“That you’ve been acting avoidant since Monday.”
Sutton’s mouth fell open in what seemed like offense even as she blushed. “I—I have not.”
God, she was such a terrible liar. Charlotte loved it. Honestly, it delighted her.
“Sutton, I didn’t send you those gift baskets with any untoward intention,” that was the truth. She didn’t expect to get anything from sending them. “You are my…” She pursed her lips. “Did we not agree on Monday to be friendly? That’s a bit more than colleagues, kissing notwithstanding, right?” she countered.
Sutton’s lips pulled into a frown before she admitted. “I… I guess so. But?—”
“A kiss only has to have as much effect on our relationship as we let it.” The words coming out of her mouth sounded so familiar, they made her ache. But it was the truth. She’d just gotten Sutton back into her life. She wasn’t going to risk it all and push for another kiss or anything more now.
She slowly stood, coming to the front of her desk, only a foot in front of Sutton. She could feel those blue eyes on her, watching every move. She felt Sutton’s gaze like it was a physical touch, and she made sure to stay at least a few feet away.
Almost every instinct inside of her said to move the slightest bit forward. To move close enough that Sutton would feel that physical connection they shared. That they’d always shared, and even before the kiss on Monday, it had still been there.
She wanted to feel it herself, that buzz of awareness that swept through her whenever they were close, and she wanted Sutton to feel it, too. It was instinctive, this innate part of her that knew how much of an effect she could have and how much sway it had over both herself and Sutton.
The kiss was evidence enough of that.
But—no.
She wasn’t doing that. Charlotte was not relying on the physical with Sutton. That was what she had done before.
Charlotte had to figure out her game plan forromancenow.
So she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back to sit on the edge of her desk. “I apologize for the kiss and any other feelings it inspired throughout this past week to have caused any sort of avoidance. It wasn’t my intention when I arrived at your home on Monday.”
Also true.
Was she upset about it? Of course not. The opposite, really.
But she’d just – she’d just wanted to move things forward between them. She didn’t want to waste this opportunity of Sutton returning to her life only to have it wither into truly nothing more than a professional acquaintance.
Sutton’s eyebrows drew down, and Charlotte could really see all of the fight that had been bolstering her the whole way here drain out of her.
Her body language read as fidgety but no longer upset as she intertwined her fingers in front of her. Charlotte would count that as a win.
“I, um, accept your apology,” Sutton spoke, her voice quiet. She bit her lip, seeming unsure of her next move.
The closer Charlotte looked, the odder Sutton seemed. Her mannerism storming into the office, her fidgeting now, the flush in her cheeks.
Odd, she thought again, studying her closely.
“I’m”—Sutton cleared her throat—“sorry about avoiding you. We are adults in a working relationship, and that was not professional. I—” She closed her eyes tightly. “I’m feeling out of my depth a little bit,” she admitted, her tone so vulnerable.
And even though Charlotte wanted to reach outso badly, she kept her hands pressed against her thighs. “Sutton, would you like to get dinner with me?”
Those blue eyes opened wide, blinking incredulously at Charlotte. “Excuse me?”
“Dinner?” Charlotte suggested, a small smile on her lips, even as her hopes rose at the unexpected invitation. “I assume, since you’re here, that Lucy is with her other mother. For the night.”
“What…” Sutton seemed nonplussed, her eyebrows drawing together at Charlotte’s invitation. “What?”
“I’m not sure what.” Charlotte was already thinking of a few options. She could get them in essentially anywhere, and even though she hadn’t really tried towooanyone in, well, ever, she knew which venues exuded romance. “Anything you’re in the mood for.”
Sutton shook her head before staring at Charlotte, eyebrows furrowed.
“I know a lovely bakery that sells lemon cakes.”
