eyes met his as he wrapped himself up again, and I scowled. “Not funny, Connor. I just felt your big …” My eyes went to his package underneath the towel. “Against my thigh!” I groaned.
“You’re really great for my ego, Charlie. My big …” He let out a low laugh.
Gah! How did he think this was remotely funny?
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I turned in the other direction. “I’m sure you know how to let yourself out.”
“Charlie …” I could feel him following me. “It was an accident. I’m just trying to make light of a very uncomfortable situation.”
I walked straight into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I locked it, mortified beyond belief, resting my back against the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Charlie … I’d like to say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
He was laughing. Little bastard was laughing.
I shut my eyes tightly. “I quit.” Because, how could our relationship go back to normal after we rubbed uglies? I scratched my temple.
“Don’t say that.” His tone turned serious now. “It was an accident. A horrible, embarrassing accident that will never, ever be mentioned again. Okay?”
I huffed.
“Charlie, I promise. It will be like it never happened.”
His words were met by silence.
“Listen, I’m sorry that I tripped and fell naked upon your body.”
“Connor …”
“Okay. But you have to admit, it was kind of funny?”
“No.”
A low tap hit the door. It seemed as though he was tapping his forehead against the door.
“You’re not really quitting on me, are you?”
Another tap.
“Because I kinda need you.”
Another tap.
“For this restructure.”
After a silent minute, which seemed like forever, he audibly huffed.
“Charlie … I’m going to leave. The rain seems to have died down a little. But I’m not leaving until you promise me that you’ll be at work.”
I kept silent, chewing on my bottom lip like it was my next meal.
“Please, Charlie. I’m not leaving until you promise.”
Given what I already knew about him, I knew he was one stubborn man.
I opened the door and peered up at him through my lashes, frowning. “I promise. ’Kay?”
His eyes scoured my body, and it turned all my cheeks heated.
“See you then, Charlie.”
I scowled. “Your clothes are in the dryer.” I shut the door on him and let myself slip to the floor.
How is this even going to work now?
Chapter 12
Connor
I’d always prided myself on being headstrong, making a decision and sticking with it. I was the guy who had upped and left Chicago, determined never to come back. I was the guy who had wanted to rise to the director level at Financial State within a few years of starting. And so far, I’d never doubted my ability of sticking to my guns, but watching Charlie like I was a stalker straight up from a bad movie had me doubting myself.
I leaned against the wall, observing her interact with Nana. Part of me believed Nana broke her computer on a daily basis because she wanted to see Charlie. If I had to guess, I wasn’t the only one charmed by the new girl.
Nana laughed at something Charlie had said and stuffed more cookies in her mouth. She was like the cookie monster on steroids.
But Charlie … she was something else altogether. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. All that bombarded my mind was her soft, naked body against mine, her perky breasts, the curvature of her hips, the little patch of hair …
“What are you doing?”
I jumped back as Alyssa slid beside me.
“Shit, Alyssa,” I hissed.
“What are you doing?” she repeated.
Her stare followed mine, and her smirk told me she knew what I had been doing—stalking.
“Watching Nana eat cookies. I’m going to stage an intervention soon.” I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my neck.
“Mmhmm. Sure.”
Alyssa was one of the most perceptive women I’d ever met in my life. No one could bullshit this girl, so I wasn’t even going to try.
“Anyway, did you want something?” I asked.
“Nope. I was going to grab Charlie for lunch … unless you want to?” Alyssa lifted an eyebrow, smirking.
I shook my head, playing dumb. “Oh. We’re not working on the rebranding again today.”
“Oookay,” she drawled out, this all-knowing look in her eye.
Great. She is onto me. Probably has been.
“All right, I think I’ll talk to Nana later.” I about-faced and got out of there like there was something very important waiting for me in my office.
I needed a cold shower. And stat.
About an hour before quitting time, I went to Charlie’s desk because I wanted all this awkwardness