Charlotte (Marked Heart #2)

by M. Sembera

  "Whatever, Augustus."

  Scowling while shaking his head, he focused on the road thinking she had to be the most frustrating person on the planet. Slowing to a stop at her car, parked a few houses down from his, Auggie was happy to be rid of her for the day and possibly forever.

  ~

  Charlotte wasted no time, flinging the passenger door open and hopping out. She grabbed her purse and her feathers before slamming his door as hard as she could. If he didn't want her help anymore, that was fine. She didn't want to have anything to do with him in the first place. He was rude, infuriating and had criticized everything about her since day one. Refusing to look back at him as she noticed his truck remained idling beside her car, she slid into the driver's seat, shoved her key in and sped off before he pulled away.

  The entire way back to her house, Charlotte was furious. It was obvious there was nothing more she could do to help him. If Auggie refused to see her, then she had done all she could and she was off of the hook. What had she been thinking getting involved with him in the first place? Clearly, it was this town causing her lapse in better judgment. She needed to get out of there, go back to Spain where she belonged. At least in Spain, there were no scruff bearded bartenders with ugly plaid shirts who complained that her shorts were too short. There were social events and night clubs, where she was on the arm of a handsome man who loved her revealing attire and appreciated her appeal to everyone around them.

  Surprised to see Emerson's car parked in the back driveway when she arrived, Charlotte pulled the socks Auggie loaned her and his shirt off and balled them up before shoving them into her purse with her bag of feathers. Looking around the car, she realized she'd left her heels in Auggie's truck. Deeply regretting that, Charlotte got out of the car and headed inside.

  Stepping into the kitchen, Charlotte was instantly greeted by a disapproving glare from Emerson and a sigh of relief from Amila.

  "Oh, thank goodness you're alright honey. We were so worried when we got here and you weren't home," Amila shared, giving her a tight squeeze.

  "I thought y'all were coming back tomorrow afternoon."

  With a soft smile as she let go, Amila informed, "Jenna caught a stomach virus, so we came back early."

  "I didn't mean to worry you," Charlotte assured before adding, "I would have been here if I had known y'all were coming back today."

  "We came home last night," Emerson stated.

  Fully aware that was his way of letting her know, he thought she was up to no good, Charlotte looked at Amila, saying, "Sorry if I had you worried."

  Charlotte walked out of the kitchen and through the living room to the stairs as Silvia stood at the bottom blocking her path. Wearing jeans and a Peace Love & Cheer tee with her light brown hair pulled high on top of her head with an oversized bow and way too much mascara, Silvia's hazel eyes seemed to delight in the fact that Charlotte had upset her parents.

  "Guess some things never change," she said with an 'I'm better than you' smirk across her face.

  Ignoring her snotty comment, Charlotte pushed past her and headed up the stairs.

  "Excuse you," Silvia snapped.

  Charlotte glanced back with a smile, saying, "Appreciate it, because there's no excuse for you."

  As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard Silvia shout, "Daddy!" and quickly stepped into her room before locking the door.

  Desperately wanting to go back to stay with Erin, Charlotte pulled her phone out of her purse and turned it on as she sat down on her bed. Amongst the missed calls from Amila and Ren, there were seven text messages from Trace.

  T: Do not be upset with me.

  T: Hello...

  T: Charlotte????

  T: Are you ignoring me?

  T: There is no need to act like a child!

  T: I received a call from your father...

  T: I am not upset. However, please *note* when you chose to 'enjoy yourself' discretion is always appreciated.

  Thinking to herself, 'Well that's just great' Charlotte texted back.

  C: I'm home... Sorry to have worried you.

  Tossing her phone on her bed, Charlotte stood up before hearing it buzz.

  T: It was very uncomfortable to take a call from your father while I was...in the middle of something.

  A feeling of reproach grew from deep inside her as she texted back.

  C: In the middle of something or 'someone'?

  T: Does it matter?

  C: No...but you are getting a bit free with the info.

  T: Honesty is the key to any good relationship.

  C: I know that but how would you feel hearing I was with someone last night?

  T: Would you like to tell me about it?

  He couldn't be serious.

  C: Are you serious?????

  T: Would that be too much to ask?

  No way, he meant what she was thinking he meant.

  C: I'm confused...

  T: Stop being so childish for a moment

  C: I'm not!

  T: Then tell me.

  What the hell?

  C: You want me to describe being with someone else to you?

  T: If you are comfortable doing so.

  That is so gross.

  C: Why?

  T: I find the idea of you with another man sexy.

  Wait, what?!

  C: You won't have sex with me until we're engaged but you want to hear details of me doing it with someone?

  T: And perhaps at some point in the future, watch

  What?!

  C: Watch?

  T: I enjoy watching.

  I can't do this, conversation over.

  C: I have to go.

  As her stomach turned, Charlotte dropped her phone onto her bed in disgust thinking 'I need to take a bath'.

  13

  Ransom

  Sitting at the table in his mom's kitchen, Auggie looked around. As soon as he walked in, Sarah appeared to have something on her mind. He hated when she was like this. Growing up, that look on her face was usually followed by, 'How many times have I told you' or 'Son, I have just about had it'. The suspense was killing him.

  "What's on your mind, Ma?"

  Slowly sitting down at the table with him, Sarah answered, "Braden said you weren't at work Saturday."

  "I took the night off."

  "Are you feeling alright?"

  Flashes of being at the club with Charlotte entered his mind as he griped, "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "Don't take a tone with me, son," she snapped, pursing her lips at him.

  Leaning back in his chair, Auggie laced his fingers behind his head, saying, "Sorry, Ma."

  With a heavy sigh, she insisted, "I wish you would tell me what's going on with you."

  "Nothing. Gah, why is everyone on my a... So interested in what I'm doing."

  "Maybe because you haven't seemed the same since..."

  Quickly standing up, Auggie said, "I don't wanna talk about her."

  Looking up at him with a strange expression, Sarah asked, "Her?" before questioning, "There's a her?"

  Gritting his teeth, Auggie couldn't believe he opened the conversation up to that.

  "No."

  Sarah started to smile, asking, "What's she like?"

  Thinking, 'Frustrating, irritating and an all-around pain in my ass', he answered, "There's no her."

  "Did something happen between y'all?"

  This was the exact reason Auggie kept his life to himself. The second his mom thought there might be someone, she needed to know every detail and he never was interested in any details or anyone for more than one night.

  "Nothing, because there is no one," he did his best to swear.

  Standing up in front of him, Sarah patted his arm, saying, "My, it must be serious."

  Throwing his hands in the air out of frustration, he griped, "I gotta go."

  As he headed out of the door, she shouted, "Love you. And if she has any sense at all she'll stick around."

&nbs
p; "Love you too, Ma," he grumbled, closing the door behind himself.

  Walking out to his truck, Auggie thought 'I need a drink'.

  Before he could open the door to his truck, Ren pulled up next to him. Quickly hopping out of her car, she smiled wide at him.

  "Hey Auggie," she chirped.

  Giving her a head nod, he opened his door.

  "What's the matter with you?"

  With a heavy sigh, he replied, "Just got the third degree in there."

  Raising an eyebrow at him, she questioned, "What'd ya do?"

  "Nothing," he snapped.

  "Alright, alright, so did you hear?" Auggie shook his head at her before Ren shared, "You're going to have a niece!"

  Slightly smiling, he said, "Knew Ailin couldn't make a boy."

  Rolling her eyes, Ren laughed, saying, "At least he's makin' babies, which is more than you can say."

  Laughing back, he assured, "Oh, I'm makin' out just fine. Grandma."

  Wrinkling up her nose, Ren said, "I'm not a grandma, I'm a Nonna thank you very much."

  "Whatever you say," he replied as she turned and walked toward the house.

  Auggie barely got in his truck and closed the door before Ren made her way back to him. Rolling his window down, he waited to see what she wanted.

  "Can you do me a favor?"

  "Whatcha need?"

  Hesitant at first, Ren replied, "I'm asking you because I know you won't say anything, Okay."

  Confused, he questioned, "So what are you asking?"

  "Have you heard anything about Charlotte seeing anyone or anything like that?"

  Scowling at her, he asked, "Why?"

  With a light sigh, she shared, "She stayed out all night and didn't say where she had been."

  "So, isn't she grown?"

  Ren tilted her head back and forth slightly before saying, "Yea, she is but it's not like she has any friends here so..."

  "So wouldn't want to ruin things with that boyfriend of hers, right?"

  Ren gave him an interested look as she asked, "What does it matter to you?"

  "It doesn't," he snapped, wondering when he was going to stop having outbursts where Charlotte was concerned.

  "Oh-kay..." Ren replied before saying, "Just let me know if you hear anything."

  "Fine," he blurted before rolling his window up.

  Pulling out of his mom's driveway, he noticed Ren look back at him before shaking her head and continuing to the house.

  ~

  Standing behind the bar at The Dog House, Auggie noticed a sweet little brunette eyeing him from the end of the bar. The bar was practically empty and he hadn't served a drink in around half an hour. Making his way over to her as she raised her eyebrows and flashed a smile at him, he thought this is what I need. All night long he was planning on getting drunk after closing up but bringing home the brunette would be so much better. Besides, he could still get drunk after she went home.

  The closer he got the more he realized, although she was good looking, she was makeup pretty. Charlotte's light pink lips with their white scar running down them entered his mind as he looked at the brunette's hot pink mouth.

  "Can I get ya somethin'?"

  Her perfume wafted towards him as she replied, "Yes you can."

  She smelled like she'd tried to drown herself in whatever fragrance she wore.

  Thinking, maybe he'd get drunk before instead, he asked, "What'd ya have in mind?"

  Leaning against the bar, the brunette's low cut top showed him exactly what she had to offer but before she could reply, he heard Jackson holler, "Auggie, come to the back a minute."

  Patting the bar in front of him, Auggie said, "Gimme just a sec." and headed to the back.

  Making his way through the swinging doors, Auggie stopped right inside the manager's office.

  "I'm kinda workin' on something out there," he shared, hoping whatever Jackson wanted wouldn't take very long.

  Smiling wide while shaking his head, Jackson replied, "I just went over the books and I needed to talk to you."

  "Is something wrong?"

  In a surprised tone, Jackson answered, "No. In fact the last few weeks, they've been perfect."

  Auggie gave a silent nod.

  "I have to say, I'm impressed. You seem to have gotten a real handle on things."

  Remaining silent, Auggie couldn't take the credit. Charlotte was the reason.

  With a heavy sigh, Jackson apologized, "I had my doubts, but I'm sorry. I should have had more faith that you could do it."

  "Yea, thanks," Auggie choked out unable to even look at Jackson at this point.

  Jackson gave him a reassuring look, saying, "You're doing a great job."

  "Is that it? Can I go?"

  Halfway out of the office already, he heard Jackson say, "Keep up the good work," causing Auggie to push through the swinging doors and head straight for the men's room, instead of back behind the bar.

  Shaking his head at himself, Auggie pulled his beanie off and splashed cold water on his face. He yanked a hand full of paper towels out of the dispenser and dried his beard off. Running his fingers through his hair, Auggie pulled his beanie back over his head as he thought of Charlotte. It wasn't Jackson's misplaced pride in him or the fact that she was the reason he was managing the bar so well. It was her and the way one side of her mouth would curl into a smile when his totals would balance out. It was having her sit at his kitchen table reading off receipts and how her hair brushed his arm when she leaned over to look at the ledger. It was Charlotte that was making him miserable.

  Leaving the restroom, Auggie decided he needed to get her out of his system completely. She was like a disease. An infectious disease that started off slowly then spread like crazy. First thing tomorrow, he would rent a steam cleaner and get the smell of her out of his house. That would be a good start.

  As he headed back behind the bar, the perfumy brunette offered, "Maybe you could drive me home. I have been drinking, you know."

  Auggie stared at her as she pushed her chest against the bar.

  "Brooks," he shouted across the bar, causing her to give him a startled expression.

  The drummer to his brothers' band jogged over, saying, "What's up man."

  Introducing him to the brunette, Auggie said, "This is Brooks, he's a drummer. Brooks, this is..." She quickly shared, "Larissa," before saying, "I like music."

  Taking his backwards baseball cap off to reveal his shaggy blond hair, Brooks said, "Oh yea," with a wide smile.

  Auggie stepped back letting them get to know each other.

  It wasn't long before Brooks took off with Larissa. After showing her his setup on stage, he gave Auggie an appreciative smile and thumbs up before walking out of the front door with her. As he thought to himself, 'It never hurts to do a friend a favor' he knew it was better to pass on an easy opportunity then to accept and not be able to follow through. There had been an instant change in the way he felt thinking of Charlotte and then looking at Larissa. One that he had a feeling wouldn't end on a good note if he took her home.

  The Dog House was quiet as Auggie closed up the bar. As he shut everything down the phone behind the bar rang.

  "Dog House, we're closed," he answered.

  "What did you do with my heels?"

  The memory of seeing them on the floorboard of his truck but being so mad at her he didn't want them in his house as he shoved them under the passenger seat entered his mind.

  It took him a second before he griped, "Did you break into my house again?"

  There was a pause before Charlotte replied, "It's not breaking in if I use a key."

  "Damn it, woman," he fussed before he heard a little girl's voice in the background, saying, "I can't sleep."

  Charlotte's voice sounded muffled as she asked, "Did you have a bad dream?"

  Auggie listened intently as he heard the girl say, "Can I stay in here with you?"

  Charlotte answered her, "Of course you can," in a sweet tone before snap
ping, "I need my heels back," directly at him.

  Trying not to smile, Auggie replied, "You're not at my house."

  "I never said I was. You assumed I was. Just because I've done something once doesn't mean I'll do it again."

  Feeling there was a double meaning to her statement, Auggie informed, "I'm closing up. Give me your number and I'll call you. We can discuss your shoes then."

  With an irritated tone, Charlotte gave him her cell number before hanging up on him.

  ~

  Mulling it over in his head, over and over, Auggie decided to work out a trade for her shoes. That way he could say, while you're here we can go over the books one last time. Thinking that was reasonable since she all but said she wouldn't come on to him again, he could deal with her until she left and by then he'd figure out a way to handle his manager duties without her.

  He'd showered and had two beers before sitting down in his chair, that still smelled like her, staring at his cellphone. Thinking he might need a third beer, for some strange reason he was nervous.

  Finally biting the bullet, he dialed her number and received a sleepy, "Hello."

  "So, you want your shoes back."

  There was a loud huff into the phone before she replied, "Did you plan on keeping them?"

  "I am holding them for ransom," he stated with a smile on his face.

  "You have got to be kidding me."

  "Nope."

  Making an angry sound into the phone, Charlotte questioned, "Fine. What do you want?"

  "My Socks."

  There was a long pause before she replied, "Seriously."

  "Yes. I like my socks and if you value your fancy little black heels, you will return my socks to me."

  Auggie could hear her masked amusement as she asked, "When would you like to make the exchange?"

  He thought for a moment before saying, "I will contact you with the time and location soon."

  Trying to imagine the look she must have on her face, Auggie waited for her reply.

  Choking back a laugh, she said, "Oak...Oh-kay."

  There was something about making her laugh that provoked him to say, "Goodnight, Charlotte."

  "Um, 'night," she replied with a confused tone in her voice.

  Pressing the end button on his cellphone, he disconnected the call and sat in his chair thinking.