“Did you want to talk about it?” She knew she did.
Seth shook his head. “Not tonight. Right now I just want to do what I promised to yesterday.”
“And what is that?” she asked.
“I’m letting you in on my secret,” he whispered.
That sounded intriguing. “And it requires us to leave or can you tell me here?”
He smiled down at her. “Sorry Charlene, but we’re going out for this. Now go get some shoes on and a coat. Our appointment is waiting.”
“You’re really not going to tell me where we are going are you?” Charlene asked.
“No. But I promise you, you’ll like it.”
She smiled up at him. “I guess if I can trust you this far, I can trust you a bit longer. Give me a minute, and I’ll be ready.” Reluctantly, she slipped from his arms and went to finish getting dressed. Charlene slipped on a pair of black leather boots and a matching leather jacket. Hopefully she was dressed for whatever he had planned. She’d already embarrassed herself enough for one day that she didn’t need to do the same to him by being underdressed.
Seth had never taken anyone here before. It was something he hadn’t even shared with his family. But he knew Charlene had a week from hell, and thought this would be something that would bring a smile to her lovely face. It appeared he was correct.
“This is amazing Seth. I…I never would’ve guessed. Why on earth aren’t you marketing these?” Charlene asked.
“I’m in the steel business, not chocolates,” he replied. “It’s just a hobby I have.”
“If I had a hobby like this, I’d be the size of a house.”
He laughed. “And now you know why I go to the gym every day.”
“Have you ever thought about leaving Lawson Steel and doing this full time?” she asked.
Never.“No. I actually enjoy my job. I guess we were all raised to have a role in the business. For me, it is the finance side. I’m good with numbers, probably the best in the family. Could they run the place without me? Yes. But I am there because I want to be.” There were plenty of things he wasn’t proud of from the Lawson’s past, but Seth was determined to make the Lawson name something to be proud of. If he left now, he’d regret not being part of all the positive things they were doing, and so many more things in the works. None of which he could discuss with anyone. Not even with Charlene.
“I guess that’s good. I mean you loving your job and everything. It’s just a shame you keep this talent of yours all to yourself. I can picture it, people all over the world ordering your truffles.” Charlene sighed.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I can’t believe Sofia never told me about this,” Charlene added.
“She doesn’t know. No one does.”
“No one?” she echoed.
Just you.Seth couldn’t believe that he had even brought her here. But then again, he never even opened the glove box and let anyone try his chocolates either. Charlene could get under his skin with all her talking, but she also seemed to…to pique his interest. There was more to her than he’d thought. More he wanted to know. Somehow bringing her here had backfired. Charlene seemed to be the one learning more about him instead.
“I come here to relax. You do remember my telling you cooking helps me relax?” She nodded. “When I’m having a really rough week, I come here and focus on something else. Oddly enough, the more stressful of a week, the better my chocolates are.”
“Then I’d say you should make a batch right now. They’d probably be the best ever,” she teased.
“I would, but somehow you greeting me in nothing but a towel removed a lot of stress.” Replaced it with a hell of a lot of frustration. He loved how easily Charlene blushed.
“Seth, you can’t go around talking like that to a woman. She might get the idea that you’re…interested in her.”
Maybe I am.He reached out and tipped her chin up to meet his gaze. “And what if I was?” Charlene didn’t say anything, only stood there wide eyed, as though she hoped he’d kiss her. Seth wasn’t about to deny her request. Leaning over, he gently let his lips brush hers. Then pulled away and looked down at her. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, we’re not going to make it to dinner.”
“You just fed me a bunch of the most delicious chocolates. Who wants dinner?” she asked, stepping closer to him.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her high into his arms, claiming her lips. He wanted to go slow, kiss her and stop, but the instant his lips made contact with her, his entire body reacted, like feeling his blood rushing through his veins and his want for her so damn insanely strong.
But she didn’t pull away, not that he expected her to. Charlene had a confidence that he wasn’t used to. It wasn’t that she claimed to be perfect, but she was confident in what she could do. And right now, that was driving him wild. She was returning his kisses feverishly. With his tongue, he urged her to open her mouth. He wanted to taste her. When she did he found she tasted sweeter than any of his chocolates. As their tongues entwined, her moan filled his mouth, and seemed to rumble through them both.