19. Wait, we never said anything about getting freaky.
19 /
wait, we never said anything about getting freaky.
rafael
I sent a text to a few of the guys I know to be pretty decent and who aren’t away on assignment for Aegis. A couple of them got back to me saying they’d be down. I definitely sold it by mentioning that Charlie is gorgeous and British, so I send Charlie a text with the news.
ME:
Got you a date for Saturday, Chuck. His name is Zach. He works for me, loves to surf, loves his mama (in that very Southern way of his), and he’s good looking enough. See?
I attach a picture of Zach that I asked him to send me. He’s obviously trying to impress Charlie already because he sent a picture of himself at what must have been a wedding. He’s wearing a three-piece suit and a big smile. He’s squinting, so it’s hard to see that he has brown eyes, but I don’t think Charlie will care about that.
CHARLIE:
Would it be weird to say I’m impressed by your set-up skills ?
I type back quickly.
ME:
Oh, red, I have many skills. I just happen to know you like the clean-cut, preppy boys.
CHARLIE:
Oh, you think you know me so well, do you?
ME:
Uh-huh
CHARLIE:
And you think Zach could put his preppiness aside and get freaky in the sheets with me?
Wait, we never said anything about getting freaky.
ME:
I mean, I don’t know him well enough to know what he’s like in bed. How freaky are we talking here, red?
Fuck, I really want her to answer me, and I also hope she doesn’t. What the hell am I supposed to do with this kind of knowledge about Charlie?
CHARLIE:
My requirements are simple: He has to be willing to try all the things I’ve read about in romance novels.
ME:
I read romance too, Chuck. ALL the things?
CHARLIE:
Aye.
ME:
Even the stuff from C.M. Howe’s third book?
CHARLIE:
I’d like to know what being tied up feels like, yes. But I wouldn’t do that unless I was with someone I completely trusted.
Have you ever tied someone up in bed before?
Jeeeeeeeesus. What. The. Fuck.
Charlie wants to be tied up. I need to digest that information for a minute.
No, wait, that’s a bad idea. Just answer her.
ME:
I have.
Honesty and all that…
CHARLIE:
And? You’ve got to give me more than that, Machado.
ME:
With the right person, it can be pretty hot. But it means giving up a lot of control. You up for that?
CHARLIE:
Like you said, with the right person.
Maybe Zach will be the man to tie my hands above my head, blindfold me, and fuck me until I see stars.
I think I just blacked out.
Fuck me until I see stars.
Hands tied above her head.
Don’t picture it. Don’t picture it. Don’t picture it.
Goddamn it. I’m picturing it.
ME:
Damn, Chuck. Blindfold too?
CHARLIE:
I told you. I want to try it all.
I’m not sure I’ll survive this.
I think I blushed a little, and I’m not a man who blushes. At all. Ever.
And sure, Zach might be the guy to make that happen for her, but there’s a significant part of me that doesn’t want him to be. I don’t know him that well. He’s worked for Aegis for a little over a year, and he’s always been decent. Goes back to visit his mom often, so I know family is important to him. He’s never given me trouble. But does that mean I want to see him with Charlie?
Fuck, I didn’t think this through well enough.
ME:
Should we get together on Saturday before your date to prepare? You two are meeting for dinner at 7, so I can come over at 4. That should give us plenty of time.
CHARLIE:
Yes, please.
4 is fine.
Apartment 712.
See you then.
I smile as my phone vibrates four times in quick succession.
And just like that, the conversation is over.
I need to go for a run.
I call Charlie to buzz me in at 3:53 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and am knocking on her door by 3:54 p.m. She opens it, and the first thing I notice is the way her glossy red hair cascades over her shoulders and down her back in one perfect smooth line. Her hair is nearly straight, shining in the sunlight. Damn, she’s pretty.
“Hey. Sorry, I’m a few minutes early. I hope that’s okay.” I smile at her, taking in the soft makeup she has on and how bright her blue eyes look. Showing up early was intentional. I want her to feel comfortable with me, and a big part of that is being a little early or a little late for things without it being a big deal.
“Of course. Please come in.” I like that her shoulders relax as I walk in. “This isn’t what I’m wearing on the date, by the way,” she adds in quickly.
I chuckle, eyes roaming over her gray leggings and cream oversized sweater. “You look great, red.” Oops . Didn’t mean to say that. I catch the adorable flush of her cheeks, but I pretend not to notice. Today is about building her confidence and making sure she feels good about herself for this date. She walks toward the living room, sitting on the lounge chair I assume is her favorite spot based on the blanket draped over its side and the paperback sitting on the table next to it.
“Thanks for doing this. Where shall we start?” Her legs are crossed in front of her, elbows propped on her knees, and her chin resting on her fists. She’s so fucking cute, and for a second, I forget what we’re even here for.
To get her ready for a date. Not with you.
Right.
“I can tell you a little more about Zach if you want?” I have a feeling she wants to be prepared for this.
“Yes, tell me about Mr. Southern Boy. What’s he like?” she asks curiously, no doubt hoping for some juicy details. You’d expect just about anyone to deliver that line with a smile, but not Charlie. Seeing one of her smiles is like seeing a shooting star. It’s a rare and kind of magical thing.
“Well,” I begin, “he’s been at Aegis for a year, loves to surf, and has a big fluffy dog who goes everywhere with him.”
“Sounds like a catch,” she quips. “Did you write his Tinder profile for him?”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise before I burst out laughing. Even Charlie can’t resist cracking a smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she settles back into her chair.