Bound by Dreams (Cauld Ane Series)

by Tracey Jane Jackson

  “As opposed to…?” Charlotte said.

  “You coming in and babysitting me.”

  “Van, we have to talk about this guy.”

  Vandi crossed her arms and sank into the seat. “No, we really don’t.”

  Don’t push her. It’ll only drive her away.

  Charlotte stiffened beside him.

  Not that I’m trying to tell you what to do with your sister.

  She relaxed again as she pulled out her phone and sent a text to her mother. “You can talk to Mom, then.”

  “What did you just do?” Vandi squealed.

  “I texted Mom.” Charlotte glanced back at her phone. “She’s meeting us at home.”

  “Why did you have to go and do that? She doesn’t need to be involved.”

  “Yes, she does,” Charlotte argued. “You’re sixteen and she’s your mother.”

  “Oh, my god, Charlie. She’s totally going to ground me.”

  Charlotte nodded. “I hope she does!”

  “You’re not the boss of me!”

  “And I praise God every day for that,” Charlotte said. “Look, I may not be your parent, Van, but I do care about you, and if you’re safe and mad at me, it’s better than you being in a situation you can’t get out of. You and Mom can sort this mess out.”

  “I hate you.” Vandi crossed her arms with a huff and scowled at her sister.

  “That’s okay, sissy. I still love you.”

  Niall pulled Charlotte back against his chest.

  Thank you.

  For?

  For everything. She squeezed his knee. You kind of rode in like a knight in shining armor, just when I needed one.

  Well, that’s just what I was going for.

  Do you do that for all your friends?

  He ran a finger across the nape of her neck. Only the pretty ones.

  She smiled at him over her shoulder and he didn’t miss the pink in her cheeks.

  You really are stunning, love.

  Charlotte snorted. And you’re apparently blind, with a terrible sense of smell. I need a shower.

  “What are you snorting for?” Vandi asked. “Are you sick?”

  “No, Van. Just a little stuffy.”

  “Because Maggie was just a little stuffy too.”

  Maggie’s initial leukemia symptoms had appeared to be nothing more serious than a common cold.

  Charlotte smiled gently. “I’m not sick, Van. Don’t worry.”

  “I still hate you.”

  Charlotte nodded. “I know, sissy.”

  * * *

  Once Vandi was delivered into the confused arms of their mother, Charlotte headed back out to the car where Niall waited. He was on the phone, but hung up as she approached.

  “I don’t mean to interrupt,” she said.

  “You didn’t. I was finished.” He smiled. “Everything go okay with your sister?”

  Charlotte shrugged. “I have no idea. But Mom’s on it.”

  “Are you interested in joining me for dinner?”

  “I don’t think I should.”

  “Why not?” Niall frowned, but then quickly softened his expression. “No pressure, love.”

  She bit her lip. “Dinner as friends?”

  He smiled. “Aye, lass. As friends.”

  “Okay, but after I shower and make myself look less like the hag under the bridge.”

  Niall laughed. “Sweetheart, you don’t look like the hag under the bridge.”

  Charlotte’s heart raced at the endearment, and she found herself biting her lip to keep from sighing. “Well, I’d at least like to look a little less like a homeless person.”

  “Still not seeing it,” he said. “I need to run a few things over to Grace’s family. Shall I pick you up at six?”

  Charlotte checked her watch. “Six would be perfect. What should I wear?”

  “A little birdie told me you had an affection for Serratto.”

  “It’s only my favorite restaurant on the planet.”

  Niall smiled. “Excellent. I made reservations for six thirty.”

  Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “What if I’d said no?”

  “I figured I’d take Maggie instead.”

  For whatever reason, that answer caused jealousy to well up, but she forced it down. “If you want to take Maggie instead, I’d totally understand.”

  “Well, that’s very big of you…friend.” Niall crossed his arms and leaned against the car. “But I only saw Maggie a short time ago, and I’d really like a chance to get to know you.”

  Charlotte couldn’t stop a smile. “If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure.” Niall leaned down and kissed her cheek, whispering, “I will take you there every night if it will make you smile like that.”

  Charlotte sighed. “You really are too much, Niall MacMillan.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll leave you now. If I don’t, I’ll be tempted to throw you into the car and drive you back to Scotland.”

  Charlotte nodded, slipping her hands in her pockets in an effort to keep herself from grabbing onto him and never letting go. She watched him drive away before running back into the house and up to her room. She needed to find the perfect outfit, which meant unpacking another box she’d procrastinated with.

  A knock at her door pulled her from the closet. “Come in.”

  “You’re going out again?” her mother asked.

  Charlotte nodded. “Niall’s taking me to dinner. Everything sorted with Vandi?”

  Her mother sighed. “I have no idea, hon. She seems to think she’s in love.”

  “With a twenty-two-year-old?”

  “No!” her mother exclaimed. “Is he?”

  “Yes, Mom. Didn’t you know that?”

  “That little liar. She told me he was nineteen.”

  “Still,” Charlotte countered. “A little old to be hanging around high schoolers, don’t you think?”

  “Well, not really. It’s only a three-year difference.”

  “Except that it’s not. It’s six years.”

  “Yes, that does make this weird. She’ll just have to stop seeing him.”

  Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Good luck with that.”

  “Thanks for getting her.”

  “Of course.” Charlotte smiled. “You should really thank Niall, though.”

  “I will when he gets here tonight.”

  Charlotte just nodded, having no intention of letting her mother anywhere near him.

  Watch those claws, sweetheart.

  Charlotte bit her lip to keep from retorting.

  “Well, I’ll let you change, hon.”

  Charlotte nodded. “Thanks, Mom.”

  Her mother left the room and Charlotte headed for the shower.

  CHAPTER NINE

  TWO HOURS LATER, Charlotte pulled open her front door and swallowed a fan-girl squeak. Niall wore dark jeans and a black button-down shirt, his hair was a perfect mess, and he’d shaved. She didn’t know how he could be better looking clean-shaven, but he was.

  “Hi,” she said, her voice husky. She cleared her throat in an effort to regain her dignity.

  “Hi.” His eyes raked over her. “You are magnificent.”

  “Thank you.” She’d chosen jeans with knee-high black boots, and a low-cut, black, long-sleeved T-shirt. She’d worn it for comfort, but Niall made her feel beautiful as well.

  “I was afraid I might be underdressed,” he said.

  “Not at all.” Charlotte giggled. “You’re perfect. Portland’s pretty low-key.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  “Are you ready?” she asked.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I meet your mum?”

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  He grinned. “In her eyes, I’m a young man picking up her daughter for a date. I should probably introduce myself.”

  “Except it’s not a date,” she clarified. “We’re just friends.”

  “I’d still like to show your mother respect.”
>
  Charlotte shook her head. “No, it’s really not necessary. I’m an adult who has been living away from her for six years and besides, she’s the last thing from overprotective. We’re totally free to go.”

  “Charlotte?” her mother called from the kitchen. “Am I going to meet your friend?”

  Charlotte groaned and squeezed her eyes shut.

  Niall chuckled. “Come on, love. It’s the right thing to do.”

  “That’s debatable.” She stepped aside and waved him in when he hesitated. “I lowered the thermostat just in case.”

  “Thank you.” Niall grinned and stepped inside.

  “I’m apologizing in advance.” She grabbed his arm and led him to the back of the house and into the kitchen. She forced herself not to let out a litany of curses as her mother sauntered toward them wearing her favorite see-through leopard-print top and black push-up bra. “You changed, apparently.”

  Her mother waved a hand. “Oh, this old thing? I spilled wine on my T-shirt, so I grabbed the first thing I could.”

  “Hmm-mm, sure you did.” Charlotte glanced apologetically at Niall and then back at her mother. “Niall, this is my mother, Candice. Mom, Niall.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Whitmore.”

  “Oh, call me Candi,” she crooned, and shook his hand with both of hers. “Everyone else does, particularly since I’m no longer married.”

  Niall smiled as he pulled his hand from her grip and laid it on Charlotte’s lower back, calming her instantly. She leaned into his touch.

  “Well, now that you’ve met, shall we go?” Charlotte said.

  “What’s the rush, hun?” her mother countered. “We’re just getting acquainted.”

  Yes, sweetheart, what’s the rush?

  Charlotte scowled up at Niall and then schooled her features to focus on her mother again. “Our reservation’s at six thirty, Mom. I don’t want to lose it.”

  Niall smiled. “She’s right. It is at six thirty, but perhaps I can take everyone out soon. That way, we’ll have time to really talk.”

  “That sounds great.”

  “Great,” Charlotte said, and grabbed Niall’s hand. “Let’s go.”

  “It was lovely to meet you,” Niall said, and let Charlotte drag him to the foyer.

  Charlotte’s mother followed. “You too. I look forward to dinner.”

  Niall nodded. “As do I.”

  “’Bye, Mom.” Charlotte grabbed her purse and coat and pulled Niall from the house.

  Niall had to jog to keep up with her. “Whoa, love, slow down.”

  “I will when we’re in the car.” Bruce held the door open and Charlotte sighed in relief as she practically threw herself in head first. “Thank you.”

  Bruce nodded and closed the door once Niall slid beside her.

  “I’m so sorry,” Charlotte said, and buckled her seatbelt.

  “Don’t apologize, sweetheart. Your mother’s her own person.”

  “I can’t believe she changed…well, no, actually, I can believe she changed.” She groaned. “I just don’t understand why she has to out-slut everyone.”

  Niall laughed. “Out-slut? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that before. Is it an American saying?”

  “No, it’s a Chuck-ism, as Grace says.” She shook her head. “I really am sorry, Nye. She can be unbelievably embarrassing sometimes. She’s gone a little off the rails over the last couple of years. Not sure if she’s realizing she’s getting old, or what.”

  He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s fine, love. I’m well aware that what your mother does isn’t a reflection on you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  Charlotte spent the rest of the drive allowing Niall’s presence to calm her. His thumb gently caressed her knuckles, further solidifying her absolute besotted-ness with him, and by the time they arrived at the restaurant, she was hopelessly in love with him. She was almost willing to get on the plane and fly home with him.

  No, on second thought, that was never going to happen.

  Niall gave her a knowing smile and Charlotte rolled her eyes. She really needed to find out if she could guard her thoughts from him. She did appreciate that he didn’t argue with her, however, and followed him into the restaurant.

  Once dinner wrapped up, Charlotte realized she really didn’t want to go home…ever again.

  “We don’t have to, you know,” Niall said as he signed the check.

  “What?”

  “Go home. You can come back to the hotel with me or we can go somewhere else. Dancing perhaps?”

  Charlotte widened her eyes. “You’d go dancing with me?”

  Niall slid his credit card back into his wallet and nodded. “I know it’s not really your thing, but would you like to go dancing?”

  “Not particularly, no.” Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “I hate the crowds and noise of clubs, to be honest. Wait…how did you know it wasn’t my thing?”

  “Because I know you, love.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  Niall smiled. “So, what would you like to do?”

  “I’d like to hide.”

  He chuckled. “Back to the hotel for a while, then.”

  “I can’t, Niall.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because of…I just can’t.”

  Niall frowned. “Then call him and tell him the date’s off.”

  “No.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Because I like him,” she said. “I’m not going to change my actions because you say you and I are destined. I’m not an idiot.”

  “What the hell does being an idiot have to do with this?”

  “Eventually, you’ll get sick of me and find someone else. I will be left heartbroken. At least with Alec I have a chance at an even playing field. You, Niall MacMillan, are way too far out of my league.” She dropped her napkin on the table. “Now, will you please take me home?”

  Niall nodded and rose to his feet, holding Charlotte’s chair while she did the same. He retrieved her coat and helped her into it before guiding her to where Bruce waited with the car. They rode back to her home in silence and without touching. She noticed with some sadness that Niall stared out the window of the car, brooding, and didn’t even attempt to hold her hand.

  She shook off her thoughts. She couldn’t have it both ways, and she’d made her decision. Sooner than she expected, Bruce pulled into her driveway and opened her door for her. Niall followed, ever the consummate gentleman, walking her to her porch.

  “Thank you for dinner,” she said.

  He slipped his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “’Twas my pleasure, lass.”

  Charlotte slipped the key into the lock and forced a smile. “Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  She slipped inside, locked the door, and made a run for her bedroom. She flopped onto the bed and buried her face in her hands. She was royally screwed.

  * * *

  Niall heard the lock turn and then made his way back to the car. “Find me a bar, Bruce. The seedier the better.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Niall watched the passing scenery as Bruce sped down the highway. He hadn’t counted on another man, or that Charlotte would choose the guy over himself. “Shite!” he snapped.

  His cell phone pealed in the quiet and he answered it, hoping it would be Charlotte. “Hello?”

  “Hi,” Grace said. “Need to talk?”

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “Because Charlotte just filled me in on your dinner.”

  “Damn it,” he said, and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you tell me about this Alec bastard?”

  Grace sighed. “Honestly? I kind of wanted to get back at you a bit for the whole Max thing.”

  “Well, you’ve done that quite effectively, Grace.”

  “I’m sorry, Nye. Really. It was a low blow. What
can I do to help?”

  “For starters, what’s Alec’s last name?”

  “I think she said it was Donovan. She met him at an audition. Why, what are you going to do?”

  “Probably better you don’t ask.”

  “Nye, don’t be rash. She won’t like it. Just give it a little time. She’ll come around, eventually. Right now, she’s just scared.”

  “I have given her nothing to be frightened about.”

  “Oh, really?” Grace countered. “You don’t think you’d freak out a bit if the man you’ve had a crush on since you were twelve suddenly walked into your life and professed his undying love?”

  “If I had a crush on a man, Grace, we wouldn’t be here.”

  “You have a point.” She sighed. “Look. Charlotte is the epitome of good choices. She just doesn’t seem to ever make a bad decision. That’s not to say she’s perfect by any stretch, but she’s quick to self-correct if she’s going down a path that isn’t a wise one. Except for one time. She dated a guy she thought was “the one,” and he shattered her. He was a nasty-ass jerk who just happened to be wrapped up in a very pretty package. So now she runs from anything that looks too good to be true, and you, my brother, fall into that category.”

  He stamped down his rage. “Who was this man?”

  “Oh, just a two-bit actor by the name of Blake Harris.”

  “Bloody hell. The guy who demands ten million a picture?”

  “Yep, one and the same,” Grace said. “He strung her along, cheated on her, and even smacked her around. Once, mind you. She would have never allowed him to touch her a second time, but she was really scared for a while there. Once he found a new conquest, he left her alone, but she looked over her shoulder for almost a year.”

  “He hit her?” he rasped.

  Grace paused.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” he demanded.

  “Nye.” She sighed. “It’s something I’m not supposed to know.”

  “What? Tell me,” he demanded.

  “He put her in the hospital. Broke her wrist, bruised a few ribs, and from what Donnie told me, attempted rape.”

  Niall swore. “Who the hell is Donnie?”

  “One of Charlotte’s friends from L.A. They were really close, but only friends.”

  “And he took care of her?”

  “Yes, she let the nurse call him from the hospital.”

  “Tell me exactly what that bastard did to her. All of it, even if you don’t think I want to know.”