Free Loving David by Gina Hummer Page B

You really think we’ll keep in touch after we leave here?”
    As soon as the words slipped out, Charlotte wished she could grab them and stuff them back in her mouth. She sounded like a high school girl who worries that Johnny won’t call her after she made out with him in the backseat of his convertible.
    David cocked his head to the side, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He touched the side of her face. “I knew I made a lifelong friend the minute we met. The fact that you didn’t mace me sealed the deal.”
    They both chuckled before Charlotte resumed her serious tone. “David, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I’m not like the women in my books. I haven’t been in a relationship in a while…a long while. I don’t consider myself a sexy, steamy lover type.”
    He put his finger over her mouth to shush her. “I am well aware of who you are,” David replied. “Besides, I’m not the suave action guy, go-all-night Romeo you see on the screen. I haven’t been in a relationship in quite some time either.”
    Charlotte looked at him, stunned. “Shut the front door.”
    “I’m quite serious.” He picked up her hand again. “Listen; what I do know about you is that you are a kind, smart, and funny woman who I want to get to know better. I know there is something between us, and I know you feel it too. But if it makes you feel uncomfortable taking it further, we won’t.”
    Charlotte shook her head, still reeling from this turn of events.
    “What?” he asked.
    “I’m just going to spit this out.”
    “Go ahead,” he replied, unsure of what to expect.
    She took a deep breath and plunged in. “David, I’m forty-three. I’m nothing like the women you’re used to dating. I don’t wear sexy lingerie ---- boxer briefs and tank tops are my preferred sleepwear. Bras irritate me. I snore; I shave my armpits and legs every few days ----if I remember. My idea of a romantic evening is to stay home, watch a movie, and be in bed by nine. I don’t go to bars; I don’t sleep around. I find most people your age annoying and spoiled. I’m set in my ways and never in my wildest dreams did I expect someone like you to show up in my life. If I had known you were coming; I would’ve dropped a few pounds, and truthfully… I never thought of myself as getting old until I met you. Kissing you excites me to no end and makes me want to run screaming at the same time.”
    Charlotte realized she was rambling, and she snapped her mouth together to make herself shut up. She looked at David, waiting for a response.
    Nothing.
    “David?”
    He stared at her.
    Charlotte’s heart jack-hammered against her chest. “David? Say something.”
    More silence. Charlotte realized he’d pressed his mouth into a thin line, and even in the moonlight he looked mad. Furious, in fact.
    David unfolded himself from the couch and stood over her, his voice shaking as he spoke in careful, measured tones.
    “Most people my age irritate me too. I couldn’t care less how old you are. I would bet money I snore ten times louder than you do. Sexy lingerie is a huge waste of money because you usually have it on only for a minute or two. And believe it or not, I don’t sleep around either. And why would you comment on your weight? Do you think that because I’m an actor I’m only attracted to toothpicks? Most of the actresses I work with look ill. Don’t forget the camera adds ten pounds, so can you imagine what I look at all day? Skeletons…who wants to make love to a skeleton? And Charlotte, I don’t care if you’re fat, skinny or somewhere in between. I want you because I think you’re smart and strong and brave and funny and fun. I hate to think that I may have brought out your insecurities because of who I am. If your appearance and your age didn’t bother you before I came around, then I guess you think I’m pretty damn shallow.”
    David stopped, realizing he was ranting as she had. He took a deep breath and