But that doesn’t mean I don’t notice beautiful women when I’m around them.
Charli’s hard not to notice. Her skin is this dark bronze, and her hair is thick and black and beautiful. But the thing I like most about her is that she seems completely oblivious to how stunning she is. She doesn’t try to doll herself up or dress in anything other than clothes that make her feel comfortable.
I like that.
Girls like her feel less intimidating somehow. I’m not even sure why.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I slowly wander through the upper floor, popping my head into various doorways and assessing each room.
After four attempts, I finally find one in the very back corner of the house. There’s a bed against the wall, and this looks more like an office with a small bed added for potential overflow. I tentatively lie down and make sure it’s long enough to fit my body.
Just.
It’ll do.
And a small, out-of-the-way room is perfect. No one will notice me down here, and if it all gets too much, I can hide away.
Don’t hide away! You’re here to bond, make connections. Don’t waste this weekend.
Closing my eyes, I grip the back of my neck and take a few deep breaths.
Get back downstairs, man. Move it!
I pull my shoulders back, sucking in one more fortifying breath, when a loud shout rises from downstairs.
It’s not a cheer. It’s more of a pained, shocked cry, and I bolt out the door, ready to help whoever is in trouble.
10
CHARLI
I can’t stop laughingas I stare up at Sawyer, his beautiful bronze skin now caked in flour. I’ve used up a whole bag, but… worth it!
It looks like Christmas came early in the kitchen, and most of the flour landed on Sawyer. He was too busy making cheese sauce to notice me climb onto the island behind him. Mac watched me with a quiet smirk, obviously realizing the importance of my retaliation.
I was covered in chocolate syrup! Of course I have to get Mr. Dick back for that kind of behavior, and what better way to show him I mean business than by dumping an entire bag of flour onto his head.
Scared the crap out of him too, which was an extra cool bonus.
“Charli!” he yells. “I’m gonna burn the sauce.”
I snort, my legs buckling as I jump off the island and land on the kitchen floor with a giggle.
Shit, flour is seriously everywhere. I run my hands through it as Sawyer huffs and turns off the burner, moving the pot of half-cooked cheese sauce onto a board and spinning to glare at me
My belly shakes and quivers, laughter bursting out of me again. Even his eyelashes are white with it. He looks hilarious.
With a playful growl, he pounces toward me, and I’m laughing too hard to stop him from picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I cough and splutter as I accidentally inhale a nose full of flour dust.
“You little shit.” He spanks my ass and I let out another laugh, slapping his back as he walks us out the sliding glass door.
I guess it’s time for another swim in the lake. I should be fighting him, but I can’t stop laughing as he walks us down the jetty and throws me off his shoulder.
Damn, he’s strong.
I fly through the air and land with a splash.
Water goes up my nose, and I kick my way to the surface, the cool evening water jolting me. My head pops up just in time to see Sawyer surfacing as well, shaking out his wet mop of curls. He’s been growing it out the past year, and it’s getting crazy long. He keeps the sides and back short and then just has this mop on top. I kind of love it.
