by Jones, Gwen
He wanted to give her everything.
“Come here,” he said, his hands at her shoulders. “I want to be inside you.”
Her mouth trailed back to his shaft and she swallowed him again, her tongue teasing the tip of his cock until a groan escaped from deep within him. Then she let go and pulled herself up, sliding her leg over him. He groaned again, sinking himself deep inside her, his hands over her breasts, holding her up.
“Charlotte,” he whispered, “qu’est-ce que je ferais sans toi? J’ai envie de toi, si mal . . .”
“I’m right here,” she said, falling forward, her lips over his. “I’m right here . . .” she murmured, kissing him.
Rex’s arms flew around her, holding her so close his heart beat next to hers. He kissed her deeply like he’d drown in her, the taste of her so exquisite it made him dizzy. He pushed himself up, turning her until he was on top of her, lowering himself.
She looked up at him, her blue eyes as clear as day, his own, black as night. The irony wasn’t lost on him, and never had he felt more undeserving. His life had been open-ended until he met her, and now that he had, for the first time he could imagine it complete, if only she were beside him.
“Je t’aime,” he whispered, kissing her. “With all my heart. Please believe me and know that I mean it.”
She sighed, laying her head in the crook of his as he drove himself deeper inside her. “I know, Rex, you’ve told me and I do believe you. But it’s been so fast, I can’t . . .”
“I know,” he said, kissing her again, stilling as he caressed her cheek. “I know what I am. Believe me, I understand. If I were you, I would feel the same way. But just know that I do love you and you’re everything to me. Tu es l’amour de ma vie.”
“Oh Rex . . .” she said, arching against him, her hands at his hips as he began to move again, pulling him closer until there was no space between them at all. “I wish I could say what you want to hear, as there’s no one else I’ve ever really wanted to say it to. But I just can’t, Rex. I can’t. I’m so sorry, but I just can’t.”
“Je t’aime,” he said, over and over and over, until he couldn’t breathe and all words were gone, Rex taking them over the edge, his heart breaking as they fell.
A FEW HOURS later Charlotte awoke to find herself alone. A state, it surprised her to discover, she was beginning to find a bit foreign. “Rex?”
He didn’t answer, and suddenly she panicked, scrambling out of bed and into her robe. Then she spied him on the little porch outside the room, sitting in one of the chairs at the table, his phone atop it. She went to him.
“Rex?” she said.
He looked up and smiled, holding his hand out to her. She took it, curling into his lap and his bare chest. For such a cool and cloudy day he was surprisingly warm.
“I’m sorry,” she said, the tears falling.
“C’est bon, calmez-tu,” he said, holding her close. “The last thing I want to do is push myself on you. I understand. My reputation leaves a lot to be desired and you are perfectly right to feel wary.”
“No,” she said, pulling back. “It’s not you, really it isn’t.” He stroked his cheek. “You’re wonderful. I’ve never met anyone like you. And to tell the truth, no one is more surprised than me that you can love me. The fact is . . .” She swiped her eyes, snuffling. “I’d come to believe I was unlovable and suddenly there’s you, telling me I’m not.”
“Unlovable? You?” He laughed. “See? That’s why we’re perfect for each other. You thought you were unlovable, and I thought I couldn’t ever love anyone. Then I met you and I suddenly knew why.” He kissed her. “I was just waiting for you to show up.”
“Oh, Rex.” She started crying again, snuffling against her hand.
“Jesus.” He reached into his pocket. “Here,” he said, producing a handkerchief. “Blow your nose before you drench us both.”
She eyed the linen square, taking it. “There are men who still carry these?”
“Real men do,” he said. “Tissues are for mama’s boys.”
“No,” she said, blowing again. “I suppose I really don’t know much about men after all.”
He held her close. “The only man you need to know anything about is right here,” he said. “And he loves you enough to wait for as long as it takes.”
“That’s good to know,” she said, curling against him again. “What are you doing out here besides freezing to death?”
He looked at her. “Do I look like I’m freezing?”
“You feel like a furnace. But answer my question.”
He glanced to his phone. “I got a phone call, so I didn’t want to wake you up.”
“Marcel, I’ll bet.”
“Oui. He said they’re bringing the Esther Reed into Penn’s Landing this afternoon, and he wants to talk to me.” He thought a moment. “And Jesus, do we have a lot to talk about.”
“I can drop you there. What time?”
“You’re not dropping me anywhere,” he said. “You’re going with me.”
She bolted upright. “Oh no. There’s no way I’m doing that. Dani’s okay, but Marcel hates me. He sees I’m with you and—”
“He already knows you’re with me.”
“You told him I’m you’re lawyer?”
“Oui.” He grasped her by the shoulders, holding her out. “But I made it plain you’re much more than that.”
“Why’d you do that? Why should he know? What business is it of his?”
“Because I took a punch from him in Boston over a crack I made about Dani. And if he thinks I’m going to tolerate any remarks from him about you . . .” He flexed his fist. “Then he can expect the same thing out of me. And let me tell you, I pack a mean left hook.”
She smiled. “Talk about a real man.”
“No shit.” He stood her up, patting her behind. “Now let’s get dressed, belle. We have business back to Philly.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Courting
BY THE TIME they were crossing the Ben Franklin into Philadelphia, the cloudiness hugging the coast was behind them and the sky was bright and clear. From the bridge they could see Penn’s Landing Wharf and the double masts of the schooner, the Esther Reed, her sails now tightly furled as she idled in port.
Charlotte remembered the time she had spent on the ship with Dani Lloyd down there at Penn’s Landing. She and Occupy Vagina had been protesting the misogynistic practices of Liberty Sail and Mercier, the then-parent company who owned the Esther. Dani had chained herself to one of the masts, prompting Marcel Mercier to fly over from Cannes to attempt to toss her off. Who knew they’d fall in love, and he’d end up buying the schooner for his new bride as a wedding gift? And now here they all were again, in port under such different circumstances. It just showed how much things stayed the same.
Until they changed. Irrevocably.
Because Charlotte had fallen in love with Rex just as deeply and just as fast as Dani and Marcel had. The difference was Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to tell him, and for a very good reason. For as much as he’d been saying how much he loved her, not at any point did he tell her what he was going to do about it. And until he did, she wasn’t about to give him her heart. Not so he could just fly away to Marseille with it.
This time, she promised herself, unlike all her other relationships, it was going to be different.
This time, she needed to know he loved her for sure.
“There she is,” Rex said, looking down from the bridge into Penn’s Landing. “That’s what all that fuss had been over? That boat?”
“Not just any boat,” Charlotte said. “That’s the Esther Reed. I still find it hard to believe Dani could love anything more than that ship, let alone Marcel.”
“And now she has both,” he said, steering Charlotte’s car down the off ramp.
“Only because she couldn’t take one without the other,” Charlotte said. “Though if Marcel had been honest with her from the start, maybe they wouldn’t have had to go through what they did.” She looked at him. “Honesty goes a long way.”
Rex looked askance. “Is that some kind of hint? Because if it is, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Of course you have—turn here.” He did, and soon they were in the parking lot walking toward the ship.
For the first time since they’d been together, Charlotte got to see Rex out of his work clothes and in something a bit more casual. He had put on khakis, a polo, and boat shoes, things he had purchased when they’d gone shopping in Margate, and he looked so unlike himself she hardly recognized him. Even so, although his clothing was relaxed, she could see no reflection of it in his demeanor, his whole body seeming to tense the closer they got to the ship.
“Are you okay?” she said, rubbing his shoulder.
“I’m all right,” he said, quickly flexing his fingers.
“You’re about as all right as I am,” she said, taking his hand. “For one reason or another I feel like we’re both walking up the gallows.”
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing it. “Well, don’t. You have nothing to worry about. And for what it’s worth, you make me feel better just by being here.”
“Hey,” Charlotte suddenly said, looking toward the ship. “That’s not Marcel. Who is it?”
Rex craned his neck, squinting, as they trotted down the steps to the pier. On deck was a large man coiling a rope around his massive arm, resembling a larger and more intense version of Marcel. He looked up and spying them, waved.
“That’s André,” Rex said. “Or as he likes to be called, Andy.”
“Andy Devine?” Charlotte said. “Julie Knott’s husband?
“That’s him,” he said as they approached the ship.
“Should I be afraid?” she whispered, taking the hand Rex offered as they climbed aboard. “He looks kind of scary.”
“Nicest man in the world,” Rex said, helping her down. “Unless you cross him. Do that and you might as well slit your wrists.”
“Bonjour!” Andy said, meeting them at the gangplank. He shook Rex’s outstretched hand. “Alors, qu’est-ce que tu deviens?”
“Comme ci, comme ça,” Rex answered. “How about you?”
“Not bad, not bad,” he said, looking to Charlotte.
“Andy, this is my attorney, Charlotte Andreko,” Rex said. “And, I’m happy to admit, a bit more.”
“Enchanté,” he said, shaking her hand. Charlotte noticed he spoke French with much the same American lilt that she did, and then it struck her. Andy had an American father, although all three men—Andy, Marcel, and Rex—were linked through the contentious Viviane, all possessing her smoky allure. “Dani told me you crewed on the Esther for their sail to Boston.”
“That’s right,” she said. “Though I didn’t make it all the way. Marcel kicked me off the ship on Martha’s Vineyard.”
Andy laughed. “That sounds like my hothead brother. Never lets his emotions get in the way. Sheesh.”
“Is your wife here as well?” said Charlotte. “We just saw her a couple of days ago.”
“She’s at the TV station,” Andy said. “She’ll be here shortly. She can barely fit behind the wheel, so Denny’s dropping her off.” He laughed. “I think she’s had it after this. Even I can feel her pain.”
“Where’s Marcel?” said Rex, and Charlotte could tell, a bit impatiently. “I feel like I’ve been summoned.”
“And don’t think you haven’t,” said Andy, going to the other side of the ship to a table covered in linen, fine china, and a centerpiece of white roses. Aside it was small liquor cart. “Can I offer you both a cocktail?”
“I think I’ll need one,” Rex said and Andy smiled, holding up a bottle of forty-year-old scotch. “Jesus, you’re certainly softening the blow, aren’t you?”
“After this, you’ll never know what hit you,” said Andy, pouring two fingers. “What’ll you have, Charlotte?”
She looked to Rex, and he smiled. “Whatever he’s having. Though pour mine around some ice.”
“You got it,” Andy said, pouring the same for himself. “Marcel and Dani should be up any minute. They’re below decks getting ready for a sail to Bermuda in the morning. Dani is still in the habit of filing a float plan. Which, of course, is a good thing.”
“Sounds like a nice, long honeymoon,” Charlotte said.
“Not that he hasn’t been working all along,” Andy said, glancing to Rex. “Proof of that will be apparent soon enough.”
“Like now,” Marcel said, climbing out the companionway with Dani behind him, both carrying steaming trays of hors d’oeuvres. There was enough food to feed an army with, but Charlotte didn’t think she could swallow a thing. As calm and collected as Rex appeared on the outside, Charlotte could tell he was wired beneath. Something was coming and it was always worse waiting for the other shoe to fall.
“How are you, you fucking bastard,” Marcel said, shaking his DGD’s hand. “You’ve been giving me heart attacks lately.”
Andy slanted Charlotte a glance. “My brother, the master of subtlety.”
“Charlotte,” Marcel said, eyeing her warily. “Still hate me for leaving you at the Vineyard?”
“For the record,” Dani said, reaching to clasp Charlotte’s hands, “I was hardly all in with that idea. But who listens to me anyway?”
“I do,” Marcel said to his wife, the two exchanging a smoldering glance. “Now go get yourself a drink, and me too, if you’d be so kind.”
Charlotte felt a small pain deep within her. What must it be like to be that secure in your relationship? It must be wonderful.
“Outside of the obvious, you’re probably wondering why I asked you here,” said Marcel, taking a beer from his wife. He took a slug and set it down. “Am I right?”
Rex shrugged. “Of course.”
“Then I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.” He whipped out his index fingers like the barrels of two six-shooters. “You’re fired.”
“Excusez-moi?” Rex said, nearly dropping his drink. Charlotte grabbed Rex’s arm as he charged at Marcel. “Why you mother—”
“Calme-toi, calme-toi!” Marcel cried, jumping back, a look of elfish glee on his face. “Just hear me out before you freak out on me. I think you may even like what I have to say.”
Rex glared at Marcel, his face a study in barely contained rage. “Go ahead,” he said.
“Primarily, let me apologize,” Marcel said. “Seems I’ve kind of taken you for a ride. That whole mess over at the Ritz with Lilith and the lobbyist?”
“Oui . . .” Rex said, hardly breathing it.
“We kind of knew about it,” Andy said.
“Quoi?” said Rex, his fist clenching. “You knew about it and you didn’t warn me?”
“Now hold on,” Marcel said. “All we knew was something was going to happen to try to make you look bad.”
“To ruin your credibility and Mercier’s,” Andy added. “So our value would sink so that Richette could make their move. And to do it, they had to get you and your dreams of harbor expansion out of the way.” Andy’s brow arched. “Seems you’re a very persistent man.”
“Did you get this from your mother?” Rex said to Marcel. “Did she tell you this?”
He thumbed his chest. “Me? Hell no. She could be dying on my doorstep and wouldn’t even try to knock.”
“My family and I visited her in Marseille a couple months ago,” Andy said, his deep blue eyes smoldering with intrigue. “You have no idea the transformative power behind a couple days with the grandkids.” He looked to Charlotte. “Though the real leverage kicks in when you try to bring them home.” He shook his head, like still amazed. “Viviane was crying like a bab
y.”
“And babbling like she was shot full of sodium pentothal,” Marcel said. “After that, she started telling Andy everything.”
“She told me about meeting up in Paris with Jean-Paul Levere, the Richette CEO,” Andy said. “She told us about his wanting her cooperation in another takeover attempt of Mercier. I told her to play along with whatever they’d try to do.”
“You see, we had no idea what kind of move they were going to make,” Marcel said, “and then you were arrested.”
“If you thought they were behind it, why didn’t you tell me?” Rex said, still seething.
“We still weren’t sure. But then you told Marcel about those recordings,” Andy said. “We suspected Lilith may be working with Richette when she was dragging her feet with the dredging bill, but we had no proof. But when she tried to steal your phone, we knew.”
“Knew what? That evidence of her infidelity could ruin her career in Congress?” Rex laughed. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
“It doesn’t,” Marcel said. “It was because your recording tied Lilith to Brendan Hitchell, when she said she’d be meeting him for lunch. Which she never actually would, no matter what she told you. And no matter how much she was meeting him in private.”
“I still don’t get it,” Rex said. “Why wouldn’t she want to be seen with him in public?”
“Because she and Hitchell were both gobbling up Richette stock,” Andy said. “And the last thing she wanted was to be seen within a mile of him.”
“So they were both trying to use inside information to hopefully make themselves rich.” Charlotte looked to Rex. “Seems their blind trust wasn’t so blind after all. And that’s the ethics violation I told you about.”