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“Are you still hungry? We have half a bottle of ridiculously expensive cognac and at least three unopened bags of chips."

"You truly spoil me," she murmurs, and I can feel her smiling against my skin.

"Only the best for you," I say, half joking but excited to give her everything she wants and more.

Chapter 17

Tess

Morning light filters through the hotel curtains, casting Charlie's face in a soft glow. I trace my finger along his jawline, remembering how those same features looked above me in the darkness last night, how his eyes held mine as our bodies moved together.

He stirs under my touch, his lips curling into a sleepy smile that sends butterflies racing through my stomach. I can’t deny that I love waking up next to him.

"Morning, beautiful," he mumbles, voice thick with sleep. His hand finds mine, our fingers intertwining with casual intimacy that feels incredible.

"Hi," I whisper back. My body still hums with the memory of his touch, electric and consuming.

Charlie tugs me closer, pressing a kiss to my forehead, before he checks his watch. "Hotel breakfast ends in forty-five minutes. Think we can make it?"

I glance at the twisted sheets, evidence of our night together, and feel heat rise to my cheeks. "Depends on what you have in mind for those forty-five minutes."

His laugh rumbles against my ear, his hand sliding along my waist. "Tempting, but I should probably feed you. Can't have youfainting from hunger during the drive back to Seattle. And, truth be told, I’m a little sore from last night."

"You're not the only one, actually. Perhaps we shouldn’t have gone on to round two after the chips were gone." I raise an eyebrow, and he laughs again.

He kisses me again, this time on the lips, soft and sweet and full of promise. I can’t get enough of his kisses.

Twenty minutes later, we're dressed and seated at a table in the hotel restaurant. The waitress has just filled Charlie’s cup with coffee and mine with hot water for my tea.

"What's that smile about?" Charlie asks, his foot finding mine under the table.

"Just thinking about last night." I take a sip of water, wishing my tea was finished brewing. "The hot tub and..."

"The mind-blowing sex?" Charlie supplies helpfully, his blue eyes twinkling before he gives me a big wink.

I nearly choke on my coffee. "I was going to say 'company,' but sure, let's go with that." God, he’s so sure of himself and I love it.

A waitress approaches with a carafe of coffee. "Refill?" she asks, already pouring more into Charlie's nearly empty cup. That man can take down some coffee. I’m sure he notices a big difference between this coffee and his own but I don’t know how it makes that much difference because he loads them all up with so much sugar.

"Thanks," he says, already reaching for several packets of sugar. "And I think we're ready to order."

I scan the menu, settling on my usual healthy choice. "I'll have the house granola with yogurt and berries, please. But could you check if there are cashews in the granola? I have an allergy."

The waitress nods. "I'll check with the kitchen, but I'm pretty sure it's just almonds and pecans."

Charlie orders an omelet with basically everything in it and a side of bacon, and the waitress rushes away.

"I didn't know you had a cashew allergy," Charlie says, concern etching lines between his brows.

"Since I was a kid." I shrug.

"That’s good information to know," Charlie says, reaching across the table to take my hand. "Especially when a guy might want to cook for you someday."

The casual implication of future plans warms me from the inside out. "Yes. No Kung Pao chicken or Thai cashew chicken, please."

Charlie's thumb traces patterns on my palm. "Noted. I’ll be sure to alert my chef."

“You have a chef? Seriously?”