Page 74 of One Kind Hand

“You’re helping just by existing.” She lifted their joined hands and kissed his knuckles. “Let’s get back to my place.”

If she wanted to forget family problems for the night by being with him, Austin was more than willing to oblige. He pulled back onto the road, giving her parents’ house one more glance.

Charlie held his hand as she navigated them back to her house. They didn’t say much with words, but that point of contact through their hands said plenty. Austin was falling deep for Charlie. He thought about her so much that she was becoming a permanent fixture in his mind. And the thing was, he liked her there. Listening to her describe her family situation only made him want to give her reasons to be happy instead.

He pulled the SUV into her driveway then met her at her front door, Berto’s barks reaching them from inside the house.

“Want to take him for a walk?” Charlie pushed her key into the lock. “I love nighttime walking in the cool air.”

Thinking perhaps she needed the walk to clear her head, he nodded. “As long as you promise no bears will try to eat us.”

A smile turned up her lips. “I’m sure a black bear is no match for an action-adventure hero like yourself.”

“Yeah, I don’t want to test that theory.”

She opened the door. Berto nearly climbed up their legs until Charlie scooped him up and hugged him to her chest.

“You’re not afraid of bears, are you, Berto?” She nuzzled the top of his head with her chin.

“Let me grab his leash from the car.” Austin turned to go back outside, but Charlie’s hand on his arm halted him.

“If you packed a bag to stay overnight,” she said, “get that too.” She rose up on her toes and dropped a kiss to his lips. “If you didn’t, you’re still staying.”

He loved the bossy arch of her eyebrow. “I have no plans to be anywhere else.” He kissed her then stepped outside.

At his SUV, he grabbed Berto’s leash and the bag that of course he’d packed. He jogged back into the house and handed Charlie the leash when she wiggled her fingers for it.

“You can put your bag in my bedroom.” She motioned down the hallway. “Because that’s our destination after this walk.”

Austin held up an arm in a victory pump as he walked to the hallway, making Charlie laugh. Other than hearing her yell his name as he pleasured her body, her laugh was the next best sound.

He passed a bathroom and a room Charlie must use as an office as it had a desk in it. At the end of the hall, he found her bedroom. Flipping on the light, he wasn’t surprised to find the room free of the frilly shit his sisters loved. A simple green comforter covered a queen-size bed, a pillow with a leafy design on it in front of the regular pillows. The headboard made of dark, wide, wooden planks between two stout posts was behind the pillows. The matching bedside tables were made of the same wood and free of clutter. Only lamps with bear-shaped bases sat on each table. On the wall behind the bed was a large painting of a mountain range in autumn colors. A closet and two large windows finished off the space.

Austin instantly loved the room. It didn’t have any of the usual luxury items he was accustomed to, but knowing Charlie slept there made it like a promised land to him. He set his bag on the floor by the closet, eager to have Charlie on that bed.

Turning off the light, Austin made his way back out to the living room. He took note of the tidy kitchen and small dining room, finding Charlie standing by a sliding glass door with Berto still in her arms. A sense of coziness he hadn’t felt since . . . well, since his parents died washed over him. Spending most of his time on expansive Hollywood sets, in oversized suites, and in the public eye, Austin hardly ever felt cozy. It wasn’t a part of the life he led.

Except when he was with Charlie. Even being with her remarkable friends tonight had been cozy regardless of the fact that there had been six of them at the table. Maybe Vermont itself bred this warm, comfortable vibe. If so, he liked this place.

Austin came up behind Charlie, not able to resist being in her bubble any longer. He gripped her hips then slid his hands to her stomach, loving how she leaned back against him as if she craved the contact as much as he did.

“I like your home, Charlie.” He lowered his head and nipped at the rim of her ear, pulling a hum from her throat.

“I like having you in my home.” She turned her head and pressed a kiss to his jaw. “No room service here though.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Austin whispered. “I only need you tonight.”

She rotated in his hold to face him, Berto wiggling in her arms. “I didn’t kill the mood by unloading that crap about my parents, did I?”

“You couldn’t kill the mood with an assault rifle. I want you no matter what.” He traced her cheek with his index finger. “And I’ll listen any time you want to unload.”

“Thanks.” She set Berto on his feet. “Same goes for you.”

He should tell her about his parents. About how they died.

About how it had been his fault.

Only he couldn’t get the words out. Charlie had taken a little trip down a sad road by telling him about her family. She didn’t need to hear about his. Not tonight. It wouldn’t do anything to lighten the mood. Hers or his. He planned to see more of her, so there would be another chance to explain the single worst night of his life. The rest of tonight was going to be about giving Charlie whatever she needed to feel awesome.