my list?”
This woman, I swore, she was a handful. Her list was endless and consisted of every beauty product from her favorite cosmetic line and her favorite foods. Every year, Kyle and I would clear her list.
“I did.” I took a paper cup and poured myself a second cup of coffee. “Is the house ready for the company party?”
“Yes. And why haven’t you stopped by? You’ve been here for weeks, and you haven’t seen me after work.”
“Nana, if you’re complaining about spending more quality time with me, I’ve taken you to lunch almost every day.”
“Your parents miss you, Connor,” she deadpanned, her tone telling me that I should know exactly what she meant. “Do you love your Nana?”
“Is this a trick question?” I knew exactly where she was going with this.
She pinched my shoulder and twisted, just as she had when she scolded us when we were younger.
“Nana! Yes, I love you.”
“Then, you’re coming to dinner at the house.”
When I opened my mouth, she threateningly pressed her thumb and forefinger together in a pinching motion.
I raised a hand. “Fine, fine, fine.” I conceded because I’d suffer an evening with my parents just to make my favorite person in the whole wide world happy.
“Hey.” Charlie walked in, stopping when she saw me.
“Hey.” I swallowed.
It felt as though it’d been weeks, not just days, since I last saw her. She looked stunning today. Her hair was in a half-ponytail, and she wore this green shirt that brought out her eyes.
“Hey,” I said again, shifting from one foot to another. I guessed that was the only word I had today.
“I didn’t have time to grab some coffee this morning on the way in, so I …”
She sidestepped me to get a cup, but I offered mine.
“You can have this one.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Oh …” She took the steaming cup from my hand. “Thanks.” She tiptoed to look behind me. “Is there any powdered creamer left?”
I grabbed it from the counter and then extended it to her.
“Thanks.” She tipped her chin toward the cup filled with silverware. “A spoon, please.”
“Yeah … sure.” I plucked one from the cup of spoons and turned to face her but noticed that her hands were full. “How many scoops?”
“Three is fine.” She wrinkled her nose in the cutest way. “Or four or five. I like creamer in my coffee.”
I spooned it in her coffee, stirred it, and took the creamer from her hand.
I was awarded with a beautiful smile that lit up her face.
“Thanks, Connor.” Then, she turned to someone beside me. “Cookies for breakfast, Nancy?”
Shit. I’d totally forgotten that my grandmother was in the room.
“Yes. Breakfast of champions. Cookies and coffee.”
“Well, enjoy.” With a single wave, Charlie was out of the room.
When I turned to my nana, she was sporting an all-knowing smile.
I laughed. “What?”
“Mmhmm.”
“What’s that look for?”
She walked out, and I followed.
“You didn’t offer me any coffee, but you single-handedly gave her yours.”
“Whatever, Nana. It’s just coffee.”
“Mmhmm,” she said louder, throwing me that same I know what you are up to look.
“And where is your cup, Connor?”
I stopped mid-step, turning to look at the coffee room, now a few good feet away. How did I end up giving up two cups of coffee and walking out with none?
Before I had a chance to answer her, she said, “And you gave her your creamer too. I think great-grandkids might be sooner than you expect.”
“Nana, no … no dirty jokes from you. Please,” I said, searching to see if anyone had heard her.
“Mmhmm.” Then, she kept on walking—with my cup of coffee.
Chapter 19
Charlie
I unwrapped my sandwich and took an overly large bite.
I tried to concentrate on what Casey and Alyssa were talking about, but it was hella hard to do so because … Connor Colby.
Holy sexual tension.
It was like my body knew what it wanted, even when my brain was screaming that it was bad for me. Like that extra cookie when I’d already had five.
Ever since his hot, naked body had pressed against mine, then the boardroom incident, and then the limo make-out session, I couldn’t shake him.
And after seeing him this morning, it was almost too much to take.
It was as if the universe were trying to tell me something, but it was too bad I didn’t believe in signs.
“Did you see this?” Casey’s head was nose deep into a rag mag she was reading. The headline on the magazine was about groupies. “Seriously, look at this. They’ve interviewed all these groupies who stalk all these