Charlotte’s heart finally began to settle, and the flush <b>on </b>her face slowly faded. She cleared her throat twice in a very tactical, deliberate way, then tried to act calm.
“So… I’m a little hungry. Want to order some breakfast?”
Sean’s <b>eyes </b>sparkled with mischief.
“What happened to testing whether I have performance issues or not?”
Charlotte immediately shook her head like a bobblehead.
“I was wrong! I was so wrong! Sean, I swear–1 was talking nonsense<b>. </b>You’re absolutely fine!”
<b>Sean’s </b>voice was low and husky<b>, </bced with temptation.
“How would you know… if you’ve never tried?”
Charlotte bit her lip and stared down at her toes, looking like a guilty little kid.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>just… I know I was wrong, okay…”
Sean couldn’t help butugh.
His Charlotte was shy to the bone. Alright, he would let <b>her </b>off this time.
He didn’t push her any further and obediently ordered breakfast<b>. </b>
After eating, Sean brought up the n for tomorrow–to hike up North Ridge and watch the <b>meteor </b>shower.
Just as he had expected, Charlotte’s <b>eyes </b><b>lit </b>up the second she heard <b>the </b>words “meteor shower“.
<b>“</b>I’ve <b>never </b>seen one before<b>!</b><b>” </b>she eximed, clearly thrilled<b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Of </b>course <b>I </b>want <b>to </b>go! I’ll bring Mia and <b>Lena </b><b>too</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
Sean smiled and nodded.
<b>“</b>Of course she would want to bring her friends<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b>silently remarked.
He had originally imagined <b>it </b>as <b>a </b>quiet<b>, </b>romantic night for <b>just </b><b>the </b>two <b>of </b>them but he knew Charlotte <b>well</b><b>. </b>She loved being surrounded by <b>people</b><b>, </b>and when something exciting came up, her first thought was <b>always </b><b>to </b>include her <b>best </b>friends.
Then he remembered the tension <b>between </b>Charlotte and Vivian <b>at </b>the stablesst time. He figured <b>he </b>should tell her now that Vivian would be joining them.
<b>After </b>all, Vivian was his sister. And once Charlotte married into the family<b>, </b><b>she </b>would be Charlotte’s sister too. One awkward moment in the past couldn’t be a permanent wedge.
“Lottie,” he said gently, “my sister’sing on the hike tomorrow too. Is that okay <b>with </b><b>you</b>?”
Charlotte paused. <b>“</b>You mean… Vivian?<b>” </b>
Sean <b>nodded</b>. <b>“</b>Yeah.”
The <b>memory </b>of theirst run–in flickered across Charlotte’s mind. Her gaze dropped slightly<b>, </b>and <b>her </b>earlier excitement dimmed.
“Oh… yeah. It’s fine I don’t mind,” she said quietly.
Sean reached out and patted her head.
<b>“</b>Good.”
He had known all along that his girl wasn’t the petty type.
The rest of the morning, they curled up together on the couch.
Charlotte was focused on her phone, reading travel tips and putting together a little n for the trip<b>. </b><b>Sean</b><b>, </b><b>on </b>the other hand, kept interrupting her asking for kisses<b>, </b>pulling her into his arms, blowing warm breathi against her ear just to <b>tease </b>her.
Charlotte turned to <b>him </b>with mock irritation.
<b>“</b><b>Sean </b>Jasper<b>, </b>can you please behave?”
Sean lowered his head and pressed a warm kiss to her corbone, lingering there.
“Stop it,” she whispered, leaning away and cing a hand against his chest. “I’m trying to n everything out. If we miss the meteor shower because of you<b>, </b>I’m not talking to you.”
Sean let out a softugh, his shoulders shaking.
Chapter ng
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<b>“</b>Oh? That serious, huh?”
“There’s finally going to be a meteor shower. Of course I want to see it.”
Sean gently moved Charlotte’s hand away from his chest, then leaned in and pressed a kiss to the soft skin of her neck. His warm breath brushed and tickled the sensitive skin of her corbone.
Charlotte flinched and let out a softugh, trying to push his face away with her hand.
Charlotte flinched a little,ughing as she tried to push Sean’s face away. But he caught her hand midair and kissed her palm.
“Leave the nning and shopping to my assistant,” he murmured. “It’s the weekend–can’t you just stay with me?”
His voice was nothing like his usual cool, detached tone. It was low, gentle, with a hint of spoiled charm that felt<b>… </b>almost like he was being cute on purpose.
Charlotte blinked at him<b>, </b>like she was seeing something brand new.
<b>“</b>Wait… were you trying to be cute with me just now?”
<b>Sean </b>didn’t answer.
Instead, he leaned back in, his lips brushing down the side of her neck<b>–</b><b>soft</b>, slow, and tingling.