by J. R. Cowan
Charlotte opened her mouth to respond when Marcus came hurrying over to them.
“Charlotte, you left your bag in my room.” He handed her the bag and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She stepped back, yanking the bag from his grasp.
Justin closed his eyes and staggered back as if he’d been struck.
The pain on his face nearly brought her to her knees. It was the same look he’d given her in high school after she’d kissed Marcus. This was high school all over again. How did this happen? Everything was so fuzzy.
“I didn’t…we didn’t…this is a huge misunderstanding.” Charlotte reached for Justin.
He stepped back again. “I think I’ve had enough of your ‘misunderstandings’ for one weekend, Charlotte.”
“Justin! Please.” Charlotte reached for him, but he turned on his heels and headed toward the barn. She watched him go. Her heart breaking with each step he took away from her. What hope she’d had of him seeing her as anything more than a client was quickly evaporating right before her eyes.
Marcus cleared his throat next to her.
Charlotte glared at him. “What happened last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“You did something to my wine.”
He huffed and rolled his eyes. “Don’t blame me because you can’t hold your alcohol, sweetie.”
“I’m not your sweetie.”
“That’s not what you said last night.” He smirked.
Charlotte reached up and slapped him then gasped. She’d never hit anyone in her life.
Marcus staggered back and grabbed his cheek then grinned at her. “Still feisty as ever, Char.” He turned to head back to the Manor.
“Charlotte! Are you alright?” Lila glanced over her shoulder at Marcus then took in her friend. “Why are you still in last night’s clothes?”
“I don’t know. What happened last night?”
“What do you mean?” Lila gave her a confused look. Her face was free of make-up and her hair in a ponytail. She was dressed in leggings, a sweatshirt and tennis shoes and was glistening with sweat.
“I mean. What happened? I remember dancing with Marcus then he gave me some wine. I thought it tasted funny then everything got blurry and I woke up in the fox room.”
Lila gasped. “That’s Marcus’s room. Charlotte, what’s going on? You don’t do things like that. Are you and Marcus even dating?”
“Of course not.” She made a face. “That’s why I need you to tell me what happened.”
“You were dancing and enjoying yourself. Marcus offered to walk you back to Luke’s while I helped Mrs. White clean up. You were yawning and ready for bed, but I didn’t want to leave her with the mess. He promised me that he would keep you safe. We’ve known him since grade school. He assured me yesterday’s press conference was a big misunderstanding and he wanted to make it up to you. He seemed so genuine. I’m so stupid to have fallen for that. I should have walked you home. I’m so sorry, Coco.”
“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have accepted that drink from him. The old Marcus is gone, and this new Marcus is…I don’t even know how to describe him. He makes me sick.”
“Did he…I mean…are you…?” Lila broke off.
Charlotte shook her head. “I was fully dressed. I think he just wanted to…I don’t even know. It’s like I’m a pawn in his and Justin’s game. It’s like high school all over again. Why did I ever kiss him? I went to prom with Justin hoping he would see me as more than the annoying girl next door. More than his mother’s best friend’s daughter. See me as a woman. Then I had to kiss Marcus, and Justin told me he hated me. I lost my chance with him and it looks like I’ll never get another one.”
Lila gasped then smiled. “You’re in love with Justin.”
“What? No. That’s not it.”
“You just said you were never going to get another chance with Justin. Is that why you don’t date? I’ve suspected this for years, but as much as you two bicker I thought I was reading more into it, but you love him, don’t you?”
“My brain is fuzzy. I think I should go lie down. I don’t even know what I’m saying.” Charlotte blushed and turned away from her friend before she gave away the secret she’d kept hidden for years.
“Charlotte Renee Clover, don’t even try to deny it. I heard you. I remember prom. How upset you were. Everyone heard Justin’s rant, but no one knew why he went off on you. Now it makes sense. He loves you too.”
“Did you drink Marcus’s wine too?” Charlotte pursued her lips and moved toward Luke’s.
“You know wine gives me a headache.”
“Right. So, when are Cynthia and Clyde leaving to go visit Mr. West?” Charlotte tried again to divert the conversation away from her.
Lila smirked at her then nodded. “If that’s how you want to play this then fine. I’ll drop the subject of you and Justin.” She sighed. “They left at dawn and told you to stay put. The doctor thinks Mr. West will get to come home in the next day or two and he’s refusing visitors. Cynthia is determined to see him and convince him to stay at the Manor. She also plans to convince the doctor to let him out under the Clyde’s supervision. No one can say ‘no’ to Cynthia especially not Clyde. I’m sure he’ll pull some strings and have Mr. West back here before lunch.”
Charlotte chuckled.
“Besides the Manor was his home. Cynthia believes it’s only right for him to live out his days here, even if he doesn’t. There’s no stopping Cynthia when she sets her mind to something so Mr. West would be smart to just agree with her.”
Charlotte nodded. “I guess I can write today. Get yesterday’s events on paper.”
“All the other guests are leaving around eleven so we’ll have the afternoon to ourselves.” Lila sighed again.
“What’s wrong?” Charlotte noticed her friend’s glum face.
“Oh, nothing really.”
“Nothing?”
“It’s just…well…Angelica didn’t seem to be working her magic on very many couples this weekend.” Lila sighed. “Only one couple fell in love. The others had a good time, but didn’t seem to connect. So much for marketing a matchmaking angel.”
Charlotte tucked her arm in Lila’s. “Didn’t you tell me Angelica only worked her ‘magic’ on couples who were meant to be together?”
Lila nodded.
“Well maybe those couples weren’t here this weekend.”
“I guess.”
“How about a cup of my famous cocoa?”
Lila smiled. “You always know how to cheer me up.”
“What are friend’s for?”
Charlotte busied herself with preparing the cocoa. Her mind still muddled on last night’s events. She didn’t doubt that Marcus was a gentleman. Every fiber of her being told her nothing happened yet she still felt guilty. The thought of being with anyone, but Justin made her nauseous. Even the thought of him thinking she was with anyone else made her want to scream. The man infuriated her. Berated her then turned around and complimented her and took care of her. He was so confusing. She couldn’t keep living like this. Couldn’t keep loving him from a distance. She either had to tell him how she felt about him or move on.
Chapter 11
Justin threw a rock into the woods. His anger getting the best of him. He wanted to punch something…or someone. Marcus’s face came to mind. What was Charlotte doing in his room? In the same clothes as last night? His thoughts continued to plague him as he approached the barn.
“Hey, Justin! What brings you out here?” Luke hung a bridle on the side of the gate. His jeans and checkered shirt were covered in hay as if he’d been tossing bales around. Wyatt waved from a top a white mare in the riding arena.
Justin waved back and leaned against the fence. “Needing some space from Charlotte.”
“Ah. You two looked awful cozy on the dance floor last night.” Luke smiled and crossed his arms to rest on the fence as he watched Wyatt ride.
“I trie
d to rescue her from Marcus, but it seems she didn’t want to be rescued.”
“What do you mean?” Luke raised an eyebrow at him.
“She spent the night in his room.”
“You’re joking.”
Justin shook his head.
“It must be a misunderstanding. Charlotte looked a little tipsy toward the end of the night. Maybe Marcus didn’t think she could make it through the woods to get to my house. Charlotte isn’t the type of girl to spend the night with some random guy.”
“Marcus isn’t a random guy. He’s…he’s well…they have history.”
“History?”
“We all went to school together. Used to be friends. She even kissed him in high school.” Justin ran a hand through his hair.
“Hmm,” Luke huffed.
“Hmm, what?”
“Oh nothing.” Luke hiked a leg up to rest it on the fence.
“Nothing? Something. What is it?”
Charlotte and Marcus just don’t fit. From the way she looks at you…” Luke broke off.
“Like she wants to murder me?”
Luke chuckled and shook his head. “No…well sometimes.”
Justin scoffed.
Luke patted him on the back. “Sometimes she also looks at you like she’d like to spend all her nights with you.”
“Yeah right.”
“I am. Charlotte gives you the same look Lila gives me every night when we go our separate ways. Gosh, Christmas can’t get here soon enough.”
“Christmas? Aren’t kids the ones who are supposed to be excited about Christmas?” Justin chuckled.
Luke laughed. “Adults can be too especially when there’s a proposal awaiting them.” He winked at Justin.
Justin smirked at him. “Why wait?”
“Huh?”
“Why wait? Obviously, Lila is crazy about you and you’re crazy about her, right?”
Luke nodded.
“She’s probably expecting a Christmas proposal. Make Christmas about Christmas and make your wedding proposal about you two…geez I sound like Charlotte.”
Luke chuckled again. “That’s what you get for being a romance agent, but thanks for the advice. It would be nice to surprise her. I’ll think about it. And I think you’d better take your own advice.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t wait. Talk to Charlotte. Tell her how you feel.” Luke clapped him on the back then whistled to Wyatt. “Let’s go help your mom get the guests checked out.”
Wyatt nodded and guided the horse over to them.
“Well I better get packed. I need to head back to the city.”
“Lila said you’re staying till tomorrow.”
“She did?”
Luke nodded. “Your mother called and reserved you a room at the Manor.”
Justin groaned. “Of course, she did. Well I guess I’ll go pack my bag and move across the way.”
“Might as well just stay at the house. There’s no need to move especially further away from Charlotte. I would give anything to be moved in there with Lila and this guy.” Luke mussed up Wyatt’s hair.
Wyatt beamed up at him.
“I’ll see you two later.” Justin waved before heading to Luke’s. Maybe he would talk to Charlotte. Find out what really happened last night and what she really thought of him. The latter made his stomach sink. What if she rejected him…again?
Chapter 12
“What do you mean Holly is missing?” Charlotte glared at Marcus across the island. She was cleaning up after making cocoa and had sent Lila with a cup to go since she had to check out guests.
“I went to her room and she was gone. No one has seen her since yesterday.” Marcus rubbed his jaw. “Not since Mr. West was found. She didn’t go to the dance last night either. Mrs. White thought she was in her room, resting or avoiding everyone. When Holly didn’t come down for breakfast, she got worried. Her bags are in her room, but she’s gone.”
Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose. Her writer’s brain kicked into gear. If she were Holly, where would she go? The bluffs. Looking for clues. Answers. “I bet she’s at the cave.”
“The cave? Why would she go there?”
“Why do you think? Her fiancé was killed up there. We’ve got to find her, and solve this case. We’re her only hope.” Charlotte grabbed a few water bottles from the fridge and the first aid kit from the medicine cabinet by the fridge.
“What about the police? Isn’t it their job to find out who killed Noah?” Marcus crossed his arms over his chest.
“They are closing the case since they don’t have any leads.”
“What about Mr. West?”
Charlotte bit her lip. The thought of Mr. West killing Noah turned her stomach. “He may not even know anything.”
“Or he may be the killer,” Marcus snorted.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes, but chose to ignore him. Instead, she grabbed her backpack and headed to the door. Almost colliding with Justin.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” He glanced back and forth between Charlotte and Marcus. “Am I interrupting something?”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. She didn’t have time for drama. “Holly is missing. We’re going to the bluffs to find her.”
“How do you know she’s at the bluffs?”
“Where else would she be?”
“Town? Horseback riding? Walking around?”
“All night?”
“How do you know she’s been missing since last night?”
Charlotte shrugged. “We don’t know, but no one has seen her since yesterday afternoon. After the press conference. I bet she heard about the cave. Mr. West. She probably went up there to look around. Find clues. Get answers. She’s desperate.”
Justin nodded. “I’ll go too…that is unless you’d rather I not.”
Charlotte opened her mouth to respond when Marcus intervened.
“I think Charlotte and I have this under control. You should stay here in case she comes back.” Marcus wrapped an arm around Charlotte’s shoulder.
“Actually, Marcus.” Charlotte brushed off his arm. “I think staying here is a good idea. Justin and I will go to the bluffs. You stay here in case Holly comes back. Better yet, go back to the Manor and get rid of whatever you put in my drink last night. I’ve had some blood sent to the lab and will know in a few hours if you slipped something into my drink.”
Marcus went pale and scurried from the house.
“He put something in your drink. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was kind of hard with a pounding head and you running away from me.” Charlotte put on her boots then opened the front door.
Justin raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I keep jumping to conclusions. Assuming the worst. Did he hurt you?” he whispered
Charlotte shook her head. “I think he was trying to upset you. He’s got something up his sleeve, but I haven’t figured out what. I’m his pawn against you, but I’m not sure why.”
“It’s like high school all over again.”
“High school?”
Justin nodded. “You went to prom with me, but kissed him. Why?”
Charlotte sighed. She knew this day would come. Time to face the music. She should have explained things years ago. Cleared the air, but she never knew how to bring it up. It was so embarrassing. Silly really. “I’ll tell you on the way to the bluffs.” she headed toward the gator. “You drive.”
Justin slid behind the wheel and pointed the gator toward the bluffs.
They rode in silence for a moment.
“I lost.” Charlotte ran a hand through her hair.
“Lost what?”
“A bet.”
“A bet?”
Charlotte nodded. “Remember Cindy Wiles? The other co-head cheerleader. Big boobs. Even bigger hair.”
Justin nodded.
“Right before prom we made a bet. Haden was driving me crazy and I’d been wanting to dump him for m
onths, but could never get up the nerve. I mean it was social suicide. He was the golden boy. Starting quarterback. Valedictorian. Every girls’ dream guy and every guys friend.”
“Not every guy’s.”
“Oh, right. You hated Haden. Everyone thought you and Marcus were so weird.”
Justin shrugged.
“Anyway, I was planning to break up with him because I didn’t want to go to prom with him. Cindy overheard me talking to Lila about it and offered to help me if we made a little wager.”
“Why do I get the feeling this ends badly?” Justin groaned.
Charlotte smirked. “Because it does.”
“Cindy always wanted to be head cheerleader and since Mrs. Murtle couldn’t decide who was the better captain, she chose both of us. So, Cindy proposed a dance/gymnastics competition to see who was the better cheerleader. If I won, she would break up with Haden for me and take him to prom and resign as head cheerleader. If she won, I had to kiss the geekiest guy in school to show Haden I was over him and resign as head cheerleader.”
Justin remained silent for a moment as they bounced along the dirt path leading to the bluffs.
“I obviously lost, which meant I had to break up with Haden myself, kiss Marcus, who was the geekiest guy in school and resign as head cheerleader.”
“That’s the reason you kissed Marcus on prom night?” Justin whispered.
“Why else would I kiss him? I mean Marcus wasn’t cute in high school. Those thick glasses, onion breath and acne not to mention he always had his nose in a comic book and don’t even get me started on those tight suits.” Charlotte made a face. “At least he was sweet. I think I made his night by kissing him, so I guess it was worth it.” Charlotte sighed. “I wonder what happened to that sweet guy. His personality has only made him uglier in my book.”
Justin coughed. “He was voted sexiest man alive last year.”
“He probably paid to get his name in that magazine.” Charlotte gasped and covered her mouth. “That was mean. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Justin laughed. “There’s my Charlotte. Never afraid to say what’s on her mind.”