Take the Chance (Top Shelf Romance #9) - Brittainy Cherry Page 0,337

awkward I sound. “That was meant to be a question.”

Charlene bites her bottom lip. “You can stay and spend some time with me, if you want.”

“Yes. I want.” I nod, then realize I haven’t completed the thought. “To spend time with you.”

I retrieve a vase from Charlene’s pantry and help her arrange the flowers. She has trouble deciding where she wants them, and eventually settles on the kitchen table, which she can see from the living room and the front door.

Charlene’s house is small, as one might expect for a single woman living on her own. She makes good money as an accountant for sports professionals, but she’s still managing all of her costs on a single income, which is why I insisted on giving her a credit card to make special purchases.

She adjusts the vase, turning it half an inch to the right and then to the left, determining placement. Her ass looks fantastic in leggings, and I decide I need to find out where she gets them so I can buy some for her, and she can wear them more often.

When she comes to my place, her visits are always arranged in advance, which means her makeup is flawless and she’s impeccably dressed. But I like this version of her as well. She looks relaxed and comfortable, something I would like to experience more of.

“What do you want to do now?” she asks.

“What were you doing before I arrived?”

“Just watching TV.”

“Well, we could do that together.”

“Uh, we can, but I was watching bad reality TV.”

“That’s okay.” I’m likely going to be watching Charlene and not the TV, so the content is basically irrelevant.

I follow her to the living room, which is cozy, like the rest of her house. It looks like she was sitting on the couch, curled up with a blanket. I drop down at the end that’s blanket free and adjust the pillow behind me.

Charlene folds the blanket and drapes it neatly over the back of the couch, then takes a seat on the other end. She fidgets. Picks up her half-consumed hot chocolate and takes a sip while she unmutes the TV.

I glance at the screen. “What is this?”

“Teen Baby Daddy. I told you I was watching bad reality TV.”

“Wow. So this is really a show?”

“I can change it.” She reaches for the remote, her cheeks flushing.

I cover her hand with mine. “No. Don’t do that. It’s fine.”

“Sometimes I like to watch reality TV because it reminds me how easy my life is in comparison. But we can do something else if you want.” She sets her hot chocolate on the side table and shifts closer. She looks shy and uncertain as she leans in, brushing her lips over the edge of my jaw. “Thank you, for the flowers and the chocolate. That was a nice surprise.”

I have to fight with my body not to turn my head, slip my fingers in her hair and taste her mouth. I imagine she’s sweet like chocolate right now. I remind myself that I have another purpose for being here that isn’t supposed to be about sex. If it’s offered, I don’t want to say no, though, especially since I’m going to be away for a few days and all I’ll have is my hand to keep me company.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay after last night and your afternoon with the girls.”

She sits back, putting distance between us again. I don’t like it. Maybe I should’ve sat in the middle of the couch, then she’d have to sit next to me. “Oh. Right, of course. Do you want to know what I told them?”

“Only if you want to tell me.” I pick up the nail polish sitting on the coffee table and tap the end of her single, painted toe. “Don’t you usually go to the spa for this?”

“I was going to make an appointment for when you’re away.”

“Would you like me to make one for you?” I shift and set her foot in my lap. “I could arrange to have Violet join you.”

“You don’t have to go to the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. You could have a whole day at the spa if you’d like.” I run my thumb along her instep. “In the meantime, I could paint these for you while you get your TV fix.” I wiggle her big toe.

“Just as long as this isn’t the beginning of a foot fetish, have at it,” she says.

“I think you know all of my fetishes