Charmed: A Small Town Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Willow Springs Series Book 3)

by Laura Pavlov

  “I’m fine. Just been busy with work. Can’t seem to get out of here at a decent time lately.”

  I leaned back in my chair and dropped my pen on the desk.

  “I think this happens every year around this time,” she said.

  “What’s that?”

  “You making sure you’re even busier than normal. I think it’s your way of dealing with it. But it’s okay to feel it, Crew.”

  I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me. “Trust me, Mom. I always feel it. Especially this time of year.”

  Grief was a motherfucking beast. It didn’t discriminate. I was a strong man. Maybe a bit guarded. But I fucking felt the loss of my sister in every bone in my body. I knew how precious life was. I knew how important family was. And most importantly, I knew that you only got one shot at this life. You didn’t get to pick and choose your time, so you best appreciate the time that you had.

  That’s why I was building something that my grandfather had started and trying to take it to the next level. I wanted to leave my own mark. Make my time count.

  My sister didn’t get that luxury.

  I wouldn’t waste it.

  “I know you do. And it’s okay to talk about it. To tell me or Dad or your brothers that you’re hurting.”

  “Why would I do that? You hurt more than anyone,” I said, letting out a long breath, desperate to end this call. I didn’t like to talk about it. It wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t bring her back. It wouldn’t help my mother, my father, or my brothers heal. It would be salt in the wound, and that shit wasn’t for me. My family had suffered enough, especially my mom. More than any mother should ever have to. And I’d be dammed if I’d burden her with my shit. I could handle it.

  My family had healed together. We were close and we were always there for one another. But while they talked about Belle all the time—I did not. It wasn’t the way that I dealt with things. But the week leading up to the day she took her last breath was always a gut punch.

  Yet I always survived.

  Wasn’t that all you could ask for?

  “Because we can help each other. It seems you pull away more and more the older you get. You haven’t dated anyone seriously since Micha. I just think it’s time you meet someone and settle down.”

  Jesus. Where was this coming from? We just jumped from grieving to dating?

  “Mom. I see plenty of women, if that’s what you’re worried about.” I chuckled, trying to make light of the situation.

  “I don’t mean that, son. Trust me, I know more than I want to about you and your brothers and your ideas of what a relationship is these days. I meant that I wish you would let someone in. Someone special.”

  I groaned. I hated when she went there. My mother wanted us all to have a relationship like she shared with my father. But truthfully, I’d never felt that way about anyone. Not the way my parents were with one another. I’d dated Micha for two years, and most of the time I was just going through the motions. It wasn’t that be-all and end-all kind of love, and I’d decided somewhere along the way that not everyone needed that. Micha had informed me that I was emotionally bankrupt, and I couldn’t even argue with her. It’s who I was. But in my defense, times had changed. People focused on their careers when they were young nowadays. I wasn’t in a hurry. I had an amazing family. Great friends. Carlisle Ad Agency. And plenty of good sex. I had a killer condo in the hottest high-rise downtown. What more could I ask for?

  “I promise, I’m happy. Life is good. But I need to get back to work. I’ll be home next week for the birthday dinner, okay?”

  “Okay. But you call me more, or I’ll hop on the helicopter so we can chat in person until you figure out how to use the phone more often,” she teased.

  She meant it too. My mother was the strongest person I knew. And she protected her children fiercely. Always had, always would.

  “I promise I will. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”

  “Love you more, Crew.”

  I ended the call just as there was a knock on my door.

  Maura Benson strode through the door holding a bag of food.

  And the conversation with my mother was a great reminder why I hated Arthur Benson.

  That was never going to change.

  Chapter Seven

  Maura

  I set the bag on his desk and pulled the food out. It smelled like heaven. I couldn’t remember a time that I’d been so exhausted, but I was making it work somehow. I usually went home and put in another hour or two every night as I was trying to keep up on my classwork as well.

  But I liked being pushed.

  And Crew Carlisle was challenging me every single day.

  I didn’t even hate him that much anymore. He’d still kept his distance, but I’d seen a more human side to him since I’d stepped in for Layla. I had a lot of respect for him after seeing all that he did each day. He worked harder than anyone I knew, and that was admirable. He was building on what his grandfather had started, and he’d locked down some of the largest commercial accounts in the city. Everyone wanted to be represented by Carlisle, and that was because the work ethic started at the top.

  He was still a pompous ass most of the time. But he’d stuck up for me a few weeks ago when that creeper had acted like a complete pig, and I hadn’t expected Crew to have my back. For whatever reason, he still had animosity toward me. The whole thing was dumb, to be honest. We were holding a grudge against one another over something that happened long before we were born.

  Layla had given me a heads-up that this was always a tough week for Crew, as it was the week that his baby sister had passed away fifteen years ago. Willow Springs had grieved the loss of Belle Carlisle from what I remembered, but it was never discussed in my household. I’d been really young when it happened, and I didn’t remember much. But I’d heard that Crew had a younger sister who had been sick and passed away. I never knew anything more than that.

  I was going to be a little kinder to the man. I couldn’t imagine life without my brothers. Even when they annoyed me, which was often, I loved them more than life itself. Layla didn’t go into detail because she said it wasn’t her story to tell, but she assumed I knew about her passing as I was from the same small town. She said she just wanted me to have a heads-up in case I got my head ripped off this week, I’d be a little more patient about it.

  “You hungry?” I asked, handing him the Styrofoam container along with his utensils. His fingers grazed mine and a jolt of electricity shot through my body, startling me.

  Even though he was barely tolerable, I couldn’t deny how easy it was to look at him. To study his chiseled jawline. His plump lips. The way his white dress shirt was currently straining against his biceps when he bent his arm to set the container on the desk in front of him.

  “Starving. How about you?” His emerald greens locked with mine and my stomach dipped.

  Dear god.

  I wasn’t a girl who crushed on unattainable men. Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d crushed on anyone. But this was the last man on the planet I should be reacting to. Yet I’d found myself thinking about him during the hours that I wasn’t here. I didn’t mind working as much as I was, actually looking forward to the times when everyone else was gone from the office. Even if he barely spoke to me.

  “Yeah, I could eat. Did you still want me to eat in here to talk about the meeting, or would you prefer to eat alone?” I hated how wounded my voice sounded. He’d ordered me dinner several times but always asked me to close the door after I brought his into his office. He texted and emailed me all day, but he appeared to avoid being in a room alone with me.

  Like I had a stench that he couldn’t tolerate.

  He tipped his chin. “Sit. We’ll go over the meeting in a bit. Get situated first. Have some food.”

  I realized he was waitin
g for me to take a bite before he would do the same. Like I said, the man was a perfect southern gentleman when he wasn’t insulting me.

  I lifted the lid of my penne alla vodka and forked a few noodles before taking a taste. He smiled as he watched me eat and then took an enormous bite of his chicken parmesan. The man even made eating look sexy. He did everything in such a commanding way.

  Damn. Did it just get hot in here?

  We ate in silence and my cell phone vibrated on the desk. I glanced over to look at the screen and it was another message in my FB Messenger. It was the same girl who’d messaged me yesterday. She said she really needed to speak to me in person and that we had a mutual friend in common and it was important that she give me a message. I didn’t recognize her name. I’d called my best friends on my lunch break, and they all had different answers. Coco thought I should meet her because what did I have to lose and what if the message was life changing in a good way. Gigi and Addy thought I should investigate her first and they’d both sent her a follow request but hadn’t heard back. Ivy thought I should block her because she was probably trying to get money out of me. This time the message was softer, and something about her words pulled at my heartstrings.

  Piper Rose ~ Hi, Maura. Just wanted to see if you received my message. Listen, I’m sure that sounded super creepy. I promise you I’m just your average college girl who needs to discuss something important. It’s a long story and I’d love to fill you in. I sent you a friend request and I’d really love to meet. I live in Dallas, and I’m willing to drive to wherever you are to have coffee. Thirty minutes is all I need to tell you my story. I won’t bother you again if you don’t want me to.

  I looked up to see Crew staring at me as he chewed his food and reached for his napkin.

  “Everything okay?” he asked. His tone was cool, showing no emotion, but there was something in his eyes that appeared softer.

  “Yeah. Just weird Facebook messages from someone who said we have a mutual friend and she needs to talk to me and it’s important.” I shrugged.

  He took a sip from his water bottle, and I zoned in on his hands once again. I could feel my cheeks heat as I found it impossible to pull my gaze away. They were hands, for god’s sake.

  “Guy or girl?”

  “What?”

  “Is the person a male or a female?” he said the words slowly as if I was irritating him by not getting it the first time.

  “I know what you said, I just don’t know why that part matters.”

  “Because a dude could be trying to hit on you. I’d hate for you to meet him in a dark alley and spend the rest of your days chained up in a sewer beneath a train station or something.” He laughed and I rolled my eyes.

  “She’s a female.”

  “And does she want to meet you?”

  “Yes. She lives in Dallas.” I pulled up her profile now that she’d friended me and held the photo up for Crew to see. She was actually super cute.

  “She looks young. Unless it’s a front for a creepy old dude posing as a young girl. Tell her you’ll meet her here during your lunch break. Do it in a public location. You know, just to be safe.”

  “That’s a good idea. I want to research her a bit. I’ll see if she can come by later next week. Thanks.”

  He shrugged. “I’m guessing you’re a little curious.”

  “I am. But I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Maybe she’s a long-lost Benson. If that’s the case, let me know and I’ll add her to the list of people to avoid,” he said, and he chuckled, but his words stung. I never made comments about his family, but he took a dig at mine every chance he got.

  “Why do you hate us so much?” I asked, forking some more pasta and taking another bite. The rich flavors caused me to close my eyes and groan. It was the best pasta I’d ever had. We rarely ate this kind of food at home. My mother thought carbs were a sin and my father thought pasta was cheap, and he claimed he worked too hard to earn his money to eat anything that wasn’t top-notch. Whatever that meant. I ordered pasta whenever I ate out because it was one of my favorite foods.

  He studied me for a long moment as I chewed slowly and raised a brow in challenge.

  “That’s a very long story for another time. It’s an endless list that neither of us want to think about tonight. We need to prepare for our meeting tomorrow, Benson.” He’d been calling me that lately, and for whatever reason I got the feeling it was more of a reminder to him to remember that he hated me.

  I rolled my eyes and reached for my notebook. “Okay, boss. Let’s get down to business.”

  We spent the next half hour talking about what files I’d need to pull in the morning before the meeting. I wrapped up the rest of my food and put it in the break room for lunch tomorrow. At least that was one less thing I’d need to do tonight. I reached for my phone and typed back a message to my new Facebook friend or whoever she was.

  Maura Benson ~ Hi, Piper. I can meet at noon next week on Friday during my lunch break if that works for you. I work in the Carlisle Building on Main Street. I can meet you in the lobby and we can grab a coffee.

  I chewed my thumbnail after I hit send. I didn’t give her choices or options because truthfully, I doubted this was anything at all, and I was swamped at work. I’d be in a public place, so if she was a serial killer, she’d have little chance to attack me.

  She responded immediately.

  Piper Rose ~ Awesome. I will be there. Thank you, Maura.

  “You ready to head out? I’ll walk you to your car.” Crew’s voice startled me, and I jumped in my seat.

  “Jeez. A little warning next time, please.”

  He chuckled as he flipped off the lights, and we walked down the long hallway in silence.

  Once we stepped on the elevators, he crossed his arms over his chest. We’d been doing this every night for two weeks and we always rode down to the garage in silence. Tonight, he spoke.

  “Do you have class tonight?”

  “It’s all remote, so I try to do an hour or two every night after work. But I can also catch up on the weekend.”

  He nodded, but something passed over his gaze.

  Surprise?

  Admiration?

  Respect?

  “Impressive. All right, drive carefully. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said when we stepped off the elevator, and he paused at my car. It made me laugh that he’d walk me silently to my car each night, when his driver waited at the curb. He’d walk past his own car and escort me to mine before turning back to his.

  “You know you don’t need to walk me to my car. I’m a big girl.”

  He smiled, and my stomach did those little flips again. I cursed myself internally.

  “What can I say? I’m a charmingly polite guy. Or hadn’t you noticed?”

  Oh, I noticed.

  “Oh, yes. I’m utterly charmed.” My voice oozed sarcasm.

  “Well, my mother would kill me if I let you walk alone to your car. So, give up now. That’s not happening.”

  So bossy.

  “Your mother wouldn’t shame you for walking a Benson to their car?” I said with a forced smile.

  He cocked his head to the side, and his eyes turned stone-cold. “No. She’s a much better person than I am.”

  He motioned for me to get inside and kept his face completely free of emotion. That was a skill I wanted to learn. I’d love to react like this to my father when he was behaving like a barbarian. I stepped in the car and watched him walk away in the rearview mirror.

  I pulled out of the garage and asked Siri to dial my best friend and roommate, Ivy.

  “Another late night for you?” Ivy asked over a yawn.

  “Yep. I’m on my way home. I have some schoolwork to do for a little bit, and then I’ll crash. I wanted to see how your date went?”

  Ivy was determi
ned to find a boyfriend and had a date with an eye doctor tonight.

  “That’s a negative.”

  “You didn’t go?” I asked.

  “No. I went. But us as a couple… that’s a negative. Absolutely not.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. For the past four years, I’d heard Ivy find something wrong with everyone that she’d gone out with. I truly didn’t believe she was over Ty, and I guessed that she was overcompensating because she was still brokenhearted over the whole thing, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

  “Well, for one, he’s a Scorpio.”

  “A what?” I laughed.

  It was always something. There was the guy who was lactose intolerant, and she liked ice cream too much to accommodate that. Then there was the dude who only ate cereal for dinner—not happening. The guy with the piercings, the guy who smelled like beef and cheese, the guy who was a triplet… apparently multiples at birth was a trigger for her now.

  “His astrological sign. We’re completely incompatible according to the stars. Why bother?”

  “Um… because we can all get free vision check-ups for the rest of our lives if he becomes Mr. Ivy Baron.” I joked and she burst out laughing.

  “Sorry. I take my astrology very seriously.”

  I’d never heard Ivy discuss astrology and I’d known her my entire life.

  “So who’s the next victim?” I said over my laughter.

  “Dante. He owns a bar downtown apparently. Not my usual type, but I’m mixing it up. Get it? That’s a little cocktail banter for you.”

  If there was a gold medal for first dates, Ivy would get it. She rarely liked anyone enough to move on to a second date. Most people dreaded the awkwardness of first dates, but Ivy liked the idea that this could be the one. Though she literally didn’t give anyone a chance.

  I was the opposite. My last first date was over six months ago with Will, and I’d dated him for a few months because I didn’t feel like going on another first date.