“I’m learning her,” I reply and frown when Rhys busts up laughing. “What’s so bloody funny?”
“That’s what I said about Gabby when Beau asked me the same question.” He shakes his head and stands. “I knew the minute I saw Gabby that she was the one for me. I never believed in all that love at first sight crap, but I knew that she was mine. Being away from her was torture.”
“I don’t like being away from Charly either,” I say quietly, remembering how horrible it was when I was in London after the retreat. “But it’s still early—”
“You should know by now if it’s a sex thing, or if she’s someone you can see yourself with for the long term.”
“It’s not just a sex thing.” It was never just a sex thing, I was just too bloody stubborn to admit it.
“How much longer are you in town for?”
“Only a couple more days.” And that stabs me in the heart. I don’t want to leave.
Maybe I don’t have to.
“If you break her heart, you’ll have to worry about her family. They’re as tight as they come. Did Gabby tell you that Kate is my cousin?”
“No,” I reply, surprised.
“I met Gabby through Kate. I needed a place to disappear to so I could rehab my shoulder, and Kate suggested I come here. It was the best fucking thing I ever did.”
“You are beautiful together.”
“She’s everything, man. It’s because of her that I have my kids, and they are my life.”
“You’re a lucky man.”
“I just want you to know that Charly is an amazing woman. I don’t know much about her relationship history, but then, none of her family does. She’s pretty tight-lipped. So, if she’s bringing you around, it’s because she has feelings for you.”
This is not news to me. I can see by the way she looks at me that she has feelings for me.
“They all look out for each other,” he continues. “The girls as much as the guys, and if they think something isn’t right, they’ll tell you.”
“As they should,” I reply. “I think Charly is extraordinary. She makes me feel things that I don’t think I ever have before, and I was married, Rhys. She’s special. Do I love her?”
Fuck, I don’t want to contemplate that yet.
“I don’t know. I care about her, and I want her to be happy.”
“You’re scared,” he says and holds his hands up in surrender when I glare at him. “I’m not trying to piss you off. I get it. The Boudreaux women can be scary. Good luck to you, man, if you stick around long enough to get the talk from the brothers.”
“Isn’t she a little old for that?”
He laughs. “Didn’t you hear a word I said? It doesn’t matter how old she is. She’s their sister.”
I nod.
“Are you sure you need to leave in a couple of days?”
“I’m going to make a call,” I reply, juggling things in my head. “I’d like to stay.”
“Then I think you should stay. I’ll let you make that call.” He pats me on the shoulder and leaves the barn, and I immediately dial Todd’s number.
“Hey, mate.”
“I need to stay a while longer. Let’s take a look at the schedule.”
“You got it.”
***
“Are you sure you can stay?” Charly asks as we drive through the Quarter later that afternoon. She’s grinning, but her eyes look a bit guarded, as though she’ll get her hopes up and then I’ll crush them later.
“I’m going to stay for another two weeks,” I reply and smile when she shimmies in her seat. “And I take it that’s okay with you.”
“I was sad at the thought of you leaving,” she replies softly. “But I also don’t want to be greedy or needy and ask you to stay. I know you have a business and a life that isn’t here.”
A big part of my life is here.
“If you’re needy then so am I,” I reply honestly. “I enjoy you, Charlotte. I’m not ready to be away from you, and there’s no need to be. I can continue to work remotely. I also need to write my book, and I can do that anywhere.”
“Okay. As long as you’re sure.”
“You’re stuck with me, love.”
She smiles, and then looks over my shoulder and her eyes go wide. “Oh! I want to check this place out!” She pulls over and cuts the engine. “Kate has been in this shop and loved it. The owner came in my store a few weeks ago, and she’s just the sweetest thing. Do you mind if we go in?”
“Of course not. Let’s go.”
“Beau lives above this place, and Eli and Kate live next door.”
“Do they own the block?” I ask.
“Actually, they do,” she says with a smile and leads me in the shop. It smells like…well, all kinds of things. There are frilly soaps and lotions, herbs and oils.
A petite blonde is standing behind the counter, unpacking a box. She’s wearing a flowy sundress, humming to herself. She looks up with happy blue eyes when she hears the bell above the door.
“Charly,” she says with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“Hi, Mallory,” Charly says. “I have been meaning to stop in, and we were just driving by. This is Simon.”
“Hello,” Mallory says and nods.
“Pleasure.”
“What are you in the market for?” Mallory asks and sets the box aside. There’s suddenly a loud thump from upstairs.