Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“What do you want, Charles?” I ask again, and he tips his head up to the ceiling and the innocent-looking mistletoe hanging above us.

Holy shit!

“Please tell me you’re not seriously suggesting what I think you are. What are you, twenty?”

That asshole in Armani continues to smile at me. Even though I hate that he’s taking me by surprise at every step with that smoldering grin, my chest warms thinking I have something to do with his newfound happiness.

“You are freaking serious?” I whisper under my breath.

“Have you ever seen me not serious?”

That might be true. But this Charles A. Hawthorne is so different from the man I work for.

I’m still struggling when he leans in.

His lips touch mine, and that feeling returns in my chest. This time, he isn’t rushed. No, tonight his tongue moves inside my mouth with a slow pace, like he’s savoring me.

His hand moves from my face to the back of my neck, and he tugs on my hair, making me look up, which only gives Charles better access to my mouth.

My hands grab his jacket, something I’ve started to do without trying whenever he’s kissing me, and Charles’ moan gets locked in my throat.

After what feels like forever, I finally register a voice calling my name. It slowly starts to grow stronger as I pull away from Charles. It might have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life, especially when Charles makes a disapproving groan.

“Chloe,” I whisper, licking my lips as his hot gaze traces the path of my tongue.

Chloe’s singsong voice calls my name once again as we step away from the fortuitous bathroom door, which has reserved for itself a permanent spot in my memories.

But before we can further walk into the living room, where everyone is waiting for us, Charles tugs on my arm. Turning me around in a flash, he places a chaste kiss on my lips before grinning and tipping his head up toward another mistletoe.

How many did they hang in there?

“Were you the one in charge of decorations tonight, smoochmister?”

I’m torn about these green things dangling from red ribbons all over the house—they’re adorable, yet potential heart-attack inducers. A part of my brain wants to just stand under them with Charles and let him do his magic, while the rational part of my brain pitter-patters and wants to run away and save me from future heartache. These moments feel riskier than actual sex.

“Finally, I found you two.” Chloe releases a heavy breath. “Dad’s waiting for you in his office, Charlie.” She holds my hand, leading me back into the living room. “And Mom wants to talk to you.”

I feel the warmth of Charles’ gaze on me until I’m sitting on the couch next to his mom, and only then do I see the back of his dark suit leaving the hallway.

“How are you doing, hon?” Kristy asks as I settle beside her. Since GG and Grandma Irene retired into their rooms and Chloe is away on a phone call, it’s just us.

“I’m good. Thank you.”

“I remember the days following my own wedding. Being a Hawthorne bride takes a hell of a lot of adjusting. Did you know, like Charlie and you, Oscar was also my boss before we got married?” Her grin is fun, and I feel a familiar comfort in her company, as if I’m around friends.

“I didn’t.” My shock is genuine.

“Oh yeah, and like you two, we had to hide the relationship from everyone, including my sister,” she says in a low conspiratorial voice. “For several reasons, but mostly because Oscar didn’t want Charlie to get attached to someone and later realize the relationship wasn’t working out.”

I feel a newfound appreciation for Charles’ dad. Every kid needs to have parents who are willing to sacrifice their own happiness for their little ones. I knew how lucky I was when I found mine.

“But it’s not just Oscar. All throughout his childhood, everyone around Charlie was so protective of him, and I think that safety net became a huge part of his identity, until it was pulled right out from under him. That day, our little Charlie became Charles Hawthorne. What I’m trying to say is, I’m so happy to see the long-lost carefree part of him back when he’s with you. It’s been years since I saw him smiling the way he is tonight.”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean by that day?” I ask before I can clamp my mouth shut.

Is this something I should have known?

“He didn’t tell you?” Kristy’s eyebrows furrow, making me squirm.