CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The rumble of the engine filled the silence between them as Pierce guided the Jeep through the quiet streets of San Diego.
Charley was staring out the passenger-side window, hands folded in her lap, and while she looked calm, her posture made him glance her way every few seconds.
Dinner had been great, and everything about the night had been enjoyable.
And Charley…Well, she’d made it better than anything he could’ve imagined.
But seeing her and Jessica with tear-streaked faces when he and Ray walked in?
That had tightened something deep in his gut, and the worry hadn’t let up since.
He adjusted his grip on the wheel and finally broke the silence. “You okay?”
Charley turned toward him, blinking like she was pulled out of a trance. She looked embarrassed, her cheeks turning that soft pink that made her even cuter. “Yeah,” she said after a beat. “I’m sorry. You just caught me at an emotional time back there.”
Pierce kept his eyes on the road but tilted his head just slightly in her direction. “You don’t have to apologize. I just want to make sure you’re good.”
She gave a small nod. “Jessica and I were just talking about some stuff. Things from my past. It got a little heavy, and then we just sort of laughed and cried through it.”
He stole a glance at her and offered a soft smile. “I get that.”
Charley exhaled and looked down at her hands. “I didn’t mean to make you worry. I know this evening was supposed to be fun.”
“It was fun,” he said. “Still is. As long as I get to spend time with you, it's all that matters.”
She glanced over at him, clearly touched, and then bit her lip like she was working up to something. Finally, she spoke.
“I really like spending time with you, too. And I want to keep seeing where this goes. But a part of me is scared.”
His heart picked up a little. He wasn’t sure where this was heading. “Scared how?”
“Because you’re military,” she said softly. “Still active. And after everything that happened with my dad and my brother…” Her voice trailed off.
Pierce didn’t know the circumstances surrounding her dad and brother’s death, but now, he could guess it happened while they were active duty. He waited as she gathered her words.
“I know it’s not fair to hold that against you, but it’s hard not to think about the possibility of losing someone again.”
His hands tightened around the wheel. Not because he was angry, not at her.
He understood that kind of fear all too well.
“I hear you,” he said quietly. “And I won’t pretend I can erase those fears, Charley.
I can’t promise that I won’t get deployed again if things go south somewhere.
But I can promise you this…I like where I am.
I like teaching. I like being here. I have no plans to volunteer for anything. ”
When he looked over at her again, she was smiling, and damn if it didn’t hit him square in the chest.
“That means a lot,” she said. “And for what it’s worth, I’d never ask you to give it up. I could never be the reason you stepped away from something that matters to you.”
His chest tightened again, this time in a good way.
“You wouldn’t be the reason,” he said. “But it’s nice to know you wouldn’t try to hold me back.”
Charley looked like she wanted to say more, but hesitated.
“Say it,” he encouraged.
She shifted in her seat. “I really like you, Pierce. I want to take things slow, though. I’m not the kind of girl who jumps headfirst into something.”
Pierce exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and grinned. “Slow is fine. It might damn near kill me, considering I’ve wanted to kiss you since the second I saw you tonight, but I’ll take slow if it means I still get to have you.”
Charley laughed, and it lit up the Jeep more than his dashboard’s lights.
“And for the record, I like you too,” he said and winked.
The rest of the drive was easy after that. The tension had melted, replaced with casual conversation.
Pierce slowed the Jeep as they turned into her quiet complex, headlights sweeping over the familiar row of buildings.
The comfortable conversation and easy laughter they’d fallen into since their talk earlier had done a lot to ease the lingering tension he’d felt all night.
But there was one last thing he needed to tell her before the evening ended.
He flicked a glance her way, noting how relaxed she looked. She was smiling, her arms resting loosely in her lap, and her body slightly angled toward him.
“Hey,” he said, voice low. “Before we get out, I wanted to let you know I talked to Ray about what you told me. The stranger and the envelopes.”
“You told him?” she asked, more curious than upset, but still guarded.
“I did,” he nodded, resting his wrist on the wheel. “Ray was involved in that operation you mentioned. He might be able to help us piece things together or figure out if someone’s trying to send a message. He’s got a lot of connections that run deep. He said he would ask around.”
Charley studied him for a moment, then sighed, her shoulders relaxing.
“Thank you,” she said softly, her gaze flickering to the dashboard before returning to him.
“I appreciate that. I know I’ve been trying to handle it on my own, but it’s getting harder to ignore.
It means a lot that you care enough to bring someone in. ”
He didn’t say anything right away, just reached over and gently squeezed her hand. “You’re not alone in this anymore, Charley.”
A small smile tugged at her lips, and it took every ounce of his restraint not to lean in and kiss her right then.
But he’d wait. For her, he would wait as long as he had to.
◆◆◆
“Thank you,” Charley said. “I appreciate that, Pierce.”
As she reached for the door handle again, Charley’s chest filled with something she hadn’t felt in a long time, the steady comfort of knowing she wasn’t carrying everything alone anymore.
She wasn’t used to anyone stepping up for her, especially without being asked.
And though she had been carrying the unease of those cryptic notes and the stranger’s warning around like a weighted backpack, somehow tonight she had almost forgotten about it.
Between the laughter at dinner, having Pierce beside her, that ever-present tension had eased.
She got out of the Jeep. Pierce walked with her up to her apartment. He walked close enough that their arms would brush against each other.
The closer they got to her apartment, the more questions she had swirling through her head. Was he going to kiss her? Should she invite him in? Did she even want to say goodnight yet?
When they reached her door, she paused, searching his face. “Do you want to come in for a bit?” she asked, casually, though the nerves bubbling in her chest made it sound a little too hopeful.
Pierce chuckled, and the way his eyes warmed made her stomach flutter. “As tempting as that sounds,” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “If I come in, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep taking things slow.”
Her breath hitched as his words sank in, and the implication made her cheeks flush. She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Okay, fair point.”
He stepped in closer, his hand gently finding her hip while the other lifted to her cheek, his touch both grounding and electric. Her breath caught again, but not from nerves this time. It was in the way his gaze held hers, as if she were something worth protecting, something worth cherishing.
“I’d settle for a kiss, though,” he murmured. “If you’ll let me.”
Speechless, she nodded. Literally just nodded like a damn bobblehead. Because what on earth was she supposed to say to that when her brain had gone completely offline?
He leaned in slowly, giving her time to stop him. But she didn’t want to. His lips brushed hers, soft and sweet and unhurried. No tongues, no urgency. It was just a kiss full of promise.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into him, her hands resting lightly against his chest before sliding up and wrapping around his shoulders. His arms came around her fully then, pulling her into a hug so strong, so comforting, she felt like she could melt into it. For a second, she did.
When they slowly pulled apart, Pierce kept his hands on her waist, his thumbs rubbing slow circles near the hem of her shirt. He looked down into her eyes.
“Do you have any plans tomorrow?” he asked her, his voice low and sexy.
Charley’s stomach fluttered as she licked her lips nervously. Hell, she was still coming down off their kiss.
“Not really. I was going to put a few hours in at the Foundation since the grand opening is next week. But that was about it.”
He smiled. “Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow? Like a real date.”
“I love to,” she said, smiling.
“Is six-thirty good for you? I’ll pick you up.”
“Yeah. That time works.”
They stood there for a moment just looking into each other’s eyes. God, she wanted to kiss him again.
Finally, Pierce grinned. “Well, I should let you get inside.”
Deep down, she wasn’t really ready to say goodnight. But she knew it was for the best.
Feeling brazen, she lifted up on her toes and kissed his cheek again. “Thank you for driving tonight. I had a lot of fun.”
He pressed his lips to her temple. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed tonight as well. Go inside and lock the door.”
He took a step back, and she turned to unlock her door. As she pushed open the door, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Good night, Pierce.
He winked. “Night, Charley.”
She walked into her apartment, and as soon as the door shut, the lock clicked into place. She stood there for a second with her forehead resting against the door.
She heard his footsteps fading down the hallway, but she stayed right where she was, smiling like a fool at the door and wondering how one man had managed to work his way under her skin so fast.
Sliding off her flats and kicking them aside, she padded toward the kitchen, still feeling the imprint of his lips on hers. She let herself lean against the counter, her fingertips touching her lips as a grin spread across her face.
It had been so long since she had been kissed.
Whatever was happening between her and Pierce, it felt real. Terrifying, yes. But real.
Right then and there, she decided that she wasn’t going to let fear or the past get in the way. Not when there was something so steady and kind waiting right in front of her. And not when that something was hot, compassionate, and kissed like that.
Still smiling, she reached for a glass of water and whispered to herself, “This is a good thing.”