by Jess Dee
“Neither. Greens.”
Yep, he’d told her he’d gone the environmental route in the last election and voted for the Greens.
“Peanut butter or vegemite?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Just answer.”
“Peanut butter. Afraid vegemite never rocked my boat—no matter how many times my mum put it on my school sandwiches.”
She grinned. Her choice too. “Who would you rather work for, a man or a woman?”
He looked at her askance. “I’d equally hate to work for either, which is why I run my own surf school.”
Duh, another thing she knew about him. Charlie loved being his own boss. Loved the freedom that came with it and with surfing every day. “Okay, the building’s burning down. You have just minutes to save five things from your unit. What do you get?”
“My surfboard. The one signed by Kelly Slater.”
Yeah, he loved that board. Had won it in a charity auction. Charlie never surfed on it though. It had a prime spot beside his front door, so anyone who visited could admire it.
“My MacBook and iPhone,” Charlie said.
“Not your iPad?”
“Nope. I’d need my phone to call emergency Triple Zero. All my data is backed up on my MacBook anyway, and an iPad is cheaper to replace than a computer.”
“Fourth thing?”
“The bottle of Blue Label my family gave me when I started Bondi Surf.”
She’d seen the bottle in his glass liquor cabinet, but had no idea of its significance. “Nice, I’d save that too if I were you. Final item?”
He gazed at her with solemn blue eyes. “The most important one. You really need to ask?”
She racked her brain to think what it could be and came up empty. “I really need to ask.”
“If the building were ablaze, Sar, you’d be the first thing I’d save. Everything else could go up in flames—the surf board, the phone and computer, the whisky—but you I’d fight fire for.”
Sarah suddenly found it difficult to breathe, difficult to think. The only thing she was able to do was stare back into that startling blue gaze as her heart beat unsteadily. “Th-that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
He held her gaze for just a second longer, and the intensity of emotion in his eyes made Sarah swallow down a lump she hadn’t known was in her throat.
But then Charlie blinked and the intensity was gone, making Sarah wonder if she’d imagined it. He winked wickedly at her. “Have to save you, Geek Girl. Who’d I turn to for a booty call if you weren’t downstairs anymore?”
She snorted. “You’d find someone else, I have no doubt.” There was no shortage of gorgeous beach babes for Charlie to choose from. Sarah had seen plenty of beautiful women call on him over the months. “So, you going to ask me the same question? Which five objects I’d save from my flat?”
Charlie shrugged. “No need. I know already.”
“You do?” Yeah, right. “Go on then, tell me.”
“Number one, your PhD thesis.”
She nodded. That would definitely be on her list.
“Number two, the silver candlesticks you picked up at the antique market last summer.”
She stared at him. “H-how did you know?”
“You spent a full hour telling me about them the day you found them. I swear, you were more excited about the candlesticks than about the sex that night.”
She grinned. “Jealous?”
“Enchanted.”
“You charmer, you. Go on.”
“Number three, your grandmother’s pearl necklace.”
She gaped at him this time, dumbfounded. “You don’t think I’d choose my computer over the necklace?”
“Never. Whatever is on your computer at home is backed up at work, on the net and at your parents’ place. The necklace means way more to you. You’d never leave it behind.”
He was right. For the second time that night, Sarah was forced to swallow down a lump of emotion in her throat. Her grandmother had died five years ago, and while she’d left everything to her children, she’d singled out the necklace for Sarah. Sarah saw it as her last link to the grandmother she loved and missed every day.
“Okay, three out of three so far. Number four?”
“The antique ruby ring your parents gave you after your first graduation.” He took her hand in his and stroked her finger—the very finger she wore the ring on.
“How on earth…?”
He shrugged. “I told you, I know.” Charlie offered no more explanation than that.
“Number five?”
His grin was devilish. “Your purple bra and panties. Fact, I hope when I come and rescue you from the flames, you’re wearing them specially for me.”
Sarah’s laugh was born of sheer delight. “Yeah, Surfer Dude. As the building burns around me, I’m going to stop and put on the purple lingerie just for you.” She loved how he managed to make something as serious as their homes catching fire into a sexy romp. But even as she pictured Charlie carrying her—wearing nothing but the purple lace panties and bra—out of her door while flames flickered all around them, she thought about the real fifth item on her list she’d save.
“Know what I’d do as I carried you and your purple lingerie out of your flat?”
“Tell me.”
“I’d stop and let you take your doctorate off the wall.”
“Charlie…” This time she couldn’t finish her sentence. She raised a hand to her throat, trying to ease the sudden ache in it. This time it wasn’t a lump making swallowing difficult, it was raw emotion.
When had he gotten to know her so well? When had he paid all that attention to the small details of her life? And how did he know they weren’t actually small details, but the things that mattered most to her?
Chapter Five
“You seeing anyone, Doc?” Charlie hated asking. Hated it with every fiber of his being.
“You mean anyone other than patients, all day, every day?” Sam Sherman answered.
“I mean anyone as in do you have a woman in your life?”
Sam shook his head. “I don’t. Seems the only people I ever see are my patients, their parents, my receptionist and the hospital staff.” He held his surfboard at his side and stared out at the sun rising over the ocean. “In fact, the only time I get away from work is when I’m surfing.”
“Ah, but what a way to spend your free time.”
“Agreed.” Sam grinned. “There’s nothing like catching a wave to help escape the stress of my job.”
His response made Charlie pause. “You don’t like your work?”
“I love it. It’s not just a job. It’s my life. But sometimes the stress gets to me.”
“I can believe that.”
Charlie couldn’t begin to comprehend the stress a pediatric neurologist had to endure. He had nothing but respect for the doctor. Dealing with sick kids all day had to take it out of him, but Sam was always friendly and always good for a laugh. The man was so well qualified he almost needed a super-sized business card to fit all those letters after his name. Plus he was in great physical shape and knew how to handle a surfboard.
He was perfect for Sarah.
Too damn perfect.
He’d flash his smile in her direction once, and Sarah would be a goner. Done for. She’d fall for Sam faster than Charlie had fallen for her.
Which was good. Really good…for Sarah.
And, damn it, good for him too. Because if Sarah fell for the doctor, then Charlie could move on with his life. Could get over her and stop mooning about a woman he couldn’t have.
Last night Charlie had almost fucked up, big time. He’d gotten too emotionally involved and almost blown his façade clean out of the water. Spending the night with her—every night for almost two weeks—was risky, but confessing how well he knew her was downright stupid.
He’d worn his heart on his sleeve, right in her line of sight.
; Lucky he’d shoved it back in his chest quick smart. And getting Sarah out of his apartment shortly after was a stroke of genius. No way he’d have been able to sleep with her last night and not tell her how damn much he loved her.
Problem was, introducing her to other blokes rubbed him the wrong fucking way. It turned him into a jealous prick, a possessive idiot and a competitive dickhead. He needed to repeatedly prove to himself—and to her—that he was the only one she wanted, no one else.
But just because it made him jealous didn’t mean it was the wrong thing to do. This bet was for Sarah’s good. And much as Charlie wanted to hate Sam, tried to hate Sam, he just couldn’t. The guy was too decent.
Which reminded him why he’d wandered over in the first place. “Look, I may be out of line here, but I have someone, a woman I’d like to introduce you to.” The sexiest woman on earth. “I think the two of you would make a great couple.”
Sam laughed out loud. “Mate, you sound like my little sister. You trying to get me married off too?”
Charlie frowned. “Shit, I sound like my sister too. Seriously, she hands me so many numbers of women I’ll just love I can’t keep track.”
“Is this one of those numbers?”
“Hell, no.” Charlie’s response was perhaps a little too vehement. He forced himself to take it down a notch, but there was no way he could stick Sarah in the same category as the women Georgie tried to set him up with. They were worlds apart. “This is a, uh, friend of mine. Sarah. She’s…special.”
She’s fucking perfect.
Sam narrowed his eyes.
“She’s not half bad to look at either,” Charlie added, not liking the speculative look on Sam’s face. “Sarah’s a classy lady. An academic and sexy as hell. She works at the uni in the genetics department.”
“Classy, smart, sexy and easy on the eyes. She sounds like a winner.”
“She is, mate. You won’t find better than her. Sarah’s the best.”
“You think she and I would be well suited?”
“I think you’d be good together, yeah.”
Again he looked speculative. “And this friend of yours, Sarah, she’s not…special to you?”
Yeah, she fucking is. “She is. Which is why I need to do good by her. Need to find her the right man.”
“Even though you’re in love with her?”
“Fuck.” Knocked for a six, Charlie raked a hand through his hair. “What are you? Psychic or something?”
“Mate, it’s written all over your face.”
“It’s that obvious?”
“You look ready to punch my lights out, which is quite a contradiction to what you’re suggesting.”
“Yeah, look…” Again he raked his hand through his hair, getting stuck at the elastic he used to tie it back. “Sarah and I, we can’t be. She needs someone more like her—well educated and academic. Someone as different from me as they get. End of story. Which is why I need to find her another guy. Someone…worthy.” Charlie yanked his hair free of the elastic then tied it back up again, grateful to have something to do with his hands for a minute.
Sam didn’t push for the whole story, thus climbing another notch in Charlie’s estimation. “And I’m that someone?”
“There are worse punishments, believe me.”
“Does she know?”
“That I’m trying to find her someone else? Yeah. We’ve discussed it.”
“That you love her.”
It was Charlie’s turn to stare at the ocean. The swell and break of the waves beckoned to him. “No. It’s not something I’ve ever told her.”
“Quite a position you’ve put me in.”
Charlie swung his gaze back to Sam. “You won’t do it?”
“A man doesn’t move in on another man’s woman.”
“She’s not my woman.” Yes, she is!
“Maybe not in writing. But in here…” Sam tapped his chest. “That’s where it counts.”
“Would it help if I gave you my blessing?”
“Would you still give me your blessing if I slept with her?”
Charlie’s hands curled into fists, and he had to suppress a savage growl. “Truth? I’d want to rip you a new one. But this isn’t about me. It’s about her. About making her happy and finding her the right man. And I think you’re that guy.”
He hadn’t discussed this with Henry or Myles. Hadn’t needed the detail. Neither of them had picked up on Charlie’s feelings.
Sam had zoned right in.
But maybe the doctor’s innate understanding was just another reason he’d be good for Sarah. He was switched on, alert to other people’s situations.
Sam studied him for a long time. “You’re serious about this.”
“As a heart attack.”
“You’ll despise me.”
“Nah, doc. But I would be pissed if you didn’t give her a chance.”
They both studied the waves.
“Okay.”
“You’ll do it?”
“On one condition.”
“And that is?”
“Take a week to think about it. Make sure this is what you want to do.”
“I don’t need a week.”
“Take it anyway.”
Charlie conceded, believing more and more every minute that Sam was a great choice.
“If you still agree after then, I’ll give her a call. Set up a date. But more than that…I can’t make any promises.”
“You don’t need to. Soon as you meet her, you’ll love her.”
For the second time in three weeks, Sarah’s heart beat unsteadily as she knocked on Charlie’s door. Last time her heart had pounded this hard was because she’d desperately needed Charlie to be home, desperately needed him to ease the hurt caused by Sebastian’s rejection.
And he’d done a stand-up job of it. Sarah hadn’t thought about Sebastian since.
This time her heart raced like a runaway train because she was just damn nervous. She had absolutely no idea where she stood with Charlie.
For two weeks they’d been almost joined at the hips. Spent almost every minute from sundown to sunup together.
Then Charlie just stopped visiting, stopped inviting her over. After their talk about the imaginary fire, he hadn’t even insisted she stay the night. If anything, he’d been all too quick to help her dress and see her to the door.
She hadn’t seen him since. Not even for a booty call. She’d glimpsed him from afar, but that was it.
And damn it, she missed him. Ached for him. But insecurity and uncertainty had prevented her from contacting him. For eighteen months they’d had an easy sexual relationship. Satisfied each other physically whenever the need arose then went home.
For two weeks they’d had more. Much more.
And now…nothing.
Sarah had never been unsure about her and Charlie’s relationship. Never feared knocking on his door before. But tonight, well, damn it, her palms were all sweaty and her breath kept jamming in her chest.
It was time to talk about what was going on between them. Time to question what those two weeks had been all about. Because Sarah had liked them. Really, really liked them. Now that she’d had a taste of life with Charlie, she didn’t want to go back to the every-now-and-again booty call.
But when he opened the door, his face a neutral mask, Sarah had no idea how to broach the subject. No idea what to say to him. He looked neither excited nor unhappy to see her. He didn’t rip off his clothes the second she stepped inside, but he didn’t tell her he had company either.
It was his complete impartiality that ripped her courage away. The second she sat on his couch—fully clothed—she lost every word she’d planned to use to express her confusion and to tell him how bloody much she missed him. “Char?”
“Yeah?”
Talk to him, Sarah. This is Charlie. You can say anything. Ask him anything. “I’m over the bet. Can we just call it quits?”
Yeah, not what you meant to say, n
ow is it?
He sat on the other couch, wearing as many clothes as she, which flummoxed her. She and Charlie didn’t sit passively on couches. Not if they hadn’t fucked like bunnies yet.
Bewilderment reigned supreme.
“What? No. You can’t be over it. You haven’t met the third guy yet. Sam.”
“I don’t wanna meet the third guy. I just want to stop the bet.” That wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t top on her list of priorities to discuss this evening.
“You have to meet him,” Charlie insisted. “He’s a doctor. A pediatrician. Brilliant guy too. He’s the one, Sar. I can feel it. You’re gonna love him.”
Sarah instinctively disagreed. She didn’t want to love Doctor Sam. Wasn’t interested in loving him. She truly had had enough of Charlie’s matchmaking services. Today’s events at lunch had cemented that decision for her.
Wait a minute. “The one?” She gawked at him. “Now you’re talking long-term prospects? I thought you just wanted to introduce me to a few guys who’d find me attractive and fun to be with.”
“Yeah. That was my intention. At first. But Sam…” Charlie nodded. “I’ve got a good feeling about the two of you. A wedding-bells feeling.”
The hairs on Sarah’s arms stood on end. She’d come to discuss Charlie and Sarah, and Charlie was talking… “Wedding bells?”
“He’s the marrying kind. In it for the long haul.”
Unlike Charlie, who’d shoved marriage to the bottom of his to-do list.
She gulped in a couple mouthfuls of air, trying hard to still the panic fluttering in her chest. Charlie was trying to marry her off…to someone else!
Charlie, the guy who’d made love to her so many times and in so many ways over the last eighteen months she’d begun to feel like a sexual goddess in his presence. The man who’d instinctively known which five items she’d save from a fire had found her the one and was trying to marry her off to him.
Her stomach twisted and pain lanced through her chest.
When Charlie had seen her to the door that night last week, after their discussion, that same pain had cut through her. As soon as Charlie had mentioned saving her PhD certificate, he’d seemed to pull away from her. Seemed to cut himself off without an explanation, and Sarah had hated it.