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“Don’t I know it.” I look right at Charlotte as I say it because even though her words were meant as a dig, she’s not wrong. Red is a winner, and if she keeps this shit up, I might be tempted to keep her.

“You can go now,” Charlotte tells Annie, her voice sickly sweet.

“Sorry I came over,” she says directly to me.

“So are we.” It’s Char who answers and again, I have to bite back a laugh.

Annie searches my face, hoping to find pity there, but she finds nothing but hard, cold resentment. Not that she should expect anything less.

Two years we spent together. Two years that I worshipped the fucking ground she walked on. Two years wasted that I’ll never get back. And that’s not counting the months of tortureI endured having to watch her and my ex-friend traipse across town, rubbing their relationship in my face.

The day she moved was one of the best days of my life. This is the first time I’ve seen her since.

“Bye, bye now.” Charlotte wiggles her fingers in a patronizing wave, shooing Annie along.

She looks back at me like I’m going to step in, stomping away seconds later when I don’t.

“You beautiful creature. I could fucking kiss you right now,” I tell her as soon as Annie is out of earshot.

“I’ll allow it.” She returns my smile. “But maybe wait until we’re back at your place so you can kiss me good and proper.”

“In that case.” I hold up my hand, signaling the waiter. “Check, please.”

Charlotte drops her head back on a laugh and I take a moment to revel in the sound.

This woman has me hook, line, and sinker, and she doesn’t even fucking know it yet.

Chapter Ten

Charlotte

“Shit,” River grumbles as we exit the restaurant to find it pouring down rain. “Should have checked the forecast before we walked here.” He holds his hand out from under the awning, the rain spattering against his open palm.

“What’s a little rain?” I smile, stepping out onto the sidewalk with my arms outstretched.

The downpour is torrential, the water soaking through the material of my thin top in seconds, clinging to my body like a second skin.

“A little rain?” He snorts out a laugh at the sight of me drenched to the bone.

Spinning, I turn my face up to the sky and open my mouth, allowing the sky to wet my tongue and throat with droplets of rain.

When I turn back to River, I find him watching me, a smirk tugging up the side of his mouth. God, I love that look on him.

Holding my hand out to him, I’m marginally surprised when he takes it, stepping out into the storm with me.

“See, not too bad.” I smile up at him, squinting to keep water out of my eyes.

“I think someone needs to adjust your perception of what’s not too bad.” He chuckles.

“Come here.” I press up on my toes, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck before I start to sway.

“What on earth are you doing?” He laughs, mouth open, eyes lit with humor.

“Dancing in the rain, of course.” I give him a cheeky grin.

“I wouldn’t exactly call this dancing.”

“Well, hot stuff. Then show me howyoudance.”