0373659490 (R)

by Michelle Major

  “In case she wants to shove him into traffic?”

  He smiled. “Among other reasons.”

  “Is that a British thing?”

  “I’m not sure. It’s something my father taught us.” He looked down at her as they stopped at a crosswalk. “I’ll teach Flynn one day.”

  An immediate tingle coursed through her. The ladies at her work might be susceptible to the Charles Effect, but her feelings for him were far more dangerous. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I came to talk about the campaign,” he said, placing his fingers on her elbow as the light changed and she stepped off the curb. “Plus I wanted a chance to spend time with you and not feel it necessary to hide out.”

  “Why?” she couldn’t help but ask. “I assumed you said everything you needed to last night.”

  “Hardly. I want to be your friend, Alice. The connection we share is powerful.”

  She drew in a shaky breath at his words, even as she understood he was talking about their baby. “Based on what I’ve seen in the papers, you have plenty of friends.”

  “Acquaintances,” he clarified. “Not the same thing at all.”

  She had to hide her smile at the knowledge that this dashing man had chosen her. Even if she wanted more, she had to find a way to be satisfied with friendship.

  He glanced around as she guided him toward another intersection. “Where are you taking me?”

  “The best lunch place in Austin,” she said with a grin.

  “You like food,” he observed, and she glanced up at him again. He wasn’t wearing sunglasses and his eyes were almost the same color as the spring sky.

  “Last time I checked, eating is pretty essential to a person’s survival.”

  He pushed her hair off her forehead with the tips of his fingers. “It wasn’t an insult, Alice. But I’m used to women who are more concerned with moving the food around on their plates than with actually taking a bite.”

  “I bet they eat a lot of salad, too.”

  He nodded. “Most seem partial to lettuce, yes.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe the lifestyle of the rich and famous isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” She led him down a path that intersected the sidewalk near the park’s entrance. “Because I’m about to blow your mind, Mr. Fortune Chesterfield.”

  Chapter Ten

  Charles wanted to tell Alice she’d already blown his mind on so many levels. It went way beyond making him a father, as shocking as that revelation had been. Alice seemed unimpressed with his reputation and the trappings of his fame, a wholly unfamiliar experience for Charles but one he’d quickly grown to appreciate.

  Case in point was that they now stood in front of a brightly painted recreational vehicle, a new Texas experience for Charles. He was used to dining at steak houses and trendy bistros, but took his place in the short queue behind Alice.

  “A food truck?”

  “The best tacos in Austin.” She pointed to the large chalkboard hanging from the side of the truck. “They have daily specials, but my favorite is the Chicken Sink.”

  “Is that supposed to sound appetizing?” He cocked a brow, earning a laugh.

  “It’s a chicken taco with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in.”

  “I’m sure there is an American cultural reference I’m missing, but...”

  Her grin widened. “It means there’s a ton of stuff on top of the chicken.” She held up her hand, ticking off ingredients with her fingers. “Guacamole, green chili, sour cream and queso, plus salsa and a bit of shredded lettuce. They don’t use a ton of any one item, but you get a mix of all the different flavors.”

  “It’s delish,” the woman standing in front of them said, looking over her shoulder. Her gaze caught and held on Charles. “Wow,” she murmured, then threw an apologetic glance at Alice.

  “No worries,” Alice told her. “Happens all the time. Eventually you get used to him.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” the woman answered, and turned back around.

  “What happens all the time?” Charles didn’t begin to understand the exchange between the two women, but was quite curious.

  “The Charles Effect,” Alice said, before a blush rose to her cheeks. It was as if she hadn’t meant to share those words with him. The line shifted and one of the servers beckoned them forward. “Saved by the taco,” she muttered, before turning to Charles. “Do you know what you want?”

  “What is the Charles Effect?” he asked.

  “I’ll order for both us.” She ignored his question and requested a sampling of menu items from the clearly popular food truck. Charles handed the man a few bills before Alice could pull her wallet from her purse. “I dragged you halfway across downtown in the midday heat,” she protested. “I can pay.”

  “Call me old-fashioned,” he drawled.

  As they shifted to the side to wait, Alice began to babble about the vast array of food trucks that could be found throughout Austin’s various neighborhoods. “That should be one of our features for the ad campaign. Food is a big draw for vacationers, and my research shows that almost half will drive up to thirty miles from their intended destination to try a popular restaurant.” She paused to catch her breath, then started to speak again, but Charles held a finger over her lips.

  “Explain the Charles Effect.”

  “It’s...you know...how women react to you.”

  “You mean the fact that women like me.”

  She barked out an indelicate laugh. “They more than like you, Charles. You mesmerize them.”

  “But not you?”

  The man at the food truck called her name and she hurried forward to grab the paper sack. “There’s a hidden park bench around the corner near the fountain. It’s usually empty.”

  “Are you going to answer my question?” Charles asked as he followed her.

  She kept her attention on the food, divvying up the foil-wrapped tacos after taking a seat on the bench. “Our friendship gives me immunity to your charm.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yep.” She peeled back one corner of the foil and took a small bite of taco. “You need to eat. I only have an hour for lunch.”

  “Your boss won’t mind if you’re with me.”

  “David might not, but Amanda certainly will.” Alice dabbed a napkin at the corner of her mouth. “She wants you for herself.”

  “She can’t have me.” Charles bit into the taco and nodded. Both the food and his lunch companion made him happy. He was happier spending time with Alice than he could remember being in ages. “I like this kitchen sink.”

  “I told you,” she said with another quick smile. “Do you have food trucks in London?”

  “We do. You see them most often at festivals or in open-air markets. You need to get a passport, Alice. There’s so much to see in the world.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve got a job and a baby. That doesn’t leave much time for traveling.”

  “Or dating?”

  She coughed wildly, and Charles thumped her on the back.

  “That came out of nowhere,” she said, as her breath returned to normal.

  “We talk a lot about my social life, but I’ve heard almost nothing of yours.”

  “There isn’t anything to share,” she answered.

  “So no dates since...” He trailed off.

  She blushed again as those hazel eyes darkened to a deep green color. “Nope. No time. No inclination. No...just no.”

  “Are you really immune to me, Alice?”

  “I am.”

  He leaned closer. “Could I change your mind?” His tone had gone low and silky, like the luxurious sheets she remembered from her one night in his hotel room.

  “You won’t try.” She jumped up from the bench, walked to a nearby trash can and threw away the taco wrapper before turning back to him. “You were the one who said we could only be friends, Charles. I don’t care how much you trifle with other people. You care about Fly
nn, and you aren’t going to do anything that will mess this up.” She walked back slowly, watching the emotions play across his face. “I trust you. I believe you’ll do the right thing by your son.”

  She wished the right thing for both of them was being together, but Charles had already made his thoughts on the subject clear. The only reason he was toying with her now was because she posed a challenge. Even though he acted the part of the irresponsible rake, she knew he wouldn’t willingly hurt Flynn.

  “Damn,” he muttered. “You certainly know how to set a high bar.” He stuffed the rest of his uneaten taco into the bag and wiped a sleeve across his forehead. For the first time since she’d met him, Charles didn’t look cool and in control. He seemed almost panicked at the idea of someone having expectations of him that didn’t involve a drink and a laugh.

  “There’s an outdoor concert tonight at Zilker Park, on the lawn in front of the botanical garden.” She sank down on the bench and nudged him with her elbow. “I’m going to take Flynn. It would be good to have a friend to go with us.”

  “Certainly,” he said without hesitation, but Alice wasn’t even sure he’d heard the invitation.

  “We’ll figure this out,” she told him, resting her head on his wide shoulder. “Team Fortune Chesterfield and all that.”

  “Team Fortune Chesterfield,” he repeated, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

  They sat there for a few more minutes and she felt Charles slowly relax. Alice kept her breathing normal, even as awareness skittered across her skin and through her body. She tried to ignore it as best she could. Sexual frustration notwithstanding, it was nice to have a friend. If nothing else, Charles was her partner in parenting. It gave Alice more comfort than she cared to admit that she was no longer alone.

  “I need to go,” she said eventually, hating to break the connection between them. She lifted her head and Charles stood.

  “We haven’t discussed the campaign.” He held out a hand to her and she slipped her fingers into his.

  “Let’s talk on the way back to the office.”

  He nodded but didn’t let go of her hand. He threw away the rest of the trash from lunch, and she led him out of the park. Despite the necessity of it, she wasn’t ready to return to her office and he didn’t appear in a hurry to let her go. They talked about the campaign and he asked for a list of her favorite things in Austin. He seemed truly interested in what made it Texas to her. She started to rattle off the typical list of live music, food and the ubiquitous Western spirit, then changed her mind. Alice had always been more interested in the parts of Austin that could best be described as hidden gems.

  She told him about the local graffiti park, the natural swimming hole at the Hamilton Pool Preserve and a few museums and galleries that weren’t on most tourist itineraries. “Does that make me seem weird?” she asked, after promising to take him to one of the quaint neighborhoods she liked outside of town. “My job is all about the things that make Texas popular, but those aren’t my favorite spots.”

  “On the contrary,” he answered, taking her elbow as they crossed a busy intersection. “It’s something we have in common. The places in London I prefer are the ones I can go to without fanfare—a bookstore tucked down a cobblestone street across from the British Museum in Bloomsbury, or a family-owned Italian restaurant on the outskirts of the theater district. I’d like to explore the places in Austin that appeal to you, Alice.” Goose bumps rose on her skin at the way he said her name. “I want to discover them with you as my guide.”

  She forced herself to keep walking, when she wanted to stop and kiss him in the middle of the crowded street. It was disconcerting to find they shared this penchant for the unique. Charles was a man she could so easily love. What had started as a one-night stand had turned into much more.

  But he’d offered her friendship, and that had to be enough.

  Too soon they were at the entrance of the tourism board office. “I’m terrified of the woman who answers the phones,” he said, glancing past Alice into the plated glass door. “She looks at me like she wants me for her next meal.”

  “I’d think you would be used to that look from women by now,” Alice said with a laugh.

  “Yes, but she looks hungrier than most.”

  Alice shook her head and laughed again. “I’ll see you tonight, Charles.”

  He nodded and started to walk away, then turned back. “Until tonight, love,” he said, and dropped a light kiss against her hair. The implied intimacy of the gesture made her heart squeeze.

  She was quickly discovering that regular life was more exhilarating than she could have imagined with this man at her side.

  * * *

  Alice pushed Flynn’s stroller through the crowd gathered in Zilker Park later that evening. She’d texted Charles to meet her on the lawn in front of the botanical garden, knowing it would be easier to walk than to deal with traffic and parking before the popular concert series.

  Flynn made a noise and she pushed down his shade cover, not paying much attention to the people she passed on the sidewalk until a man stepped in front of her, blocking the path.

  “Excuse me,” she said, then glanced up into a pair of familiar blue eyes. “Charles, it’s you.”

  “I take it my disguise is working,” he said with a laugh, and bent forward to kiss Flynn’s downy hair.

  “You look like a Texan,” she admitted as he fell in step beside her, “but the accent gives you away.”

  “Then I’ll have to work on being the ‘strong silent type.’ I can channel my inner John Wayne.”

  Alice hid her smile. He definitely had the strong part down, with his broad shoulders and long-limbed gait. Although Charles wasn’t dressed in his usual dapper British garb, her body still reacted to him. His fingers brushed hers as he took over handling the stroller, and warmth and desire spiked through her. He’d changed into a faded pair of jeans and an orange Texas Longhorns T-shirt, quintessential Austin fashion for a man in his late twenties. He wore a dark blue baseball cap and the work boots he’d bought when they were together.

  “How did you break in those boots so quickly?” she asked, pointing to the scuffed toes.

  “Would you believe I did some work on my brother-in-law’s ranch?”

  “Not for a second.”

  “You know me too well, Alice Meyers.” He ruffled her hair. “The truth is, I gave them to the concierge at the hotel. His son is my size and works in construction.” Charles laughed when she gaped at him. “Turns out the Four Seasons really is full-service,” he said.

  “Only you, Charles.” She waved her hand toward an area near the top of the hillside. “Is that spot okay? It’s far enough away from the stage to be safe for Flynn’s ears. Plus he won’t bother anyone if he gets fussy.” She glanced around the crowded lawn. “Although there’s not much shade on the hill. Maybe we could—”

  “How about there?” Charles pointed to a clump of trees about halfway up the hill. Under the shade of the branches were two lawn chairs, with a blanket spread across the grass in front of them. A wicker picnic basket sat to one side with a galvanized-steel bucket next to it.

  Her mouth dropped open. “Did the hotel take care of that, too?”

  He shook his head. “I had some time on my hands this afternoon and wanted you and the baby to have a good spot for the concert.”

  “I don’t know what to say... Thank you.”

  “I believe in full service, too.”

  She let him lead her to the picnic area, feeling like the luckiest woman on the planet. Well, she’d feel even luckier if this was a real date. How was any man going to measure up to Charles?

  She brushed away the thought, rationalizing that she’d be too busy raising her son to worry about a man in her life.

  She lifted Flynn from the stroller and set him on the soft blanket. His gaze immediately caught on the leaves fluttering above him and he seemed as content as Alice felt.

  “We have a selection of sparkl
ing water or lemonade for the evening,” Charles told her, making a comically gallant gesture toward the ice bucket.

  “Lemonade, please,” she said as she sat next to Flynn. Charles handed her a cold bottle, then lowered himself to the blanket on the other side of the baby. He pulled the picnic basket closer and took out a plate of cheeses and a box of gourmet crackers.

  “This is perfect,” Alice said with a sigh, stretching her legs in front of her. She saw a few people glance their way, but no one seemed to recognize Charles.

  “To a perfect night,” he agreed, and held up his can of sparkling water for a toast. They shared the cheese and crackers as the sun dipped behind the trees. Despite her awareness of him, Alice found it remarkably easy to talk to Charles. He asked her more questions about her childhood and shared stories of his brothers and sisters growing up in England.

  As an only child with very little extended family, Alice loved the thought that her son would grow up knowing aunts, uncles and cousins. Of course, that thought was immediately followed by the worry that Charles would want to take Flynn off to either Horseback Hollow, or worse, England, and Alice would be left alone and missing her boy.

  She was afraid to broach the subject and ruin the mood of this lovely evening. Charles had told her over lunch earlier that his family solicitor was finishing up the papers that would ensure Flynn was provided for, so Alice decided she could wait to talk about custody as part of that discussion.

  Despite the noise around them, Flynn drifted off to sleep. Alice pulled a blanket from the bottom of the stroller and covered the baby.

  As she glanced up at Charles she found him staring at her shoes. At first glance, these were relatively simple tan pumps. But the inside edge of the shoe was a band of lace, with corresponding lace panels on either side of her heel. They were demure but at the same time gave a glimpse of skin that made Alice feel quite sexy. It was no accident she’d chosen them for her evening with Charles. She might have agreed to be his friend, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t tempt him when she could.

  She stretched her foot forward, pointing her toe.

  “More remarkable shoes,” he murmured, shifting down the blanket, “but each pair makes me more intrigued about what’s hiding underneath.”