The Man I Thought I Trusted - E. L. Todd Page 0,48

rang for a long time.

He answered just before I hung up. “Carson, I’m kinda busy right now…”

“Oh, thank god. I just wanted to check that you’re okay. You’ve never not come home before without letting me know. Are you on assignment?”

“No. I’m with Denise…”

My eyes widened at the revelation, and I cupped my mouth even though my gasp was silent. “Ooh…gotcha. Give it to her good, alright? And make sure—”

He hung up.

I grinned and put the phone aside, relieved that he was totally fine and something was happening with Denise—finally. This narrative had been going on for a long time, and I was glad it had some kind of forward movement at last.

I texted Dax. Charlie didn’t come home tonight, so I started to worry. Guess what he’s doing?

I think you mean guess WHO he’s doing. And I think that answer is obvious.

I can’t believe it. Charlie and my sister.

I can’t believe it took this long. So, you’re alone for the rest of the night?

Looks like it.

You want company?

I’m just going to watch TV and go to bed.

Well…we could have couch sex.

Hmm…not a bad idea.

I’ll be back there in twenty minutes, sweetheart.

Perfect. I’ll put on some lingerie.

His response was lightning fast. Make it ten minutes.

“Spill it.” I stepped into Charlie’s cubicle and hopped onto his desk.

Charlie looked up from his laptop and gave me an incredulous look. “You know I don’t kiss-and-tell.”

My legs swayed back and forth as I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t kiss-and-tell, my ass.” He told me about every woman he’d been with, fingering a date in the back seat of a taxi and doing it on a deserted beach at Coney Island.

“But you don’t know those women. You don’t even know what they look like, just have a first name. This is different.”

“At least that means there was some kissing not to tell.”

He turned back to his computer and brushed off my interrogation.

“She’s just going to tell me next time I see her, you know.”

“And you don’t think it’s weird to hear the intimate details about your sister’s sex life?” He turned in his chair and faced me.

“No.” I shrugged. “I tell her stuff all the time. You’ve never told your brother about nailing some woman in the back of a club?”

His shrug was an affirmation. “We had a great time—I’ll leave it at that.” A slight smile spread on his lips, a look of happiness accompanying it in his eyes. Charlie had always been a positive person, but that smile made me realize how unhappy he’d been prior to this, and now…he was actually happy.

“Did you give her that D?”

He rolled his eyes.

I narrowed my eyes and stared at his face.

“Come on, I’m a gentleman.”

“You wouldn’t be the first guy she’s slept with on the first date, so you don’t need to protect her reputation. Come on, it’s the twenty-first century.”

He grinned. “Since you’re going to pull it out of me…she got that D—and a lot of it.”

“Woo-hoo!” I threw my hands in the air and made a scene, so the rest of the reporters turned to look at us.

“Shh!” Charlie slapped my knee.

I lowered my hands and dropped my voice. “I’m so happy for you guys. This was a long time coming.”

“You’re telling me…”

“You think she’ll join us on the court for basketball?”

“Not sure. I think she likes watching me play instead.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“I bet.” I chuckled then got off the desk. “Well, I should get back to work. Simon Prescott isn’t going to end up in jail by himself.”

“Has he contacted you since?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m sure he’s all talk.”

“Still, keep your eyes peeled, alright? Never underestimate anyone, just as someone should never underestimate you.”

I gave him a thumbs-up. “Good advice.”

When we walked onto the court, I spotted Dax in his black running shorts, his perfectly chiseled torso shiny with sweat. He had those sexy narrow hips with the tight abs underneath his tanned skin, and his veins ran at the very bottom of his stomach along with a thin line of hair. His hands moved to his hips before he wiped his forehead with the back of his arm.

Charlie and Denise walked behind me and moved to the bleachers.

“Look at her drool.” My sister took a seat and crossed her legs.

I snapped out of the stare and turned back to her. “Hey, you can’t blame me.”

Charlie pulled his shirt over his head.

Denise’s eyes immediately went to his naked chest. “Yeah, I can’t.”

Charlie chuckled like he knew she was staring