“A very good thing.” His eyes followed her path as she moved past him. “You should eat your hotdog before it gets cold.”
Charlie dug her feet into the ground to stop herself. “Yes, dear,” she teased, accepting the hotdog he offered her.
They ate in silence. The sun sunk low behind the trees, leaving a hot pink and purple trail in its wake. As the light faded into darkness, street lamps flickered to life throughout the park. Electricity buzzed through them.
Charlie held the popcorn out to Thayer. He took a handful and tossed the kernels in the air one by one, catching them in his mouth. She chuckled when he missed a piece. It bounced off his nose, falling to the ground.
“You’re such a guy,” she laughed.
He winked at her before catching two pieces at once. “It’s part of my charm.”
“Who ever said you were charming?”
“No one needed to. I just know these things.”
“I should have guessed.” She popped a piece in her own mouth before handing the bag to Thayer. He finished it off, catching each kernel expertly.
Stuffing her hands in her pockets, Charlie resumed swinging. The cold night air blew her hair, tangling it into curly brown knots. She didn’t care. After being stuck in the apartment, she enjoyed the small freedom she felt as her body rose and fell.
“What happened today?” Thayer’s voice asked as she passed by him.
She wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard him. But she knew that wouldn’t work. Slowing down, she glanced at him to gauge his reaction. “I ran into Drew.”
His eyes hardened and his shoulders tensed. “That must have been … uncomfortable.”
“It was.” Charlie nodded. “The University is threatening to refuse his scholarship.”
“Did he say why?”
“No. He obviously didn’t want to talk. I get the feeling he thinks I have something to do with him losing the scholarship.”
“I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry.
“Don’t be. I needed to see him.”
Thayer’s eyebrows arched. “Why?”
“I miss his friendship and I’m sorry about his scholarship, but I’ve realized we never would have worked out.” She became aware of her fingers twisting her ring around and around in her pocket. She forced herself to stop. “I didn’t feel anything beyond friendship when I saw him. It made me realize I didn’t make a mistake when I left the hospital with you instead of him.” Saying the words aloud, she felt ridiculous. She waited for Thayer to say something mocking, but he didn’t.
“It’s getting cold. We should head home.” He stood, reaching out to her. Together they walked back to the car. When she glanced at him, Charlie noted a triumphant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Charlotte returned to University yesterday,” Margaret noted as she poured tea into a porcelain cup. “Why isn’t she here?”
Richard’s teeth gritted. “The men had no opportunity to take her.”
“She was in the open.” Margaret raised one perfectly shaped brow, taking a dainty sip. “I’d call that an opportunity.”
“There were reporters outside the apartment, students at the school, and in between she disappeared,” he snapped, balling his hands into fists. “Her chip even went off the grid for a while. I’m doing everything I can to get her back.”
Don’t lie, the voice chided.
“Don’t tell me that.” Margaret scowled. “Your techs still haven’t fixed the damage Donovan managed to inflict. Because of your brother, the company’s future is riding on Charlotte.”
Richard pushed back from the table, knocking over his coffee. His hands shook but he managed to control the urge to pummel his wife. Instead, he leaned over her. “I. Know.”
Her voice remained defiant even as she shrank away from him. “Then why aren’t you doing anything to fix this?”
The bitch has guts. Even after last time, she has the nerve to question you.
Richard agreed, but couldn’t help wondering how brave she would be if she didn’t have an ace up her sleeve. The information she held could ruin him and the company.
Soon the knowledge she possesses won’t matter. When that day comes, she’ll regret all the times she manipulated you, the voice soothed.
Despite the reassurance, he couldn’t let go of his anger. “I’ve been working on it,” he fumed. “If I had a way to get to her, she would be here now.”
“You’re overlooking something.”
He sat back down. “What do you want me to do? Pull up in front of the reporters and throw a bag over her head?”
“Don’t be dramatic.” Margaret dismissed the suggestion with a wave of her hand. “We both know it needs to be discreet.”
“She isn’t exactly walking down dark alleys alone,” Richard grumbled.
“There must be some way to get one of your men close enough to take her. When no one is watching.”
How could one of our men get that close without alerting McLean or his security?
His hands clenched. The voice was right. And Charlotte knew all the men Richard would trust with something so important. The second she spotted them, they’d lose their chance to take her.
We need to send someone she won’t expect. Someone she won’t recognize. Someone who can get close.
“What are you smirking for?” Margaret demanded.
He couldn’t help the smug expression pulling at his mouth. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. “I know how we’re going to catch her.”
Margaret let out an unladylike snort. “Let’s hear your plan.”
She listened. At first she looked at him with disbelief, but as he explained, a sinister smile crossed her face. “This plan requires cooperation.” Margaret leveled a cynical look in Richard’s direction. “Can you control yourself?”
The voice hissed.
“Of course,” Richard snarled.
She got to her feet, heading to the door. “We’ll see.”
“Miserable bitch,” he muttered at her retreating figure.
Closing his eyes, he imagined Charlotte bloody and begging.
We almost have her. And when we do, the merger is back on.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Charlie woke to the familiar strains of the piano. Blindly, she groped for the noisy phone and silenced the alarm. As she rolled onto her side, she expected to find Thayer still asleep. Discovering the other side of the bed cold and empty sent her heart racing. Her two days were up. He might already be gone. She shot out of bed, pulling on a sweatshirt over her pajamas as she hurried to the door.
Dreary light from the stormy skies illuminated the apartment. She strained her ears, trying to pinpoint Thayer, if he was still there at all. Only the patter of rain hitting the windows met her eager ears. Her heart fell.
Thayer said he had to leave early that morning, but she’d expected him to say goodbye, at least. The rational part of her brain told her they’d only known one another a week. They might be legally married, but their relationship wasn’t that of a true married couple. The irrational part of her wanted to burst into tears and crawl back into bed. The warring emotions she couldn’t quite reconcile were starting to give her a headache.
Still hoping he might be in to kitchen or his office, she descended the stairs. The lure of caffeine pulled her toward the kitchen. As she trudged through the living room, she picked up the sound of voices. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she strained to make out the conversation.
“It isn’t safe for her to be here.” Charlie recognized Logan speaking. “She could expose us. If that happens, all the work we’ve done will be worthless.”
“I realize that, but what do you want me to do? I can’t send her back to her father.” Charlie noted the weariness in Thayer’s voice.
Rather than alert the brothers to her presence, Charlie stood as still as she could. She took quiet breaths, not wanting the rush of air to block any
of the conversation.
“That’s not what I’m suggesting,” Logan argued.
“What, then?”
“All I know is her presence here has caused her father to watch us too closely. It’s dangerous for everyone involved.”
“I can’t let her go.” Thayer’s response was firm.
“Your relationship isn’t anything more than a convenience. Why would you jeopardize everything for her?”
A pregnant pause followed the question.
“Charlotte is my wife, Logan.”
Another pause filled the air.
“You’re falling for her.” Charlie could almost see the bewilderment on Logan’s face.
“She’s my family now,” Thayer hedged. “I have to protect her.”
“Even if it costs us everything?”
“Yes.”
Logan sighed. “The only reason I’m even agreeing to this is because I know how important she is.”
“Thank you.”
Thayer’s voice sounded closer than before. Charlie realized too late that the brothers were headed her way. She watched them round the corner, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. When they spotted her, both men froze. The three of them stood still, watching one another with wide eyes. It would have been comical if not for what she’d overheard.
“What am I jeopardizing by staying here?” She cut straight to the point.
Logan and Thayer shared a glance. Something passed between them; Charlie could sense it in their silence. They looked back at her, neither answering.
She tried a different question. “Why are you concerned about my father?”
“I need to go.” Logan’s eyes shifted between them. “I’ll see you when you get back from Texas. Don’t worry about things here. We have everything under control.” He clapped Thayer on the shoulder before nodding to Charlie. “I’ll see you soon, Charlotte.”
Charlie watched Logan leave. When the apartment door clicked shut behind him, she whirled back to Thayer. “Well?”
“Your father is a very powerful man. Keeping you from him is dangerous.”
His attempt at evasion didn’t work. “What are you hiding?”
He stared at her, refusing to back down. “What makes you think I’m hiding something?”
“I heard your conversation. Both you and Logan are afraid of my father watching you too closely. What are you afraid he’ll see?”
Thayer scoffed. She didn’t miss the hint of uncertainty flicker in his eyes. “I’m leaving soon. This will have to wait until I get back.” He brushed past her, but Charlie followed close behind.
“Do you really want to leave this to fester between us?”
“No, but you seem determined to let it, so what choice do I have?” He threw over his shoulder as he ascended the stairs.
She stomped after him. “You can’t just leave without explaining this.”
“It isn’t something that can be explained and settled in the little time I have left.” He strode down the hall to his room.
Charlie remained close on his heels. “Do you realize how that conversation sounded? Do you know how it makes me feel, knowing that I’m putting you in danger? I’d be out of my mind to stay here, despite what my father might do to me.”
He whirled around, startling her. “Don’t say that.” He ran a hand through his dark hair in frustration. “No matter what it sounded like, you can’t leave. You being here isn’t the issue.”
“Logan seems to think it is.” She crossed her arms.
Thayer surveyed her for a moment before turning away with a sigh.
Charlie bit her lip, mulling over her words before speaking. “You told me we were in this relationship together, even though it’s unconventional. If you believe that, you need to be open with me.” She watched him filling a suitcase, staying silent as he packed.
Finished, he closed the bag and moved to leave. Charlie stood firmly planted in the doorway, refusing to step aside.
“Relationships require honesty and open communication, but they also require trust.” He came to a stop inches from her, setting his bag down. He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I promise, I’ll tell you everything when I can. For now, I’m asking you to trust me.”
The feel of his strong hand touching her so softly sent desire racing through her. Heart stuttering, she felt herself losing hold of her anger. “The moment you get back, I expect to hear everything.” She fought to keep the fierce tone in her voice.
Relief spread across his face. “Thank you.”
Before Charlie could process what he was doing, Thayer leaned in and captured her mouth with a kiss. Startled, her eyes widened and her body tensed. But as the kiss lingered, he moved his hand to the back of her head, holding her in place. She allowed her eyes to drift shut, letting the feel of his lips draw her into the embrace, melting her body into his.
After a moment of hesitation, she moved her lips with his. His grip on her tightened. He pulled her body closer until there didn’t seem to be a part of them that wasn’t pressed together. Heat radiated between them as the kiss intensified.
She slid her hands up his arms, across his shoulders, trailing up his neck. A groan rumbled in his throat as her fingers curled through his soft hair. Emboldened by his response, she opened her mouth, tracing his bottom lip with her tongue.
The contact startled him out of whatever pleasure-filled haze he’d been in. Before either of them could take the kiss further, he broke away. Though he still held her close, Charlie felt the sting of rejection.
Resting his forehead against hers, he looked into her eyes. Longing and uncertainty warred in him. When he spoke, his voice was thick with desire. “I have to go.”
“Don’t.” She brushed a feather light kiss across his lips.
“I wish I could stay.” He groaned in frustration as he released her, slipping out of her arms. “I’ll see you in three weeks.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead before grabbing his bag and heading out the door, letting it swing shut behind him.
Alone, Charlie let out a long breath. She could still feel his lips against hers, taste the mint of his toothpaste, smell the spice in his soap. Her heart thundered. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to gather her wits.
It wasn’t until her pulse slowed that she realized he’d managed to make her forget about the conversation with Logan. Had he used the kiss to make his escape? Annoyed, she dashed after him. She caught him waiting for the elevator, a pleased look on his face.
“That kiss won’t make me forget our talk. I plan to have it out with you the minute you get home,” she vowed, hands planted on her hips.
He chuckled, “I didn’t think you’d forget.”
“Then why bother kissing me?” she demanded.
The metal doors slid open with a soft ping!
“Because I wanted to.” With a wink, he disappeared into the elevator.
~
The light rain had turned into a torrential downpour by the time Charlie left for class. She searched the apartment for an umbrella but came up empty handed. Frustrated, she threw a hoodie on under her coat. The fabric would do little to protect her from the rain, but at least her hair wouldn’t have to suffer.
She trudged out of the apartment, her mood matching the gloomy weather. Emerging from the elevator, she spotted the throng of reporters waiting and her mood soured even more. She couldn’t imagine she was interesting enough to wait for in the pouring rain.
Ducking her head, she slipped through the front door. A gust of icy wind whipped the hood back. With her face exposed, the reporters pounced. Flashes blinded her as she pushed through the crowd toward the subway entrance. She did her best to ignore their questions as she pressed on.
With her head bent, she didn’t see the figure in front of her until she walked straight into it. She mumbled an apology. Without warning, he grabbed her. She didn’t get a chance to shout in protest before he dragged her toward the street and pushed her into the back of a black car.
When Logan slid into the car, she let out a sigh of relief.
“What the hell? You scared me!” She pressed a hand to her chest.
“We’re all set, Liam.” Logan leaned forward, speaking into the front seat.
She glared at her brother-in-law. “You could have warned me you were planning to abduct me this morning.”
“You could have told someone that you were planning to walk around alone. That was stupid, Charlotte. What if it’d been one of your father’s men rather than me that grabbed you?” Logan raised an eyebrow.
“How else was I supposed to get to school? Magic myself there? Anyway, my father isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t just grab me in front of a group of reporters.”
“Don’t count on your father to act reasonably,” he warned.
She huffed in annoyance. “Why are you here anyway? I thought you left.”
“I did. When Thayer saw the reporters camped outside the apartment, he asked me to make sure you made it to school in one piece.”
Charlie smiled at the thought of Thayer worrying about her. “Thank you, but I’ll have to deal with them eventually. I’m sure they’ll be there tomorrow and for many days to come.”
“That’s why Liam and I will be picking you up for school until Thayer gets back.” Logan glanced at her from the corner of his eye, as if trying to gauge her reaction.
“That won’t be necessary.” Charlie shot a furtive glance at the driver. She couldn’t shake it the feeling that she knew him from somewhere and it unnerved her.
“According to Thayer, it is,” Logan maintained.
Suddenly Charlie didn’t find Thayer’s concern as sweet as before.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I never said you did, but don’t deny that it’s nicer to be driven to school than take the subway.”
He was right. She watched out the window for a moment. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me what this morning was about.”
The Determining Page 24