“Char! Is that you?”
I turned my head to see Leighton and Kevin stumbling towards me in the dark.
“It’s me!” I called back.
They ran, plopping down, one on each side of me.
“I’m exhausted.” Kevin rested his head on my shoulder.
Leighton sighed and placed her head on my other shoulder. “I’m getting too old to party.”
I laughed.
“You good, Char?” Kevin asked.
Leighton wrapped her arms around one of mine.
“I’m getting there.”
We sat there for hours, watching the tide roll in before we dragged ourselves to our villa, to bed.
“Happy New Year, Charlie bear,” Henry whispered in my dreams.
I was happy.
I was still wounded, but I was happy.
And the first four days of 2017 were spent in the sunshine eating everything that wasn’t good for us.
All killer, no filler, as Henry used to say.
Valentine’s Day, the Hallmark holiday, the holiday that women everywhere seemed to either love or hate, no in-between.
I was spending mine with Beau Callaway, so that ought to tell you what side I fell on for this particular year.
After I returned home from Mexico, life resumed its usual hectic lullaby. January was consumed with a last minute event for shotgun nuptials, and thus, I hadn’t seen much of any of The Charleston Three, as Kevin had so dubbed them.
They no doubt lived lives that didn’t entirely revolve around me, or I them, and that was okay.
Doctor Colby said it was a healthy integration of lives.
I was so inclined to believe her.
So, when Beau called last week and asked if he could take me out for Valentine’s Day, I’d eagerly accepted his invitation to spend some time together.
He was picking me up at my office.
“You look like a heartbreaker, Char,” Kevin drawled from his position in my desk chair.
He helped me decide between three dresses, eventually settling on a slightly above the knee blood red dress that was low cut in the front, with a crisscross lace up to keep the ladies in their assigned seating.
I turned from side to side in the mirror. “Are you sure it’s not too much?”
The black platformed pumps made my round butt sit perky in a way that I loved, but I was worried the dress was too bold for Beau.
“It’s not too much.”
Kevin and I both swung our heads to the doorway to see Beau leaning against the frame, in a black suit with a grey dress shirt and holding two-dozen white roses.
“Hey.” I smiled.
He walked towards me, pressing a hand to the small of my back, and kissed me.
It didn’t matter Kevin was watching.
It didn’t matter we were in my office.
He just kissed me, sweet and slow, like only Beau could do.
Our lips parted, and he whispered back to me, “Hey yourself.”
I blushed and he stepped back, holding the bouquet out to me. “Is white too boring?”
Bending at the waist and enjoying his game, I smelled them. “White is perfect.”
“Well, hell,” I heard Kevin whine.
Looking around Beau’s shoulder, I scowled at him. “Beau, you remember Kevin.”
He returned his hand to the small of my back and smiled. “Of course. It’s nice to see you, Kevin.”
“You know, I…” Kevin started, and I glared at him. “I was just going.”
“Kevin, wait,” I called, and he stopped. “Could you put these in some water for me?”
“Of course.” He laughed. “You kids have fun now.”
Then he took the flowers from my hands and pranced (yes, pranced) from my office.
“I missed you.” I leaned into his side and breathed him in.
He smelled like fancy fabric softener and cologne I loved.
Beau kissed the top of my head. “I think it’s quite possible I missed you more.”
“How’s your dad doing?” I asked.
I’d learned from our multiple phone calls and text messages that Noah Callaway had survived surgery and was recovering in the comfort of their family home on the North Shore now.
“He’s on the mend.” Beau’s voice grew warm when he spoke.
He loved his father.
I moved from his side and lifted my Calvin Klein jacket from the back of my chair.
“Let me.” Beau took it from me and held it open while I slid my arms in.
“Thank you.” I picked my clutch up off the desk.
“Shall we?” He extended his elbow to me.
I smiled, slipping my arm in. “Please.”
He led me down the hall, but the rest of the staff had already gone home for the evening, and it was just Kevin locking up.
We walked to the elevator and I reached for the down button, but he stopped me.
“We’re going up.” He winked, hitting the arrow.
My brows pulled together and I studied him. “You said we were going to dinner.”
“We are,” he smirked.
I shook my head. “More surprises?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” He dipped down and kissed my cheek.
Once inside the lift, he pressed the button for the roof and we began to ascend.
“Where are…” I started to ask, but he shook his head.
“Patience, Charleston.”