Oreo stared back at him, not looking the least bit afraid and with good reason. Charlie might get angry with him, but he would never attack him. In this case, Charlie was all bark and no bite. Pun intended. His enemies couldn’t say the same. “Fix this with her, then we’ll deal with the mole,” Oreo said pointedly and took off running again, devouring his cookie in one bite leaving Charlie seething. What was Charlie to do? Apologize to Catherine, then what? He still had a mole to deal with and the charity race to plan for. As Oreo pointed out, it was a charity race and his team ran all the time. The mole was who he needed to focus on. Not a beautiful woman with the most tempting kissable looking mouth. Charlie started running after Oreo, who was already at the end of the alley and heading back towards his house. He had a mole to catch, that was his only objective.
* * *
Catherine was fuming mad at Charlie. She had all but thrown herself at the man, against her better judgment and he rejected her like she had leprosy. She may have always been a plain Jane, but men had never fled, as if they were on fire, to get away from her. It stung. When he left she had been confused, but that confusion turned to anger. Now, it had been almost twenty-four hours, and he still hadn’t tried calling her or texting her. She had been wrong about him. So wrong. When would she learn? She always seemed to attract the wrong man.
“Catherine, you okay?” Nadine asked her.
Catherine nodded and cleaned her register. She was still upset with Nadine for her cruel words about Charlie. Nadine had obviously moved on from Catherine’s little rant because she acted as if nothing had ever happened. Catherine apologized for her outburst yesterday, but Nadine hadn’t apologized for her hurtful words. They worked together in silence most of the day. Catherine refused to allow herself to think about Charlie and her almost mistake all day. Instead, she threw herself into her work staying busy until it was time to go home. She grabbed her purse and held her keys in her hand as she made her way to her car. If anyone saw her, they would get the vibe she didn’t want to talk. It was the way she wanted things. She was in a dark mood, and it was safer for everyone to stay away from her.
Catherine was almost to her car when she noticed something different about it. It had a six foot, and she was guessing 170-pound Charlie leaning against it. Catherine ignored how good he looked leaning against her car in his normal loose tee, faded blue jeans, and combat boots. He wore one of his signature baseball caps low over his face, and the rest was concealed by his fast growing beard. Why did he have to look so good when she was still angry at him?
Catherine ignored him and unlocked her car and got in when he touched her arm.
“I know you're upset with me,” he stated.
That was the understatement of the year.
“I’m fine, Charlie. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go home please.” She stared straight ahead and kept her tone neutral, but inside she was a ball of nerves. She warred with herself wanting to stay and flee. Flee before he lured her back in again, only to hurt her. And wanting to stay because she enjoyed his company. Well, when he wasn’t running from her. There had to be something majorly wrong with her.
“I deserve your anger.” He pushed on. “What I did last night was inexcusable and you’ll never know how sorry I am that I ran from you.”
“Why did you?” Catherine snapped, finally looking at him.
Charlie hung his head in shame. “Because I-” What could he say that she would understand?
Catherine took his hesitation to mean he had fled because of her. “You know what, forget it. I got the message loud and clear.” Catherine pulled her door shut, started her car, and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving a dumbfounded Charlie in her wake.
She refused to look back in her rearview mirror. Tears stung her eyes, and she felt the first one trickle down her cheek, then another. “Such a fool.” She whispered to herself as she wiped the tears from her cheek. When would she ever learn? She was cursed in love.
By the time Catherine made it home, her tears had dried, and she felt a semblance calmer. She trudged up her stairs, into her dark, empty house. Funny, she had never looked at it that way before. Not before she actually had someone over. Didn’t matter. She told Charlie off, and he wasn’t coming back. For the best. She didn’t need another rejection or to watch him run from her again.
She was setting her stuff down when there was a knock at her door. Who could that be? She didn’t know any of her neighbors. She opened the door before looking to see who it was.
“Because I thought I was a morbid curiosity to you, and you weren’t really interested in me like previous dates. That you were being nice, and I was a pity date.” Charlie rushed out when Catherine opened the door.
It took her a minute to realize what he was talking about. Why did you? She had asked why he ran from her and he hadn’t answered her at the PX. “You came all the way out here to tell me why you left?” She asked perplexed; the man never ceased to amaze her. She was angry and ran away, and for the first time, someone actually came after her.
“You deserved an explanation.”
“And you thought so little of me that I asked you out, out of pity and tried to kiss you for my own curiosity?” Catherine felt insulted he thought so little of her.
“No,” he said sheepishly.
“I’m really confused now.” Catherine shook her head. “Either I asked you out of pity, or I didn’t.”
“I never thought you asked me out, out of pity. Your face shows your every emotion.”
Did it? “Then why say that you thought I asked you out, out of pity?” Catherine crossed her arms over her chest. She was getting a headache trying to figure this man out, and this conversation was just going in circles.
Charlie blew out a breath realizing he was botching this explanation. “I told you before that I always had an ugly mug.” He held a hand up to stop Catherine before she went off on him again about his looks. “Before the explosion, I wasn’t much to look at. I can admit that. Afterwards, women gave me an even wider berth, like they were afraid it would rub off on them or something. So, I grew the beard out trying to hide it. I got tired of seeing all the cringed faces and making babies cry. The few women I took out seemed nice at first, but all of them only asked me out of sympathy, like I couldn’t get a date on my own. By the end of the night, they tried kissing me. One even told me, after she did, that she won some bet with her girlfriend. I know that’s not the kind of person you are, Catherine. Like I said, your every emotion is clear as day on your face. Even when you say you are fine, I know for a fact you’re not. But when you looked at me last night, wanting me to kiss you, all those past dates came rushing back, and I just had to leave.”
Tears threatened to spill again after hearing Charlie’s explanation. How could women treat such a wonderful man so callously? “I didn’t want to kiss you out of curiosity or because of some bet. That’s not the type of person I am.” He hadn’t left because of her. That knowledge went a long way in soothing her.
“I know that. But what’s the old saying? You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I guess too many bad dates ruined me.” He chuckled more to himself.
Not wanting to hear him put himself down anymore, or hear about those horrible women he went out with, Catherine leaned forward and kissed him. And not a friendly peck. A kiss she had been denied last night. Because she stood on the threshold and him on the porch. The top of her head reached his chin, so she didn’t have to stretch as far. His lips were soft under hers. His beard tickled the side of her mouth, but it didn’t deter her. Charlie was unmoving. He stood there frozen letting her control the kiss. Had she erred? Had he not wanted to kiss her after all? She got her answer when his hand came up and clasped the back of her head, pulling her closer. Heaven. Pure heaven.
Charlie pulled her close and took over the kiss. This was not the gentle kiss she had first given him. This was no exploratory kiss but a possession. Before she could get into the kiss, Charlie pulled back and le
aned his forehead against hers. “I should apologize for that too, but I’m not sorry in the least.”
“Me either,” Catherine sighed.
“I should go.” His hands caressed her back. His actions were belying his words.
“Mm kay,” Catherine mumbled, she reached out and stroked his chest. She could feel the heat radiating off him and the hardness of his body. She petted his chest feeling the tufts of hair underneath his shirt. She wanted to lift his shirt and see all of him. She wanted to kiss every scar on his body and discover if he had a happy trail.
“You’re making it really hard to leave.” He said rocking her in his arms and kissing her forehead.
“Sorry,” Catherine stepped back. Distance was good. She was seconds away from throwing herself at the man she had been angry with only a few moments ago. But how could you stay mad at a man who chased you down and kissed you like that?
“Don’t be. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” So, had she. “Will you go out with me tomorrow night?”
Catherine smiled up at him. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Seven p.m.?”
“I’ll be ready.” Charlie stared at her for a long moment before stepping back to leave. Catherine waited until he drove away before closing the door and leaning back against it. What a crazy twenty-four hours. Catherine brought her fingers up to her lips and giggled. She could still feel the scrape of his beard on her cheeks, and her lips still tingled from his kiss. For a man who said he hadn’t gone out with many women, he sure knew how to kiss. She had only ever gone out with one other man before Martin. At thirty-three, she had little experience with men. Her first boyfriend had been in high school, and they hadn’t gone further than first base. Martin had been her first for everything. She had thought that made him special. How wrong she had been.
“You can do this.” She told herself. She could go out with Charlie without falling for him. She simply had to listen to her brain instead of her heart for once. How hard could it be?
Chapter 7
Catherine was applying the last of her lipstick when she heard the knocking at her door. Charlie was here to pick her up for their date. She looked herself over one last time. Perfect. She wore her favorite pair of jeans and off the shoulder black top. Perfect for a simple date. She had told herself a hundred times it was only a date; that she didn’t need to be nervous. They had gotten the first date out of the way, and it had started out great. So why should this time be any different? Because he had run out on you by the end of the first date. True. But he had apologized for that, and this was their do-over. She simply had to remind herself that it was a date, nothing more. It wasn’t like he was going to propose to her by the end of the night or ask her to have his babies. There was nothing to be nervous about. It was a simple date. What’s the worst that could happen? You could fall for him like you did Martin and he could-. Okay, she got the point. But Charlie seemed nothing like Martin. Martin had been a good guy in the beginning too. Sometimes she hated her conscious. This time would be different. She wouldn’t let her heart decide. She would listen to her head.
Squaring her shoulders, Catherine opened the door to see Charlie standing on her doorstep in another button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Once again, he forwent a hat, and she could see his face through his beard. It was growing quickly and hiding a lot of his scars. He looked good enough to eat. Slow down. Remember, use your head. Catherine pulled her figurative tongue back into her head. “Hi, you look great.” There that sounded good.
“Catherine, wow,” he said, eyeing her up and down. No one had ever given her such a heated look before; she felt herself blushing all the way to her toes. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” she said bashfully.
Charlie stepped back and held his arm out to his side for her. Catherine took it and he led her to the jeep.
“So, where are we going?” Catherine asked once Charlie made it to his side and started the jeep.
“It’s a surprise,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Uh oh. She was in trouble. “I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll like this one.” Charlie easily navigated through traffic and parked in one of the parking garages.
“Where are we?” Catherine was getting nervous. There were several people within shouting distance if she needed to call out.
“This is a concrete structure called a parking garage where you park your car.” He said in all seriousness. Catherine didn’t find him funny and instead glared at him, which got Charlie to crack his first smile. “We are going to dinner, but there aren’t any close parking spots. Don’t worry, I would never let anything happen to you.” He held out his hand to her which Catherine looked at for a moment before taking. Charlie guided her out of the parking garage and down to the Riverwalk. There was a light breeze, but she stayed close to Charlie, so she stayed warm. Catherine never liked large crowds. Tourists and locals were out in full swing on the Riverwalk. It was a large tourist attraction with all the shops and restaurants. The Alamo was a short walk from it.
Charlie kept Catherine close to his side and never let go of her hand as he weaved them through the crowd until they reached the Bella on the River. As soon as they walked in Catherine felt self-conscious. Many patrons were dressed up making Catherine feel very plain Jane.
Charlie, always aware of his surroundings, noticed her discomfort right away. “What’s wrong?” he asked looking around for a threat.
She could lie to him, but he already told her he could tell when she did, so what was the point. “I feel really underdressed here.”
“You look perfect,” he said without missing a beat.
Do not melt.
“Yeah, but I’m in jeans.” She looked around and saw only women in dresses. So much for her looking casual plan. How was she supposed to know he was taking her to a gourmet restaurant?
“If you don’t want to eat here we’ll go somewhere else.” Catherine realized she was making a big deal out of nothing. What did it matter she was wearing jeans here? It wasn’t like she knew these people.
“No, this is perfect.” She quickly assured him. She was being a ninny.
Charlie nodded and led her to the maître, who showed them to a booth in the back. Charlie guided Catherine into her seat, and took his place with his back to the wall and facing the restaurant.
“Are you always this paranoid or is it an all-around military thing?” Catherine asked. She had seen Martin do the same thing every time they went out.
“What?” he asked puzzled.
“Situate yourself, so you see the whole restaurant, and keep your back to the wall. I bet you even asked to be seated in the corner.” She could tell she made him uncomfortable with her question, so she changed tactics. “So, what’s good here?” She opened her menu and tried not to gape at the prices.
“I’ve honestly never eaten here before. One of my teammates recommended it.”
Teammates. He had said that word to her before.
“You must be really close. With your teammates.” She clarified. “You mention them a lot but never by name.” Charlie looked uncomfortable again. What was with him? Here she was trying to make polite conversation and he acted like she was trying to steal government secrets. “Warm day were having.” She blurted out, and watched for his reaction.
Charlie didn’t disappoint. He looked up from his menu at her in puzzlement. “You really want to talk about the weather?”
“No, but everything else I try to talk to you about you clam up or get uncomfortable so I figure weather and traffic are the only safe topics.”
“We can talk about more than that.”
“Really? How many siblings do you have? Where did you grow up?” Catherine didn’t know why she was getting upset. Charlie had done nothing wrong, but seriously he had to talk to her about something. She couldn’t stand silence. She had explained that to him.
Charlie set down his menu and linked
his hands in front of him on the table. “I have two brothers and a sister, I grew up in Montana.” He said in a clipped tone thinking the subject done.
“Are they older or younger?” She fired back.
“My brothers are older and my sister younger.” Charlie picked his menu back up, ending the conversation effectively.
Catherine blew out an aggravated breath. She had to get points for trying. Charlie wasn’t a talker or even a sharer. She had known that from the time he gave her a lift home. But on their first date, he had been a lot more open. Could it be the setting? They were out in the open where anyone could hear. Did he do something secretive for the military, so he had to stay hush-hush about everything? It wasn’t like she was asking anything about the military. She was asking about his family. There was nothing harmful there.
“Are you ready to order?” The waiter stood over her, staring down at her.
Catherine looked down at her menu and hastily looked it over.
“We need a few more minutes,” Charlie told him. “Talk to me,” he said once the waiter left.
“I’ve been trying to.”
“Look, Catherine, I like you. I want this to work, but you have to realize that there are certain things about myself and my team, that I can’t talk about, period.”
“I get that, but you are acting differently than last night. Is it because we're in such an open place?”
How had she seen so easily what he had always kept so well hidden? “I’m not a large fan of crowds.”
“Me either. Do you want to go?” She would understand, though this was the first time someone other than her grandparents had taken her out to a meal in a long time. With it only being her, there wasn’t much point to eating out.
Catherine looked up at him with big sad doe eyes. He wanted to go. He felt on edge with so many people coming and going. With a mole out on the loose, he didn’t know if someone was watching him. He should never have taken Oreo’s advice and taken Catherine out. He should have taken her to his house and cooked. But he had wanted a redo of their first date and make it perfect. He was failing miserably. No wonder he had been on so many first and only dates. He was always looking over his shoulder and watching the entrance. Catherine was very observant for noticing that about him.
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