Chapter 214
“Can you ride this?”
Anthony slid his feet onto the pegs and revved the engine, a low, sexy laugh escaping him. “I can drive anything.”
Charlotte blinked, then gave his waist a quick, cheeky squeeze. “Pretty sure driving doesn’t require your mouth.”
Anthony’s dark eyes glinted. His throat worked as he swallowed. “Hmm? I didn’t say
“Shut up!”
Charlotte’s cheeks flushed pink. Jerk.
Anthony just laughed softly and let her have the last word. He focused on the road, every now and then sneaking a look in the rearview mirror at Charlotte, who rested her head on his shoulder, looking completely at ease. The smile in his eyes kept growing.
Thirty minutes later, they pulled up at Imperial Heights.
Charlotte climbed off, her head down, swaying a little as if her legs might give out. Anthony just shook his head with a helpless smile, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her inside to the bedroom.
“I already ran the bath for you. Take a shower and get some sleep.”
Charlotte plopped down on the sofa, her pretty eyes fixed on him, totally silent.
Assuming she was just wiped out, Anthony ruffled her hair gently. “If you don’t feel like showering, that’s fine. Just go to bed early, okay?”
He turned to leave, but Charlotte suddenly caught his hand, her voice small. “Are you still mad?”
Anthony froze, clearly surprised. He crouched down in front of her. “Mad about what?”
Charlotte pressed her lips together, eyes shining with quiet seriousness. “I don’t like them.”
So that was it. The last bit of annoyance Anthony felt just melted away.
He was quiet for a few seconds, then a slow, relieved smile tugged at his mouth. He reached out and pinched her cheek. “I know.”
“Hmm?” Charlotte blinked at him.
He
“I know your standards. No way you’d be interested in them.” He grimed voice easy. So, are you going to tell me what you were really doing out in the suburbs tonight?”
“Visiting a friend,” she replied, honest as ever.
He could always check for himself, but he rarely pried. He gave her space, always made her feel safe.
“I’m not mad, Lottie. I just worry about you,” Anthony said softly, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze, his eyes a little darker now. “You get what I mean?”
Charlotte looked at him, searching his face.
“Yeah,” she said quietly.
Anthony’s smile was all warmth. He stroked her nose with his thumb, his voice low and soothing. “Sleep. We’ll talk about everything else tomorrow.”
When it came to Charlotte, he realized, he couldn’t stick to any of his rules.
After her shower, Charlotte leaned against the headboard and opened her email.
“Echo, I just sent my latest piano piece. Really hope I can get your feedback in person. -LL”
She opened the sheet music, scanning the pages. Just a glance and she spotted a bunch of issues.
“You pick the time,” she replied to Laura.
She slid open her drawer and pulled out her sleeping pills. They were rare and precious, and since she didn’t need them tonight, there was no point in wasting one. She tossed the bottle back in the drawer and settled into bed.
Just after midnight, Anthony’s bedroom door creaked open.
No one was there, except for the sound of water running in the bathroom.
Charlotte, dressed in pink strawberry
pajamas and barefoot, her long hair.
loose around her shoulders,
wandered in with a blank look on her face. Not seeing Anthony she frowned, suddenly uneasy, and drifted toward the bathroom. The shower was still running. She lifted her hand and pushed at the door, hard.