He stopped by the side of the bed and smiled. “Sorry, babe. I’m au natural. No drawers or anything. And” - he flopped onto the bed - “Gran would kill me.” He hoped she’d laugh, but he could tell she was being serious. He propped up on his elbow and crossed his legs under the sheet and comforter. “Do you feel like talking about it?”
She shrugged. “He hit me. I was honest that you and I had a hot moment this afternoon, but that nothing really happened. He asked me if I’d let you fuck me and I smirked at him and said no, but that I’d wanted you to. I told him it was the first time I’d felt anything for a man for a while. I should have kept my mouth shut.” She swallowed. “He’s done this a couple of times before and always found a reason it was my fault. I feel stupid enough that I let him manipulate me, in the past. This time it was a wake-up, though.” Their eyes locked. “I’m going to break off the engagement.”
Charlie took her hand and was going to kiss it, but could see darkness on her wrist. He sat up and moved the sleeve of her night shirt up her arm. “Oh, babe...”
“Charlie, look at me.”
He lifted his head and gazed into her beautiful blue eyes.
“It’s only a bruise. It will fade. The whole memory will fade to nothing, but it’ll take some time. I’ve still got a bunch of crap to unload.” She laughed. “It’s weird. A few days ago, I felt so angry with you and now I can’t lose you again. Not ever. Please be patient with me.”
“You just try to get rid of me, Lou,” he whispered. He put her hand on his cheek and kissed her bruised wrist.
“It’s not going to happen, ever.” She leaned back, smiled at him and reached up to run her fingers through his long hair. “After our first kiss thirteen years ago, I day-dreamed about you. I’d sit by the river and make up all these scenarios about you coming home. I’d sit on our stump and you’d walk up the river bed toward me. When I got older, the scenes stayed the same, but became much hotter and, no, I’m not giving you any details. I...well, I want to say something to you, but I’m afraid to, Ducky.”
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “Lou, don’t ever be afraid of me. I’ll never hurt you again; I swear it on my life. I’m yours no matter what happens.” He watched her lick her lips and look down at her hands.
“Charlie, I love you. I’ve always loved you, but now it’s more than friendship.”
He put his fingers under her chin and moved her head so she looked at him. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
Charlie felt his throat tighten and knew his eyes were filling up. “This is without a doubt the happiest day of my life, Lou,” he whispered. “I never thought I’d hear those words and the fact that they’re coming from your lips makes me want to act really goofy.” He laughed and cleared his throat. “Would you like to know something really stupid?” She nodded. He felt a tear roll down his cheek. He brushed it off and cleared his throat. “When I was little, I got to meet my grandmother. We spent the summer on her farm in Iowa. She was the only other person on the planet who ever said that to me.”
“Charlie, that’s not stupid.” She put her good hand up to his face and cupped his cheek. “I love you, Gran loves you and even Breaker loves you.”
“I love you, too. I was in love with you when we were kids and it’s never changed. You’ve always been my light at the end of the tunnel.” He looked at her sore wrist again and pulled the sleeve down. “Did the asshole hurt you anywhere else?”
Lark laughed. “Yeah. I’ll have another bruise on my chest and maybe one on my chin.”
“Babe, if I ever see him again, I’ll more than likely have to beat the shit out of him.”
She smiled at him and shook her head. “No, my daring knight. I appreciate your bravery, but Thomas would want revenge and there’s no way I’ll risk you either getting hurt or winding up in jail for assault.” She started to lean to kiss him, but stopped. “I also refuse for either one of us to lower ourselves to his level. You and I are much better than that.”
He felt her lips softly touch his. Her tongue worked its way into his mouth and moved along his gum line and teeth. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled in close. She nibbled at his bottom lip and chin.
Charlie sighed. “You know I want you more than I want to breathe right now, but...”
“Gran is downstairs watching TV and it would be embarrassing if I started to shout your name real loud and we banged the bed against the floor,” she finished his thought.
“Yep, that says it all.” He smiled at her.
“It’s okay. I’m kind of pooped.” She hugged him and kissed his neck.
“I will have a bed on Wednesday.” He moved her down and put the comforter around her.
“Hey that’s right. I think we have a date.” She smiled at him.
“It will be the three longest days in the history of the world.” He leaned over and kissed her lips. “Are you cold?”
“No, I’m quite warm just at the moment.” She reached up and turned off the bedside lamp.
Charlie scrunched down under the covers and lay on his side. “I don’t want to hurt you. If I put my arm over you like this is it all right?” He put his arm across her stomach and touched her other hand.
“Yes, it feels just right.”
“So since we are lying here together, you won’t mind if I maybe spoon you with my arms around you and protect you while you sleep?”
“Oh Ducky, that’s sounds wonderful and I would like to accept the offer.” She rolled onto her right side and he wiggled in close to her.
“You smell so good,” he said. She pulled his arm up under hers and kissed his fingers. “Goodnight, Lou.”
“I love you, Ducky. I think I’m going to like saying that to you.”
“I know I’ll love hearing it. I love you, too.”
Chapter Seventeen
The next morning, when Lark woke up with Charlie wrapped around her body, she’d wanted to stay in bed the whole day, but knew she needed to go into the warehouse. It was two weeks until Christmas and they needed to get as many orders out as possible.
She got out of bed without waking Charlie and showered. After she put on her makeup and dried her hair, she got dressed and heard her door creak open. Breaker poked his nose into the room.
“Hi boy, come here,” she whispered and squatted down. She rubbed his ears and back. Lark looked up and saw Gran at the door with a smile. She winked at Lark and closed the door. “Why don’t you go wake up your papa?” she said to the wolf.
Breaker’s ears popped up and he seemed to grin. He turned, jumped up on the bed and started to lick his daddy’s chin. Charlie began to make a funny grumbling noise. He turned on his side and sat up. Lark smiled and watched Charlie stare at his pup.
“I love you, too, Breaker, but you aren’t the warm and fuzzy I was dreaming of this morning. Get off the bed you brute.” Charlie looked at Lark and arched an eyebrow. “Good morning, my love.”
Lark’s heart almost burst out of her chest. She crawled up onto the bed and straddled his hips, then leaned over and brushed his lips. “Good morning to you.”
His mouth opened and she felt his hands move up her thighs. He swung her around and the next thing she knew she was on her back with him between her legs. He kissed her with the passion she wanted desperately.
“Lou,” he whispered. “We’re being watched.”
They both turned their heads and found Breaker with his fore paws on the edge of the bed. He woofed at them and wagged his tail.
“He wants some attention.” Charlie kissed her jaw.
“I’m not supposed to kiss him, too?” Lark whispered in Charlie’s ear.
“No one kisses these precious lips but me.” His hand moved to her ribs and started tickling her.
“Stop, stop. You’re starting a bad tradition
,” she laughed.
“Come back to bed,” he said and kissed her again. He moved closer to her and stopped tickling her.
“I have to go to work, but I should be able to cut out at three or four o’clock.” She smiled at him.
“Hmmm...if I could get Gran to babysit a certain pup, we could continue where we left off yesterday and forget that awful dinner.”
“I like that idea very much, Ducky. I might even find a way to be here by one or two.”
Charlie propped his head on his hand and looked down at her. “My dear, I have work to do today, too. The furnace people are coming and so is the plumber. Now I’m going to have a hard on all day until you get home.” He kissed her nose and rolled off her. “Think on that.”
“Oh yum, I should be good and wet when I get home. Thinking about your hard on will make packing boxes not as dull as it usually is.” She put her hand under the covers and moved it down his chest. She traced it over the front of his pants and grinned when Charlie got a surprised look on his face. She curled her fingers over his penis and gave it a light squeeze.
“Larkspur Metcalfe, I am completely shocked by your behavior.” She squeezed again and grinned when he sucked in air. “Oh woman, if this is the way I’ll wake up every day, I’ll worship you until my dying breath.” His eyes crossed and his hips moved.
“As much as I would like to continue tormenting you, I can’t.” She kissed him again.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
“My chest is a little sore and my wrist.” She held it up and wiggled it. “It feels like it’s bruised, which it is. All in all, I’m all right. I took an ibuprofen.”
He kissed the inside of her wrist. “I hear kisses make it all better.”
She shook her head and smiled. “I’ll see you later.” She got up off the bed and walked back to her closet.
“Not if I see you first,” he said and swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.
“Ducky, that’s a really old saying.” She grabbed a sweater and started to the door. “Later alligator.” She laughed and he threw a pillow at her, which Breaker leapt on and claimed.
She went down the stairs and filled a travel mug with coffee. She put her boots on and grabbed her coat. “I’ll be home early, Gran,” she said as she opened the back door.
“Hey, don’t you want some breakfast?” Gran asked and walked into the kitchen.
“No, I’ve got to get moving. Charlie will be down in a few minutes. He’ll need a good breakfast.” She zipped her coat.
“So, you were good kids last night? Yes?”
“I’ll never divulge our secrets, Gran.” Lark laughed her way out the door.
“I’ll get answers from Charlie. He’s weak when it comes to bacon,” Gran said from the back door.
Lark laughed all the way to her SUV and said to herself, “Maybe we were good kids last night, but definitely going to be bad this afternoon.”
When she arrived at the warehouse, she actually felt light on her feet. She grinned, and thought she was a dork for the bounce in her step, but didn’t care. She and Charlie were back together and she couldn’t be more thankful.
She met Nancy in the hallway. “We’ve got a problem,” Nancy said and looked none too happy. She followed Lark into the office.
“Hold that thought one second.” Lark walked to her desk. “Alicia, come in here a second.” She took off her coat and put her purse in a drawer.
Her secretary followed Nancy into the office and carried a notepad and pen.
Lark grinned at her. “Sweetie, I know you are incredibly efficient and still have the email addresses and snail mail addresses for the guests for the wedding.”
“Yeah, I have a folder in a file,” her secretary said.
“Great. This morning I need for you to send a general group email and snail mail out. The note should say the wedding at the end of the month is cancelled and there should be no I’m sorry to announce because I’m not sorry. Okay?” Lark said and leaned on her desk.
“Got it. Do you want to check the note before I send it?”
“Nope, I trust you.” Lark smiled and Alicia left the room. She looked at Nancy. “What problem do we have to deal with?”
“Wait a minute, what the hell is going on?” Nancy asked.
“The long and short of it is I had a big wake-up call this weekend. Thomas hit me and I realized I’ve never loved him and never will. I suppose when Alicia sends the email one of his friends will call him and he will call me wanting to know what my problem is.” She shook her head. “Believe me; I haven’t a problem in the world. Charlie Stone is home and I’m happy for the first time in years.”
“Charlie Stone? You mean the guy that lived next door to you and...The guy you were talking about at the rink the other night?” Nancy stopped.
“The very one and we’ll go over that later. What’s up?”
Nancy shook her head. “Oh right, we’ve got an accountant here who wants to go through the books. He won’t say who he represents. I called Ryan Barton, who’s doing some checking. He will call us back with whatever information he finds. In the meantime, Mr. Accountant is in the break room, drinking our coffee.”
Lark let this run through her head. “What on earth? We don’t usually see accountants until the first quarter.”
“I know. Call me paranoid, but with the rumor about our selling the company last week and now this, don’t you think we should be worried?”
“I’m not sure.” Lark started out of her office and Nancy followed.
She went down the stairs to the employee break room and saw a middle-aged, bald man sitting at a table with his electronic tablet. “Hi, I’m Lark Metcalfe. May I ask who you represent?” He grinned and Lark thought he resembled the Cheshire Cat.
“I’m sorry, Miss Metcalfe, but I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Could I see some ID please?” She held out her hand.
The man continued to grin and reached into his pants pocket. He pulled out his driver’s license and handed it to her.
“Thank you, Mr. Dumphy.” She almost started to laugh at his name. She looked at the picture on the card and noted the birth date. She also glanced at his wallet, which he held open in his hand. She handed the license back and turned to leave the break room.
She and Nancy walked side by side out to the warehouse floor and started up the stairs.
“Nance, do you have a pen?”
Nancy watched Lark write some numbers on the palm of her hand as they continued up the stairs. “What are you doing?”
Lark held her palm up. “Mr. Jason Dumphy’s driver’s license number and birth date.” She continued up the stairs and went into her office. She sat at her desk and hit the speed dial button for the lawyer’s office.
“When did you become such a smart woman?” Nancy said and sat across from her.
“It’s in the Levi’s, ha, ha. That’s a Gran saying.” When the phone was answered she picked up the handset. “This is Lark Metcalfe for Ryan Barton, please.” While she waited for her lawyer to answer the phone, she looked at Nancy. “How are the orders going?”
“We have everything from last week out, but got almost another one hundred over the weekend.”
“I think we should post a cutoff date on the website. We can guarantee before Christmas delivery if ordered by...what do you think?...The twentieth?”
“The twentieth is a Friday, it would work. Then after that, we guarantee before New Year’s Eve delivery. I like it.”
“That would be good.” Lark held up her hand and the lawyer got on the line. She gave him the information and he asked her to hold on again. They waited in silence for a few minutes, and she listened to hold music. When he came back on, Lark put the call on speaker so Nancy could hear.
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br /> “It looks like Mr. Dumphy is from National Savings and Loan in Denver. He’s an accountant in acquisitions. I’ve got a call into Canon City Savings. I’m wondering if they’re trying to sell your loan. That could be a problem,” Ryan’s voice said on the speaker phone.
“Mike Strom is on vacation until after the first of the year. He’d be the one to talk to,” Nancy said.
“I’ve got another contact over there. I’ll let you know what I hear. Let Mr. Dumphy see the sales only accounts. If he presses for the purchasing numbers tell him to come back tomorrow. Give him some noise about the computers being overloaded right now arranging orders. We’ll find out what’s going on.”
“So in other words, stall him?” Lark said.
“You got it. I’ll be in touch.” The phone when dead.
Lark hit the cut off button and looked at Nancy.
“Want to Roshambo who goes to set Mr. Humpty-Dumphy at a computer?” Nancy asked.
Lark laughed. “No, I’m going down anyway. What would you say is the noisiest, most unfriendly computer location in the building?”
“That’s easy. Nick’s office, next door to the compressor is the worst. He’s been asking to move to the other side of the building. It’s really hot in there, too. Nick’s gone until Thursday.” Nancy stood and smiled.
Lark laughed harder. “Lordy me, I do love us. We can be so evil sometimes.”
They high fived each other and then went their separate ways. Lark set up their packaging manager’s office. She got the computer warmed up and made sure the desk was locked. Then she steered Mr. Dumphy into the office and left to go help package orders.
Lark worked until the afternoon on the floor. She got a sandwich from the auto-cantina.
After she ate half the sandwich and drank her cold coffee, Lark called her Gran.
“Hi, I just wanted to let you know I’m going to be a little late. We’re really busy today. Could you do me a favor, Gran?”
Love's Embers (Canon City Series) Page 12