Charley appreciated their concern and nodded. “I will. It’s just coffee, and I’m taking things slow. But he seems genuine, and I want to give it a chance.”
Her aunt walked over and hugged her. “We’re happy for you, sweetheart. Just trust your instincts and take things one step at a time.”
Charley smiled. “I will.”
Her aunt then whispered in her ear. “Is he cute?”
Charley snorted a laugh as she looked up at her aunt. “Very handsome.”
Her aunt winked and smiled, which made Charley laugh again.
“All right, you two, let’s finish up here and then how about we go down to that Mexican restaurant down the street for dinner.”
“Are you talking about La Fiesta?” Charley asked, hoping that was the one he meant.
Her uncle smirked. “Of course.”
Charley smiled. She loved that place. It had been around forever and was one of her favorite restaurants in town.
For the rest of the evening, Charley’s smile never left her face as her mind kept drifting to her coffee date the next day with Pierce.
???
Pierce sat at his desk, absentmindedly tapping his pen against the stack of paperwork in front of him. The O-Course with the BUD/s recruits had been grueling as always, but he thrived on the challenge. Still, his mind kept drifting back to something, or rather, someone far more pleasant than obstacle courses and hot-headed men thinking they are better than everyone.
Charley was a constant thought in his mind. Just thinking about his upcoming coffee date with her brought a smile to his face. He felt an excitement he hadn’t experienced in years. Not since before his ex-wife, Brittany.
Just mentally saying that woman’s name caused his smile to fade. His ex-wife had been a master of manipulation, a woman who could lie through her teeth with a sweet smile on her face.
The memory of her betrayal still stung, even though it had been years since their divorce. She’d cheated on him, lied to him, and when she claimed she was pregnant with his child, only for the paternity test to prove otherwise, that had been the final nail in the coffin.
“Damn it,” Pierce muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples as he tried to shake off the dark thoughts.
Just then, the door to his office swung open, and Ray strolled in. There was a mischievous glint in his eye as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“What’s with the sour puss face?” He asked, his eyebrows raised.
Pierce chuckled.
“While I was thinking about Charley, I made the mistake of letting my mind wander to Brittany and the shit she put me through.”
At the mention of Brittany, Ray’s smile faded and was replaced by a frown. “Man, don’t let that woman ruin your good mood. She’s not worth it.”
Even though Pierce and Ray weren’t on the same team during that time, Pierce was still good friends with him, and he knew about the shit that Brittany put him through and how it had messed with his head.
“Trust me, I know,” Pierce replied, his tone darkening. “Betrayal is something I can’t forgive. Especially after what she pulled.”
Ray nodded, his expression somber. “I remember. None of us could stand her after that. But hey, that’s all in the past now. You’ve got Charley in your life. I know Jessica likes her a lot and has sort of taken her under her wing since Charley doesn’t really have any friends around here.”
Pierce’s mood lifted at the mention of Charley again. “Yeah, she’s great. She and I are actually meeting tomorrow morning for coffee. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this. You know, put myself out there.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Ray’s grin returned, and he clapped Pierce on the shoulder. “Speaking of Charley, Jessica is planning to invite her over for dinner on Friday. You should come too. She’s making her famous tamales. The ones you love.”
Pierce raised an eyebrow, considering the offer. Ray wasn’t lying. Jessica made the most delicious tamales. “You’re sure Jessica’s cool with that? I don’t want to overstep my boundaries.”
“Are you kidding? She’s already said yes. What do you say?”
Pierce quirked one of his eyebrows. Were Ray and Jessica trying to play matchmakers?
