“Take two days to enjoy yourself. You’re a bloody workaholic and you deserve it. If you don’t, I’ll beat you to a pulp myself.”

“Right.” I blow out a breath and shove my hands in my pockets. The truth is, I’m not ready for her to leave. I would love nothing more than to spend the weekend with her, and Todd’s right, I don’t remember the last time I took two days to myself.

“I can’t bail on this party.”

“Yes, you can. You’ve been dancing with them for over an hour. Say something profound the way you always do, then cut out. Go catch her before she leaves.”

I nod, and hurry inside, take the mic, and signal for the DJ to cut the music.

“Hello, you gorgeous women!”

The applause is deafening, and I motion for everyone to quiet down.

“This has been an amazing two weeks, and I can’t tell you how monumentally proud I am of each and every one of you. Thank you for your hard work, and your dedication. Thank you for your honesty, and for keeping an open mind.

“Most of all, thank you for trusting me and my staff this week. I will never take that trust for granted. Don’t forget to check your email in the coming months for exclusive webinars just for you. Now, you’ve all bloody exhausted me, so I’m going to say good night.”

They applaud again and I’m met with hugs and thanks as I make my way out of the ballroom. It takes me almost fifteen minutes to get to the elevator, and I’m practically running when the doors open and I make it to Charly’s door.

She’s still here. The do not disturb sign is on the door. Did she leave that there for me, expecting me to follow her?

Well, too bad. She should know better than to think that a simple piece of paper could keep me away.

I brace my hands on either side of the doorjamb and take a deep breath. I don’t know if I’m hopeful that she doesn’t turn me away, or that she does. Because let’s be honest, this is not a good idea.

But, for this week, anyway, that doesn’t seem to stop me.

So I knock three times and wait, still leaning into the doorjamb. Just when I’m about to knock again, the door swings open and I’m knocked back on my heels.

Holy Mary, mother of God.

She’s taken her dress off, so she’s standing before me in a black bra, black panties, and a mother fucking garter belt with stockings.

Her hair has been brushed out and is wild around her shoulders, and her face scrubbed clean.

“I hope you were expecting me, and not answering the door looking like that for room service.”

A slow, satisfied smile spreads over her beautiful face.

“What do you need, Simon?”

Chapter Six

~Charly~

That shell-shocked look on Simon’s face does wonders for my ego. His lips are moving, but no sound is coming out as he takes me in from head to toe. I knew it was him at the door. He’s the only one who would knock with a do not disturb sign.

And maybe I wanted to get this reaction out of him. I am a woman, after all.

“What can I do for you?” I ask again and cock my hip to the side, my hand propped on it.

“You can let me in before anyone else sees you like this and I have to kill them.”

I roll my eyes and step back, letting him into the room, then close the door behind him.

“You always seem to catch me when I’m on my way to the shower.” I walk past him and toss him a sassy look over my shoulder. I know what I look like from behind, and the look in his blue eyes is incredible for my ego.

“Lucky me,” he says, swallowing hard. “You’re packing up then?”

“I am.” I toss my dirty jeans, folded nicely, into my suitcase. “And you still haven’t said what you came up here for. I’m sure the others are missing you.”

“I don’t care,” he replies. His voice is rough, pulling my gaze away from the blouse I’m folding. “I want you to stay.”

I knew it.

Of course I knew it.

I sigh and shake my head. “Simon, let’s not do this. It’s hard enough as it is. Just let me go.”

“I’m not ready for you to go.”

“What does it matter if I leave tonight or tomorrow when the others are?”

He lifts a brow and shifts his gaze to the bed. “I think you know the answer to that, Charly. But that’s not what I mean.”

“Awfully presumptuous,” I mutter to myself and turn to face him again. “Okay, what do you mean?”

“Stay the weekend. I’m here until Monday evening. Stay until then so we can enjoy each other without the retreat happening at the same time. I want to be with you without any distractions or restrictions.”

“I have to be in my shop Monday morning,” I reply and bite my lip, trying to think of a way to make it work. I don’t want to go either, but staying will only mean that I’ll become more attached to him, and I don’t want that either.

“Talk to me, Charlotte.”

“Okay, I’m going to be brutally honest.” I square my shoulders and prop my hands on my hips, and Simon’s blue eyes immediately fall to my girls. I’d almost forgotten that I was standing here mostly naked. “I’m up here, Simon.”

“Sorry,” he replies with a self-deprecating smile. “Go on.”

“I’m not looking for something long term with you, Simon.”

“I believe I suggested a weekend, love.” He smiles when I glare at him. “Sorry.”

“I’m not looking for something long term. But I’m not thrilled with the one-weekend stand either. You’ve taught me a lot this week, and even though it pissed me off, one of those things is that I’ve settled for the whole “friends with benefits” thing my whole life, and honestly, I’ve lied to myself.”