WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Set the alarm, Jesse, it’s okay,” Charlotte hooked her pack on her shoulder and slid to the ground, making certain the door was locked before striding to the front. “Martha is a friend of a few of us who helped her out. You will never in your life find better ribs,” she made a little cross over her chest. “Promise.”

  “Then I’m in your hands, Charlotte,” he took her palm and a deep breath as they followed a few others to the wide, double doors. “You can almost taste it in the air.”

  She puzzled over the large warm hand surrounding hers. It felt nice. It felt good. It felt like high school, she thought and almost giggled until the large black woman with melted chocolate skin caught sight of her at the entrance.

  “Martha has people watching the parking lot, Jesse,” she smiled at the woman approaching with hands wiping on a well-used large apron around her middle. Charlotte tried to prepare herself and never quite managed it before she was gripped and hugged.

  “Charlotte! It’s been too dang long, lady!” She set her back, making sure she didn’t fall over before thrusting her palm toward Jesse. “Martha…”

  “Jesse Hunter, my pleasure,” he said honestly, his gaze on the bright smile and appraising eyes that looked him over. He knew he was being evaluated by the older woman and grinned a little broader, an easy relaxation filling him that he’d been missing lately. “I think I missed lunch today.”

  “Stomachs always tell you that once you get inside the place,” Martha said with a happy laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. “Come over this way. You know my girl here long?”

  “I met her about two hours ago in the coffee shop,” he admitted looking toward Charlotte and meeting the pale brown eyes. “She smells like sugar and looked hungry so I asked her out.”

  “Smart man,” Martha nodded, wiped down the large table and grabbed a couple tall glasses of iced water from a passing tray headed for the dining area. “Real smart man. Charlotte don’t meet too many bright ones, or so she tells me. ‘Bout time someone caught her attention. I’ll send you an order of ribs and some brisket with fries. How’s that sound?”

  “Perfect. Iced tea, please,” Jesse leaned back in the chair, his gaze still taking in the absolutely eclectic nature that filled the inside of the large, open room. “How did you find this place?”

  “I’m one of the investors,” Charlotte said with a slight shrug. “A friend of mine met Martha about two years back. Circumstances weren’t best for either of them, but Isabel and a couple of us got together and made it happen for Martha,” Charlotte held the frosted plastic glass between both hands.

  “And your friend Isabel?” He’d seen concern and more in her eyes.

  “Isabel’s married and happy and has a little tiny baby girl. She was running from stuff in the past. Sometimes you don’t run fast enough but sometimes you run in the right direction,” she said cryptically. “She’s a programmer and loves her work, so it all worked out for the best.”

  “You must have had to do some serious talking to get financing,” he shook his head, glancing casually around at the varied tables, chairs and pictures.

  “We were the financing. We knew a bank wouldn’t look at the important issues, just the wrong ones,” Charlotte shrugged. “We have our own circle of friends for things that matter. Some I even met on-line,” she suggested in a low voice, relieved when he looked a little embarrassed but grinned.

  “So you’re telling me I need to move into the next century,” Jesse shook his head. “I know you’re right. And maybe the road block is that it’s my kids.”

  “Ahh…it’s okay for others, but not yours.” Charlotte laughed when he offered a slight wince. “Kind of the not in my backyard thing. I’d bet you raised them smart and careful, Jesse. But I know it’s not easy to trust their judgment…or humans, for that matter.”

  “My parents told me repeatedly that no matter how old I got, they’d always worry about me,” Jesse recalled with a half-smile. “I guess it just passes along to the next generation.”

  “And how you deal with it will be part of your relationship with them going forward,” she offered, her gaze following his.

  Charlotte pulled her lower lip between her teeth when she saw the two platters brought from behind Jesse. She lifted a napkin and handed him one, watching the dark eyes widen seconds before his grin broadened. His jaw was slightly squared with a little dent down the center, his face like the rest of him, lean and not carrying extra weight. He didn’t wear any rings or a chain around his neck, his watch the only thing sparkling on him beside his smile, she thought absently, lifting a slice of the thick grilled bread and laying some of the thin sliced seasoned brisket over top before biting down hungrily.

  “I’d never have found this place in a dozen years here,” he said when he’d cleaned off one very meaty, red coated pork rib bone.

  “Oh, a lot of people at the resort know about it,” Charlotte shrugged. “We have a brochure made for Martha and it’s in the rack of things to explore in the area. You might have eventually,” she considered her next question carefully. “How did your family take it? The twins?”

  Jesse pushed a long puff of air between his lips, took a drink of the iced sweet tea and lifted another rib bone.

  “Calmly. I think I expected anger but my parents just fell into the role of grandparents like they’d been waiting for it all their life. My father made it very clear I was their father and would begin behaving accordingly immediately. Guess you could say immaturity was shot out from under me because I knew he was right. They were tiny for two year olds, but smart and fun and they wanted to be with me. And I discovered I wanted them to have the happy kind of childhood that I’d had,” he shrugged and finished off the bone and reached for another. ”So I worked, went to college and worked some more. In between there was homework and school plays and soccer matches and lots of learning.”

  “I don’t think that part ever stops,” Charlotte said softly, the love in his eyes for the twins making her smile. They were fun, happy kids. She knew that a few minutes after talking with them in the game. They teased each other, but it was never done or said in meanness. And they always came to one another’s defense.

  “No…no, I’m figuring that out these days,” he leaned back, biting into a slice of the thick grilled bread. “I wasn’t sure how they’d handle the relocation,” his grin was crooked, relaxed. “Jenna digs into the computer and comes up with two suitable colleges for their jumping off courses. Just like that. No trauma. No drama about leaving friends and familiar. Just excitement about all the new and different there is to explore.”

  “That means you did a good job, Jesse. Is that difficult to accept as fact?” Charlotte lifted one of the thickly coated ribs and bit down hungrily. “Best ever BBQ in the world.”

  “I have to agree. My stomach thanks you,” he said with a gallant tip of his head.

  “You don’t take compliments about being a good dad well,” she said, one pale red brow arched. “It embarrasses you,” she leaned back, fingers of one hand twirling the dangling end of her ponytail over her shoulder. “I bet nothing in your job makes you this uncomfortable.”

  “On that, you’d be right,” he admitted, draining the iced tea and excusing himself. “Excuse me.”

  Charlotte watched him stride away, one finger swiping over the plate and carrying a dollop of BBQ sauce to her lips.

  “When you wait for the right man, you do good work, Charlotte-girl,” Martha chuckled and sunk into the empty chair.

  “Martha…he wandered into the coffee shop and asked me out,” Charlotte felt the heat stinging her cheeks when Jesse took the seat next to her. He’d heard Martha’s comment and was grinning. “We were both hungry and he’s new to the area and wanted BBQ. And you have the best,” she complimented.

  “Won’t argue there,” Martha chuckled. “Even had to add a couple new people. Place is hopping on the weekends, especially this is our second summer. Sometimes it feels like a dream.”

&
nbsp; “You work hard for it, Martha. Nothing wrong with having real fun dreams,” Charlotte stood up. “Be right back.”

  “Where do I get the tab from, Martha?” Jesse pulled his wallet from his pocket, puzzled at the woman shaking her head.

  “My girls don’t pay. But they’ll slip it into the tip jar when they think I’m not looking,” she told him with a chuckle and a wink. “I used to believe in friends but never as much as since I met Isabel and her girls. You just don’t hurt her, Jesse Hunter,” she stood up and clapped a hand on his shoulder before wandering toward the kitchen, calling out instructions as she went.

  Charlotte came to his side as he was dropping cash into the tip jar.

  “I should have warned you. Martha is a great lady,” Charlotte said with a smile, his warm palm taking hers and leading her from the bustling restaurant. “It’s so clean and fresh. She runs a very tight ship. One of our friends pulls people from vo-tech schools who want to learn the restaurant business. They share time between here and the resort, because of the differences of style and…I don’t like the word class…”

  “Like my reaction when we entered the parking lot,” he said softly, regrettably. “Basing my opinion on appearances.”

  “It’s how humans are,” Charlotte shrugged, stretched and freed her palm from his as they wandered through the busy parking lot. “Thank you for inviting me out, Jesse. It was nice just sitting and talking about stuff.”

  “Good company and good food, something everyone’s after,” he opened the door for her, stopping from closing it. “That sounded like the end of the date.”

  “I open the shop at five-thirty,” Charlotte said with a little wince. “Can’t come between people in need of a morning jolt. They might riot,” she told him in a dramatic whisper that made him laugh and close the door.

  “That much I grasp, believe me,” he said, guiding the car easily onto the quiet night roads. It was almost ten and he was an early riser himself. “I try and get in a run or swim before the day begins.”

  “My summers are like that…I have more help available then for mornings, with school out. I have several new people beginning Monday,” she breathed a long sigh. “I run in the evenings, closing at six makes it easier. The waterway makes a pleasant visual and captivates all the stress. And I love the smells.”

  “I’m working out of treadmills. My daughter is convincing me to try running someplace where I can’t work and run at the same time,” Jesse saw the smile touching her lips beneath the bright lights of the parking area outside her shop.

  “What do you do to actually relax, Jesse?” She didn’t make an immediate move to leave the SUV. She didn’t want to. She wanted to spend more time talking to him. Okay, the sexist in her admitted, and looking at him.

  “Dinner with an intelligent, witty woman,” he answered with a smile. “I read.”

  “More than technical journals for your chosen career?” Charlotte laughed at the look crossing his features. “I’ve got to go,” she leaned over quickly, kissed his cheek and jumped from the SUV. “Good night, Jesse.”

  Charlotte didn’t look back as she ran toward the shop and up the wide stairs at the side of the building. She pulled the band from her hair once she was inside the large apartment over her shop, her back against the closed and locked door and her breathing finally breaking free of her chest.

  She closed her eyes and worked to steady herself. She flipped a light switch and peeked out the window on her way to the bedroom. She saw the tail lights of his SUV leaving the parking lot and head toward the resort before shutting down the lights and herself for the night.

  Chapter Four

  Jesse Hunter didn’t realize he was whistling as he worked the tie the next morning, standing before the six AM light reflecting off the Sound far below their suite. Jenna looked at her brother and arched an eyebrow. Jamie’s response was a shrug, his hair disheveled as he worked through the pancakes he’d ordered up from the kitchen.

  “Not making coffee this morning, Dad?” Jenna asked casually, stabbing a couple berries and chewing thoughtfully.

  “No. There’s a coffee shop on the way to the office,” he answered absently, checking his briefcase and then his phone for updates.

  This time Jenna did frown and mouthed the words. “Coffee shop?” At Jamie.

  “You never go to coffee shops,” Jamie said after clearing his throat.

  “It’s a time of changes, I guess,” he answered vaguely, snapping the case shut and lifting the handle. “Getting a jump on the text books?”

  “We got bus passes and are going back to the campus today to plot where the classes are,” Jenna replied with a grin. “But we’ll have our phones on and will be back here by dinner, promise.” She caught a whiff of his after shave when he kissed her cheek and headed for the door.

  “Coffee shop?” Jamie said carefully.

  “It can’t be a coincidence,” Jenna chewed on her lip thoughtfully.

  Charlotte was busy pulling pastries from the oven, the sweet, fragrant scent filling the kitchen and spilling out to the people waiting in line. She carried the large tray to the counter and warned her help sharply.

  “They are hot…be very careful,” she left the spatula and returned to add another tray to the oven, set the timer and swipe the back of her hand over her forehead.

  “Charlotte? There’s a man out here asking for you,” Adelaide grinned and winked. “He’s kind of cute. And new…”

  Charlotte felt her heart thump. Pale red lashes darted around the room and down at the towel she had hanging from the waist band of her jeans. She wiped her hands on it and went through the curved archway.

  She saw him immediately. Students, people in uniforms, a nurse and none of them registered as strongly as his presence. She was positive she’d hyperventilate. Instead, she looked at the labels on the morning offerings, selected one and poured a fresh cup. She capped it off and went around the counter, taking his palm and leading him out of the lines.

  “Personal service,” Jesse raised a palm and took the cup she offered, inhaling the interesting fragrance but never looking from her face.

  “I figured I might have you converted to new blends,” Charlotte held the thick towel at her waist between her hands.

  “I enjoyed last night,” he said before he could change his mind. “I wanted to see if you’d repeat it tonight.”

  “I think I’d like that,” she nodded.

  “Hey! Charlie! Heard you and your team kicked ass in the tourney! Way to go!”

  Two pair of eyes met the young man giving her a shout before he disappeared in the back and went digging for his name tag and apron.

  Dark eyes shifted, blinked and met the suddenly quiet woman.

  “I didn’t know how to tell you,” Charlotte said slowly. “I didn’t know that it mattered.”

  “You’re the one they’ve been gaming with that last three months?” He stared in disbelief, his eyes closing for a long minute. “Charlie…Charlotte…Christ…”

  “I…yes…we met in the game and…”

  “And you knew yesterday,” he said flatly.

  “I...not until you introduced yourself, Jesse. They never talked much about you and certainly never showed photos in the game.”

  “I’m supposed to believe you had no idea who I was,” he felt the heat of the coffee cup against his palm.

  “Believe…what…you’re their dad, that’s all I know,” she looked at him, confused and a little hurt at the cold emanating from him now. “I don’t understand…”

  “And you just happened to select them?”

  “You believe that I have nothing better to do then prowl the internet for…for a date? And using them to find one? That I prowl my coffee shop and I’m that desperate that I need to search for men online?” Charlotte stabbed one finger into his chest, sending him back a pace. “Get out of my shop. Now. I don’t need you or any other man in my life.”

  “You’re claiming you didn’t know who I was
when you made friends with Jenna and Jamie?” He demanded again, his voice low and cold.

  “If you knew how it worked…you would know that we hold auditions for players for our team,” she hissed furiously. “Jamie beat out four other people and Jenna hit the mark almost immediately. We became friends online. Me and them. You…you came to MY shop and asked me out, Hunter. You and your ego asked me out, remember? I didn’t seek you out and you did not find me on the internet. Get out of here,” she spun on her heels and went into her kitchen, her head shaking and words low and mumbling to herself.

  Several eyes watched and widened when she came to a skidding stop and spun to march back to poke at his chest again. “How dare you!” She hissed furiously. “I can’t believe I’m arguing with an arrogant, self-absorbed, egotistical male who thinks I’m desperate enough to troll the internet for a date! I’ve never been so…auughhh!”

  “Whoa…dude, what’d you do?” Whispered a young twenty-something near Jesse before he turned and left the coffee shop, teeth grinding and jaw clenched.

  Charlotte’s staff was smart enough to not ask as pans and bowls slammed, dark mutterings leaving her lips as she pounded dough for the next batch of pastries.

  Paige was only one set of very wide eyes when the third office door slammed shut, the sound of mumbling and drawers banging echoing off the walls. She winced a little when Chase looked at her expectantly.

  “Why do you think I know what’s going on?” She hissed furiously, glaring from Chase to the arched brow of Sebastian. “And yes, we have the maintenance program for the building,” she tried going back to work, too aware of them both watching her. “It’s not always a girl’s fault, you know.”

  “Hmmm…she might be right,” Chase began, grinning and offering a wink at Sebastian. “Naw…did you see the cup he was carrying?”