Unplanned Love

by Sharon C. Cooper

  Silence so thick, it could be cut with a chainsaw fell between them. The expression on his face gave nothing away. If he wasn’t staring so hard, she wouldn’t have been sure that he’d even heard her.

  “I care,” he finally said, shocking the heck out of her. Her heart flipped over at the revelation. “And I don’t like to see other men’s hands on you. Stay the hell away from that guy.”

  Charlee stood dumbfounded, unable to put an intelligent sentence together as he slipped the sunglasses back in place. He started to walk away but stopped. With one hand on the opened car door, he gestured toward the driver’s seat.

  “Get in. I’m not leaving until you do.”

  As her mind reeled, Charlee clumsily climbed into the vehicle on autopilot while he held the door. She might not be able to actually see his eyes with the dark shades, but she felt him staring. As usual, she wasn’t sure what to make of him. The man was such an enigma, always managing to throw her off balance.

  He didn’t close the door until she stuck the key in the ignition and started the car, then he walked away. Charlee knew him well enough to know that he was probably parked somewhere that he could easily see when she left. But she sat there in stunned silence, her body still vibrating from being in such close proximity to Liam. Her heart and soul were so intricately consumed by him.

  Will I ever really be able to move on with my life without him?

  Until recently, Charlee thought she had. Apparently, she hadn’t.

  She quickly used the hand sanitizer that was kept in the car. While she rubbed her hands together, she glanced in the rearview mirror. Liam’s relaxed gait carried him across the parking lot to the last row.

  Even as she drove out of the lot and on to her next destination, Charlee couldn’t wrap her brain around what had just happened. Her frustration about what took place in the coffee shop had fled her mind. It was Liam’s admission that rocked her.

  I care.

  Those two simple words that he had spoken held more promise than anything he had said to her over the past year. How many times had she tried to make amends? Or begged God to work it to where she got a second chance with him? Off and on since they’d gone their separate ways, she wanted to believe that a reconciliation was possible. After today, after witnessing his strange behavior and the admission that he still cared, she was more hopeful than ever.

  Maybe her prayers were finally being answered.

  Chapter Nine

  Liam banged his fist on the steering wheel. “I have lost my mind!”

  What had he been thinking getting into that guy’s face? Hell, he hadn’t been thinking. Yeah, he was pissed about seeing the asshole’s hands on Charlee, but it was none of his business. She was none of his business. Despite him telling the homeless guy otherwise, Charlee wasn’t his concern. She was a grown woman, capable of taking care of herself just fine without him.

  Then why was he tripping? Why was he still so riled up, ready to go back to the coffee shop and pummel the guy?

  Because the woman makes me crazy…still.

  Shaking his head, Liam started the car and revved up the engine before peeling out of the parking lot. He needed to get a grip, but damn if he couldn’t stop thinking about Charlee.

  A walking, talking temptation.

  When she got into her car, and the hem of the too tight, too short, too sexy, white dress slid up her shapely, toned thighs, he almost lost it. It had taken every bit of willpower he possessed not to pull her to him and ravish her body and taste her sweet lips again.

  That woman is going to be the death of me.

  It was as if God was playing some cruel trick on him, messing with his emotions and making him behave like an idiot.

  Charlee is not mine. She does not belong to me.

  The words played on a loop over and over inside his head but weren’t helping. He wanted her. God help him. He still wanted her.

  He pressed the volume button on the steering wheel of his Chevy Camaro in an effort to drown out thoughts of Charlee. She had spent enough time in his head over the past couple of years. And just when he thought he had moved on, she showed back up in his life.

  What were the chances that they’d keep running into each other? What were the chances that his cousin would fall for her best friend? That made it almost inevitable that they’d see each other from time to time, but why’d he have to see her today?

  “I’m doomed.”

  Liam almost laughed out loud when Michael Bolton’s raspy voice blared through the car speakers as he crooned When a Man Loves a Woman. The lyrics resonated with him. There had never been a more perfect song to describe his feelings for Charlee, and that scared him to death. Even after she chose her job over him, his love for her hadn’t died.

  How is that possible?

  How could he still love a woman who hadn’t felt the same for him back then? Yet, lately, he’d been longing for her like he used to when they dated. When she’d travel for work, be gone for weeks at a time, there were days he thought he’d lose his mind. On occasion, he’d fly out to be wherever she was in the country, only to miss her that much more when he returned home.

  “I can’t put myself through that again,” he mumbled to himself.

  Succumbing to the fierce attraction that still lingered between them, or getting even more emotionally involved with anything concerning her was asking for trouble.

  *

  Liam stood slowly from his leather sectional and stretched his arms high above his head. He’d been sitting for the last couple of hours watching a baseball game on TV.

  “Now that was a good game.” He yawned, his tired body starting to feel the effects of the long day.

  “I agree, but the Yankees were cutting it close. Boston made them work for that one.” Jerry stood as well, twisting and turning to stretch out his back.

  “I know, right? I’m just glad it didn’t go into extra innings. I need to get home.” Nate carried his empty plate, beer bottle, and used napkins to the kitchen. His brother Nick following suit.

  “Thanks for letting us crash over here,” Nick said, rinsing the plates and loading them into the dishwasher.

  Liam chuckled. “Like I had much of a choice.”

  Nick had called a few minutes before the game started, saying he was on his way over. A few minutes later, Liam was letting him into the house, along with Nate and Jerry who strolled in behind him carrying chips and beer.

  “You had a choice, but we probably would’ve shown up anyway,” Jerry added, storing what was left of the bag of potato chips in the pantry along with a container of homemade cookies that he’d brought with him.

  Liam accepted a plate from Nick and put it in the dishwasher. “I see your wives have taught you guys well.”

  They all pitched in tidying up the kitchen and the living room where they’d been camped out in for the last few hours.

  “Our wives should probably be thanking Gram and Sunday brunch,” Nick grumbled, and the rest of them joined in. There’d been a time when the women in the family cooked and cleaned on those days. That had changed. Their grandmother had enacted a schedule that included all of them taking turns being on clean-up duty.

  “By the way, the lasagna was almost as good as mine.” Jerry wrapped up what was left of the dish and placed it in the refrigerator.

  “Whatever. None of y’all can hold a candle to my lasagna so don’t even try and front.” Lucky for them, Liam had fixed dinner before knowing that he would be having company.

  Most of the men in the family enjoyed cooking and had been taught at a young age. Though his mother was a good cook, it was his father who had taught him. Liam still remembered the cooking lessons. It started with him learning how to prepare breakfast items when he was around five years old, and gradually Lee Jenkins had taught him enough to where Liam could cook full meals. To this day, his father was still the main cook in their immediate family.

  Nate glanced at his watch. “Man, I didn’t realize it was this
late.”

  “I’m surprised Liberty hasn’t called you to come help with the twins,” Liam said, strolling into the living room. No matter where he stood on the main level of the house, the open floor plan gave him an unobstructed view of the living room, dining room, and the kitchen.

  “Liberty’s sister is spending the weekend with us. Otherwise, I’m sure she probably would’ve called a couple of hours ago.”

  Liam marveled at how much the family dynamics for his cousins had changed in the past year. Nate and Liberty had six-month-old identical twin boys who were born three months after Nick’s youngest daughter. Add in Jerry’s baby boy and they were well on their way to building a co-ed basketball team.

  “Man, Liam, you’re the last hold-out. When are you going to take the plunge?” Nick asked, leaning on the back of the leather chaise.

  Jerry nudged him in the shoulder. “Why you gotta make marriage sound so dyer by referring to it as taking the plunge? I happen to like married life.”

  Liam shook his head and laughed. “Says the man who vowed to never settle down with one woman.”

  Jerry shrugged and grin. “When the right one comes along…folks change.”

  “For the record, I don’t have a problem with marriage,” Nick explained. “I can’t even imagine my life without Sumeera and our girls. I’m just wondering when Liam is going to join the club. After a while, the bachelor’s life gets old.

  “Don’t rush him,” Nate piped in. “Marriage is a serious commitment, but like these guys, I wouldn’t change anything about my life. I’m sure when the right woman comes along, Liam will—”

  “Maybe she’s already come along, and he’s too much of an idiot to realize it.” Jerry stared at Liam.

  Nate looked back and forth between them. “Hmm…I sense there’s a story here, and if it wasn’t almost eleven o’clock, I’d pry for details. But we gotta get out of here.”

  “Yeah, go. Bye.” Liam jogged across the room and opened the door, more than ready to end the conversation and get them out of there before it started up again.

  Nate laughed as he strolled toward him, his keys jingling in his hands. “Okay, so there’s definitely a story there. You see how fast he’s trying to get us out of here?”

  “Yeah, and I’m almost curious enough to sit back down and demand details.” Nick approached and gave Liam a fist bump. “Holler at me before you head to New York.”

  “Will do,” he said as Nick and Nate walked out of the house. But then he shoved Jerry when he got closer. “I ought to beat your ass for trying to get something started.”

  Jerry burst out laughing and shoved him back. “Don’t hate because you know I’m right. You gon’ mess around and let someone else scoop in and snatch her. I’m just sayin’.” With those parting words, Jerry left and hurried to the driveway where Nick’s truck was parked. He had barely climbed into the back seat before the vehicle started moving.

  As they pulled away, Liam thought about the evening and how much fun it had been hanging out with the guys. Now that they were all married, the days of kicking back and watching a game or playing poker were becoming more and more rare.

  Liam stepped back and started closing the door, but stopped when he noticed the white Lexus sitting in front of the house. It couldn’t be, he thought, recognizing Charlee’s car.

  The windows were tinted, but not too dark. He could tell someone was in the driver’s seat.

  There was a light breeze, and the temperature had dropped to the low seventies, but it was still a little warm out to be sitting inside a car with the windows raised. He stood there for a moment, watching to see if she’d move, or at least get out of the car. She didn’t.

  He spent the next few seconds debating with himself. Should he close his door and pretend she wasn’t out there? Or should he go to the car and see what she wanted? And why the hell was she sitting outside in her car, at that time of night anyway? He lived in a fairly safe, family-friendly neighborhood, but still.

  When a light drizzle started to fall, Liam released a low growl of frustration under his breath and headed to her car. He didn’t know what he’d say to her but knew they needed to work out whatever was going on between them. And there was definitely something happening between them.

  As Liam approached the vehicle, he figured Charlee would open the door and tell him why she was there. She didn’t.

  What the hell is going on with this woman?

  As he rounded the back of the car, unease crept through his body as he slowly approached the driver’s side door.

  Maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe it wasn’t her car.

  The thought fled his mind when the street lamp illuminated just enough light for him to see inside of the window that was partially down. Her head was slumped to the side, and a lock of her hair had fallen into her face. It looked as if she was asleep.

  At least he hoped she was asleep.

  “Charlee?” he called out, but she didn’t move. He said her name again and still, nothing.

  A wave a panic swept over Liam as he rushed to check the door handle, relieved to find the door unlock. That initial panic morphed into full-blown fear now that he was inside the car. Ignoring the loud beeping that signaled her keys were in the ignition, he placed two fingers on the side of her neck, praying he’d feel a pulse.

  The strong thumps pulsing against his fingers had him dropping his head and closing his eyes.

  Thank you, God.

  For the next few seconds, he maintained that position. What would he have done if…

  No. I’m not finishing that thought.

  Liam lifted his head, and a pent-up breath whooshed out of his mouth when he stood to his full height. The light drizzle of rain was doing nothing to squelch the anxiety that still roared inside of him.

  He placed his hand on his chest, blowing out a noisy breath as if that would take his pounding heart back down to a normal rate. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been that scared, and he hoped he never experienced anything like that again.

  A few more seconds ticked by before relief flooded through his body like water crushing through a dam. It was then that his attention went back to the irritating beeping.

  He leaned over and pulled the key from the ignition, immediately silencing the car. Pocketing the set of keys, he returned his attention to his sleeping beauty.

  “Charlee.” He shook her shoulder, gently at first, then a little harder before she finally stirred. But still, she didn’t open her eyes.

  She had always slept like the dead. There had been plenty of occasions where he’d had to carry her to bed after she fell asleep on the sofa or at the kitchen table. She worked hard, played hard, and when she did finally sit down somewhere, she slept hard.

  But what Liam didn’t understand was why she was sleeping in the car, with a window down, key in the ignition, and the door unlocked.

  “Charlee.” He gently cupped her chin and pushed a few strands of her hair away as he turned her face toward him. “Sweetheart, wake up.”

  She finally started moving and moaned. It took a few seconds, but her eyes fluttered several times until she eventually opened those gorgeous brown eyes. She remained perfectly still except her gaze darting back and forth. Liam couldn’t tell if she was really seeing anything.

  “Charlee?”

  Her head jerked toward him, and perfectly arched brows dipped into a frown.

  “Liam? Wh—what are you doing?” she said in a hoarse whisper, barely able to keep her eyes open.

  “I should be asking you the same thing.”

  He brushed his forearm across his forehead, wiping some of the rain away. Thankfully, it was still just a mist and hadn’t started pouring.

  “Why are you sitting in the car…outside of my house?”

  “I—I…” She looked out the front windshield again, then glanced around the inside of her vehicle as if trying to figure that out herself. Her head dropped back against the seat, and she blew out a breath. “I
—I don’t know. I’m just…I think I should go home.”

  “I don’t think so. There’s no way I’m letting you drive. Come on, let’s get you inside. It’s starting to rain.”

  He stuck the key back into the ignition and raised the window before grabbing her handbag and helping her out of the car. He placed an arm around her, surprised when her head dropped to his shoulder as he guided her into the house.

  “How long have you been sitting out there?” he asked, locking the door behind them, and maintaining the hold he had around her as they stood in the foyer.

  “I don’t know.” She wobbled on unsteady legs. “I have to take off my shoes.”

  Charlee held onto his arm with a death grip as she kicked off her ridiculously high heels. She was still wearing the white dress that she’d had on earlier. Not many people could go the whole day wearing white and still look clean and unruffled.

  “I’m so tired.” She staggered, holding his arm tighter.

  “Clearly. Let me help you to the living room.” He untangled himself from her grip and slipped his arm around her narrow waist again.

  Liam wasn’t sure what to make of her being at his place, but he’d be lying if he said that he wasn’t happy to see her. He just didn’t like the thought of her being outside. What if he hadn’t noticed her car? How long would she have slept out there?

  “Have you been drinking?” he asked, concerned that something more might’ve been wrong with her than just exhaustion. He didn’t smell alcohol on her, but wanted to rule that out. She wasn’t a drinker, at least not when they were together. Sure, she’d have a drink occasionally, but nothing more than a glass of wine here and there.

  “No. I’m just…I’m just a little tired.”

  “A little? You don’t know how long you’ve been sleeping in your car and you can barely walk. I’d say you’re beyond a little tired. Are you sick? Do you feel okay?”

  Charlee didn’t respond as he sat her on the sofa. She immediately laid her head on one of the pillows, curling into a fetal position. Her eyes drifted shut.

  Befuddled, Liam placed the back of his hand on her forehead to determine if she had a fever. She might’ve been a little warm, but not hot enough for alarm. Noting that she had gotten a little wet, he retrieved a towel and a blanket from the linen closet. When he returned, Charlee was fast asleep, soft snores mingling with the sounds coming from the television.