Charlotte (Marked Heart #2)

Home > Other > Charlotte (Marked Heart #2) > Page 25
Charlotte (Marked Heart #2) Page 25

by M. Sembera


  Smiling to herself as it occurred to her she was picking him up for their date as she knocked. The door opened, slowly revealing Auggie wearing a charcoal grey suit with white shirt and black tie.

  "Well hello," Charlotte blurted.

  Auggie looked her up and down, assuring, "You look gorgeous."

  With a slight laugh she smiled, saying, "I feel like I should have brought you flowers, since I came to pick you up."

  Smiling back, he offered, "You wanna make it a thing and drive too."

  "Are you serious?"

  "Why not? But we're taking my truck," he replied.

  Charlotte was thrilled, not only to be the one driving she was also getting to drive his truck.

  Although it took her a few miles to get used to driving such a large vehicle, he never cringed or corrected her. Auggie sat in the passenger seat appearing relaxed and looking incredibly sexy as she drove them.

  When Charlotte put the blinker on to make a turn, Auggie instructed, "Don't turn there. Go up to the next light."

  Confused she replied, "But that will make a big loop and I'll have to make a u-turn to get there."

  "Our reservation is at seven thirty. I thought we could stop by the bar for a drink first."

  Flipping the blinker off, Charlotte headed in that direction, asking, "You want to take me for a drink at the bar?"

  Auggie flashed her a quick smile, answering, "I'll just have a ginger ale after yesterday."

  "That's not why I was asking."

  Giving her a serious look, he shared, "I have more than last night to make up for."

  An amazing feeling overwhelmed her as she realized this would be a night she was never going to forget.

  Auggie gave her a 'don't you dare' expression as she started to open the door. Placing her hands in her lap, Charlotte waited for him to get out, walk around and open hers. When Auggie opened her door, he didn't just help her out, he grabbed her waist and lifted her out. After closing the driver's side door, he held his hand out for hers. Charlotte's heart was racing as she thought, we are going to walk into The Dog House holding hands. So much for easing everyone into the idea of us being together.

  Right outside the doors, Auggie stopped. Charlotte thought he might be having second thoughts.

  Tightening his hold on her hand, he looked at her offering, "Would you like to go inside?"

  When Charlotte nodded, Auggie opened the door for her.

  They stepped into The Dog House never letting go of the others hand. Auggie's grip was firm and almost protective as the made their way to the bar.

  Leaning to her ear, Auggie asked, "Table or bar?"

  "Table," she whispered, loving the feel of him close in public.

  When they reached the bar, a salt and pepper gray haired man was standing behind it, staring at them in complete and total disbelief.

  Auggie let go of her hand and placed it on the small of her back as he told the bartender, "Ginger ale and a..." then looked at Charlotte as she replied, "Two please."

  Lou laughed, "I almost didn't recognize you. This your girl?"

  "Yea, this is Charlotte," Auggie introduced before Charlotte replied, "Hi."

  Giving a nod as he set their drinks on the bar, Lou said, "Don't know what you're doin' to this guy. Boy you sure lucked out."

  Auggie shook his head with a laugh before they picked up their drinks and walked to a table by the corner.

  As Auggie pulled out her chair, Charlotte stopped, looking at a wall full of pictures.

  "Oh my gosh, is that Ren. Geez, she looks so young."

  Stepping beside her, he shared, "Yea, she was. Jackson worked here his senior year and from what I understand she was always up here."

  Charlotte inspected the picture then looked at him, assuring, "That has to be your dad. You look just like him."

  Nodding, he replied, "There's the original Augustus," pointing to a hard looking man in a black and white photo.

  "You look like him when you're mad."

  Auggie laughed, "Alright, let's sit down."

  Charlotte sat, pleased to see Auggie pull his chair around right next to hers before sitting down.

  Glancing around, Charlotte noticed although they were getting plenty of looks, no one looked like they were going to say anything. Even Braden stayed on stage after giving her a big smile.

  Auggie lifted his ginger ale in his brother's direction and tipped the glass at him before turning to Charlotte saying, "I should have done this sooner."

  Charlotte started to reply but before she could get a word out, Auggie pressed his lips against hers.

  As he pulled back, she noticed a look of relief in his eyes as he whispered, "I'm gonna be honest. I was half expecting torches and pitchforks."

  Closing her eyes, she leaned her forehead to his, saying, "You did say it was a slow night."

  Laughing together, they sat close until it was time to leave.

  Dinner at Mansurs was wonderful. Charlotte and Auggie laughed and talked about things they had never gotten around to discussing. What music they liked, favorite movies, mostly first date stuff. As their meal ended, the anticipation of what was to come was getting the better of Charlotte. When the waiter offered dessert, she declined and Auggie followed suit. Their date had been close to perfect and the only thing Charlotte could think about was sealing their relationship before the night was over.

  ~

  The night had gone so much better than Auggie expected. He felt relaxed and pleasantly surprised at how comfortable he felt out in public with Charlotte. It was strange to him how effortless the whole thing was. He'd always viewed taking a girl out as more trouble than it was worth because there were always the ones that were ready no matter what. Charlotte was worth whatever hoops he had to jump through but it never once felt like he was working for it. Everything about their date felt right, from the suit he was wearing, to letting her drive, all the way down to kissing her at the bar.

  Auggie's fingers were tingling as he itched to get his hands on her. She was making him wait outside of his bedroom door, he really had no idea why. Waiting for her to welcome him in, he pulled out his cellphone, that he had on silent, out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket to see what time it was. After viewing a slew of missed calls from random numbers, he saw a text message from Sheryl of all people. He almost didn't check it but since he was waiting and a little curious, he did. Scanning the rather lengthy text message, the majority of it was asking if he was blocking her calls, telling him he had missed out on her and that he must think he was better than everyone else. Laughing to himself, he assumed she was drunk texting and found it pretty funny until he read the last part.

  S: Do you know what a slap in the face bringing HER to The Dog House was to everyone. I hope you enjoy your brother's leftovers you piece of sh*t.

  Standing there staring at the last sentence, Auggie tried to be rational. He turned his cellphone off and threw it. Watching it skim across his coffee table before bouncing off the edge of the couch onto the floor, he gritted his teeth trying to somehow unread the message.

  Running his hand down his face, he turned away from his bedroom door as the same sickening feeling from the day before started to overtake him. When he did, William's door was right there, staring at him. Taunting him with the knowledge that Charlotte had been behind that door with his brother.

  He turned back to his door, hearing Charlotte announce, "You can come in now."

  Standing at the foot of his bed, Charlotte was wearing a red and black plaid corset that covered only the parts he knew he wasn't allowed to touch. As his eyes appreciated the length of her, he noticed the only other things she had on were a pair of little black panties and her black heels. Auggie tried to take a breath but couldn't. She was absolutely glorious.

  Every single fiber of his being wanted her with the exception of the little nagging part of his brain that was trying to convince him this was wrong. Slowly walking towards her, he didn't see how being with her could be
anything but right. She was beauty, lust, sweetness, sex and passion. When he reached her, she stepped out of her heels before reaching up and running her hands through his beard. Guiding his lips to hers, her kiss was soft and slow. She slid her hands up his chest and under the shoulders of his suit jacket. Once his jacket hit the floor, she made short work of his tie before starting on the buttons of his shirt. Half way down, he couldn't stand it anymore. Pulling her down on the bed with him, he kissed her, kicking his shoes off before scooting them both farther onto the bed.

  Auggie pulled her as close as possible before rolling them over. Charlotte's legs found their way around his waist. Pushing up on his hands, he leaned his head down, brushing his lips across her collar bone. The most exquisite breathy moan escaped her lips, and it was the best thing he'd ever heard until that nagging voice started messing with his head.

  All of the sudden, he wondered if that was the how she sounded with William. Knowing what thoughts like that would do to him, he moved to her side and pulled her to him. Frantically kissing her while inhaling deeply every chance he could, Auggie thought smelling her and feeling her might drown everything but her out of his mind. The harder he tried, the worse it got. His brother was fixated in his mind.

  Pulling away from her, Auggie tried to sit up.

  Charlotte caught the side of his face, saying, "I trust you."

  He had no idea what to say to her.

  The look in her eyes damn near killed him as she declared, "I don't want anything between us."

  "I can't go where my brother's been," he choked out.

  Charlotte narrowed her eyes at him. She laid there completely still, staring at him for several minutes.

  Her voice was hurt and angry as she questioned, "What kind of a man does this?"

  Auggie opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. He didn't know.

  Charlotte jumped out of bed, yelling, "Congratulations. You are the best damn brother in the entire world."

  Shaking his head, he swore, "That's not what this is."

  Pulling her dress back on, she snapped, "No?"

  "I didn't want for this to happen."

  Offended, Charlotte questioned, "So you didn't want me to believe that you wanted me? That this was real? And then make me feel like I'm not worth anything to you?" Taking a step closer to the bed, she shouted, "Because that's what just happened."

  Jackson was right. He should have talked to her before something like this happened. Jackson was right about everything. Sliding to the edge of the bed, he stood up in front of her.

  Auggie looked into her eyes, trying to make her understand, "The right thing to do is to let you go."

  Instantly slapping the side of his face, she informed, "It's not right. It's not alright to break my heart."

  The spot where she hit him stung, but the hurt he felt in his heart was excruciating as he noticed the tears in her eyes. He'd made her cry.

  Hearing his front door slam shut, Auggie clinched his fists. Hurt and anger brewed deep inside him until he exploded.

  Rushing to William's door, he kicked it open shouting, "Why? Why would you do this to me?"

  Grabbing the picture of he and his brother from the dresser, Auggie threw it against the wall.

  "You did this! You left me! Why? You left me with her!"

  Going down on his knees, he leaned his forehead against William's bed.

  "Why would you do this to me? You're gone! I can't have her!"

  Auggie rubbed his eyes as they started to burn. Sitting back on his heels, he looked down at his fingers. The reality that he was blaming his dead brother for losing Charlotte, hit him as he saw tears on his knuckles. He couldn't remember ever crying before now. Not when William passed or when he lost his dad, not even as a kid.

  Looking around the room, he admitted, "I love her." Moving off of the floor to sit on his brother's bed, Auggie said, "I miss you."

  ~

  Curled up in Amila's arms the tears wouldn't stop. Charlotte now understood all of Silvia's howling sobs when her heart was broken.

  Nothing had ever hurt this bad. There was no physical pain that could match the crushing feeling she felt on the inside. She wanted to tell her how badly it hurt, but she couldn't stop crying long enough to make a sound come out of her mouth.

  34

  Timing

  Curled up in bed, Charlotte was on her fourth box of tissues when Amila left the room, to make breakfast for everyone. She held her cellphone in one hand swiping through pictures of her and Auggie with the other. Charlotte was glad Amila had stayed the night in her room, loving on her as she cried. Especially since she had no idea what was wrong. Every time Amila asked, Charlotte tried to answer but couldn't. Now, that she was alone all she wanted to do was look at pictures of him and remember what it felt like to be in his arms.

  Pulling her cellphone to her chest, Charlotte squeezed her eyes closed, hugging her phone. When it vibrated, the thought that it might be him sent chills down her arms. She was new to this feeling and her heart felt so raw and broken, it didn't matter what he had to say, she just wanted him to talk to her.

  Lifting her phone, she blinked a few times surprised at who the message was from.

  T: Hello my beauty.

  Shaking her head, Trace always had impeccable timing.

  T: All meetings have come to an end. Would you like me to fly down and bring you back early or are you enjoying your stay?

  Pausing for a moment, Charlotte swallowed hard.

  C: No, come now. I want to go home.

  T: I am pleased to hear that. I look forward to seeing you and resolving your concerns considering our future.

  There was no future with Trace, at least not for her, but she wanted to get as far away from her heartache as soon as possible.

  C: We can have a conversation.

  T: Your father will expect a proposal when I arrive.

  C: He'll get over it.

  There was a few minutes delay before his reply.

  T: I may not...

  She didn't have the patience to deal with his ego.

  C: Are you coming or not?

  T: Will you at least wear the dress I sent?"

  Charlotte rolled her eyes.

  C: Sure.

  T: Thank you my lovely. I will arrive Friday morning. We will depart at seven that evening.

  C: Perfect!

  Turning her cellphone off before placing it on her nightstand, Charlotte's heart hurt at the thought of everything she would be leaving behind. There was no way she was going to allow herself to stay in this stupid town feeling heartbroken and lovesick for someone who didn't give a damn about her.

  ~

  Loading a box into the back of his truck, Auggie had stayed up all night talking aloud to Will as he packed up his brother's room. He talked to him about how much it sucked to manage the bar, how crazy Charlotte made him before he realized how wonderful she was and even told him he was sorry for not being a better brother to him when he was alive. Will's mattress and dresser went into the garage while he packed bags for Goodwill to pick up. Aside from a few things he decided to keep, he was bringing the rest to his mom.

  It was actually a relief to have the door to his brother's room open and as he pulled up to his mom's house, he had a feeling he needed to stop closing doors and leave a lot more open. Something about getting everything off his chest the night before made him realize he had always closed himself off. He was still a stubborn judgmental ass but now he knew what it was like to fall and hit the ground, onto rusty spikes that twisted into you as you were being hosed down with lemon juice just to remind you with the added sting, no matter how much pain you're in, it was your own damn fault.

  Carrying the box into the house for his mom, he set it on the coffee table when he saw Sarah standing there.

  "Hey, Ma."

  She appeared angry, snapping, "What's this?"

  With a shrug, he replied, "I finally cleaned out Will's room. There's some stuff in there I
thought you might want."

  Nodding, she questioned, "So one night and you're ready to just throw your brother out."

  Confused, Auggie said, "You've been on me for over a month to do this?"

  Ignoring his reply, Sarah fussed, "How dare you disrespect your brother, not to mention our entire family by bringing her to the bar."

  He honestly couldn't believe what his mom was saying to him as he blurted, "Ma?"

  "You're willing to trade your brother's memory for someone like her?"

  Having already lost this battle with himself, Auggie answered, "I'm not going to see her again."

  Penny walked in, giving her brother a dirty look, asking, "You're not?"

  Sarah seemed relieved, "At least one of y'all has some sense, that girl doesn't belong with our family."

  Penny blurted, "Mom!"

  "Well, it's the truth. She's a disposable mistake. That's why the Roberts shipped her off. The whole town knows it too. Not everything that looks good on the outside is good on the inside and I guess I can just be thankful it didn't take you as long as it did your brother to realize it."

  Auggie couldn't sit back and let her talk about Charlotte like that, "You want some truth? I've been seeing her. Since Will's funeral. And it's no wonder she moved to another country. This whole town can go straight to hell because she is better than damn near everyone in it."

  Sarah stared at Penny, asking, "Did you know about this?" Before Penny could open her mouth, Auggie replied, "No, Ma. No one knew until last night."

  "Get out," Sarah stated before shouting, "Get out of my house!"

  Clenching his teeth, Auggie gave a heavy sigh, nodding as he turned and walked out of his mom's house.

 

‹ Prev