Charlie sat by herself at the table, absentmindedly moving the last bits of spaghetti around her plate with her fork.

The apartment was quiet, with only the soft ticking of the clock on the wall and the occasional creak from the building settling. The plate she had set aside for John remained untouched across from her, the steam long gone, and the warmth dispel—like the moment they almost shared.

She couldn't shake the memory—the way John had dealt with Harkin back at her apartment, the intensity in his voice after he had pulled Harkin away from her. She couldn't forget the words that had made her heart pound, her eyes widen in shock, leaving her frozen.

Come near her, and I'll fucking bury you deep. No one will remember you exist.

The way he spoke to Harkin, with a low, gravelly growl in his voice, was something she had never seen in him before. His natural authority and intimidating presence made her feel uneasy.

But she couldn't understand why it made her body tingle by the way he said it with a growl.

It was like he had switched his demeanors quickly.

One moment he was calm, and the next, he would stare at someone hard like he was giving them a warning not to push him, and the other moment, he would soften up and he wouldn't do anything to make her nervous.

He wasn't the hardened soldier or the man capable of throwing a threat to someone like that without blinking. She recalled feeling his hands on her waist, his body pressed closely against hers. Heat emanated from him like flames to dry wood.

Charlie pressed her lips thin before she exhaled through her nose hard. Almost a breathy sigh as the memory played back in her head. The look in his eyes—blue as the sky and icy white in his pupils. She couldn't forget about his scent either since it fits him.

He was a natural leader with a masculine presence that made her still want to touch his mutton chopped mustache and short hair.

Would it feel rough?

Would he kiss her with the same confidence he used to handle everything else, leaving no room for doubt? Would he take her face in his hand, tilt her chin to meet his gaze, and claim her as if she belonged to him? Or would it be tender? Would his lips brush hers softly? Would he savor the moment, breathing her in before pressing his mouth to hers, teasing, just to hear her breath catch?

Charlie felt a flush rising up her neck as she swallowed nervously. She knew she shouldn't entertain thoughts about him in this way. Yet, the memory of his lips and his rough, husky voice telling her she looked good here—it burned into her mind.

She sighed deeply again, stabbing at her spaghetti before dropping her fork onto the plate with a quiet clink.

John wasn't here.

And that was probably a good thing.

Because if he was, she wasn't sure she'd be able to look at him the same. Wondering what it would feel like if she let herself lean into him. If she let herself fall on his chest and breathe through his shirt of those musky or strong scent of cigar on him.

She closed her eyes and tried to calm her breathing. Then, she opened her eyes when suddenly her phone vibrated against the wooden table. Charlie blinked, snapping out of it, and reached for the device.

A new text message.

Hailey: I'm outside. Your car's in one piece. Where r u?

Charlie furrowed her brows, confused for a moment before it clicked. She did remember giving him her roommate's number after they came home from grocery shopping.

John. He must have asked Hailey to bring my car over, she thought to herself.

Charlie: I'm in his flat.

There was a pause before Hailey responded.

Hailey: I knw u r in his flat. What floor are you on, Miss Sugar Daddy??

Charlie groaned, rolling her eyes.

Charlie: Dont call me that. Just come up. Second floor.

Hailey: Gurl I'm judging. U lucky I brought my cousin along since he's waiting in my car.

Charlie exhaled and rose from her seat, tucking her phone into her sweatpants pocket as she moved toward the door. On her way out, she picked up John's spare key from the table by the entrance. John had mentioned earlier, after their shopping trip, that he had left an extra key there for her to use if she needed it for work or school.

Stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind her, she noticed she didn't have to wait long. Just a few minutes later, Hailey emerged from the stairwell, her dark, wavy hair a bit tousled, as if she'd hurried up the stairs. Dressed in an oversized hoodie and leggings, her sneakers made almost no noise on the floor. Upon seeing Charlie, Hailey lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"So," Hailey started, voice dripping with a mix of jealousy and amusement, "his flat?"

"Hailey—"

"I mean, you had a thing for older guys, but damn, girl. You really out here living in his apartment?" Hailey smirked, leaning against the wall. "That's some sugar baby level shit, and I respect it."

Charlie frowned. "It's not like that."

"Then what is it?"

She paused.

What was she supposed to say? That she didn't really know how she ended up here? That John had practically decided she was staying, and she hadn't exactly fought him on it? That she wasn't sure why she felt safe around him, only that she did?

She shifted on her feet. "It's... complicated."

"Uh-huh," Hailey narrowed her eyes. "Complicated how?"

Charlie bit the inside of her cheek before she answered weakly. "He's just—keeping me safe."

"Safe?" She snorted in return. "Babe, protective is one thing. Moving you into his place is another. And you're okay with it?"

Charlie exhaled. "I—yeah."

Hailey studied her for a long moment, then sighed. "You've got it bad."

"I do not!" she said while her cheeks became warm. Still frowning.

"Uh-huh." Hailey quickly smirked. "So, what's the deal? You two sharing a bed now, or is he making you sleep in his bed while he sleeps on a couch and brood over classified war secrets?"

"Guest room. Obviously." Charlie rolled her eyes in response.

"Tragic," Hailey said flatly with a frown, not in a mean way. "You're seriously spending your time being an adorable virgin while your ideal boyfriend, who's top-notch military-grade material, is dying to have you in his arms."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Yet."

"Hailey, please."

"Fine, fine. I'll drop it." She dug into her hoodie pocket and pulled out Charlie's car keys, dangling them in front of her. "Anyway, here. Your baby is parked downstairs. Remind your old man he owe me gas money."

"He's not that old!"

"Right, as if I didn't remember those texts you sent about him being a dad," Hailey said, raising an eyebrow. "How old is he, late forties?"

Charlie pressed her lips together and picked up the keys. She took a deep breath and replied, "He's almost forty."

Upon hearing his age, Hailey's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth agape. "You're joking, right?!"

Charlie shook her head.

"Damn, he doesn't look that old!"

"I know," Charlie sighed in relief, grateful to finally agree with someone on this. "I thought he was in his mid-thirties."

"That's it, he's officially your sugar daddy." Hailey declared, lifting her hands in a gesture of mock surrender.

"He is not my sugar daddy!" she retorted, frowning at Hailey and clutching the key tightly in her palm.

"Hot damn, he is, Charlotte!" Hailey went on, emphasizing her point. "He's got a solid job and earns a good salary with the UK Homeland Defense. Plus, he's asking you to move in with him. He's clearly head over heels, and you haven't realized it?"

Charlie was taken aback by the sudden change in her tone.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"This whole situation—it got a certain vibes," she said, wiggling her fingers of two each of her hands. "Like an overprotective alpha male vibe. Didn't you see how he handled that prick Harkin? Johnathan is a hot single dad who has a "don't-fuck-with-me" energy because he likes you and is protecting you from Harkin. I don't blame him! Shit, I would pay him to take Harkin down because I can't stand him either."

Charlie hesitated. John was protective—almost possessive. She sensed it in his gaze, his words, and the way he had threatened Harkin without hesitation. Yet...

She squinted slightly. "And... what are you getting at?"

"You're already in too deep."

Charlie laughed softly, shaking her head. "I might be."

Hailey stared at her. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"You really are in deep."

"I said I was!" Charlie replied, a hint of frustration in her voice.

"Ah ah," Hailey wagged her finger at Charlie. "Not was, you are in too deep with him, right?"

Charlie paused again, then sighed heavily, running her hand along the back of her neck and biting her bottom lip as she looked down and up to her.

"I... I guess I am?"

Hailey shook her head, grinning. "You're really into him. Big time."