by Anna Blakely
This wasn’t the same young woman he remembered. She was still beautiful, of course. Just...different.
Pushing old wounds aside, Derek got his head out of his ass and pulled her in for a hug.
“Well, come here, darlin’.” He wrapped his arms around her tiny frame.
Startled by the show of affection, Charlie barely returned his hug. Disappointed, Derek quickly freed himself from the awkward embrace.
“What are you doin’ in Dallas? Last I heard, you were still in New York.”
“I am.” She glanced at the customers around them. “My h-husband had to come to town for business and invited me along.”
Damn. Hearing that h-word fall off this woman’s lips hurt a hell of a lot more than it should after all these years.
Swallowing it back, he heard himself asking, “How long are you in town? Maybe we could grab a bite to eat and catch up.”
Yeah, dumbass. Because spending an entire afternoon with her will really help the whole movin’ on process.
“Oh, I-I’d love to, but...”
“There you are.” A man’s deep voice cut off whatever excuse she was going to give. “I thought maybe you’d gotten lost.”
A good looking, well-dressed man came up behind Charlie. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gave Derek a million-dollar smile.
“Charlotte, aren’t you going to introduce me to your new friend?”
Tensing instantly, Charlie glanced back at the man Derek assumed was her husband. She laughed nervously. “He’s not a new friend. This is...Derek. We grew up together.”
The hesitation didn’t come from her not remembering his name. If he didn’t know any better, Derek would’ve sworn she hadn’t wanted to say it.
Recognition flickered behind the other man’s cool eyes. “Ah, yes. I do believe you’ve mentioned him a time or two.”
“Derek West.” He held out his hand. “Charlie and her dad lived a few blocks from me when we were younger.”
“Caleb Porter.” The man brought himself around to Charlie’s side to shake his hand. Caleb’s eyes fell across the front of Derek’s shirt, his perfect nose turning up a little more than it already was. “That’s a very interesting shirt.”
“Thanks.” Derek played into the asshole’s smug comment. “Nice to see you can appreciate quality humor.”
Letting go of his hand, Caleb’s dismissive tone grated on him.
“Charlie,” he thought intensely. “Now, there’s a name I haven’t heard in ages. Charlotte has only gone by her formal name for”—he paused for effect—“well, ever since I’ve known her. Isn’t that right, honey?”
She nodded obediently. “That’s right.” Beautiful, haunted eyes found Derek’s again. “No one’s called me that since I left Parish Port.”
Ignoring the asshole’s condescending tone, Derek gave her a crooked grin. “Converted into a city girl, huh?”
Her gaze skittered nervously about as she pressed her perfect lips into a tight smile. “Something like that.”
The conversation was getting more awkward by the minute, and Derek made a quick, mental note to dig into Porter’s background the second he got home.
Breaking up the tense pause, the hoity-toity lawyer said, “Well, it was very nice meeting you, Derek, but our car is waiting out front. So, if you’ll excuse us.”
“Right.” He gave Caleb a fake smile of his own. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he added a sarcastic, “Wouldn’t want to keep your driver waitin’.”
Without really looking him in the eye, Charlie straightened her shoulders and held out her hand. “Goodbye, Derek.”
After all these years, she was going to leave him with nothing more than a handshake? I don’t think so.
To her husband’s obvious dismay—which of course, meant Derek’s delight—he pulled his hands from his pockets and grabbed hold of Charlie, giving her an extra-long hug.
“It was great seein’ you again, darlin’,” he whispered, discretely sliding his business card into her jacket pocket.
Her muscles stiffened beneath his touch, the movement contradicting the tiny hitch of a breath that had escaped from her lips.
Wriggling out of his hold much sooner than he’d have liked, she looked up at her husband then back to him.
“Y-you, too,” she stuttered, giving him another half-smile.
With his hand on her elbow, Caleb started to pull Charlie away. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
Derek stood there a few seconds, fighting the urge to rip the fucker’s hand away from her. Instead, he hollered out, “Charlie, wait!”
The couple stopped and turned back to face him. Though Caleb tried to hide it, Derek could sense the frustration rolling off him.
What a prick.
“Listen.” Derek went to her. “If you’re gonna be in town a few days, we should meet for lunch or somethin’. Spend a little more time catchin’ up. I have to go into the office in the morning to run a systems check. Should be done by noon.”
A tiny spark of light shone in her eyes at the suggestion. Wearing the first real smile he’d seen since bumping into her, Charlie nodded. “We’re leaving the day after tomorrow, but maybe we could—”
“Unfortunately, Charlotte’s schedule is quite booked for the next two days.”
Caleb had completely dismissed whatever she was trying to say. Just like that, the light went out, and her smile vanished. Derek didn’t know what this guy’s problem was, but he didn’t like him. Not one fuckin’ bit.
“I’m booked?” Charlie looked at Caleb. “I thought you were in meetings all day tomorrow.”
A muscle in the other man’s clean-shaven jaw twitched. This was not a man who enjoyed being questioned.
“You’re scheduled to have brunch with Mr. Hamlin’s wife.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “At eleven. But after that, I could—”
“After that”—the bastard cut her off again—“you’re needed back at the hotel.”
“It won’t take long to pack, Caleb.”
“As you pointed out, my meetings will most likely last all day. I won’t have time to help. We both know how well it turns out when you try to do it all yourself.”
Are you fucking kidding me? Derek couldn’t believe the way the sonofabitch was treating her. For Charlie’s sake only, he bypassed punching the guy in the nutsack and continued trying to make this work.
“What hotel are you stayin’ at?” he asked the assmunch. “I could swing by and help Charlie pack. We could have lunch after.”
Derek knew his continued use of her nickname was pissing the guy off. Which, of course, was why he kept doing it. Deal with it, dipshit.
Caleb hid his scowl with everything but the center of his eyes. “It’s kind of you to offer, but that won’t be necessary. As long as there are no distractions, Charlotte will make sure everything gets taken care of as it should be. Right, dear?”
A shadow fell over Charlie’s face. With a slight tremor in her voice, she answered with, “Of course.”
“Good. Now, tell your friend goodbye, and let’s go before the driver expects a bigger tip than my usual.”
Without another word, Charlie and her jackass husband turned and walked out of the restaurant. Derek was still trying to figure out what the hell just happened when he made his way back to the party.
Jake and Olivia were in their seats, talking and laughing with Lexi and Trevor. Mac and Coop were bickering back and forth about who the fuck knows what, and Grant, as usual, was sitting quietly, taking it all in.
“You good?” Hill asked as Derek sat back down.
“Yeah.”
The guy gave him a look that said he wasn’t buying it.
“Okay, no.” He picked up the bottle of beer that had been served while he’d been gone. “I’m not good.”
Hill waited a few beats before asking, “Want to talk about it?”
Derek nearly spat out the sip he’d just taken. “With you?”
“Know wha
t? Never mind.” He picked up his drink with a muttered, “Asshole.”
“Sorry.” Derek patted his teammate’s large shoulder. “Appreciate the offer. Just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
The other man’s blue-grey eyes rolled. “Whatever. You going to tell me what’s wrong, or am I supposed to guess?”
Sighing, Derek shook his head. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Beginning’s usually a good place.”
Derek snorted. “The beginning. Right.” He took a deep breath and started to share his concerns. “I just ran into a girl I grew up with. Haven’t seen her in years.”
“What’s the problem?”
“She’s changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize her. Everything about her is different.”
“You said it’s been years, right?”
“Yeah. Eleven, to be exact.”
Grant shrugged it off. “A lot can happen in eleven years.”
He doesn’t get it. “I know. It’s just...” he sighed loudly. “She’s not anywhere close to the girl she used to be. Her hair was brown, now it’s blonde. She was always a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. The outfit she had on tonight probably cost more than we make in a month. And that’s without the damn heels she was wearin’.”
“That’s what has you so upset? Her change in style?” Grant raised a brow.
“It wasn’t just that. The Charlie I knew was so easy to talk to, and this Charlie”—Derek shook his head—“correction, Charlotte...was the exact opposite.”
“People change, D. Especially after that many years.”
“This is different. It’s like she transformed herself into someone she’s not. And I’d bet dollars to dicks, it has somethin’ to do with her asshole husband.”
“You know him, too?”
“I know of him. He’s some big-time lawyer, just like his dad used to be. Charlie ran off with the guy right after I finished BUD/s. Had some sort of whirlwind romance, got married, and has been living in New York ever since.”
“You been keeping tabs on her?”
Derek shook his head. “My parents used to keep me in the loop where Charlie was concerned.”
“Not anymore?”
Derek swallowed another gulp of beer. “Nope. I finally quit askin’ about her.”
The two sat there, sipping their drinks as the conversations around them continued to flow. The more he thought about the whole scene with Charlie and Caleb, the angrier he became.
“Just pisses me off,” he muttered a few minutes later.
“What?”
“The way that asshole talked to her.” Derek sat his bottle down and shifted in his chair to face Grant. “You should’ve seen him, Hill. He was so fuckin’ condescending. Cocky bastard kept shuttin’ her down every time she tried to talk. Like he didn’t give two fucks what she thought.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t call him out on being disrespectful to your friend.”
Derek ran a hand over his jaw. “I wanted to shove my fist down his fuckin’ throat.”
“What stopped you?”
An image flashed through his mind. “Somethin’ in her eyes. The way she looked when he touched her. Hell, even when he talked to her. She almost seemed...”
“Disinterested?” Grant offered dryly.
“Scared.”
Grant’s forehead creased. “Of you?”
Derek shook his head. “Him.”
****
Chapter 4
“Will that be all for you today?”
“Yes, please.”
“That comes to six dollars and fifty-three cents.”
Charlotte handed the young woman a ten and waited patiently for her change.
The coffee shop was much busier than she'd expected. Located in downtown Dallas, she should’ve known better.
Once she was given her change, Charlotte waited to the side with the other customers who'd given their orders ahead of her. One by one, their names were called and the place began to open up a bit more.
By the time her name was called, several seats had become available. She chose the small, rectangular table for two near one of the shop's front windows.
Taking a sip, she was careful not to burn her tongue as she studied the building across the street. It's dark, sleek lines and large, mirrored windows made it appear every bit as important as the man inside.
Last night, after returning to their hotel room, she'd found the card Derek had snuck into her pocket. Thankfully, Caleb was in the shower at the time.
It was bad enough he'd seen them talking near the restrooms. Then, Derek had to go and give her that ridiculously long hug right in front of him. She'd thought for sure she'd pay for that later, but Caleb had been unusually understanding.
He wasn't, however, so quick to forgive her for questioning him about being able to meet Derek for lunch. She should’ve known that would upset him. Clearly, seeing the man who'd once meant everything to her had clouded her judgment.
Charlotte glanced down at her arm and quickly pulled on the cuff of her white, chiffon sleeve. The small bruises beneath it were Caleb’s harsh reminder of why she should never argue with him. Especially in public.
Opening the silver clutch by her side, Charlotte slid her fingers into the tiny slit she'd made in the bag’s interior lining and pulled out Derek's card.
She studied it again. The white cardstock was thick and felt expensive. It's lettering a simple black font...R.I.S.C., Inc.
Last night, after Caleb had fallen asleep, Charlotte had taken a chance and opened the search app on her phone. She'd quickly typed in the information on the card and learned Derek now worked for a private security company.
The website listed everything from high-end home and business security system installations to bodyguard assignments. Charlotte’s chest had tightened as she lay in the dark, thinking of her Derek guarding someone's life with his own.
No. Not my Derek. He’d never been hers.
When Mrs. Hamlin called this morning after Caleb had already left to tell her she was ill and had to cancel their brunch, Charlotte had taken it as a sign.
Impulsively, she’d come to Derek's place of business to spend a few minutes catching up, as he'd suggested.
After the cab driver dropped her off at the address on the card, she'd gotten cold feet. Standing on the sidewalk out front, she’d spent several minutes looking up at the building, staring and wondering what she’d been thinking.
Caleb’s little tiff last night would be nothing compared to what he’d do if he found out she'd come here.
Charlotte had started to leave when she spotted the coffee shop across the street. Needing a few minutes to collect herself, she’d come here, instead.
Once inside, she decided she would drink her coffee and then use the caffeine-induced courage to go to Derek’s office and say hello.
That was it. She'd only say hi, tell him how nice it was to see him again, and then go back to the hotel to pack. Caleb would never be the wiser.
The longer she sat there, however, the more Charlotte began to second-guess her plan. After all, what had she hoped to accomplish by coming here?
Seeing Derek again would only rip open old wounds. Remind her of everything she'd missed out on. What her life could’ve been like had she confessed her feelings for Derek sooner.
Setting her drink to the side, Charlotte glanced out the window at the building once more. As hard as it was to be this close and not go inside, she knew seeing him again would only cause her more pain.
With a heavy heart, she looked away. She’d finish her coffee, go back to her hotel to pack, and forget about Derek West and dreams that were never meant to be.
“Thought that was you.”
The deep, rumbling voice sent her pulse into a tailspin. Putting on the fake smile she'd become so accustomed to wearing, Charlotte turned her head and looked up at him.
“Hello, Derek.”
Dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a bl
ack t-shirt, he looked even better than he had last night. The shirt stretched tightly over his strong biceps, shoulders, and chest, but became loose around his taut, narrow waist.
He gestured toward the empty chair across from her. “May I?”
“Of course.”
Resting her forearms on the table, Charlotte clenched her hands together in a nervous fist. She should’ve left when she had the chance.
No, you never should have come here in the first place.
“I see you found my card.” He nodded to where it lay on the table then gave her the same, goofy grin she remembered so fondly. “Pretty slick, wasn't I?”
“Yeah,” she smiled back, unsure of what else she should say.
“I have to admit I'm surprised to see you here. Caleb made it sound like you wouldn't have time to meet up today.”
Charlotte swallowed. These days, just the sound of her husband's name made her nauseated. “Mrs. Hamlin, the woman I was supposed to have brunch with, called this morning. She’d gotten a migraine and had to cancel.”
“I see. So, why didn't you come up when you first got here?”
He saw me? “What do you mean?”
“I was in our office's reception area and saw you standing on the sidewalk. Why didn't you come on up?”
“Oh,” she tried to smile, hating that he’d been staring at her while she'd been fighting an internal battle of the wills. “I-I figured you were busy and didn't want to bother you.”
Derek reached across the table and covered her hands with one of his. “You could never bother me, darlin'.”
Just like last night, his touch and the sweet term of endearment were like sharp claws ripping into what was left of Charlotte's heart. Add in those sapphire eyes and that sweet, southern smile, and the circle of torture was complete.
Clearing her throat, Charlotte pulled away from his grasp and politely asked, “Would you like some coffee? My treat.”
Looking a bit surprised by her standoffishness, Derek recovered quickly. Scrunching his slightly-crooked nose, he shook his head. “I'll drink coffee if I have to, but to be honest, I’m not a big fan.”
She hesitated a few seconds before asking, “Still prefer sweet tea, I suppose?”