“Yes. Ben is my son.”
“Ben is your son,” she murmurs under her breath, and then she grabs the edge of the leather chair. “On second thought, I think I do need to sit down for this.”
I watch as Charlotte pinches the bridge of her nose and decides to get up and grab her a glass of water. “Sorry,” she says. “Just saying it out loud is…humbling.”
“Interesting choice of words,” I say, handing her the water and sitting back down in a chair next to her. She scoots over slightly, putting more room between us. “You know, we haven’t done anything wrong. You being the wedding planner for my son after we slept together doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
Charlotte’s face hints at something else that’s bothering her about the whole thing, but I don’t know what. I think she’s just trying to get her land legs back after the shocking wave of news.
“You know,” she says, biting her lip. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.”
“Why not?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
“Because we slept together!” she whisper yells.
“I’m aware. It was good. Outstanding, if I remember correctly.” Charlotte’s cheeks begin to turn red.
“It’s going to make it really awkward being around your son all the time,” she says.
“Just because you and I had a one-night stand?” I ask. Boy. I knew this girl was wound tight, but has she really never let loose at all?
She opens her mouth and then snaps it back shut, swallowing down whatever she was about to say. She squares her shoulders and takes what I assume is another route. A more logical route, of course. “It wasn’t just a one-night stand,” she says, and a grin spreads across my face.
“Wow, I didn’t know it meant that much to you,” I tease.
“That isnotwhat I meant!” she snaps. “I only meant that…I never do things like that. And I don’t want it to follow me, you know? That means no flirting in front of people. No hinting, no inside jokes, no implying in any way that you and I have ever met before.”
“Business and pleasure can not be mixed, got it!” I nod.
“And there will be no more pleasure,” she adds.
“So itwasgood for you,” I tease, and it earns me a glare. I deserve a slap across the face right now, so I’ll take her response as an act of grace. Although knowing me, being slapped by a woman like her would probably be a turn on.
“I mean it, Gavin. No one can know. And I meanno one,” she says and I nod. This girl is actually terrified of the repercussions of a simple one-night stand getting a little ethically messy.
“I won’t say a word,” I tell her. “Scout’s honor.”
“Not just words. No smirking, no winking, no stolen glances. Nothing,” she warns me.
“So, no finding you candidly attractive. It will be hard, but I understand,” I say.
“And stop with the Boy Scout references,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Okay, fine,” I say. I am enjoying myself way too much. If only she’d loosen the girdle and join the party. “Anything else?”
Charlotte purses her lips, staring behind me before darting her eyes back over to me again. “Yes. And this is the most detrimental detail of them all. Ben cannot, and I mean absolutely not, find out that you and I slept together.”
“Fair enough,” I nod.
“I mean ever, Gavin,” she reiterates.
“I understand,” I nod.
“You promise?” she asks.
“With my pinky,” I say, holding mine out. She ignores it.
“You have to swear, Gavin,” she pleads.
