“But I really do have to go now. So, I’ll see you tonight. Mrs. Neal said you were going to bake cookies today, so you better save me one,” I teased, bopping her on the nose and heading for the door.
“I will.” Isla sighed dramatically. With the number of eye rolls, heaving sighs, and overly exaggerated poses, Isla was well on her way to her future career of being an actress.
“I’ll call you later,” Luke promised with a wink as I pulled open the door.
I thought I was free and clear. I had one foot already out the door when I heard someone call my name. “Charlotte?”
I was already on the borderline of being late, but I couldn’t be rude. Instead, I turned around and saw Mrs. Neal ambling toward me, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Yes?”
“Are you joining us next week for Thanksgiving dinner?” she asked, her eyes flickering between me and Luke. She knew full well we hadn’t gotten that far. Hell, it’d barely registered on my radar that next week WAS Thanksgiving. That’d snuck up on me quickly.
“I’m not sure,” I replied.
“We can talk about it tonight,” Luke jumped in, taking the pressure off me. “Go! Go before you’re late,” he added quickly as he moved toward me holding open the door. “I don't want you getting in trouble because of me.”
“You don’t?”
Leaning in, Luke whispered so I was the only one who heard him, “If you’re going to get in trouble it’s going to be with me not because of me.”
“You’re trouble,” I confirmed.
With a wink, a kiss on the cheek, and a slap on the ass, Luke said goodbye in a way only Luke could. “And you love it.”
20
LUKE
It’d takensome convincing and maybe a little bit of manipulating, but somehow, we’d talked Charlotte into joining us for Thanksgiving dinner. It was my year to have the day off and I was cooking. Well, I was supposed to be cooking. After I’d turned the oven on, I’d been promptly shooed out of the kitchen only to be summoned back when something needed peeling or the trash needed to be taken out.
“Dad. What time is Charlotte coming over?” Isla asked from where she was sitting perched on the stool at the kitchen bench wearing the ugliest pink frilly apron I’d ever seen.
“Soon, sweetheart,” I told her, trying not to be too specific.
Charlotte was working this morning and coming over straight after her shift and I had a surprise for her, one I hoped she’d like.
Since her sleepover last week, we’d only managed another two nights and somehow it wasn’t enough but it was better than nothing. Between shifts that didn’t line up, Isla, and Charlotte having her own life, we just didn’t get enough time together. I knew I was in love with her, I mean, it was pretty impossible not to be, but I hadn’t told her yet. I’d come close so many times, but I was looking for the right moment. She’d told me some of what had happened with her ex, and I knew she was holding something back, but I wouldn’t push her. She’d tell me when she was ready. But I was already there. I needed to tell her and I was telling her today. So many times I’d almost blurted it out when I shouldn’t have, like when she was on her knees with her lips wrapped around my cock, I needed to do this right.
“Ugh! I wish she’d hurry up,” Isla whined.
I wasn’t the only one obsessed with Charlotte. Isla was attached. Last night when I’d been tucking her into bed she asked if Charlotte was going to be her new mom. I almost choked on my reply. I know it was too early to be thinking about that, I hadn’t even told her I loved her yet so thinking of forever was a bit more of a step.
“Isla,” Mrs. Neal distracted her. “Did you want to come and help me with the pie?”
My phone buzzed and I picked it up, smiling when I saw Charlotte’s name pop up.
Charlotte:Just finishing up now. Heading home to change then I’m on my way
Without even bothering to pretend to be cool, I replied quickly.
Luke:Hurry up. We miss you
Charlotte:xoxo
After double-checking my room was clean, I’d already changed the sheets and scrubbed the bathroom this morning. Now all I needed was Charlotte to arrive and the day would be perfect.
Knowing she wasn’t far away, I told Isla she could go and change into her party dress, the same party dress she’d been wearing when she’d bounced into my bed before the sun this morning. It’d taken a lot of coaxing and promises to get her to take it off so it didn’t get dirty before lunch was even served.
