Inside, I feel sick. “I have no doubt she would do that. You also have to remember that my brother is a celebrity, so this would be an embarrassment to him.”
She nods with new understanding. “Aren’t there laws or something that can stop her?”
“I’m in regular contact with my lawyer but until she actually does something, there isn’t very much I can do. And if I try to put some sort of restraining order on her or try to get her for stalking, for sure she will release the tape.”
For a while, we just sit there, and I’m wondering what she thinks about me now, or what she’s thinking of doing. Is she going to ask me to move back to my own bedroom? Is she going to ask me to move out altogether?
Finally, she says, “Are you in danger from her? Am I?”
My gaze shoots to hers, as I haven’t really considered that. I told Theo that I didn’t think she was dangerous, but now that she’s showed up in New York, I have to reconsider that. Not that she would be physically dangerous because I don’t think she would, but if she knew about Charlotte, she might try to hurt her too or hurt me through her.
“I don’t think she will cause any sort of physical harm, but she does seem to have a knack for causing professional harm. Being with me could be a problem for you, if she found out.”
Charlotte lets out a small gasp. “What does that mean?”
In my head, I know it means that I should move out. I should probably go back to California and face this head-on. But then Charlotte moves toward me, wrapping her arms around me, and I couldn’t leave even if a thousand horses were dragging me.
It’s in this moment I realize that what I feel for Charlotte isn’t a friends-with-benefits situation. I’m in love with her. I can’t say how or when it happened, but it’s there.
She kisses me softly. “Let me help you.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know how you can.”
"We’ll deal with this together."
I want to say yes, even though I know the best answer is no. I don’t say anything now because I’m just too tired to think about it anymore. I pull her into my lap. “You never had lunch.”
She shakes her head. “It’s okay. I’m not that hungry.”
“But you’re on your lunch break.”
Her eyes turn flirty. “There’s more that you can do on a lunch break than eat lunch, you know.”
Immediately the heaviness of Hayden being in town begins to lighten, replaced by the feelings Charlotte gives me. Not just the sensual ones, but also the love. I stand and carry her into her bedroom.
At first, as we undress, it’s playful with banter, but the minute my body settles over hers, emotions sweep through me. I want her to know how much I care for her, and yet, I’m too much of a coward to say the words. So instead I use my hands and my lips to worship and love her body.
And when it’s time, and I’ve clasped her hands in mine overhead, and I’ve settled my hips between hers, I ask her to look at me. With our gazes holding, I push inside her, and hope that she sees that I love her.