Maya’s smile widened, taking over her face, as she saluted Charlotte.
Autumn, in turn, gave her a much more reserved grin, but there was a twinkle in her eye as she met Charlotte’s gaze and nodded.
Nothing had really changed or shifted in the office after her personal day off that she’d spent with Autumn. Perhaps, Charlotte could admit, she felt a bit more affectionate toward the younger woman. She was maybe rooting more fervently than she had been for Autumn to figure all of her own life issues out soon—while she was still at the age at which Charlotte herself wished she’d figured her own issues out.
“I’ll be driving my own car tonight,” she continued, “but Hamish is available should either of you need a ride.” Taking in a deep, calming breath, she finished, “So. Have a lovely evening.”
“You, too!” Maya returned as Charlotte started to walk away.
Charlotte very much intended to.
Charlotte,as she’d told her assistants, drove herself to Sutton’s home.
She was going on a date with Sutton. She was picking Sutton up, for a date. Because they were going todate, openly and with all of their respective cards on the table.
Because they were finally starting to get it right.
Well, she admitted to herself as she parked outside of Sutton’s home, becauseshewas finally getting it right.
They’d seen one another at the beginning of this week, when Charlotte had showed up unannounced at Sutton’s house and had then been, unexpectedly, grilled by Lucy. And though Charlotte had wanted to stay that night, she’d reluctantly forced herself to leave soon after Lucy had gone to bed.
Mostly because, as they’d sat on the couch next to one another, Charlotte had found herself drunk on their proximity. She’d found it so difficult to hold herself back from reaching out and touching Sutton, from wanting to turn to Sutton and kiss her.
She’d been bursting with energy and excitement and joy and desire, especially as she swore she saw those same feelings reflected in Sutton. That hunch had been somewhat proven to be correct when Sutton had leaned in and captured Charlotte in a kiss.
A simple kiss that had quickly, easily escalated in intent and heat, and…
And Charlotte had had to force herself to pull back and tell Sutton that she wanted to do this in the right order this time.
“Right order?” Sutton had echoed, her voice low and raspy and undeniably amused.
Using every ounce of restraint that she’d had to stop herself from leaning back in and kissing that smile right off of Sutton’s lips, Charlotte had dragged her hands through her hair. “Yes, darling. The right order. Given that we’ve donethis”—she’d gestured between the two of them—“twice now, and everything started physically rather than romantically. I want things to go differently this time.”
Charlotte had never experienced this with anyone. Now she wanted to have thewholeexperience with Sutton.
Which was why she held a bouquet of sunflowers as she walked up to Sutton’s front door, which swung open before she could even knock on it.
She blinked up in surprise at Sutton, who was smiling somewhat sheepishly at her. “I, uh, I saw you coming, so…”
Charlotte drew her gaze down Sutton’s body, taking in her fitted, black pants and the sweater she had tucked in at the front waist—dressy casual, matching the same type of clothing Charlotte had said she’d be wearing.
Andgod, if Sutton didn’t pull the look off exquisitely. Subtle but chic, with one side of her auburn hair swept up with a comb, and…
That swooping feeling returned even stronger than before as she stepped closer and handed Sutton the flowers. Simultaneously, she leaned in and pressed her lips against the soft, warm skin of Sutton’s cheek, deliberately catching at the corner of her mouth.
A familiar and easy want slid through her as she felt Sutton’s warm exhalation against her own cheek. She could only hear the quiet sound in Sutton’s throat as Charlotte lingered because she wasso close.
After several long seconds, she drew back.
Sutton stared at her for a beat, her hand clenching the stems of the flowers before she cleared her throat and shook her head. “I… just give me one second. I need to put these?—”
The door behind her was tugged open wider, and Charlotte nearly jumped back in surprise at the sudden movement. Suttondidstartle, and Charlotte reached out to steady her.
They both turned to look at Regan, who grinned brightly, mischievously, at them both.
Sutton’s hand was on her chest, undoubtedly over her racing heart, as she rolled her eyes. “What are youdoingstanding there like a creepy psychopath?”
Charlotte wordlessly mirrored that sentiment as she arched a severe eyebrow up at Regan.
