Charlie began to cut his food up as well, and the scent was enthralling. It had been awhile since he had actually had any food from this place, and it was always fabulous. As she concluded and he was still cutting he replied, "Well, even if you did, what would you do with it? Tell the police and hope they can predict the next victim?" he asked, a hint of pure curiosity in his voice.

The smile at her reaction couldn't be kept hidden. Charlie put his utensils down as well, looking at her, trying to read her reaction. From her reaction, he couldn't tell if it was a positive thing or negative, and he was half tempted to retract it and play it off as a joke, or like it wasn't what he said. Instead, he told the truth, "Well, yeah, if you wanted to, that would be perfectly fine with me. I mean, I wouldn't have to drive halfway across town to get you at your overpriced hotel, and I'd have the pleasure of your company in my house. You'd be saving money as well." he smiled a little, feeling that blush of his flood his face, "I mean, my place might not be as nice or anything, but I have a spare room, so it's not like we would be sharing one, and I'm not going to charge you." he laughed at his own comment, "I wouldn't dream of charging anyone to stay in my house." he laughed again.

He was getting antsy, bobbing his knee up and down silently. Charlie wanted so much for her to stay close to him, even though it might interfere with his 'side job'. Excuses couldn't be too hard to make up for why he went out so often late at night, right? He could find ones, maybe even a plausible reoccurring one; though, one way or another, she was a reporter and he had to be careful. If Alicia was as good at her job as she seemed, she could find out in time that he was lying.

Waiting for her response was the worst part, but Charlie managed. He tried to seem calm and cool, other than the bobbing knee, but not too calm like he didn't care about the answer.

Alicia shook her head. "No, I wouldn't go straight to the police, not unless I was absolutely positive. I'd use it in my report, but if they saw the report they could maybe grab things from it."

Her fork was still poised for her mouth. She didn't take a bite of her pancakes until she stated, "Really? You have the room to take me in? I feel like an orphan case. My company could pay you, but if you won't take the money I would have to insist on paying for the food while I'm staying with you. It's the least I could."

Finally she smiled. She was sure she just took the biggest leap she's ever taken in her life. Of course, she's had relationships with men, but they were all never really serious. She definitely never stayed with a man this early in the relationship, but she felt particularly close to Charlie from the first moment she met him. It wasn't like they were committed to one another though. She wasn't even sure how Charlie exactly felt about her, it could just be friendly feelings, and she didn't want to go jumping to conclusions, so she would just accept his offer as a friendly invitation.

"These are excellent pancakes," she shared with him.

charlie nodded, "So, working with the police isn't your primary concern at all." he asked with more of a certainty, making it sound like almost a statement.

He laughed at her comment about being an orphan case. She was sending mixed signals and he was having a hard time finding an answer in what she was saying. "Alicia, it's a simple invitation. Do you want to stay with me or not?" he asked, still smiling. Charlie was mostly a straight forward guy, and he wanted a 'yes' or a 'no' flat out. Women had a way with giving the run-around though, he had noticed. He knew she was probably saying that it was a yes, considering she was talking about finances, but that wasn't good enough a response. Charlie of course wasn't going to let her pay to live at his house though.

"glad you like 'em" he laughed.

"No, not my primary concern. If the police asked for my advice or told me to help them then that would be a different story. As it is we don't have to answer to the police. That's the great part of being a reporter."

Alicia blushed slightly. She knew her questions were sending mixed signals. The last thing she was trying to do was that, but she was trying to make sure that he was truly wanting her to stay with him. She was acutely aware now that he was indeed asking her to stay with him. "I'd love to stay with you," she finally said.

She lowered her gaze at that point and took another bite of her pancakes.

Charlie nodded in consideration, "Sounds like a good deal." he said and smiled.

After a moment of laughter he replied, "That was all you had to say in the first place, you know." he said, poking at his omlette a moment before asking, "So, when do you want to make the switch from luxury to redneck?" he laughed, joking around. Charlie really wasn't that bad. While waiting for an answer, he took a few more bites of his food. Eggs weren't so good cold, so he was trying to avoid that as well, and they were getting cold already.

Alicia shrugged, completely embarrassed at this point. It wasn't often that someone got her stumped for the right words. She pushed her plate of pancakes aside, completely finished with them and sipped at her coffee. "After here? I'm not sure what my schedule will be like tomorrow, but I'm positive that I'm free for the rest of the day. This would be a perfect day." She smiled at him. She didn't hesitate that time to give him an answer.

Charlie held onto his fork, "Sounds great. I have to warn you though, you're not afraid of dogs, are yah? I have a yellow lab, his name's Bailey. He's a big dog, but he's a goof. He's really sweet though." he said. He was hoping she wasn't allergic or anything, because Charlie seriously was hoping she would still move in with him- Whoa, wait, not move it. Stay with. As a guest. Nothing more... not really..

A dog? Alicia was grinning ear to ear. "I love dogs! I just don't have the time for my own with all the traveling I do, but I've always wished I had the time for one. He's a big dog too. I love big dogs. Does he sleep in bed with you?" She was suddenly very excited to move in with Charlie. Before she was a bit nervous, but not now.

And that settled things because as soon as the waitress came over with their check Alicia picked up the bill and went to get cash out to pay for it. She couldn't wait to get back to the hotel and grab her things.

Charlie laughed at her enthusiasm; and he was extremely grateful that she wasn't afraid of or allergic to them. "Yeah, he's a big dog. He usually sleeps in my bed, sometimes he sleeps on the floor so he can sprawl out though... And then, sometimes, he falls off the bed and then just stays on the floor." he laughed, "He's a bit of a doof." he smiled.

When Alicia snatched the bill, Charlie got a bit offended, "Hey! I was going to get that!" he said, then laughed.

Alicia's brow furrowed as she got this look on her face. "Awww, he sounds adorable. I can't wait to meet him." She laughed as she envisioned a huge dog falling off the bed. She was an animal lover. She believed if she hadn't become a reporter she would have like to become a veterinarian.

There was a glint in Alicia's eyes when Charlie said he was going to get the bill. She had her cash in hand now, but she was about to be mischievous. "Unless you can get this bill out of my hands I am paying for it," she laughed.

Charlie laughed at her reaction. No one had ever seemed this excited to meet Bailey before. He also knew Bailey would love to meet her. He was a big dope, and he loved women for some reason, even meeting new people in general.

"Alright..." he said, with a small nervous laugh. He made an attempt to snatch it from her, standing up and leaning over the table. He was quick, but he wasn't trying really. He was going to play her game until she let her guard down and he could really take it.

Alicia jerked her hand back as Charlie leaned over the table to try and snatch the bill away. She had a wicked grin on her face as she stood. "Nice try, but it looks like I got this one," she flaunted. She didn't pay much attention to him behind her, but she was trying to move quickly to the register to pay for it before he beat her there.

Honestly, she truly started to zone when she gave her back to him. She was quietly wondering what it would be like to live under the same roof. Something told her she was going to enjoy it, but she didn't want to appear too excited about the prospect because that's how she felt, very excited. She couldn't wait.

As she rushed toward the counter, Charlie practically jumped out of the booth, grabbed her by the waist pulling her back to him and snatched the bill out of her hand. He laughed as he leaned over her shoulder and smiled at her, "No, looks like I've got this one, sweetheart." he smiled again as he went around her, pulling out his wallet and handing the money and bill to the waitress.

It was a daring move, grabbing her like that, and he hoped she wasn't offended. As the waitress put the money in the register and began counting his change, he turned around to look at her to gauge her reaction, a smile still on his face.

"Hey!" Alicia cried out as Charlie pulled her back and snatched the bill out of her hands. She couldn't believe it, but she laughed nonetheless. "Okay, you got me. I should have been paying closer attention."

Seeing his smile made her happy. She came up next to him at the register and leaned against him for a moment. "Thank you for breakfast." Gauging by the way they were acting right now Alicia thought they would work out great together at his place. She was starting to get jittery the more she thought about it. This felt like a big step for her and prayed it worked fine.

"It's going to be nice staying at your place. I never did like working out of hotel rooms. They aren't all that comfortable," she stated.

Charlie smiled back at her again, "You're welcome. And I'm glad you chose to stay with me. It may be a little weird, and I'm not sure how used to staying with strange guys you are, but I'm sure it'll be more comfortable than the hotel." he laughed a little. He turned and nodded for her to follow him out, and when he opened the door, he held it for her. "So, now we go round up your stuff and you get to meet Bailey." he said, reminding her that's where he was headed next, and if she had any objections now was the time to interject. He unlocked the truck when they got to it and stood there to help her in.

"Oh, I'm sure I'll hold up just fine staying with you." As she passed the door that he held open she gave him a playful slug on the arm. "Yes! I can't wait to meet Bailey. I can't believe you never told me about him before this. I would have insisted that you take me by your place before now."

She quickly climbed in the truck with Charlie's help, repositioning the skirt of her dress as she sat down. She waited for him to get in the driver seat before stating, "I'm going to change when we get to the hotel too. I can climb up into your truck without your help every time, and it'll be easier to carry my stuff out."

Charlie laughed as she punched him, and then gave another small chuckle at her excitement over Bailey, "Well then, I wish I had brought it up sooner!" he told her. Though, he would have felt odd having her in his house so soon. Any sooner and it would have been just the day before, when he first met her. He laughed a bit in his head about the thought.

When he was addressed as he climbed into the truck himself he laughed a little, "Alright then, I don't mind waiting or anything. Sorry I don't have runnin' boards or anything though. An' it's not like I mind helping you out. I get to hold your hand every time." he smiled, looking directly at her as he turned the key and stared the truck. Charlie then pulled out of the space and headed back to the Marriott, suddenly remembering to ask, "Oh, an' do you want me to come up and help you get your stuff?"

Alicia smiled. She knew that any sooner would have been too soon. They just met one another, but she was having fun joking with him.

"Oh, if you like helping me up it doesn't mean you have to stop," she glanced over at hi, still smiling. If she smiled anymore she was going to have a sore mouth later. "You don't have to. I'm sure I can handle it myself. I carried my luggage in alone, I can carry it out."

Charlie laughed a bit. It was cute how after he said that she decided it was alright for him to hold her hand. "Alright, well I won't." he laughed again. "Well, I wouldn't mind helping you." he said, "It's not like I can just let you carry it down on your own anyway..." he said.

Alicia felt her neck grow hot and spread to her cheeks. She glanced up at the hotel as they approached. "If you really want to help," she told him. It really didn't matter if he did or not. She was perfectly capable of taking the bags down on her own, though help was always appreciated. That's how she looked at anyway. "That settles it then. You'll just have to come up with me."

Charlie laughed, "well, I would love to." he laughed again. He found a parking spot in the drive and told the vallet they would be right back down and to just keep an eye on it, to which he agreed. "Milady," he said as he opened her door and held out his hand to her.

"Thank you," Alicia accepted Charlie's hand. She hopped out of the truck and stumbled forward. Her heels weren't good for hopping onto. Her free hand grabbed Charlie's shoulder. Him standing there had saved her from going face first, which would have been embarrassing in a dress. "That was a close call," she laughed nervously.

Pulling her skirt down, she headed inside the hotel and straight for the elevators. "It's just on the second floor. Remind me before I start packing to call down at the front desk and have them start checking me out, so we don't have to wait forever in the front lobby."

When she almost tripped, Charlie caught her around the waist as she grabbed his shoulder. He smiled a little, "It was. That could have been embarrassing." he said, looking at what she was wearing, [b]"I think it would be a good idea for you to change, on second though."[/n] he said, then realized he hadn't disagreed with it out loud initially. A slight pink tinted his cheeks with that realization, but he wasn't so worried about what she'd say anyway.

"Alright." he said, agreeing to remind her, "But we do have some time anyway, since I have the day off and you're done working for the day." he reminded her of that as well. Charlie followed her into the elevator and looked around it, "So, out of curiosity, so I know what I'm getting into, how much stuff do you have to carry?" he asked with a small laugh.

Alicia laughs lightly. "Yeah, changing should definitely be a priority." It didn't occur to her at first, not until she was almost at the elevator that he hadn't disagreed in the first place. That made her grin.

There was a ding which clued her in that the elevator had arrived. "That's right. You don't have to work today, so we don't have to rush." She stepped into the elevator. Once he followed her in she hit the number two. "Oh, it's only three suitcases," she left out that they were larges. He'd find that out for himself in a moment.

"'Only'" he repeated with a small laugh, following her into the elevator. Whenever Charlie had traveled anywhere he had only brought one suitcase and a small 'carry on' with the necessities in it, in case the suitcase should get lost. 'Women', he thought with another small laugh, only this one to himself, rather than out loud. Of course, he would still take two out of the three, even though he assumed they would be quite heavy and probably bigger than he. After all, he had lived with his mother and sister, and traveled with them as well.

The elevator was up to the second floor in a matter of moments, "After you." he said, motioning for her to take the lead once the doors had opened. He had no idea where he was going anyway, so it made sense he follow her.