Chapter 19 – Annabelle
Chapter Nineteen
ANNABELLE
Charles is quick. I thought I could multitask, but he has a million things going at once, like a couple of men bringing over some of his things, along with speaking to a few retailers about us coming in to find me a dress.
This is all moving fast, but I have to say, his determination does bring me comfort.
He wants this and is moving full steam ahead.
I was happy that he came back so quickly. I know I told him I needed time to think, but the opposite might be true. Oftentimes I tend to let myself get too far into my own thoughts.
“I know you think the office is too big for you and only your laptop, but I would enjoy sharing it with you.” The way his eyes soften around the edges when he talks to me has me agreeing. I love that he wants to be in my space. That he’s making such a big effort to know the real me.
I have to say, seeing him large and in charge is a turn-on. One I didn’t think could be, but a lot of things he does simply do it for me. I notice his shift in demeanor and even his tone when he speaks to me compared to when he speaks to others. I love that I get this softer side of him.
With everyone else, it's the orders and the finality with which he speaks. With me, he wants my response and then maneuvers from there; what I want is more important to him than his own wants.
“That would be nice.” If he was in there, I would enjoy that more. He nods and gives one of the movers direction.
“Now the dresses. I can set us up to go into the store, or I could see about having them brought here.”
“About that—” I shift on my feet. “The places you called are really fancy.” I’ve been to places like that with my sisters, and I’ve never had a great experience.
I’ve always felt as though I didn’t fit in.
Mostly because my sisters made me feel that way, but the salespeople also turned their noses up at me.
“Belle, don't worry about that. The money is nothing to me.”
“It's not that; I just know I'll be awkward. I have this whole Pretty Woman scene going through my head.”
“You're not a prostitute, nor would I hire one.” His expression grows serious. “I am a married man, after all.” I snort a laugh.
“But I mean…” I motion from him to me. “You did kind of pay me.”
“Belle, I would—”
“Charles, I'm messing with you about that, but it still stands that I think it will be really awkward for me.”
“Then they'll come here.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. I know I need a nice dress for this event. “You don't care for that idea either?”
“There is this girl I follow on social media.
She's local and makes her own dresses. Maybe I could reach out to her. Her stuff is really nice.” They still are costly, nowhere near the level those I'm sure Charles was going to have picked out for me, but she doesn't do them all by hand, so her prices are a touch more sensible.
“A small business owner. I love that idea.” His answer is exactly what I mean about him actually listening to me.
“You do?”
“Of course. I see the things you craft. I'm sure you have an eye for these things.” It's a simple compliment, really, but it makes my throat grow tight. How is it that this man that’s only known me for such a short time is able to be so kind and considerate?
“I’ll send her a message now to see if she’s available. I really appreciate it.”
“Belle, you don’t have to thank me. What’s mine is yours, and all I want is for you to be happy here with me.”
I walk over to him. “I want us to be happy here.” I rest my hands on his chest.
“I’m ecstatic you’re letting me move in.”
“You do know you own the place, right?”
His brows pull together. “But you’re okay with it?”
“Yes, I’m fine with it.” I watch relief take over, his shoulders dropping. “I worry that you'll tire of this—”
“I won't,” he says with utter confidence. I keep going.
“But I still want to give this a try.” I'm not going to let the actions of others from my past sway this. Sure, I'm scared he could break my heart, but what if he doesn't? What if I could really have a happily ever after like I read about in my romance books?
Charles leans down to press a kiss to my mouth. My fingers dig into the front of his shirt, and I push my body more into his. When a throat clears, I jump, having forgotten people were here. I don't get far; Charles tucks me into his side.
The man easily engulfs me with his size. People are going to die of shock when they see this is Charles Wickham.
“We're all finished,” Tomas, the man who'd been leading the moving crew, tells him.
“Thank you. I'll have my assistant reach out to handle the details.”
“He already did.”
“Of course he did. Thank you,” Charles tells him before he leaves.
“Let's go take a peek at the office.” I grab his hand, wanting to see if there has been much change. “You already knew I was going to say yes to the shared office?”
“I guessed and hoped you would.” He shrugs his shoulders.
I turn to face him, leaning up on my tippy toes to place a quick kiss on his mouth.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You haven’t even seen it yet.”
“I’m sure it’s perfect.” I smile before turning and pulling him along with me to enter the office.
I was right. It is indeed perfect. So much so I burst into tears because all of this is too good to be true. The realization that I’m no longer alone is overwhelming but in the best of ways.