Free Fortune's Deception by Karen Erickson

pan filled with marinated meat sat on the counter. “I thought I’d barbeque some steaks.”
    “Don’t worry, I’m a total carnivore.”
    She studied him, watched him move about the kitchen with efficient movements, pulling a bowl of salad from the refrigerator, then peeking in the oven.
    He was so utterly comfortable in his skin, in his home, she envied him at that moment. Wished she could be as comfortable as he.
    “I have potatoes baking in the oven, a salad and French bread.”
    “Sounds wonderful.” And it did. She had a brand new stainless steel barbeque on her back patio that she’d never used, let alone opened up. She didn’t even know how to turn it on. Maybe she should invite him over to her house next time and have Charlie break it in.
    No, no, no. This was not a permanent deal no matter how cozy this night might end up being. She couldn’t allow it, not when it would eventually end.
    And it would end, her attempts at relationships always did. She just never allowed her heart to break in the process.
    With Charlie, she could see him breaking her heart literally in two if she let him.
    “Want a glass of wine? I have a nice red chilling.”
    “Sure.”
    He went over to the tiny customized refrigerator tucked in a corner of his kitchen and pulled out a bottle, uncorking it. She wandered over to stand next to him at the counter, watching as he poured them each a glass. He handed one to her and clinked the rim of his glass against hers.
    “To dinner.”
    “To red meat.”
    They drank, their eyes meeting and something besides the warm liquid of the wine washed over her, making her feel downright euphoric, heady.
    “You’re not wearing a dress.”
    Brittney glanced down at herself, then sipped from her drink again. She wore a pair of black capris and a grass green halter-top. “No, you’re right, I’m not.”
    “You always wear a dress or a skirt. At least when I see you.”
    Hmmm, the easier it is for him to access her just where she needed him. She should’ve worn a skirt tonight. Sans panties. He would’ve really liked that.
    “You wanted to change things up tonight so I guess I wanted to change things up too.”
    Charlie smiled, his brown eyes warm behind his glasses. “Too bad, I love to look at your legs. Ready for me to throw the steaks on the grill?”
    She startled at his change of conversation, still focused on the off-hand compliment he just gave her. He liked to look at her legs? She’d had no idea.
    Well, yeah, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other every time they met, but she had no idea he appreciated her legs.
    Now she really wished she’d worn a skirt.
    “Yes actually, I’m starved. I can’t wait for dinner.” Couldn’t wait for dinner to be over so she could get right to her dessert.
    Charlie .
    He set his wine down, grabbed the plate of steaks and went to the sliding glass door, opening it slowly. A giant black dog appeared out of nowhere, tail wagging fiercely, barks of excitement coming from him.
    Of course Charlie had a dog. He looked back at her, shrugged his wide shoulders in apology. “He gets overly excited, especially when I have company.”
    “Have company often?” She couldn’t help but ask, immediately regretting it. She sounded like a jealous shrew.
    He shook his head. “No, that’s why he gets excited. I’m a terrible dog owner, always at work, I never give Lou the attention he deserves. I pay my eleven-year-old neighbor to come over and hang out with him just so I don’t feel guilty.”
    Brittney stood silent when he shut the door, unable to move from the kitchen. Oh God, she didn’t know how to behave, didn’t know what to say. Everything felt normal, so everyday, and she’d never experienced anything like that. Living in ramshackle houses when she was a toddler, moving from place to place, her mother couldn’t hold down a job. Didn’t want to keep a job, she’d been too busy getting high and getting slapped by her various lovers.