Sweet Charity by Lauren Dane

you…things, well let’s just say I know I’m all wrong for you. Baby, you need a man who doesn’t have dark edges.”
    She looked at him for some time without speaking, sipping her coffee, eating her pie. Finally she nodded as if she’d come to a decision.
    “Don’t you think I’m the one best to decide what I want or like to have done to me? I liked the way you were just now. Did my body say otherwise? You didn’t hurt me, Gabriel. You were hard, yes, but you didn’t go too far. I liked it and you can’t convince me I didn’t. Now that we’ve established neither of us is looking to get married, that we like each other, like having sex and I like that you’re rough, there’s no reason to continue with this silliness about not having sex anymore. We’ll have it until we don’t want to. Now, would you like another slice of pie?”
    He stared at her. He needed to just leave, to make a clean break and they’d rebuild their friendship later. But his shirt, yeah, he couldn’t very well leave without his shirt and all. Anyway, she was right, it would go on for a while and then she’d move away from him on her own once she saw he wasn’t marriage material. Until then, why not enjoy her? She seemed to be on board with the tamest part of himself he’d shown her upstairs, although he wondered if he’d scare her once he brought out the toys.

Chapter Six
    “You look distracted. Is everything okay?” Marta asked her the next day as they worked in their mother’s kitchen.
    Charity gave her sister a brief overview of the night before as they put all the food out on the big table.
    “Oh my God that is so hot.” Marta fanned her face and their mother turned a glance their way, narrowing her eyes.
    Charity smiled innocently and poured some milk for her grandmother.
    “Charity, that was the last of the milk. I forgot to say so when I was making the biscuits. Why don’t you run over to the dairy to get some?”
    Her mother was so not obvious at all.
    “Why don’t you just send her to the market? It’s closer.” Jason sat down. “Anyway, it’s time to eat.”
    Her father looked at her mother, knowing something was up but not precisely what. Charity loved how he took her direction on that sort of thing.
    “It’ll take all of ten minutes. The bread is still warming in the oven and the milk from the dairy tastes better.” Her mother said it like she didn’t have a darned thing up her sleeve. She handed Charity a ten dollar bill. “While you’re at it, you know maybe you should invite Gabriel to brunch. If he’s around and all. I haven’t seen him in a while now.”
    Jason looked to their mother and back to Charity and finally it dawned on him what was going on. He just laughed and shook his head. “Good luck to him.”
    Her father thought that was hilarious and she just rolled her eyes at them all as she left. “I’m taking your car, Jason. It’ll be faster.”
    Charity didn’t wait to hear his bellow of outrage as she jogged to his Mustang and took off toward the dairy. Even though it was a Sunday, the dairy was open, not like cows took a holiday or anything.
    Mrs. Bettencourt gave her a big smile when she walked in.
    “Good morning, Mrs. Bettencourt. My mom sent me here for milk. There’s a full house for brunch and we’re all out.” Charity went to the cold case and grabbed several half gallons and brought them over to the counter.
    “You just missed Gabriel. He had to go to the train station to pick up my sister’s son and his wife. They’re joining us for Christmas. He was in a very good mood this morning. I hear you two had dinner last night.” Beatriz raised a brow at her and gave her her change.
    “We did have dinner.” Charity paused. “I like Gabriel a lot. I have for as long as I can remember.”
    Beatriz’s smile widened and she nodded.
     
    “Gabriel, get the door please, my hands are full,” Gabriel’s mother yelled from the other room as he was on his way to answer the