Charlie
Owen’s arm is still around me when I wake up. The first light of dawn is shining through the window. I can tell it’s going to be a sunny day already, vastly different from last night. The power is back on, and the air conditioner is pumping the room full of cool air. The ceiling fan is on above me now too, chilling my skin. I was hot last night and only covered up with a thin quilt. Owen stayed outside the blankets and didn’t cover up at all.
Inhaling deep, I feel Owen’s fingers press against my body. My eyes flutter shut again, and I want nothing more than to roll over and slip my arms around him. How easy it would be to fall back into his arms and ask him to never let me go.
But I can’t, because I know better. Besides, I’m not at a good point in my life to start something new…even when what we had isn’t new at all. Owen’s embrace used to be my favorite place to be. It didn’t matter where we were or what was going on around us. As long as we had each other, everything felt okay.
Carefully twisting so I can see him, I move my hand and my fingers brush over his shoulder. His skin is cold from being under the fan and not having any blankets. He’s just wearing boxers, and his messy hair and innocent face as he sleeps is making me all sorts of conflicted.
I want this.
But I shouldn’t.
It feels good when it should feel wrong.
Being here with Owen makes me feel like the years apart were just a blur and we can go back to the day we broke up and pretend it never happened.
But we can’t.
So much life happened between breaking up and where we are right now. I’ve grown and changed and messed up and made more mistakes than I can count. I’m sure Owen’s tale is no different.
Moving carefully so I don’t wake him, I reach down and pull up the thick comforter I’d discarded at the foot of the bed and pull it up, covering us both up. In his sleep, Owen slips his arm farther around me, spooning his body against mine. My heart leaps into my throat, and for some reason, tears fill my eyes.
Why the hell am I getting emotional?
Is it because Owen was sweet and kind and thoughtful and it’s making me realize how much I miss this? How I’m fairly certain I’ll never find someone else who gets me like he does? Or how he didn’t mind at all that I came over here like a crazy cat lady and set up a litter box in his pretty spotless house?
Nope. Definitely not any of those.
I nestle my head back into the pillow and rest my hand on top of Owen’s. I don’t have to get up for another few hours, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of this. Because I’m not getting into bed with Owen again.
“You awake?” Owen whispers.
I almost say yes but don’t want to ruin the moment. So instead, I respond to his voice by pretending to be asleep and snuggling a little closer. Owen exhales and slides his other arm under me, pulling me close to his chest. He rests his head against my face, lips brushing over the flesh on my cheek.
In the back of my mind, logic and reason are screaming at me. I’m in bed, all snuggled up with Owen. What. The. Hell. Am. I. Doing?
We didn’t have sex. We didn’t even kiss. He came in here to comfort me, not try to get in my pants. I’m all caught up in my emotions right now because I’m still in bed, tired and comfy, not wanting to move. But once I’m up, dressed, and dealing with some of the county’s pressing legal issues, I’ll come to my senses.
But until then…I turn and bring one leg up, hooking it over Owen’s.
Motherfucker. This is bad. Really bad. But holy shit does it feel good.
*
My alarm wakes us both, and I sit up, untangling myself from Owen’s arms to silence it. Groaning, Owen rolls back over and kicks the blankets off his body.
“Do you have to get up already?”
“Yeah, I do.” I run my hands through my messy hair. The sun is up now, and the room is full of bright light. I swallow hard and fight my urge to admire every ridge of muscle and every pound of flesh that makes up Owen’s body. I set my phone down on the nightstand. “Thank you, Owen, for last night.”
“I didn’t even do anything.” He rolls over, propping his head up with his arm. “But if you have a few minutes, I can do something you’ll thank me for.”
I know he can.
“I’ll pass.”
“Your loss.”
Dammit, he’s right.
“Really, though,” I start and get out of bed. I’m wearing a tank top and sleeper shorts. It’s comfy, a little revealing I suppose, and might be sexy if it wasn’t covered in smiling avocados with little stick arms and legs. These might have been marketed for teen girls, but I thought they were way too cute to pass up. “Thanks. For letting me bring Tulip and then for, uh, holding me like a child during the storm.”
Owen smiles. “You’re welcome. And you can leave the cat here. She’s quiet and can’t really get into anything with that cast on. It won’t bother me at all, and she won’t be tormented by the dogs over here.”
“You really don’t mind?”
He shakes his head. “Does she need medication or anything?”
“Yeah, but I’ll give it to her before I leave and then again when I get off work. You sure you don’t mind?”
Owen’s smile widens. “Not at all. And it gives you a reason to come back over, so I see it as a win for me. Now only if it’ll storm again,” he laughs.
Laughing too, I shake my head. “Dinner was nice. Playing a game was nice.”
“Nice enough to do again?”
I should say no. I know I’m weak right now and fighting temptation. An alcoholic shouldn’t go to a bar. A gambler should stay out of a casino.
And I should stay far, far away from Owen Dawson.
“We’ll see,” I tell him and let out a breath as I turn, grabbing my bag and going into the bathroom to shower and get dressed. Forgoing washing my hair, I twist it into a bun on the top of my head and get in the shower.
I wash up quickly and then get out, wrapping myself in the towel. Pausing by the door, I listen to see if Owen is still in the bedroom. I don’t hear anything, but that doesn’t mean he’s not in bed sleeping again. I get dressed, pull my hair into a sleek bun, and put on just enough makeup to look put together.
Owen isn’t in the bed when I step out of the bathroom. The bed has been made, which surprises me for some reason. I set my bag on the foot of the bed and look around for Tulip. The bedroom door is open, and while she can hobble around just fine, I do worry about her on the stairs.
Going into the hall, the smell of coffee and bacon hits me, making my stomach grumble. I find Owen in the kitchen, still only wearing boxers and making breakfast. Tulip is sitting on a folded blanket on the floor by him, eating little crumbled pieces of bacon.
“You still like creamer with a splash of coffee, right?” Owen asks, opening a cabinet to get a coffee mug.
“I need two splashes now. I’m old and need the caffeine.”
Smiling, I take the mug from Owen and go to the coffee pot. “What about you? You used to not even like the taste of coffee before.”
“I still don’t. I guess I’m old too. I need caffeine just as much as you do.”
I fill my mug halfway and then go to the fridge to get the creamer. Owen has caramel-flavored creamer, which will do just fine. I go to the table and sit, sipping my coffee.
“Hungry?” he asks, turning around with a plate filled with toast, eggs, and bacon.
“I usually don’t eat breakfast, but I’m not turning that down.”
“How do you not eat breakfast?” He sets the plate down and goes back to the stove, dishing up his own breakfast. “It’s the most important meal of the day. I’m starving when I wake up.”
“Mornings used to be busy for me. I’d get up, run, and then barely have time to shower and get ready for work. I used to put more effort into my appearance,” I admit. “Appearances meant a lot to the people at my old firm.”
“You always look good.”
“To you.”
“To anyone with eyes.” He sits across from me at the breakfast table. “Why would you want to work somewhere like that? Doesn’t sound like the Charlie I knew.”
My stomach starts to feel a little unsettled, because it’s true. “It was a good job,” I start.
“You mean good-paying job.”
“Well, yeah. I made a lot of money at that firm, even as a new lawyer. But honestly…” I let out a breath and look out through the sliding glass doors that lead to a screened-in back porch. “Honestly I’d take a pay cut and less stress any day.”
“What was stressful? The job or the people you worked with?”
“The people. I loved my job and the thrill of a good case.”
“Did you represent mobsters or something?”
I laugh. “You’ve watched too many cheesy TV shows. I did real estate law, which can be just as cutthroat as anything you see on TV, actually.”
“You won’t be bored here?”
“That’s to be determined, I guess. Though there’s more going on here than you’d expect. There’s no shortage of divorces happening, as you can guess since you’ve seen the infidelity firsthand.”
He laughs. “Very true. For a small town, we have no shortage on the drama either. You’d be surprised at what a few shots of tequila can bring out in some people.”
“I’m not that surprised, actually.”
“So you’re staying here in Eastwood.”
“Yeah,” I say, and relief floods through me as soon as I say the words. I hadn’t decided for sure what I was going to do. “Though I’m not entirely sure how working with my dad for a few years will be.”
Owen chuckles. “I love my family but couldn’t work with them. Though Dean and our dad get along fine, so it’s possible.”
“I’ll have my own office too so it’s not like we’ll be stuck in the same room.”
“That should help.”
“Oh, it will.”
“I bet you look hot sitting behind that big executive desk. At least that’s how I imagine you.” He gives me a smirk and then lets his eyes fall shut. I always thought it was unfair how long and thick his eyelashes were. “I see you now sitting there, with your hair twisted up in a bun. The top buttons on your blouse undone…and that tight skirt. You’re going to see a huge influx of guys needing legal counseling, you know.”
“Owen, stop.”
“Buzzkill.” He opens his eyes and looks at me. “And come on, it’s not like you don’t know how good you look.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“So you admit you know you’re hot.”
Shaking my head, I pick up a piece of bacon. “Impossible,” I mutter under my breath.
“What’s impossible?”
“You.”
He holds my gaze for a beat, smirking. “You always liked a challenge.”
Dammit, Owen. I do like a challenge. But right now the challenge is resisting you.
OwenI lie back in my bed, trying to get comfortable. Something is missing, so I grab another pillow and stick it in the stack behind my head. Holding onto the thickest one, I roll over onto my side and try to get comfortable.But no amount of pillows or blankets is going to help.Because I know exactly what’s missing. Charlie. I haven’t slept so well, haven’t felt so peaceful and comfortable, as I did last night with her in my arms. It would have felt better if she were naked, but I’ll take what I can get for now.It won’t be long until she’s back in my arms sans clothing. I’m sure of it.Maybe.At least I hope so.Why is my confidence wavering? The better question should be why is she resisting me like it’s easy to do?Tulip meows from the hallway, and I look up to see her limping into the bedroom. I get out of bed and scoop up the black-and-white cat, gently putting her on my bed. She starts purring and rubs her head against me.“Are you going to help Charlie fall back in love with
CharlieThe door to the conference room opens behind me. I whirl around, blinking back my emotions. I’ve been out here waiting to come in and be briefed on the case. Jack Richards, our client, is old and sexist and “didn’t trust a woman” to do his legal work. Being old and sexist is exactly why he’s a regular client.“I need to go,” I tell Owen. Closing my fingers around the key, I walk forward trying to block Owen from my dad’s point of view.“Owen Dawson,” Dad says, and I know I’m too late. “I haven’t seen you in years. How have you been?”Gritting my teeth, I step into the conference room and let go of everything else around me so I can focus on the client and case at hand. In New York, I specialized in real estate law. Here, I’ll be more of a Jack-of-all-trades when it comes to counseling clients, and right now I want to tell Jack Richards he’s a big bag of dicks and deserves to be sued for firing a flat-chested cashier from his store after telling her she should consider getting
OwenThere’s no way Charlie is going to be at the house. I pull into the neighborhood with my heart beating faster and faster the closer I get to home. I want to hold her again, to see her pretty smile and sparkling eyes.The garage lights illuminate the front of the house, and to my surprise, that old Mustang is parked in the driveway. My heart leaps and I have to talk down my dick. It’s late and I’m sure she’s sleeping. She’ll be up and gone by the time I wake in the morning, and it’ll be like she wasn’t even there.I pull into the garage, kill the engine, and grab the pizza and bag of fries and onion rings. Every once in a while, we’re left with a ton of food at the end of the night. We offer it up to the staff for free, and depending on what kind of food is left, we take it to a homeless shelter.Balancing the bag of fries and onion rings on top of the pizza box, I unlock the door and step inside, the house is dark and quiet, and I silently move through the mudroom and into the ki
CharlieI braid my hair as I walk down the stairs. I couldn’t fall back asleep after going to bed last night and finally drifted off about an hour before my alarm went off. I hit snooze twice and then just shut off my alarm, waking fifteen minutes later in a panic. Luckily, I washed my hair last night. It’s long and thick and takes forever to dry.I secure a hair tie around the end of my braid and throw my blonde locks back over my shoulder. The house is quiet, and Owen was true to his word last night: he did leave his bedroom door open. I looked in when I walked down the hall, seeing him in all his glory sprawled out on his stomach on his mattress.He sleeps naked, like he always has, and the sheets were barely covering up his ass. The sight of his naked body sent a jolt through me, awakening every single nerve in me. Physically, there’s no denying that Owen is a gorgeous man. He’s tall and fit, with deep brown eyes, full lips, and a strong jaw that’s always covered in the perfect am
Charlie“Do you need help with anything?” I ask Danielle, going into the kitchen to get a glass of sangria. So much for waiting until dinner, right? Danielle is standing at the oven, stirring the sauce to pour over enchiladas.“Oh, you don’t need to do anything,” she tells me.“I know I don’t, but I don’t mind, either.”“I feel bad inviting people over and putting them to work.”I laugh. “I offered, but I totally understand. Though I haven’t invited people over in a while. My apartment in New York was so small. We could hardly fit guests over.”“So those roomy apartments you see on TV are all a lie, right?”“Totally. Well, the lie would be how regular people afford them. I loved the area I lived in. It was close to Central Park and to work, but holy shit it was expensive.”“The whole east coast is crazy expensive.”I pick up the pitcher of sangria and fill up a wine glass. “Oh right, you said you went to Yale.”“I did, and before that, I was born and raised in Connecticut. I have to s
Owen“You know how you asked me if I missed the city?” Charlie rests her head against the seat and looks out the car window, watching farmland pass us by.“Yeah?”“I miss one thing right now. Guess what it is.”“Easily accessible strip clubs?”She lets out a snort of laughter. “Oh, totally.” She’s drunk, and it’s fucking adorable. “Takeout.”“Takeout strippers?”“No,” she laughs and hits my arm. “Takeout food. I could really go for some fried rice right about now.”“How are you possibly hungry?” I ask, chuckling. “You had two pieces of cake.”“Are you judging me?” She straightens up and tries to look like she’s mad, or more like she thinks she should be mad.“Not at all. I never judge you, Charlie.”Her expression softens. “I know. You never have. Thank you.”She turns back to look out the window and I take my eyes off the road for a second to admire her beauty. Her hair is down, blowing in the wind from the open window.“You don’t happen to serve orange chicken and fried rice at Geta
Owen“You…you should get some rest,” I tell her, forcing myself to break away. I help her pull the t-shirt over her head and then untuck the sheets. She nestles down into the covers and reaches for me.“Will you stay with me?” she asks, brows pinched together. “I’m not too drunk to know I like having you with me.”“Of course.” I kiss her forehead and get up to get her water. My cock is still hard and throbbing against my jeans. Charlie is in my bed, wearing my t-shirt, and was all too willing to have sex.I turned her down.Hell has frozen over.Pigs are flying.I guess there’s a first for everything.But I meant what I said. I care about Charlie too much to let her be a drunken hook-up. Burying my cock deep inside of her, feeling her pussy contract around it as she comes…fuck, I’m getting even harder just thinking about it.I want to fuck her.But I want to love her more.I awkwardly go down the stairs and grab a water bottle from the kitchen. Charlie is almost asleep when I get back
Charlie“You’re in a good mood today.” Amy opens the box of donuts I brought into the office.“I am,” I agree. “Which is surprising since I didn’t get much sleep last night. I get a little cranky when I’m tired.”“Were you getting a little something else?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I laugh. Before I can tell her no, my dad comes into the office and we both stop talking about where I was last night. I don’t know Amy well, and the fact that she’s slept with Owen weirds me out, but she’s nice and I get along with her just fine.Though it seems like Owen has slept with most of the women in this town, so if his ex-lovers weird me out, I’m going to be limited to talking to only those he’s related to. But the past is in the past, and I can’t hold that against him.He asked me what changed my mind about being together and I couldn’t give him a clear answer. Because I don’t really know, and when I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.I thought things would only work if he changed and was
OwenThe next year…“What about this one?” I point to a pink-and-purple sheet set. Charlie looks at it and then shakes her head.“It’s too girly.”“We’re buying it for a girl.”“I know,” she agrees. “But I don’t want to set her up with gender stereotypes from infancy.”“Babies don’t even see in color when they’re born.”“Aww, you did read the books.”“Cover to cover.” I motion to another sheet set that’s white with colorful birds on it. “This one?”“Ohhh, that is cute!”“It’s not too girly?” I give her a smirk and she playfully nudges my arm. “These birds look pretty girly.”“I like them.”“That’s the whole point of this,” I whisper-talk. “We get to pick out what we like.”Charlie rests her hand over her stomach. She’s just now starting to show, and we found out we’re having a girl only this morning, continuing with what Quinn insists is karma for being raised in a house full of older brothers. Though she’s expecting her third and they’re not finding out what they’re having. My money
CharlieI pace back and forth on the front porch, swatting away bugs. Owen ran to Walmart to get a pregnancy test. I don’t feel pregnant. Not at all. I have zero symptoms, and while many women can go through the whole nine months without “feeling pregnant,” I know I wouldn’t get that lucky.Still, we want to be sure.I chugged a big glass of water when he left, and now I really have to pee. Headlights illuminate the street and I hold my breath, hoping that truck belongs to Owen. It doesn’t, and it goes right past our house. Getting close to needing to do the potty dance, I decide I’m going to give Owen five more minutes before going to the bathroom. Luckily, he pulls into the driveway only a minute later.He stands outside the bathroom door, waiting for me. The test said to wait a few minutes until you check, but I look at that baby right away. The control line pops up first. I watch, waiting for the second line. I don’t see one, so I set the test down and pull my pants back up. After
OwenThe front door opens, and I spring up, half expecting it to be Carly telling me to fuck off. But it’s Charlie. Her eyes are red and swollen from crying, and it kills me to see her like this.“Can we talk?” she asks, voice thin.“Of course.”She motions to the porch swing and we both take a seat.“What do you want to talk about?” My heart is beating so fast I fear it might beat right out of my chest. I’d pick it up, dust it off, and offer it to Charlie. It’s hers to keep. It’s always been hers.“First things first,” she starts. “Do you still feel like you know what’s best for me?”“No. Though if I were to give you advice right now, it would be to come home with me tonight.”Her lips curve into a half-smile. “Okay. Did it hurt when you broke up with me?”“Yes. And I hurt every day since then. I’ve had a void in my heart, Charlie, and nothing could fill it. Nothing but you.”She nods and looks down at the boards on the porch. “Do you want to get married and have kids?”“Yes. I do. P
CharlieA slight breeze rustles my hair, and I look out at the street. My heart is sitting at the bottom of my chest, and all the cracks are starting to separate. It won’t be long until it shatters into a million pieces again, and this time, there’ll be no putting it back together.My ex-fiancé is sitting on the porch next to me, waiting for his ride to come pick him up. He cheated on me. Embarrassed me. But it’s not him who’s hurting me.It’s Owen, and I don’t understand how I could have been so wrong. Again. Things were so perfect between us. And then he didn’t even have the decency to call me. I need to get Tulip from his place, and it’s going to be so fucking awkward.“I can put in a good word for you at another firm,” Todd says. “It’s the least I can do after…after…”“After fucking your assistant while you were in a relationship with me?”“Yeah. That. I’m sorry. Really, I am.”I hold up my hand, stopping him right there. “What do you want me to say? That it’s okay and I forgive y
Owen“Fuck.” I rub my wrists where the cuffs had been.“Sorry,” Weston says, shaking his head.“It’s not your fault.”He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair. “You’re free to go now.”“Took long enough. That little shit got out of here hours ago, didn’t he?”Wes opens the holding room door for me. “His lawyer screams scumbag but had good connections.”“What good is the legal system when rich assholes can buy their way out of situations like this. He hit me first. Well, tried to hit me.” I smirk. “That cocksucker can’t throw a punch to save his life.”After Todd tried to hit me, and I easily blocked it, he stepped back and fell right onto Marty Pickens, one of our resident drunks. Along with being a drunk, Marty is paranoid and thinks the world is out to get him. We serve him at Getaway because he’s safer in the bar than out on the streets, and we’re able to give him food and a cool place to wait out the sun in the summer.But the second Todd touched Marty, he freaked out
Charlie“Hey,” I say to Owen’s voicemail. “I know you’re still working, so I’ll go ahead and meet you at the restaurant so we don’t miss our reservation. If you’re going to be late because of work, no big deal. Just let me know and I’ll order an extra glass of wine and bring a book to keep myself entertained.” I walk out of the office and head toward my car. “And I feel like saying I wanted to talk this morning was more dramatic than it needed to be. I do want to talk, but not in a bad way. It’s in an ‘I want to be with you and still want what I wanted before’ way. Marriage and children—not right away,” I add quickly. “But they have to be on the horizon, and this time…this time I don’t think it’ll be an issue. I’m looking forward to seeing—and doing you—later.”It’s an awkward as fuck voicemail, but whatever. It’s Owen. He never makes me feel awkward. Putting my phone in my purse, I pause at a crosswalk.“Charlotte!”I look up, not sure if someone is talking to me or someone else. Eve
OwenThe day has never gone slower. And the night? The night is dragging by so slowly I’m starting to wonder if I died in a freak accident on the way to work and went right to Hell. Charlie isn’t here, so there’s no way this is Heaven.A group of guys are out celebrating a twenty-first birthday. They’ve spent a ton on beer and shots, and we’ve been watching them closely to know when to cut them off. It’s late and the crowd is starting to dwindle, but they’re still going strong.This happens every now and then, and usually it doesn’t bother me. If we’re making money, I’ll stay open for another half hour or so. But tonight, tonight I want to go home, strip off my clothes, and feel Charlie’s body against mine.Everything feels right in the world. Charlie is back, and this time she’s staying. I want to tell her I love her, but won’t. It’s too soon. She wants something serious this time around, and I do too. But freaking her out isn’t the way to go.I turn on the lights, giving the birthda
Charlie“I feel like such a lush,” I laugh, settling into Owen’s arms. We moved into his bed and he just brought me a glass of wine. “Sex, wine, and staying up past my bedtime.”He brushes my hair back. “I’m turning you into a rebel.”I take a sip of wine and set the glass on the nightstand. “You really are.”“I should be punished.”“Oh, you definitely should be.” I move on top of him, and tingles run down my spine. We’re both still naked, and I’m still floating high on adrenaline and sex. I don’t know why I resisted, why I waited until now to finally relent and do what I wanted to do since the moment I saw Owen again.And admit that I’m still very much in love with him.Owen’s hands land on my hips and his cock starts to get hard again. I lean over, breasts in his face, and rub myself against him, getting off before I reach down and guide him into me. My breath comes out in huffs as I ride him hard and fast. Owen presses me down onto him, then brings one hand down and gently rubs my
CharlieOwen isn’t in the kitchen anymore when I come back down the stairs. The house is dark, with the exception of a soft glow coming from the screened-in porch. A single candle is lit and sitting on the table out there, and Owen’s back is to me as he looks at the fountain in the pond behind his house. There’s a light in it, making the simple fountain look much fancier at night than it actually is.Silently, I slip into the room. The candle is one of those meant to repel mosquitos, and the smell reminds me of summer nights spent on the front porch, both with Owen and my other friends. Life was simpler then, and while I can’t get rid of my adult responsibilities, things don’t have to be complicated.Owen turns right when I get up behind him, and firelight flickers in his eyes. He takes me in his arms, and my heart skips a beat. I hook my arms around his neck and step in close. Being in his embrace feels so right.It’s like I never left.He tips his head down, lips brushing against mi