, scat.
Charli swallowed, and I braced my hand on the table. More than anything, I wanted to run my hand over her skin, allow my fingers to trace her collarbone. I wanted to pull her close ... to kiss her.
Nothing with this woman was meant to be rushed. She was like a fine wine that only improved with age and time. Time she hadn’t been given growing up, but I’d waited close to a year.
I could wait some more.
