by Nikki Ashton
“Listen,” Charlotte soothed. “I’ll drop the letter off and maybe you and Sheila can pick something up from it, how does that sound?” Charlotte didn’t think that they would find any clues, but wanted to believe that it would at least give Kelvin some hope.
“Thanks Charlotte, that’d be great. Anyway, what are you doing at home this time for a morning, you are normally well on your way to work by now?” he asked a little more brightly.
Charlotte glanced at her watch as her stomach tightened. “Oh err, dentist appointment.”
It was twenty five past twelve and Charlotte was hanging around in a card shop, keeping one eye on the city clock that she could see clearly from her hideaway. There was no way that she was going to be early, she wanted Niall to think that she wasn’t coming, and then she would appear, maybe just as he was about to leave. After much consultation with Bets, the previous evening, they had agreed on Bets' choice of skinny jeans, black fine knitted jumper and knee-high boots, and her leather jacket. Charlotte had thought about a quick visit to the hairdresser, but had decided against it, going for the more tousled, just got out of bed look, rather than the carefully arranged curls and waves that Lance would have done. She quickly looked at herself in the glass door, fairly happy with her appearance. She applied some more beige lip gloss and ruffled her hair. Suddenly, her heart missed a beat before it jumped into her mouth, because down the street, underneath the clock, was Niall. He looked gorgeous as he nervously glanced at his watch and then the clock. He was dressed in jeans, a thick sweater, leather jacket and baseball cap. She wanted to run up him and bury herself in his arms, but she didn’t. She strode purposefully towards him, all thoughts of false tardiness disappearing.
As she approached him, he had his back to her, so Charlotte tapped him gently on the shoulder, but not before she gazed at him for a few moments.
“Hiya,” she said, coughing to hide the quiver in her voice.
As soon as he turned around she turned as red as the post box stood on the nearby corner. Charlotte hadn’t really known how he would greet her. She hadn’t expected a passionate kiss or anything, but she had hoped that there would be a smile, and she was not disappointed.
“Howyer,” he gasped, beaming broadly, before a shadow passed over his face. “Err, did you have a good Christmas?” he asked hesitantly.
Charlotte nodded silently, unable to speak. Niall took her silence to be a show of contempt; little did he know how excited she was to see him.
“Where do you fancy for lunch, or would you just prefer a coffee?”
Charlotte nodded mutely once more. He’ll think that I’ve gone mad, she thought, unless I speak to him soon. Niall smiled at her meekly and walked off in front of her, down towards the river; Charlotte trailed after him, her boots slipping in the sludge. She successfully made it to a little coffee shop and followed him to a table. They sat down and a short, stout woman with a hairy wart on her chin, plonked a menu in front of them. They sat in silence for a few moments until Niall spoke, without lifting his head.
“We can just stay here for coffee, and then perhaps go for lunch later, give you time to decide what you would like to eat.”
Charlotte nodded once more and now smiled; she couldn’t stand the dejected look on his face and just wanted him to know that she wasn’t going to kill him. Niall’s shoulders relaxed, and he removed his cap and rubbed a hand across his head.
“Not very nice weather is it?” he said.
“No, it’s been really nasty since Christmas,” she replied, looking up at the warty woman who was now standing beside their table.
“Coffee?” Niall asked. Charlotte nodded in response. “Make that two please.” The warty woman walked away without saying anything.
After a few minutes, she came back and placed two large coffee cups on the table. There was more silence while they both attempted to drink the boiling hot liquid, rather than make conversation. In time Niall put his coffee down and looked at her, straight into her eyes. Charlotte gulped hard as she felt herself getting lost in his eyes.
“I hope that you don’t mind me getting in touch,” his voice quivered slightly, “but, I really do want to apologise for the day we went to lunch, but…” he started, but Charlotte interrupted him.
“You don’t have to explain. I understand. We were both a bit drunk and got a little carried away, no problem.” She took another sip from her coffee, almost burning her top lip.
“No,” Niall exclaimed. “That’s not how it is, how it was. I did and still do find you very attractive, and have never done anything in alcohol that I wouldn’t do sober.”
“But you omitted to tell me that you had a fiancée, so I take it the drink affected your memory then?”
Niall dropped his head. “I know that I should have told you about Ingrid.” He leaned across, and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”
Charlotte almost shouted in fright, she really hadn’t expected any contact of any kind. She held back her scream, and allowed herself to relax under his touch.
“Look Niall, it doesn’t matter. It's not like there was anything going on between us; well except that one kiss of course.” Charlotte's voice trailed off as she went back to her coffee.
“But what a kiss,” Niall sighed, echoing her own thoughts. "I know that we practically hated each other a couple of hours before, but I should have told you. I have not at any time done anything inappropriate before, and would never have considered it, but you, well you…” He stopped and shook his head.
“What, I what?” she enquired.
“Well you are different. You've battered my head.”
“Sorry?” Charlotte was perplexed by his answer.
“You make me do things that I would never do, like be rude to people, like I have been to you. I wouldn't openly flirt with someone’s staff to make them jealous. As for getting drunk and intending to leave my car overnight, just so I had the courage to kiss someone, well it’s just not something that I would do; I love that car!”
Charlotte started to giggle as Niall grinned widely at her. “You didn’t drink all that lager just to kiss me. You liked the taste.”
“Well okay,” he replied, “perhaps it didn’t start off that way, but it did kind of push me into doing something that I was dying to do anyway.”
“I suppose that you had a similar effect on me.” Niall looked at her quizzically. “You don’t think that I would normally kiss a client do you?” she asked.
Niall shook his head and leaned further forward, holding her hand tighter he whispered into her ear. “We need to sort this out properly, shall we go somewhere quieter?”
Charlotte pulled her hand away, for all every bone in her body was screaming, 'take me now right here on this table, even with the warty woman watching'; she was not about to become anyone’s bit on the side, someone who could be picked up and put down whenever he felt like it.
“Just a minute,” she hissed, in a hushed tone. “Don’t think that I’m going to fall at your feet and become your piece on the side.”
Niall took her hand again, a hurt look on his face. “Please Charlotte, I honestly didn’t mean that. I mean, I think that we should go back to my house for lunch, to talk about things. I for one can’t leave it like this. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since Christmas, so this is too important to discuss in a cramped café, over weak coffee, don’t you think?”
Charlotte looked at him dolefully, and nodded her head slowly. “Okay, but why your house, why not a restaurant?” she asked. “And do you think that’s wise, you know; your fiancée?”
Niall smiled half-heartedly. “We’ll be alone, don’t worry. Look we need to be somewhere quiet; we have a lot to talk about. Plus I make a mean beans on toast.” Now he smiled broadly, lighting up his eyes.
“Okay, but lunch is all, okay,” said Charlotte, desperate to feel his lips on hers.
“I promise that I won’t put you in that position, I swear,” he replied, touching her
hand lightly.
“Okay, let’s go then.” Charlotte knew that they had to go now, before her nerve went, and she decided to go home instead.
“I’m parked at the multi-storey, what about you?”
“The same, I’ll follow you in my car then.”
Niall nodded as he counted some money out and place it on the table. “Right let’s go then.”
Charlotte followed Niall out of the coffee shop, and slipped past him as he held the door open for her. They walked to the car park in silence, just glancing occasionally at each other. Charlotte considered ringing Tom, as she was supposed to be meeting him and his mates tonight for a drink. She wanted to warn him that she may be late, or not even make it, but that could be tempting fate. As they reached their cars Charlotte had decided against calling Tom, of course she would be there, nothing was going to happen between her and Niall; at least not while he had a fiancée.
Half an hour after leaving Chester Charlotte pulled up behind Niall on a gravelled driveway outside a beautiful cottage, she smiled as she noticed that the door was Manchester City blue, surrounded by burnt orange ivy. As Niall went into the house, leaving the door open, Charlotte stayed inside the car, contemplating what could be about to happen inside. She knew that she didn’t want to become 'the other woman,' but she also knew how she felt about Niall. She had no right to ask him to leave Ingrid, which she wouldn’t anyway. She and Niall didn’t know each other, and the attraction that they felt at the moment could easily turn to nothing in a few weeks’ time. However, she had to admit, he had really got inside her head, and maybe even her heart, and Charlotte didn’t think that she could cope just being friends.
“God, why is life so complicated?” she said aloud, as she reached for her bag.
As Charlotte was locking the car, Niall came to the front door, beckoning her in. “I wondered where you were,” he said as Charlotte sidled past him, into his and Ingrid’s home. “I’ve put the beans on.”
Charlotte shivered as her breast accidentally brushed against his arm. She hovered in the doorway to the lounge, not sure whether to go through or not.
“Go through,” said Niall, placing his hand in the small of her back.
Charlotte’s body quivered again. “Are you sure?”
Niall read her mind. “She’s not here and won’t arrive on us unannounced.”
Charlotte smiled and feeling slightly easier walked through to the lounge. She hadn’t known what to expect the inside of the cottage to be like, but it was delightful. Suddenly, she felt quite angry; Ingrid obviously had good taste and an eye for interior design. This was something else to hate her for. The long lounge diner was furnished tastefully, with what looked to be expensive furniture, while the walls were painted in rich buttermilk. Two big comfy sofas, either side of the huge open fire, injected a shot of aubergine colour into the room. Charlotte’s eyes moved across the room and rested on the corner, bringing a smile to her lips; boys and their toys, for there amidst the taste and understatement were a vast, ultra slim black T.V. and a tower of entertainment gadgets, clearly Niall’s input to the décor.
“Please take a seat.” Niall broke her thoughts and ushered Charlotte to the round oak table at the far end of the room.
Charlotte moved to the table and sat down, watching Niall carefully as he went through to the kitchen in the back of the cottage. As she sat, Charlotte craned her neck to see through the open door, catching occasional glances of Niall as he moved around the kitchen preparing lunch. Within a few minutes, he returned with a tray, carrying two huge mugs of tea and two plates of beans on toast. He placed one of each in front of Charlotte.
“Thank you,” she said. “That looks lovely.”
“No problem,” he replied, sitting down next to her. “Tuck in.”
After lunch, eaten between bouts of discussion about the cottage, Niall invited Charlotte to take a comfier seat on one of the huge sofas.
“I must say you certainly have an eye for decorating,” said Charlotte, plonking herself down heavily. “Well someone does,” she added in almost a whisper.
“I enjoy it.” Niall sat on the opposite sofa. “Much more so than soliciting, if you know what I mean?” They both smiled at his choice of words.
“So why carry on then, being a solicitor, if you are not happy?” Charlotte asked, while she carefully scanned the room for a sign of Ingrid. She had noticed that there was not one picture of Ingrid around the place, plenty of what she assumed were Niall’s family, but none of his fiancée; in fact, there was no sign of her whatsoever.
“Money, plain and simple,” replied Niall. “I’m afraid that painter and decorators don’t get the sort of money that I have unfortunately become used to.”
“So, what time is Ingrid due back?” Charlotte changed the subject dramatically, desperate to confirm her thoughts.
“She won’t.” Niall looked at her quizzically, confused by her sudden question as they had not mentioned Ingrid at all.
“Oh, why is that, is she working away from home?” Charlotte was not going to give up.
Niall shook his head. “Charlotte stop worrying. She won’t be arriving. This is Ingrid’s night for playing Bridge, anyway she doesn’t live here.”
“She doesn’t?” Charlotte attempted to hide the smile that was moving across her lips.
“God no, I put my foot down there. This may sound a little sexist or selfish, or maybe both, but she doesn’t even have a key.” He smiled at the look of astonishment on Charlotte’s face. “I told her that it was on the grounds of religion.” Niall laughed, but it was an empty laugh, with a shadow crossing his face.
Charlotte felt a little guilty about pushing the subject of Ingrid’s habitat, but had needed to know. She decided to change the subject, but the first thing that came into her head was Grant.
“So, remind me how you know Grant.” Charlotte’s stomach lurched as his name escaped her lips, confounded at why she would even think about him after their last meeting.
“As I told you in Paul’s office, he’s a friend of my Managing Director, or should I say Ingrid.” Niall dropped his head at the mention of Ingrid’s name. “I wouldn’t say that he and I are friends, more associates, although I do see a lot of him. He’s also a good friend of Ingrid’s brother, Richard, whom I play Sunday football with, so we tend to socialise with the same people.” As he spoke Niall noticed Charlotte turn her face away. “Was it a bad relationship?” he asked tenderly.
Charlotte’s brow became etched with deep furrows. “What do you think? Is your relationship with Ingrid good?” Now it was Niall’s turn to look away. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to pry. It's just that I get rather bitchy when I think about him. I don’t know why I mentioned him; the tosser!”
Niall smiled broadly. “Now that’s the Charlotte I have got to know.” His voice was almost a whisper as he continued. “You’re okay. I pried first. However, to answer your question, no, not particularly,” he said glumly.
Charlotte watched him playing with the arm of the sofa, realising how sad he looked. “You really aren’t happy at all are you?” she asked; Niall shook his head.
“Nope, but don’t think that’s why you and I are sitting here today, or why we kissed.” Niall ran a hand across his head. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I didn’t realise that I was unhappy, not until that day that we went for lunch. I enjoyed your company so much; you have been like a blast of sunlight in my life.”
Charlotte was aghast at what she was hearing; she hadn’t imagined that he would feel this strongly. “But you don’t know me Niall, all we’ve ever done is argue, except for a drunken Christmas snog.”
“I know it’s crazy isn’t it? I don’t know how to explain it. When I first met you, I was angry at myself for fancying you when I had Ingrid, but I excused it by putting it down to male hormones. In fact, I congratulated myself on still being a bit of a lad, but the more I thought about you the more confused I became. I was so angry with myself that I’m afraid t
hat I took it out on you.”
Charlotte grinned, recollecting some of their run-ins. “So, what are we to do Mr Devine?”
Niall moved across to sit next to Charlotte, taking her small hand in his large one. “I don’t know Miss Price, what are we to do?”
“It’s your call Niall, you’re the one with the fiancée. However, whatever you decide you have to be sure it’s what you really want, don’t forget that you work for her company. That’s going to be a problem in itself,” Charlotte answered as sensibly as she could, forcing herself not to suggest that they have a wild passionate affair.
Niall let go of her hand; he stood up and leaned against the large stone fireplace, his back to Charlotte. “Yeah, don’t I know it, but if the worst happens, I can always do some painting and decorating.” He laughed, but Charlotte could sense that he wasn’t smiling.
She wanted to go to him, and put her arms around him, but she knew that they shouldn’t risk doing anything to cloud either of their judgments.
Niall turned back to face her, running a hand through his hair leaving it standing in boyish spikes. “I’m going to tell her. Even if, God forbid, things don’t work out between me and you, I still need to finish things with her. Yer right, I’m not happy with her, whether I’ve got you in my life or not. So,” he asked, “are you willing to give you and me a go then?” He crouched down, taking hold of her hand once more.
“Niall this is mad, you hardly know me,” she cried, pulling their hands to her chest. “In fact, fact we don’t know each other at all; we could hate each other within a week. We’ve had one kiss, well a few kisses, and yes they were fantastic, but you can hardly base your future on it.”
Niall was smiling widely now; he reached up cupping Charlotte’s face in his hand, his silver thumb ring cold on her cheek.