Loving David by Gina Hummer Read Free Book Online Page A

sun burned bright, and Charlotte made a mental note to herself to pick up some sunglasses in town.
    “How’s your head this morning?” David smiled.
    Charlotte tucked an escaped strand of hair behind her ear. “Better after I had my coffee. Thank you, by the way, for leaving me a fresh pot.”
    David shrugged. “I figured that’d be the first thing you’d want. Besides a big plate of bacon and eggs. Unless you’re a vegetarian.”
    Charlotte snorted. “Hardly. Or do you not remember me inhaling those meatballs last night?”
    David opened the door to the dining cabin for Charlotte. “Ah--- that you did.”
    David and Charlotte had missed most of the breakfast rush, though there were still plenty of carbs to be enjoyed; cheese Danishes, bagels, and donuts were on one side of the table, while a bowl of scrambled eggs and a plate with three lone slices of bacon stood at the other end. The requisite boxes of sensible cereals, cartons of yogurt, and a decimated fruit salad rounded out the middle.
    As David and Charlotte perused the breakfast offerings, many of the ladies made a point to stop by to say hello to David, who in turn asked each woman how she was. Even Hendra, on her way out to set up a writing workshop for the day, asked David how he’d slept and if there was anything she could get him. Charlotte bit her tongue over what a difference a night made.
    Charlotte picked off the last of the bacon, a cheese Danish, and another cup of coffee. David scooped up the remaining eggs, fruit salad, two yogurts, and a cup of coffee. They sat by themselves at the far end of the table. Still more admirers streamed over to talk to David, eager to hear additional tales of Hollywood and bask in his charisma and good looks. David was gracious and charming with each woman. Charlotte chewed her Danish, watching him. She would have thought a famous actor like David King would be pompous and demanding. However, in less than twenty-four hours with him, Charlotte could tell David was the real deal.
    David stood and began to collect his and Charlotte’s dishes. “Well ladies, please excuse me, but I promised Charlotte I’d help with the dishes. I hope we can pick up where we left off later.”
    The small gathering was duly impressed by David’s adoption of domestic duties, and several gave Charlotte winks as they headed out the door.
    ”Once again you’ve got the ladies eating out of the palm of your hand,” Charlotte said as she filled the sink with suds.
    David shrugged and began to scrape the breakfast remnants into the trash. “I enjoy people. Besides, everyone here has been so nice and gracious. Why shouldn’t I return the favor?”
    Charlotte mulled this over as she gathered a small pile of plates and plunked them into the hot, soapy water.
    And they say chivalry is dead , Charlotte marveled to herself while David went back into the dining room to collect the remaining dishes. Charlotte began to scrub the plates and stack them in the adjoining sink. She heard him come back in and motioned with her head toward the dishes. “You’re on rinse-and-dry duty.”
    He nodded. “No problem.”
    They worked in silence, but before long, Charlotte got the sense that David was looking at her again. It was confirmed when she turned and saw he’d stopped drying a plate. Instead, his head was tilted to the side, a confused look on his face. She brushed a shoulder across her nose, thinking there really was something hanging out of it this time.
    “What?” Charlotte dropped her shoulders, exasperated. “You’re always looking at me like that. What is it?”
    David cleared his throat. “I really want to ask you a question, but you may consider it rude.”
    “Five-foot-two if I stand up super straight,” she said as she jutted her shoulders back and stood as tall as she could. She smiled and gave him a wink.
    David rolled his eyes. “No, no, no. Not how tall you are or how tall you’re not … Though it’s another question