12
Each night they were together had been better than the one before. He’d hated driving her back to her apartment. Once he was lying naked with her, he didn’t want to let her go. At one point he’d been so comfortable he almost offered to bring Miss Snuggles there so there would be no excuse for her to leave.
Those words never left his mouth but had shocked the hell out of him even contemplating saying them. They hadn’t made it through the entire week and he was already thinking of ways for this to continue. How was it possible one look into those eyes of hers was all it took?
He knew she was up because she’d already sent him a good morning text. It was Friday and Charles hadn’t made a plan for tonight’s date. Sadly he couldn’t come up with anything as unique as hers. There was no way he was that boring, was he?
Charles could come up with a million things to do. Hell, he’d even thought about flying her away for a night for a romantic dinner on the beach. But he didn’t want to wave his wallet around because that would only make her run. He needed to come up with something equally romantic but something anyone could do.
Taking her back to his place for another night of love making definitely was on the top of his list, but he wasn’t going to win her heart with mind-blowing sex. Well, at least not with that alone.
Impressing someone like Rosslyn wasn’t easy. So far the closest he’d come was the concert in the park and the fireworks. Everyone knew Friday night was a big date night. But it was raining so outdoor stuff was out, and he didn’t want to go to a museum. Dancing would be an option but he wasn’t into the club scene and had a feeling neither was she. He wasn’t opposed to finding someplace intimate, laid back.
Charles knew exactly who to call.
“Twice in a week. Before you know it, we’ll actually make time to hang out again,” Sal joked.
“Why don’t we pull the guys together for a poker night?” Charles suggested.
Sal laughed. “That would be great, but it seems you and I are the only bachelors left. Mike is on kid number four and Ronnie just had twins.”
“Twins? God, I hope they aren’t anything like him or his wife is in for trouble,” Charles half joked.
“It’s worse than that. They are girls. But I have a feeling you called for something else. Is it Grayson?” Sal asked.
Oddly enough, the only time he didn’t think about Maxwell was when he was thinking about or with Rosslyn. “No. I wanted to know if your friend still plays in a jazz band.”
“I saw him last weekend. Why?”
“Can you find out where they’re playing tonight and reserve me the best table?”
Sal sighed. “I thought you were going to chill out a bit so I don’t have to hear it from my mother. Seems you have a short memory.”
Charles knew it would get back to Sal’s mother. That part of town talked. “Don’t worry, we’re not going to her place for dinner, which won’t make her happy at all.”
“Now we’re talking. Give me a few minutes and I’ll text you the information. Table for two, correct?”
“Yes. And for tonight.”
“Got it the first time you said it. Now why don’t you do some work and let me plan your date for you,” Sal teased then hung up.
He normally spent a hell of a lot more hours in the office, first one in and last one out. Since that hadn’t been the plan this week, he better kick his ass in gear and concentrate.
As he reviewed the latest proposals, he was impressed. This was one of the best deals he’d seen in a while. At first he thought it was Ethan as it had his flare. But the name on the bottom wasn’t his. It was Dylan. He picked it up and looked closer. There was no way this was Dylan’s, at least not Dylan’s alone.
He leaned back in his chair and smiled. Finally they were pulling together. Sadly it took Charles being such a hard-ass to accomplish it. As long as they all stood together, even if against him, it was progress. A year ago not one of them would side with another.
Charles called the one person he could share this with.
“Hi Dad, how are things?” Charles wanted to make sure his father was in the right frame of mind. The last few years, although there didn’t appear to be any good reason, his father seemed to slip into periods of depression. It was hard for Charles to understand, because he’d never experienced that himself. But he could empathize with those who did suffer from it.
“I’m good, son. I heard you’ve met someone. Are you calling to deliver some good news?”
“Not that kind, Dad. But yes, I’m seeing someone. We’re taking things slow.” That wasn’t exactly true. Seeing each other every night and sleeping together wasn’t what his father would consider slow. But times had changed. People didn’t get married right out of college, and there was no need to have children before the age of thirty. Hell, he was pushing forty and not even thinking marriage. Commitment of some kind, well . . . that was a different story.
“That’s good to hear. I have to admit, I was surprised.”
Not as much as I was.“I didn’t call to talk about her.”