He always seemed so confident, so it was unusual to see this side of him. Since Charlie was always second-guessing herself, she found his insecurity oddly reassuring.
“I want us to make a good memory there. Together. I want you to think ofuswhen you walk through those doors. Not him.”
Could he be any sweeter?
She stared up into those seas of blue as she placed a hand on his powerful chest.
“I already do think of us, Derek. I remember the moment I turned that corner and nearly ran into you. Of all the ways you’d changed over the years, yet you were somehow still the same. I think about how, with that one chance encounter, my life was changed in all the best ways.”
She could’ve sworn there were unshed tears brightening his eyes, but he blinked them away quickly before clearing his throat. “Well, damn.” He smirked. “There go those plans.”
Raising onto her tiptoes, Charlie pressed her lips against his. “It’s still a good plan.” She kissed him again as he rested his hands on her towel-covered hips. Taking his bottom lip between her teeth, she whispered, “A perfect plan.”
Heat melted into his eyes, and his grasp tightened. “In that case, you’d better get a move-on. Don’t want Lex givin’ away our table.”
Part of her wanted to say to hell with dinner, but he’d put so much thought into the evening she decided that portion of their date could wait until later.
Stepping back out of his reach, she turned toward her closet. “I wish I’d known your plans sooner,” she spoke over her shoulder. “I would’ve gotten something special to wear.”
Charlie still had a couple of nicer outfits from the clothes Derek had shoved into the suitcase that night at the hotel. But it would have been nice to wear a special outfit, just for him.
“Surely there’s somethin’ in there that’ll work for tonight.”
“Yeah. I have a couple of things that—” She slid open the slatted doors and gasped.
Her clothes that were hanging had all been separated. Half pushed down the bar to the left, the other half to the right.
In the center, all by itself, was a gorgeous, little black dress. Taking it off the bar for a better look, she realized it was exactly the kind of dress she would’ve bought for herself.
Its straps were thin, and the neckline was just low enough to be sexy. The dress was somewhat fitted, part of the silky material gathering at one side of the waist.
A slit ran up the center, peaking right at mid-thigh. The dress’s hem looked as though it would hit her just below the knee.
As she went to hang it back up, Charlie noticed a new pair of sexy, strapped heels sitting on the floor below it.
He even bought me shoes.
“You like it?” Derek’s voice had her whirling around.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. She looked at the dress again and then back to him. With an extra-wide grin, she shook her head. “I can’t believe you did this.”
A slight blush began to spread into his cheeks. “I remember you always used to like wearing black. I don’t know if you still do, but I saw that in one of the shops near our office building, and I don’t know...I just had to buy it for you. If you don’t like it, I can always return it.”
“I love it,” she assured him.
Charlie went to him. Cupping his clean-shaven face, she dove right in and took what she wanted.
Derek wrapped his arms around her waist, his erection pressing against her belly as he pulled her body flush with his.
Their tongues twirled together like a perfectly choreographed dance, and when she finally ended the kiss, the emotions Charlie felt toward this man filled her to the core.
Unable to contain it any longer, she locked her eyes with his and whispered, “I love you.”
Clearly surprised by the sudden declaration, Derek’s brows shot up, and his eyes grew wide. “Yeah?”
She smiled even as tears began to fall down over her cheeks. “Yeah. I...” She licked her lips before admitting, “I always have.”
Charlie had barely gotten the words out when Derek grabbed her face and kissed her with the same passion and desire she’d just given him. Pulling away, he leaned his forehead against hers.
