one
Charlie
I takea sip of the champagne and frown when it doesn't quite roll on my tongue the way I expect it to. This vintage certainly isn't of the quality I'm accustomed to, but I'm no snob. This is my dad's big day, and I'm not going to bitch about the champagne—no matter how subpar it is.
I glance around the reception from my corner of the room. This is how you get a read on people. You stand back and observe and only make your move when you understand all the players on the field. It's what makes me a good businessman. That’s why I'm the CEO of the biggest financial firm in the city.
I glance over at my brother, Luke. He's got about a foot on me in height, and I can tell from over here that he's uncomfortable in his fancy get-up. All the tattoos that decorate his arms and chest are completely covered, but some peek out from underneath his dress shirt that certainly can’t hide the ones on his knuckles. Tattoos were never my thing, but I have to admit that they seem to lend my moody brother that dangerous air that women seem to love so much.
He pulls at the neck of his shirt and scowls furiously. I shake my head. No doubt he'd be more comfortable in a pair of faded jeans and black T-shirt, but fuck, can’t he pull it together for one day?
I glance over at my other brother, Noah. He's the youngest of us three brothers, and while he's the shortest, he's definitely still tall, and he's the biggest and burliest, which is probably why he does well in his chosen career field providing security.
I'm the brains. Noah is the brawn, and Luke is just…well, a temperamental asshole.
I take another sip of the champagne before I grimace and set it to the side. Just because I'm here to support my dad doesn't mean I have to stomach the subpar shit. I stuff my hands casually in my pockets, my eyes continuing to scan the room until a flash of gold glinting on red catches my gaze.
Time stops. My breath catches in my throat as my eyes light on the beauty before me. Her shoulder-length hair is a mass of auburn curls. The coils look soft and shiny, and I have the crazy desire to pull on one just to see if it bounces back like a spring.
She looks like a fierce little lioness. While she's not as short as the petite brunette standing next to her, she's still tiny compared to me. She can't be more than five-foot-five, and I'm a good six-two.
She has on a light pink dress that’s sinfully modest. The square neckline shows the barest amount of cleavage, and two thin straps hold up the gown that goes all the way down to her feet. I'm dying to get a look at what I already know are going to be shapely legs, but a thrill goes through me when she turns around to speak to someone and I get a look at the back of her dress.
It dips down low in the back to show off her creamy flesh, and I feel myself hardening in my pants.
Fuck, who is this goddess? She must be with Karen's party because I know if I'd ever met this woman before, I’ddefinitelyremember her. She's not anyone from my dad's side.
I make my way through the crowd over to her. I couldn’t stop myself from drifting over to her if I wanted to. It’s like she's pulling me to her with a magnetic force.
I grab a flute of the subpar champagne from a tray on my way over and hold it out to her once I reach her.
“Hello there. I'm Charlie.” I waste no time in introducing myself and giving her my most charming grin.
She pins me with a light blue gaze, and all the breath whooshes out of my lungs like someone has just sucker punched me in the gut. Damn, she’s even more beautiful up close, and those eyes are a brighter blue than the clear sky. They’re more beautiful than the sunniest summer day. I’m waxing poetic, but fuck. They're blindingly beautiful, and all I can do is stare into them.
She raises an eyebrow at me and accepts the flute of champagne with a softly spoken, “Thank you.”
Goosebumps erupt across my skin at the sensual tone of her voice. Fuck, she has one of those voices that men would pay money to jerk off to. If she were a phone sex operator, she'd be a millionaire. I can't help wondering what that voice would sound like right in my ear as I'm sliding into her, giving her more pleasure than she can handle.
Fuuuck.
Sticky precum beads the tip of my cock. She turns away from me, but I reach out a hand to touch her shoulder. My fingertips buzz at the contact. “And you are?” I prompt her, dying to know her name.
Her eyes flick down to where my hand touches her before she shrugs off my touch and answers back with a little toss of her head, sending those fiery curls bouncing, “Sharon.”
“Sharon,” I taste her name, liking the way it rolls off my lips. It’s sassy, just like her. “What do you do, Sharon, when you're not being the most beautiful woman at a wedding?”
She lifts her head and eyes me before she says coolly, “I work for one of the most successful financial corporations in the city.”
I grin down at her, irrationally proud at hearing that. “Then let me steal you away. I'm in need of a new secretary.”
She smirks at me, and before I can stop myself, I lean in close to her ear and add, “I promise I’ll give you a raise.”
She catches the double meaning in my words because she tilts her head up to me, her eyes flashing fire. “What makes you think I want a raise?”
My eyes flick down to her full lips. “Touché.”
Her lips twitch the slightest bit as she fights back a smile.