Her head falls back again as she laughs. “You totally gave that guy spank bank material! Nice going, girl.”

Shaking my head, I just shrug. “I seriously doubt that. I think the slap probably took care of that little problem.”

“Or it turned him on even more. Maybe he likes it a little rough.” She pauses, and I’m sure she’s thinking about the very thing right now. “Hey, at least you learned one good thing about this guy,” she says, and I wrinkle my forehead in confusion.

“That he likes to jump to conclusions and apparently thinks every woman on the planet wants to sleep with him? Yeah, great guy! My panties are melting just at the thought of him,” I say sarcastically, but if I’m being honest, I can totally see that actually happening.

She takes a sip of her latte before she responds. “Not every woman on the planet. Just you. You must’ve been giving him fuck-me eyes.” She starts batting her eyelashes and I can’t help but laugh at her. “What I mean is, you know he’s not a cheater. After what happened with Drew, I’d say this guy is at least a step in the right direction. Maybe he deserves a chance. Or at least a roll in the hay.”

“You’re kidding, right? Between his accusations and my slap, I highly doubt anything’s going to happen. I imagine we’ll barely tolerate each other until this assignment is over. And I’m absolutely not getting between the sheets with him. That’d only prove his theory that I wanted him!”

Watching me, Lucy twirls her straw in her drink before she grins wickedly at me. “Well, did you? Don’t think I didn’t notice you practically ignoring Michael while you were staring at this guy across the bar. Hell, I had to yank you outside to get you to leave.”

I blush, knowing I can’t keep anything from her. “Okay, fine. So maybe I thought about what it would be like for him to be a good rebound, but it wouldn’t have happened that night!”

“Oh, Jesus, Charlie. Lighten up and stop being such a prude. A one-night stand is a great way to rebound. You get to feel good for a night without letting your heart get involved. And then you don’t have to go to bed knowing the last person to touch you was the asshole who broke your heart.”

“How’s that working out for you, Lucy?” I ask immediately regretting it as I see the dark expression wash over her face. “Shit, Luce, I didn’t mean that.”

Waving me off, she plants a fake smile across her face. “It’s fine, Charlie. We all have our ways of coping. Yours is crying yourself to sleep, and mine is not being alone long enough to do the same.” She catches the expression on my face and her eyes soften. She reaches across the table and places her hand on mine. “The walls are thin, honey, and you’re not exactly quiet.”

I grin back at her, trying to lighten the mood. “Yeah, well, Lucy, you aren’t exactly quiet either, and Kale definitely isn’t.”

We both fall into a fit of giggles, letting the serious moment pass us. She’s exactly right. We both have our own ways of coping, and I’m beginning to realize that mine is doing nothing but keeping me down. Maybe I do need to change things up. I don’t necessarily need to sleep with every guy who buys me a drink, but perhaps it’s time to loosen up and just let myself have a little fun for once. But not with Knox. I’m vowing to keep my heart—and my legs—completely void of the broody, grumpy, irritatingly good-looking soldier.

Knox

I AM an asshole. That’s not a secret. And I’ve never hidden it or shied away from being who I am. So why do I feel so guilty for what I said to Charlie? I admit, I flew off the handle and made assumptions I shouldn’t have. The wave of jealousy that washed over me when I saw that text had me seeing red, which is fucking idiotic because I have no claim to her. I want no claim to her, but that damn slap did nothing to calm my raging dick. And although I should be happy that it’s working properly for the first time in weeks, I’m irritated as hell.

I’ve been sitting around the house trying to read this damn book to no avail when I hear a car pull in the driveway. Setting it down, I slowly rise from the chair and make my way outside to try and wave the white flag, hoping to salvage some part of this working relationship.

She has her head in the trunk when I approach her. “Need some help?” I ask, causing her to stand up so quickly that her head smacks the trunk door.

“Mother fucker!” she yells, her Southern twang coming out as she rubs the spot on her head where she collided with the metal. “Dammit, Knox! Don’t sneak up on someone when they’re in an unfamiliar place and not paying attention.”

Wincing, I do something I never do—I apologize. “Sorry, Charlie. I thought you’d hear me approaching. Umm, can I help?”

She looks at me, scoffing, and instantly I can tell that time does not make Charlie Davenport cool off quickly. “And have you exacerbate your injuries on the first day I’m supposed to be helping you? Yeah, no, thank you. This is already going to be a long enough assignment, but I’ve never backed away from one and I’m not going to start now. As for the groceries, I can get them myself.”

I can feel my jaw tense as the frustration of being helpless washes over me. “I’m not a damn invalid, so don’t treat me like one. I still have one good arm. I think I can handle a fucking grocery bag,” I growl as I go to pick up a bag, but she intercepts it before I can grab it.

“No, Knox! You have multiple broken bones. You had surgery for Christ’s sake! Lay down your pride for one freaking minute and get over it. I think I can carry groceries without breaking a nail, thank you very much.”

Put in my place, I watch her for a few moments as she goes to gather up the grocery bags I distracted her from when I made her hit her head. When I think she’s finally trusting that I’m letting her do this on her own, I swoop in and grab the last two out of the trunk with my good arm. She notices at the last minute, and she moves in to grab them from me. The way she comes at me has her swinging the other bags towards my body, and my torso bears the brunt of the impact. It catches me off guard, and I begin to lose my footing.

Time feels like it’s moving in slow motion as the realization that I’m about to kiss the concrete washes over me. I can see Charlie’s eyes widen, and she drops the bags in her hands and crosses the few feet between us, her arms wrapping around me as she tries to stop me from falling. She’s too late though, and I end up bringing her down with me as my arms clumsily and involuntarily wrap around her body.

Fortunately, I land on my ass, but I’m shaken and suddenly I’m lying down, flat on my back on the concrete, with Charlie still in my arms. My eyes closed during the fall as I prepared for the worst, and I still have them shut, silently praying to God that I didn’t just fuck myself up even more.

The thought that Charlie was right about just letting her do it crosses my mind, and I realize that her warm body is on top of mine. Her soft, ample breasts are pressed firmly on my bare skin, and I can feel the hardening of her nipples against me. The brace is in the way of our stomachs, but her pelvis is lined up right with my groin and fuck me if I’m not getting a semi right now. I realize that I haven’t take my pain medication since yesterday morning, and I’m amazed how one day off the stuff is already helping my erection-making abilities. Sure, I’m not rock hard and I know it’s going to deflate in two-point-five seconds, but it’s still more than I’ve felt in weeks. I’d vow to never take them again, but I’m already feeling the effects of not taking them, and this fall isn’t going to help the pain go away.

My ribs are killing me, yet I can’t help but be turned on by this girl’s tight and toned body lying on top of me, no matter the circumstances. Her hands brace against my chest, and I groan at the contact. She mistakes it for discomfort, which, sure, is partly the reason, but I love the feel of her hands on my skin. It’s been forever since a woman’s touch excited me, and I don’t want her to move away. Unfortunately, she sits up, a worried look on her face as she looks me over.