Page 128 of Love Decoded

My grin widens. “Well, after that experiment—that I won, if you remember—I felt inspired to try my own hand at hacking.”

Charli turns to me with a frown. “Why? Because I made it look so easy?”

“Something like that,” I say with a chuckle, turning her until we’re both facing the cake and I can wrap my arms around her waist. “Anyway, I followed your lead and hacked into one of your systems and figured out your birthday. Lo and behold, it’s this weekend. So, I made you a cake.”

And maybe it’s easier to ask because we’re not looking at each other, but I find the courage. “Were you going to tell me?”

Because it was a risk, choosing to celebrate her birthday. She’s still working through a lot of memories from her childhood, and from what I can gather, life events weren’t often celebrated—or even remembered.

After a moment, Charli sighs. “I hadn’t decided yet. I’ve gone years without a birthday celebration, so I kind of forgot those are normal.” To my surprise, she shoots me a grin over her shoulder. “Then again, it probably would have come up, since your birthday is also this weekend. I was slightly shocked that you didn’t mention that.”

I shrug and tighten my arms around her. “I’m trying to be a little less self-absorbed these days. I’d much rather be absorbed with you.”

She melts against me. And I decide I can’t wait any longer to kiss her.

And it takes no time at all for it to escalate, because it’s Charli and she’s the sexiest goddamn woman on the planet. I spin her in my arms and back her against the kitchen counter, my mouth moving desperately over hers to absorb every bit of her taste. When I lift her onto the counter and slide my tongue between her lips, I forget all about the candles I was supposed to be lighting.

Suddenly, Charli pushes me back. Her kiss-bitten lips pursing as her eyes lock onto mine. “Wait. You hacked my computer? How? When?”

Grinning, I try to kiss her again. “Sorry, baby girl. I’m pleading the fifth.”

She holds the distance between us firmly. “There’s no way. My computer is locked down.”

I sigh dramatically. “Oh, ye of little faith. You don’t think I’m smart enough?”

She merely quirks an eyebrow.

I sigh again, this one without any theatrics. “Alright, fine. I couldn’t get into anything. Happy now? I couldn’t get into a single piece of your life.”

“Then how did you find my birthday?”

I cough awkwardly, not meeting her eyes. “I, uh. I stole your purse and looked at your ID.”

There’s a pause. And then Charli lets out a delighted laugh.

“Oh my God, that’s amazing.” She’s still chuckling as she twists and swipes a bit of icing off the cake. “Well, at least you’re resourceful. That’s half of what hacking is, I guess.”

In response, I close my mouth around her finger and suck.

She loses focus for a moment, which makes me grin. But then she pulls her finger back and says, “Wait. I have a gift for you, too.”

I drop my face to her neck with a kiss. “I don’t need a single thing that isn’t you on this counter, baby girl.”

She breathes a laugh as she pushes me away. “I’m serious. Wait here.”

Sighing, I step back so she can jump off the counter.

She comes back moments later with…a Chia Pet.

I quirk an eyebrow at the box with a silent question.

She’s smiling as she explains quietly, “You told me once that the reason you don’t have a pet isn’t because you don’t have a heart, but because you don’t have the time. Well, now that I know you have a heart and the time, I figured I’d test that theory.”

A loud laugh bursts out of me. “So you start me with a rock?”

She shrugs, still smiling.

“Although, I guess once I sell this place and we move into something smaller, this might be the only pet we have the space for beyond Milton.”