I’m sure she notices. “Umm . . .” I stammer for words.
“Relax,” she half laughs. “We’ll never have sex, so there will be no children.”
Charlie lifts her blue eyes to mine, and my chest tightens. Something about this girl makes my head spin. Her talk of kids didn’t make me pause because I’m afraid of commitment or kids. It was because I could see it. I could see a life with her, or at least a shit ton of fun.
We dance through another two slow songs while the world goes on around us, but all I see is her. She’s one of those women I have to look at. I can’t believe that someone like her exists. Charlie is an enigma—one I plan to make mine. I watch the men rip their gazes away from her when I catch them. I successfully convey my message without having to say a word, Yeah, step the fuck off, motherfucker. I’ll rip your arms off and feed them to you if you try to touch her.
Her hands rub up and down absently as we dance. My fingers rake the length of her open-back dress. I’m gonna get hard again if she keeps this up. Needing to stop before I create a rather embarrassing situation, I push her back slightly. “Come on, let’s mingle. I need a drink.”
We step off the dance floor, rejoin her brother, and spend time getting to know each other. I like Dominic. He’s a stand-up guy who chooses to work around a constant state of scandal but doesn’t engage. You can see the protectiveness he feels for Charlie. I don’t blame him. I would kick anyone’s ass who looked at my sister. Unfortunately, I only have Garrett and he can take care of himself.
The closest thing I have to protect is Aarabelle. And God help that girl when she steps into the dating world. Between her father, stepfather, and two godfathers, any boy who comes around her is royally screwed.
Charlie and I circle the room. I keep my hand on her the entire time as if she’ll vanish. She is a spook after all.
The waiter passes us twice. Each time she grabs a glass, downs it, and grabs another. I watch her smile, hug, and then almost glow as she floats through the room. Charlie is polite, but cautious. She’s aware, but seems to be enjoying herself. She starts to sway a little as she tips her glass back, emptying every drop.
“I’ll wind up carrying you out of here soon.” I’m only half joking.
“You wish. I outdrank a Russian mob boss once. However—” She smiles. “You should play along. If I’m drunk, my mother will want me to leave. This is my plan.” She slurs her words slightly.
“I think you should stop drinking because you’re lit.”
“Don’t be such a party pooper, Twilight.” She steps forward and grabs yet another drink. “I’m not even buzzed. I’m just feeling the fun.”
“You said ‘feeling the fun’ and you don’t think you’re drunk?”
She rests her head against my chest. “I thought you liked fun?”
“I’d prefer you lucid when I fuck you unconscious.”
Charlie leans back and smirks before the waiter magically returns.
I swear he’s zeroed in on Charlie. As soon as her glass is empty, he happens to reappear. I hold back my growl and glare at him. There’s something about this guy. He rushes to the other side of the room as she gulps the drink. “Wow, these drinks are amazing. Want one?” she asks.
“Were you drinking water shots with the mobster?” I joke, but I’m really curious because she’s hammered.
“This one time, I was dating this guy, even though I don’t really ever date,” she rambles. “I mean, I could date, but I disappear a lot. Apparently, guys don’t really like being number two in a woman’s world. Anyway, he was trying to convince me that he was better at shooting because he grew up hunting. I remember laughing in his face, which of course didn’t bode well for his teeny tiny ego.” She holds up her fingers as if she’s pinching. “Which wasn’t the only thing teeny tiny.” Charlie nudges my side with her elbow. “If you know what I
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