“Yes. She didn’t fight me getting into the carrier. Hopefully she won’t be too nervous on the plane.”
“That’s good.” He looked around at the snow-covered trees. “I’ll go get your check.”
She continued to scrape her car. “Thanks.”
He went inside the house, his gut twisting. Was he going to just let Charley walk out of his life? After what they’d shared? He pulled out his checkbook, working his jaw. What else could he do? He couldn’t see an alternative. He had no reason to ask her to stay.
He wrote the check and went back outside in the cold. Charley took it from him and put it in her pocket. “Well, I guess this is it.” She stood there, looking awkward.
He wanted to give her a hug, but that was odd, so he took a step back and shoved his fists into his pockets. “Travel safely.”
She lowered the windshield scraper, staring at him. Suddenly she threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. “Thanks for making this Christmas memorable,” she said, her voice holding emotion.
He put his arms around her, unable to think of a response. She let go and stepped back. “Bye.”
“Good-bye, Charley.”
She handed him the scraper and got into the rental car. He stood there and watched as she drove down the driveway and disappeared into the trees. He didn’t feel the wind whipping through his sweater. He only felt the sting of loss as the most amazing woman he’d ever met left him.
He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. There was nothing he could do. She was not his. And he could not claim hold on her. He walked slowly back into his house, the emptiness echoing though his chest.
CHARLEY GRIPPED THE steering wheel, her heart in her throat. She was hoping she wouldn’t have to see Alexander before she left. She didn’t know if she could take saying goodbye to him. Her crush on him had grown into astronomical proportions. She was completely fixated on him and she needed to get a grip on reality.
As she drove, she told herself she wasn’t going to think about him anymore. She had to get back home and grow her appraisal business. Sitting around and wishing she were back at the mansion with Alexander wasn’t going to do anyone any good.
Besides, if her father found out she’d kissed him—repeatedly—he would be livid. She had acted so unprofessionally. Her face burned as she tried to get the image of him in the hot tub out of her head. Why had she insisted he go in it with her? She had been so stupid. She’d acted like a silly schoolgirl.
And now she was paying the price. Her heart ached as she pulled out onto the highway. She had seen such a change in Alexander. He’d gone from a grumpy, mean man to actually joking around with her. When they had gone caroling to the neighbors, she thought she was going to laugh for a week at his antics. He really had surprised her.
But the job was done and she would never see him again. She couldn’t spend her time wishing things were different. If only she had met him at a different time in her life. If he lived in Florida. If she were older. These thoughts swirled around in her head as she passed by semi-trucks.
She needed to stop. She had to get back to real life, and that meant going home and forgetting about Alexander. She turned on the radio but only felt the loss even more dramatically as a love song came on. She clicked it off and let the silence fill the car.
Chapter 23
Alexander turned off the music app, silencing the room. He sat back in his office chair and stared out the window. A row of tulips was starting to bloom in his flowerbed. It had been four months since Charley had left, and all the snow was gone.
He sighed and looked back at his phone. The music did nothing for him. Why had the music uplifted him when Charley had been there? He’d tried repeatedly to get the same results after she’d left, but he couldn’t get that same feeling back. When she’d left, she’d taken the magic out of the music.
He glanced over at the corner where he’d kept Milly’s food bowl. It was empty. He hated to admit it, but he missed that little kitten. He knew Charley would be taking good care of her. He wondered what Charley was doing right now.
For the millionth time, he thought about calling her, but then he shook his head. Why would he call her? What would he say? He had no reason to call. No reason to talk to her. He was just lonely, that was all.
Dorothy came into the room and he turned to glare at her. “What?”
“Don’t you snap at me. Just because you can’t get up the nerve to talk to that woman doesn’t mean you can take it out on me.”
Alexander tried to smooth his features out. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She took a step towards him and put her hands on her hips. “What were you just thinking about?”
He was not going to tell her what she wanted to hear. “My music app.”
“Really? Because I’d bet you a thousand dollars you were thinking about Charley.”
He scowled at her but didn’t deny it.
Dorothy’s features softened. “Aren’t you tired of missing her?”
“I’m tired of being alone. That’s not the same.”
“Look at you. You’re back to the grumpy person you were before she came. You mope around the house all day. You’re not even in here working. You’re staring at your phone, wishing you could talk to her.”
He shook his head. “How do you do that? How can you know all those things?”
“I have eyeballs.”
He rubbed his temple. “I can’t do anything about it. She thinks I’m too old. And what would I say to her anyway?”
Dorothy walked over to his desk and held out her hand. “Let me see your phone for a second.”
He handed it to her. She swiped at the screen a few times. He leaned over to see what she was doing, but she turned away. A second later, she handed it back. “There.”
“What did you do?”
“I texted her.”
“You what?” He stood up and his chair shot backwards. He looked at the screen. His phone had sent a message to Charley.
Hey. How are you?
Alexander wanted to yell at Dorothy, but he was too mesmerized by the tiny dots blinking, indicating that Charley was texting him back. She had read his message and was responding. He stared at the phone, waiting for her response to come through.
I’m fine. How are you?
She hadn’t said anything spectacular, but still, his heart beat wildly in his chest. Dorothy leaned over to look at the message. “Well. I’ll let you chat with her. I just wanted to say your lunch is ready.”
“Okay, thanks.” He sat back down in his chair, not caring about lunch. Charley wanted to know how he was doing.
He hesitated, not sure what he should say. Finally, he typed out, Missing you, but then deleted it before sending it. Too strong. He didn’t want to scare her away. He’d really messed up when he’d blurted out that he loved her. He had to be cool.
Fine. Dorothy had Paul over the other evening.
He figured she might be interested to know what was going on with them.
Really? OMG! Are they a couple now?
He smiled as he texted back. Yes, they’ve been dating now for a few months.
That’s fantastic.
How’s Milly doing?
No answer came, and he thought maybe she was busy. He shoved his phone in his pocket and walked into the dining hall. Just as he sat down, his phone chimed. He pulled it out and smiled at the photo of a black cat curled up on a blanket.
She’s fine. Growing like a weed.
Dorothy came in and set down his bowl of soup. He showed her the photo.
“Is that Milly? She looks so big now.”
“I know.”
He texted back while Dorothy left to get the sandwiches. She looks like she’s doubled in size.
Definitely. I think she misses you, though.
The words stabbed at his chest and he sat there, staring at them for a full thirty seconds before he responded. She does?
His heart thumped
as he waited for her response.
Yes. She seems sad.
Maybe you should bring her back for a visit. He stared at the words he had typed, his finger hovering over the send button. Was that too much? Should he delete that? He was about to backspace over it when Dorothy came in and startled him. When he looked down, he’d sent the message.
Crud. He hadn’t meant to do that. He waited for her to respond. The dots appeared, and then her message came.
Maybe I will.
He stilled. What did that mean? Was she actually saying she might come back for a visit? Or was she just playing with him? He wasn’t sure what to text back, so he set the phone down while he took a bite of his turkey sandwich.
Maybe I will. He read the words over and over. As he chewed, he realized if he didn’t say anything back, she might get the wrong idea. He picked up the phone and typed a response.
I’d like that.
CHARLEY SAT AT HER kitchen table, answering emails. The more she scrolled, the more depressed she got. The one and only job she’d gotten had been for Alexander. And it wasn’t even an appraisal job at all. She’d been home for four months and no one wanted to hire her. Last night, in desperation, she’d applied at the local diner to wait tables. She had to do something to pay the bills.
Milly jumped on her lap and purred. She petted the cat then set her back down on the floor. “Go play with your toy mouse.”
The kitten just looked at her. “Fine. Don’t do as I say,” she said, waving her away. Then guilt made her stomach churn. It wasn’t the cat’s fault she felt out of sorts. She was grumpy about having to stoop and get a job any high schooler could get. That, and she had hoped to hear from Alexander, but she’d only gotten silence.
Not that he had any reason to email her. Or call her. It was really dumb for her to be upset that he hadn’t. Her job with him was done, and that was it. She should be focusing on getting her career going instead of sitting around, wondering what Alexander was doing.
Her phone chimed and she picked it up. Her heart jumped into her throat. It couldn’t be. She blinked and tried to focus.
Hey. How are you?
Four simple words, but they sent her pulse racing and made it difficult to breathe. Alexander was texting her. She couldn’t believe it. She answered back.
I’m fine. How are you?
They chatted back and forth a little, and then he asked about Milly. She ran to find the kitten to snap a picture of her. After he commented on how much she’d grown, Charley typed in that she thought Milly missed him and hit send before she thought about it.
She does?
Charley held her breath as she responded. Yes. She seems sad.
As soon as she hit send, she regretted it. What was she doing? The cat was fine. She was the one who missed him. She was the one who had spent the last four months in a funk, not wanting to go out with her friends. Stupid.
Her phone chimed and she looked at the screen.
Maybe you should bring her back for a visit.
Charley almost swallowed her tongue. Was he inviting her to visit him? Was he saying something more in his message than just a simple conversation? Or was she hoping for something that wasn’t there?
She held her breath and sent a message back. Maybe I will.
When he didn’t answer right away, she thought maybe she was being too forward. Reading too much into his text. But then her phone vibrated and his answer came back. I’d like that.
Hope swelled in her. Maybe he did have feelings for her. But then, why didn’t he contact her in four months? Why didn’t he come out and say he missed her? Why was he skirting around the subject?
And then she realized it didn’t matter. He was still just the man who had tricked her into cleaning out his garage. No matter how much she missed him, she couldn’t think of him in any other way. She would forever be a silly young girl to him. And she would never measure up.
Chapter 24
Alexander stepped out of the airport, the humid air of Florida hitting him. He gripped his suitcase as he walked toward the rental car station. He tried not to think about what he was about to do. He was not one to grovel, but the past month of texting back and forth with Charley was getting them nowhere. And what he needed to say couldn’t be said over the phone.
Her messages had been more aloof lately. Like she was pulling back from him. He clenched his jaw as he thought about what that might mean. He didn’t like the answer.
He secured a rental car and drove to the address Charley had given him. By the time he arrived at the apartment complex, the sun had almost set. He wasn’t sure if she was home or not, but he had to talk to her now, so he parked the car and took a chance. He jaunted up the walkway and knocked on the door marked 4D.
No one answered. He knocked again. The third time he knocked, a blonde woman passed by him. She turned and her gaze traveled over him. “You looking for Charley?” she said, her voice sultry.
“Yes.”
“She’s at work. You won’t catch her until she gets off.”
“When will that be?”
“I don’t know. Late.” She gave him a smile. “You could wait for her in my apartment.”
“No,” he said abruptly. Then added, “Thank you. Where does she work?”
“At the diner on the corner of sixteenth and Pine.” She pointed and he thanked her once again before climbing back into his rental car. He didn’t want to sit around and wait for her. What he had to say couldn’t wait.
He drove several blocks down to the corner and parked his car. The diner was an old mom and pop place with seventies decorating. He walked in and the hostess greeted him. “Table for one?”
Why did that always make him grumpy? “Yes,” he said, his voice gruff. Then he decided to add, “Can you seat me in Charley’s section?”
The hostess smiled at him. “Can do.”
She led him to a booth and he slid onto the seat. She gave him a menu. “Your server will be here soon.” She winked at him and then left.
He suddenly grew nervous. What would Charley say when she saw him? Would she be angry he came? Or could it be possible she’d be happy?
He gripped his menu and glanced around the restaurant. Charley wasn’t in sight. His heart pounded as he waited for her to appear. He didn’t have to wait long. She walked out of the kitchen holding two plates. She wore a uniform with black slacks, which didn’t suit her at all. She passed right by him without notice. After she dropped the plates off at another table, she came around to his booth. She fished her notepad out of her pocket before glancing at him. As soon as her gaze connected with his, she froze. “Alexander? What are you doing here?”
He wasn’t sure what to say. Seeing her again was a surreal experience. All of his emotions came rushing back to him. He cleared his throat. “I think we need to talk.”
She raised her eyebrows, but a smile formed on her lips. “Okay. Let me talk to Shelly. I’m due for a break anyway. Do you want something to drink?”
“A Coke.”
“I’ll get it for you and be with you in a second.”
Her manner was professional. What was he to expect? That she would give him a hug right there in the diner? She was working. Of course she wouldn’t. He waited for her to come back to the table, his nerves making him wonder if this even was a good idea.
When Charley finally came back, she set a Coke down in front of him and then slid into the booth. She smiled at him. “It’s good to see you again.”
He was so anxious about how she was going to react to what he had to say, he simply nodded and took his soda in his hands.
She looked at him apprehensively. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I need Christmas back in my life,” he blurted. Then he shook his head. That wasn’t what he meant to say at all.
Charley looked at him, her eyebrows pulled together. “What?”
“What I mean, is...” He swallowed. “I miss the spirit that you brought into the house.”
She smiled at him, although it seemed reserved. “It will come back. Next December.”
“No,” he said quickly. He was messing this all up. The words weren’t coming out right. “You brought that spirit in. It wasn’t Christmas. It was you.”
Charley stared at him. Then she slowly shook her head. “It wasn’t me.” She reached across the table and took his hands in hers. “You had shut out everything from your life. You had shut out the joy, the giving and the love of Christmas. I just showed you how to let it back in.”
Was she trying to let him down easy? Did she not feel the same way about him? Or was he just blowing it big time? “I miss you,” he said, unable to stop himself. Man, he was pathetic.
“I miss you too.” She smiled at him, but it was not the smile he remembered. None of the spark was left in her eyes.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. She didn’t love him. Her emotions were carefully in check. And he needed to get out of there. He stood and pulled out his wallet. “I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.”
Charley’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean...”
“No, this is not your fault.” He tossed a few bills on the table and left while he still had some pride.
Chapter 25
Charley hung her apron in her closet, her fingers still shaking. What had that been about? Why had Alexander come all this way? To talk about Christmas? She was confused, and shaken up. It had been difficult, seeing him again. She had no idea why he’d come to the diner, and it was odd for him to talk about missing Christmas.
She went into the kitchen and pulled out a frozen dinner. Yeah, she lived a glamorous life. Just as she punched in the time on the microwave, a knock came at her door. The first thought that entered her head was that maybe Alexander had come. But she shoved it aside. He had said coming was a mistake. He’d left. It couldn’t be him.
She opened the door and her heart stuttered. It was Alex. And he looked amazing, as always. She couldn’t begin to hope as to what this meant. “Hello,” she said tentatively.
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