Page 9 of Of Course, Cutie

“My throat hurts,” Tess whined.

Poor kid. I grabbed a glass from the kitchen and filled it with water. Maybe it wasn’t my place, but when someone was in pain, I stepped up. For the last six months of my dad’s life, I assigned myself to pain medication duty. I couldn’t stand to see him suffering.

I carried the glass down the hall to where Burke held Tess in her doorway. “Here, Tess. Drink some water, honey.” I handed her the glass and stepped across the hall to retrieve the children’s Motrin. I filled a syringe with the proper dosage and gave it to Burke. He watched me with a strange look in his eye. I was overstepping. I should go.

“I should head out. I’ll see you around, Burke. Bye, Tess. Feel better.” I started to leave, but Burke caught my arm.

“Hold on a sec.”

I just nodded, my arm tingling where he touched me. Instead of leaving, I waited on his couch until he got Tess settled back in bed. When Burke returned to the living room, he still had that strange look in his eyes. It made me squirm. “Hey, I’m sorry if I was overstepping. I—"

“You’re amazing, Charlie Cox.”

My breath caught in my chest. “I’m not.” I shook my head. “I just don’t like seeing people in pain.”

“No, you are. Take the compliment and don’t argue with me.” Burke leaned against the wall. “Thank you for taking care of my little girl tonight.”

“Of course.” My voice sounded weird—all whispery. “Um, but I should head out now.”

“Sure. I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah. I mean, I sneak into the bar all the time, so I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.”

I grabbed my backpack, stuffing my headphones into it, and headed for the front door. Burke walked with me, and we stood awkwardly gazing at each other. “Are we going for the handshake, the hug, or the kiss?” I blurted out and then clapped my hand over my mouth. What the hell kind of awkwardness was that?

Burke laughed out loud and ran his hand through his beard. “Damn, you’re funny. I’ll take a hug if you’re offering, cutie.”

I stood on my tiptoes and flung my arms around his neck before he could see how red my cheeks were most definitely turning. When his arms slid around my waist, I almost let out an involuntary whimper. Shit. Shit. Shit. He was so fucking strong and chiseled. I broke the embrace immediately after it began and mumbled, “Bye!” before practically running out the door.

My heart raced out of control as I rushed to my car, and I didn’t even notice Burke’s jacket still sitting in my passenger seat until I got home. Damn it! I meant to give that back to him. I picked it up and glanced around the dark neighborhood street before pressing it against my nose and inhaling. Good god, it smelled incredible, and I was being creepy. I flung it back onto the seat and pulled out my phone.

Hey,I typed. I have your jacket in my car. I meant to give it back to you, but I completely forgot. I’ll bring it to the bar on Monday! I pressed send before I could talk myself out of it, then promptly realized that Burke wouldn’t recognize my number. I had his, in case Tess needed something. He didn’t have mine. I face-palmed and then rested my head against my steering wheel.

My phone buzzed, and my head shot up to read the text. I’m guessing this is Charlie? If so, I have your notebook. You left it on my kitchen counter. Let’s trade hostages on Monday.

I grinned and bit my lip. Sounds good. We probably don’t have to involve the authorities. Then my stomach sank. I left my notebook in his apartment, the notebook full of my random thoughts and scribblings as I processed a world without my father. Some of it was dark. Um, don’t open the notebook. It’s private.

I accept your demands. Feel free to wear my jacket if you’re cold.

My body flooded with heat. I glanced around again, then grabbed Burke’s jacket and tucked it under my arm. I wanted to sleep with it and smell him all night.

Shit. I was psychotic.

I called Matteo as I walked up my driveway. He answered on the first ring because he always had my back. “Charlotte, my love! What are you doing?”

“Having a psychotic break.”

Matteo laughed. “Oh, sorry. Was that a joke? Sometimes I can’t tell with you.”

I shrugged and pulled open my front door. “It was half-serious.” The lights were all off, meaning my mom, Bea, and Sophia were already asleep. I lowered my voice. “I’m crushing hard on someone that’s almost twice my age.”

Now Matteo laughed for real. “Oh, honey. Who the hell cares?”

“He works for my brother.”

“Again, who cares?”

“He would probably never see me as a datable woman.”