Page 5 of Dirty Mind
I squeezed my temples, trying to contain the smile when Archer roared with laughter.
I never talked about sex with my boys, and I’d never give Archer explicit details about Charli, but I needed someone to tell me I was crazy for not walking away from this while I still had my sanity. Sort of.
“You did not.”
“Shut up.” I chuckled. “So, let me just say this…” Since it was part of my problem, I had to tell him. “Best sex of my life. Bar none. And I can’t get her out of my head. Couldn’t before, but now? She’s seriously messed me up and I don’t know what the hell to do about it.”
“I don’t see the problem.” Archer spread his hands. “You’re into her, she’s into you. You’re both single, living in the same city—”
“Look, I know you don’t like to get wrapped up in the scene, but even you must know that I’ve been a goddamn laughingstock the past eighteen months. All the comedy clubs in town… I’m their punch line.” Thanks to the most recent, almost Mrs. Jarvis, who tried to take me to the cleaners. She’d had her engagement ring appraised the day after I gave it to her. That probably should have tipped me off that she wasn’t in it for love. The greedy little bitch.
“You’re not a stupid guy, Dade. So maybe marriage isn’t your thing. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with someone like Charli. Tell her the score, that you have to keep things on the downlow—”
“Don’t you think it’s a little late for that now?” I bit my lip. “Everyone probably already thinks we’re a thing.” Shit, I couldn’t let people think that. If I did, Charli would be collateral damage and I couldn’t have that.
“Just make a statement. Tell them you both tied one on at a wedding. It was one kiss, nothing more.”
“You really think it’ll be that easy?” My friend was lucky, as a songwriter he didn’t have to deal with the public scrutiny. But this was the life I’d signed on for. I just never imagined when I did that I’d have two failed marriages and a broken engagement under my belt by the time I turned thirty-five. “You don’t even know the shit storm this could turn into, Arch. I can’t do that to Charli.”
“Let me ask you something.” He looked at me a long time before he said, “You clearly want the happily ever after or you wouldn’t have proposed to three women.” He held three fingers up. “But what if Charli’s the girl you should have proposed to the first time and you shut her out because you’re afraid to give her a chance?”
That, right there, was my biggest fear. What if…?
Chapter 2
Dade
Iwished I was back in the air because my phone had been blowing up ever since I touched down. Goddamn photo had gone viral and everyone wanted to know more about the new woman in my life.
I knew what I had to do. Protect Charli. She hadn’t asked for this mess and didn’t deserve it. Travelling without my security team was gonna get me an earful from my manager, but I needed to do this alone.
I was sitting out in front of Charli’s parents’ house, but I damn sure wasn’t alone. There were half a dozen cars lining the street and several people with cameras pacing, obviously waiting for her to come out.
The windows in my Suburban were blacked out, so they still hadn’t spotted me. Probably thought I was one of them. Assholes.
I knew it was cowardly, but I couldn’t get out and knock on her door without being bombarded so I texted her and asked if she was home.
She responded immediately and said she couldn’t go home because there were goddamn reporters camped out on her doorstep.
I couldn’t blame her for being pissed. I would be too.
Can I pick you up? We need to talk about how to handle this and I’d rather not do it over the phone.
I’d get her private security if I needed to, but I wasn’t leaving her alone to deal with the mess I’d made. This was my fault. I’d been the stupid, reckless one, who’d kissed her in front of strangers. And I knew what happened to women who got dragged into my world. They became fodder for gossip rags.
I held my breath as I waited for her to respond.
Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.
Please, Charli.I didn’t give a shit if I sounded desperate. I was.Just give me half an hour.
A lot can happen in half an hour.
A damn winking emoji? This girl was gonna do me in.I just wanna talk. I promise. Please?
Fine.
I could almost hear her sighing, but I was still smiling as I pulled away from the curb after she texted me the address. I plugged it into my GPS at the next stoplight and tried to tamp down my enthusiasm. We were supposed to be in problem-solving mode, yet I was stoked about seeing her again. Even if she was pissed that I’d dragged her into this, that picture gave me an excuse to see her and I couldn’t hate that.
