Maverick (The Family Simon 3)

Something about those two words struck a chord inside her. There was nothing special about the words or the phrasing, but put into context, they implied intimacy.

What are we doing?

The thought slid through her mind and her eyes fell away from his. Her stomach rolled and that nervous feeling was back. Big time.

“Hey, are you okay?” His voice was gentle and his touch was like a whisper.

No.

“Yes.” Charlie nodded, leaning into the palm of his hand. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long week, and I’ve got an afternoon of paperwork to look forward to and spreadsheets aren’t exactly my favorite thing.”

“You sure that’s it?’

She nodded but Rick held her until she glanced up at him and whispered. “You should go.”

He studied her for a few more moments, a small frown on his face. “We’re good though, right?”

She nodded. “Yep. All good.”

Rick dropped a kiss to her forehead and she fought the desire to clutch at him like a child. She wanted to hold him and never let go.

He glanced over her head. “Do you need a lift, Ava? I’m heading out.”

“Hell yes. I was so mad about Back Alley that I walked right by my car and practically ran all the way over here.”

“Babe, it’s two blocks.”

She looked at Davis as if he had two heads. “Babe it’s um, freezing out there.”

“Okay, you guys have only been together a few weeks and you sound like an old married couple,” Charlie whispered, making a face.

“And?” Davis asked.

She ignored him and waved goodbye to Rick and Ava. Then she gathered up the rest of the garbage. She tidied up the workbench. She arranged her tools. She even dusted and then grabbed the large broom to sweep up the entire area.

It took a good twenty minutes and when she was done, she carefully set the broom back in its place and turned to Davis.

“Just say it.”

“What was that?” he replied, wiping his hands on a rag, eyebrows raised questioningly.

She glared at him. “You’re watching me in that way that you have.”

“I have a way?”

She wasn’t in the mood for games.

“Hell yes. I know you’ve got something to say to me so just come out and say it. That way you can get back to your Shelby, and I can go and spend a lovely afternoon in my office doing that massive pile of paperwork that I’d rather burn than deal with.”

Anger rolled over her. It was Hot and intense. Which was insane.

Charlie had to take a step back because first of all she had no idea where the hell had it come from. And secondly, to make matters worse, she was afraid that if she didn’t get her shit together she might cry.

No way was that happening.

It’s gotta be PMS.

Shoving her hands into the pockets of her coveralls, she arched an eyebrow at Davis. “Well?”