WindSwept Narrows: #21 Charlotte Bell & Natalie Templeton

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “You don’t think much about parents and sex when you’re growing up,” Jenna took in a quick breath when Charlotte stared at her wide eyed.

  “Please don’t make that statement like that to your dad,” she said after a couple tries. She started the car and fell in behind him on the way out of the parking lot. “I’m not sure he’s handling things as well as you believe.”

  “He seems so happy,” Jenna said after a few seconds. “He’s always been positive. But with you…I just wanted you to know he’s happy. That means a lot to us.”

  “You and your brother are very important to him, Jenna. So how was first day of classes?” Charlotte watched her face light up as she talked about their day. She was mostly listening and following the black SUV in front of her, watching the streets and realizing she was several streets above her shop. That was when she noticed the gates they were driving through.

  And the red adobe bricked circular driveway. And the crème and adobe colored very large house with a separate three car garage off to the left. It had huge windows, a very wide stone porch with a gorgeous overhang from the tiled roof and double carved wooden doors.

  “Charlie? You okay?” Jenna put her palm on the older woman’s arm. “You’re making strange noises.”

  “Oh, no…I’m fine…” She worked to clear her throat a few times. “This is a very big house…property…”

  “I think it’s cool. Kind of coast of Greece cool,” Jenna said with a bright smile, her fingers opening her seat belt and door open to jump out. “C'mon, I’ll show you around.”

  “Charlotte Anne Bell what have you gotten involved with,” she whispered, watching the tall, dark haired man come to the side of her car and wait. She hoped the smile didn’t look as bad as she was feeling at the moment. She pulled the keys out and lifted her small pack from the floor, turning to face him when he opened the door for her.

  “Charlotte? You don’t look good…are you feeling alright?”

  “I feel good, thank you,” she slid to the ground, eyes going from the house to him. Her frown deepened. “This is a really nice house.”

  “Thanks. We looked at a few, but this one caught us all. I think because of the tiled roof and almost white stone on the outside,” Jesse took her palm, closing the car door. “What’s wrong, Charlotte?”

  “I’m alright. I…I’m good,” she smiled at him and inhaled deeply. Until she saw the doors open and a couple step forward, the twins greeting them and darting immediately inside. She saw them separate off to the right. “Who are they?”

  “Dona and Chuck Montrose. I have a key for you and the code to the gate,” he reached into his suit and pulled out a small envelope. “I’ll introduce you. They live over the garage. Charlotte Bell…Dona and Chuck Montrose.”

  Their handshakes were warm, their smiles welcoming and Charlotte immediately found herself liking both of them. They had that soft northern voice and looked to be about ten years older than her.

  “I’ll have the kitchen stocked in a few days but if there’s something you want, just leave me a note on the fridge,” Dona said, looking specifically at Charlotte.

  “Chuck is my kind of home assistant and Dona manages most of the household things,” Jesse explained when the panicked look erupted on Charlotte’s face. “I’ll check on the kids and see you tomorrow. We’ll manage the unpacking tonight.”

  “There is all kinds of food in there,” Dona told him, a little sternly, winking at Charlotte. “You have to watch him or he forgets to eat until midnight.”

  “I’ll make sure he has dinner,” Charlotte promised with a chuckle, relaxing a little. Just barely a little.

  “Good night,” the older couple went toward the garage and Charlotte looked up into the large windows, brown boxes could be seen through some of the glass.

  “They work for you,” she said as he eased her into the very large open space, the doors closing behind them.

  “Yes. They have for almost ten years now,” Jesse commented, sliding his jacket down his arms and tossing it over one arm. He clasp her hand and led her off to the right, up a set of wide, flat stairs and to a room that faced the Sound.

  She stood just inside the room, absently aware of Jesse walking into a large arched doorway that was a walk in closet. Her attention was on the literally wall of windows stretching across the ocean side of the house. There were blinds that could be lowered outside on the wide patio to block the heat without stopping the breeze coming inside.

  The bed was centered on the wall facing the mass of windows, the door on the right side leading into the master bathroom. The left, the walk-in closet. The bed was a full king sleigh style in black; the bureau and two other chest of drawers settled around the room. An archway was right across from the main door and led to another large room that seemed to curve around.

  “Charlotte? You’re not talking,” Jesse wasn’t used to her silence and went to stand at her side, his shirt hanging open and palm out to take her hand. “I brought your pack with clothes in it,” he met her eyes and looked at the wing-back chair with her pack in the center. “Not sure which bureau you’d want…”

  “It’s a beautiful house, Jesse,” Charlotte looked at him, wondering how much she didn’t know. “I can see my shop,” she continued quietly, standing at the open patio doors and staring down at the houses, road and shops stretching along the coastline.

  “Not something I knew when I bought, but nice,” he remarked, still uncertain why she was tense. “You won’t tell me what’s wrong?”

  “I’m fine. Really. I don’t know what I expected…you gave me a key,” she still held the small envelope in her palm, only realizing and looking down at it, the code for the gates on the outside. “And the security codes.”

  “I would have given you a key card for the suite if we’d been there much longer,” he told her as easily as if he were talking about the weather. Natural. Didn’t she see that this was just another progression to their relationship? “Is that what’s bothering you? You don’t want the key?”

  “I’m okay,” she said for the third time, walking over to the low bureau and setting her pack down. The envelope was placed on the surface when she pulled her phone from her front pocket, not noticing the small white card that fluttered to the hardwood floor. “I’m not sure I was prepared, that’s all,” she turned to face him at the same time he was rising with the card in his fingers. Red-gold lashes squeezed closed. “I was going to tell you about that…”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “I saw them sitting on the table outside your shop,” he said quietly, quickly reading the message before his hand closed over the card. “He really is not very bright. I’ll give this to Abby in the morning and see where they go from here.”

  “If he is sincere about the apology for the misunderstanding, then it goes no-where,” Charlotte tipped her head back and dragged in a long, slow breath. “This is more than just about occasional sleep-overs, Jesse.”

  “I thought that’s where we were,” he said slowly, taking her hand and backing up to the bed. He sat on the high end, his knees parted and her tugged in the center. “What are you worried about? If it isn’t where we are, Charlotte, tell me. I won’t hold you anyplace you don’t want to be.”

  “You introduced them and…and she looked at me like I would have…like I would be…I’ve never had someone working for me!” She finally managed to blurt out. Closing her eyes and groaning the next instant at the sound of her own voice. “God, that sounded like a kid…”

  “You have employees, Charlotte. We might be a little closer than that, but…they work for me,” Jesse answered simply. “It’s not any different. Chuck is my driver when I need to work at the same time I’m moving around town. He takes care of the landscaping and other things. Dona does laundry, keeps us mostly neat and cooks and shops. If you want to do any of those things, feel free,” he had been watching her eyes continually grow wider and wider. His hands held her waist firmly. “Why is this upsetting yo
u, Charlotte?”

  “I didn’t know I was…I didn’t know I would be…” Her head shook and she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him close. “I don’t know,” she finally answered, a little more in control. “Momentary panic?”

  “About?” Jesse let his head rest against her shoulder, inhaling and deciding he’d never get tired of the scent of sugar and spices that permeated her after she’d been in the shop all day.

  “I don’t know. It shouldn’t be there. It should be gone after Saturday evening,” Charlotte straightened up and took his hands from her waist. “Come on. I promised Dona you’d eat…” She gazed around the room. “And from the looks of things, we have lots of boxes to unpack.”

  “We do, huh?” Jesse grinned at her and toed his shoes off, carrying them to the closet and putting them on the rack.

  “I’m going downstairs,” was her safe answer, leaving him to change as she argued with herself. If she felt comfortable enough to make a statement like that why was her stomach churning at this latest leap into his life?

  The stair way opened into the large vaulted ceiling of a main room that combined the dining area, kitchen and a huge space for socializing. The center, end wall had built in shelves and a space for the large flat panel TV. She guessed Dona was responsible for the partial effort at organizing. Furniture had been nicely placed and was sturdy and resembled rooms you might find in a lodge up north. Heavy and well made out of hard woods with thick, comfortable looking cushions.

  Two very nice ceiling fans moved silently above her. She sat on the edge of one of the sectionals and absently unknotted her shoes, leaving socks and shoes by the door before wandering into a cooks dream kitchen. She had no idea that she sighed like she was in heaven or that Jenna had come in behind her.

  “Isn’t it great?” She moved to the fridge and started pulling things out for sandwiches. “Dona is really good about keeping good stuff in here.”

  Charlotte had noticed the stack of flattened boxes near the outside patio door as she opened cabinets and followed the common sense way the woman had organized them. All food stuffs to the left of the sink, all else on the right side. The left side also held then huge stainless steel stove and oven and the large pantry.

  “I am having the best time fixing my room,” Jenna continued building a sandwich, partially on a high stool. “And so really glad to have my stuff back. Do you need help with anything?”

  “I’m good,” Charlotte said quietly, watching her gesture to the containers she had on the wide marble breakfast bar. “I’ll clean that up.”

  “Thanks. I’m taking this in my room and read my assignment while I eat,” Jenna balanced a plate and large bottle of water. “I’ll bring things back,” she promised, wandering off to the right and down the hall to her bedroom.

  She left the kitchen and peered down the hall on the right and then on the left. Their bedrooms were on either side, she realized as Jamie flattened a box and laid it in the hall before returning into the room, the door wide and soft music coming from inside.

  “You make me nervous when you don’t speak,” Jesse commented as he crossed the room. He glanced over the selection and went to the fridge, pulled out the mustard and some white cheese and took one of the high stools. Changing his mind, he found the large pitcher of cold tea in the fridge and a glass before taking his seat again. Still she hadn’t spoken. “Charlotte…you have to talk for me to get an idea of what’s wrong.”

  “Who said something is wrong? I’m fine,” she lied, setting two plates on the breakfast bar before sliding onto the stool.

  “Uh-huh…” Jesse was up and crossing the kitchen. “Want something to drink? Tea, milk, juice…iced water,” he saw her nod, her hands just kind of folded together, not making a sandwich. He set the large glass tinkling with ice on the surface. “Not hungry?”

  “No…no…not really…” though she pulled a slice of Colby cheese free and nibbled.

  Jesse made it through building a sandwich before speaking.

  “Would it help if I just asked you, straight out, to move in here?”

  He was positive he’d never seen a person choke on air before.

  “Obviously help is the wrong word. Charlotte, do you want to go back to your apartment? You have a key. You know the code…” He stopped when one of the slim, sharp nailed palm whipped up facing him.

  “I am fine. I am thinking and…and just feel quiet. If you want to talk, by all means, talk,” she told him firmly. “But don’t be surprised at reactions when you come up with off the wall things like that.”

  “I don’t think it was off the wall,” he responded with a calm shrug.

  “Less than a week ago, you were ranting about my being friends with the twins through a game,” she raised one brow. “Remember?”

  “We’ve come so far since then,” he returned with a teasing wink, but he’d caught the look in her eyes. “That’s what’s wrong. The house.”

  “It’s a beautiful house, Jesse.”

  “Gonna make me sleep alone? I’ve got an office to arrange,” he took a bite of his sandwich, doing as she suggested. Just talking. “Dona will handle the rest of the house but I like doing my office. There’s room enough for an extra desk and computer.”

  “I didn’t see that room,” she sighed, reached for another slice of cheese and wrapped it in a couple pieces of really good ham.

  “Next to the bedroom. The house sort of makes a wide arch, like a wing to the south. I work a lot from home so I set up my office for function and comfort.” He watched her absently begin to close things up and seal bags. “Were we supposed to get extra clothes from your place?”

  “I can change in the morning before I open,” she shrugged, her head snapping up when she just realized she’d committed herself for the evening. Not that she didn’t want to be here in the first place, but the man was devious.

  Jesse popped the last bit of his sandwich into his mouth and took her hand off the counter, pulling until she came around the side and stood between his knees.

  “You’re not a guest here. I don’t think either of us are stupid and I don’t think this is something that’ll go away,” Jesse was relieved when she stepped closer and wrapped her arms along his shoulders. “And I left the long, low bureau empty for you.”

  “Been plotting this all day?”

  “It was in a compartment of my brain,” he admitted with a grin. “I’ll help you clean up and make sure things are locked down.”

  “I’ll do this. You make sure the kids aren’t in need of help,” she kissed him and backed out of his hold. “Nope…none of that. There’s work to do.”

  “I really work better with incentive,” he made a grab but his fingers slid off the curve of her hip when she twisted to the side. “I’ll be right back.”

  Incentive, she was chuckling as she cleaned up and explored cabinets, drawers and the inside of the huge fridge. It was a restaurant style with sliding shelves. She made a mental note to bring things from her apartment to avoid having food go to waste.

  She wandered to the patio door, hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

  This was bad. She was thinking of this as home.

  Why was that bad?

  You think of someplace as home until it’s not home then you pick up the pieces of your shattered heart off the floor and start again.

  Sure. Happens all the time.

  Jesse slowed his approach when he saw the expression on her face.

  “I haven’t done anything.”

  “Sometimes it’s best not to think so hard,” Charlotte said, shaking. “Especially for me at the moment. So…show me your office.”

  “Hmm…what’s making you frown at me?” But he took her palm and they walked up the stairs.

  “Not you…per se,” she made a face at the arched brow. “More like you in the future when you finish with me and throw me over for a younger model.”

  “Your brain really went there?”

&nbs
p; “I think you should come up with a new topic of discussion,” she pulled her fingers free and continued toward the open archway to the second room.

  “I didn’t come up with this one,” he laughed behind her, his hands settling on her waist.

  “This is like a little apartment,” she announced in amazement at the size of the home office.

  “It’s the other reason the house appealed to us. None of us like small rooms that make you feel like you’re in a cage,” he moved around her and opened the windows, the soft, cooler breeze floating up to them from the ocean quickly filling the room. He lowered the blinds outside to keep the heat of the setting sun out. “The delay was having all the carpeting removed and hardwood floors installed. Nice and solid and allergy free,” he met the curious look on her face. “Jamie has a couple pet hair allergies. He’s grown out of most of it, only those left. I didn’t want to take a chance there were pets here at some time, so I pulled the carpeting completely out.”

  “You need some colorful good rugs,” she said absently, opening boxes and sliding them over the floor. “I don’t know where you want stuff so I’ll just open and stack for you on the desk.”

  “The cable and internet have been set up into the sockets,” he commented casually. “It’s run through the router already so all you do is plug into the cable outlet and you’re hooked up.”

  Charlotte smiled into the box she had crouched in front of, her eyes peering up through thick lashes.

  “I’m sure there’s a motive behind you telling me that.”

  “Nope. No motive at all,” he returned with a cheeky grin.

  “Subtle,” she murmured, her head shaking as she stacked books on the desk. Business, human resources, fiction with large bold mystery letters across the front with police tape and cruise line schedules. The last was a little puzzling. “Why do you have old schedules?”

  “Design ideas,” came the answer, his head coming out of another box, hands filled with more books.

  “You design covers?” Charlotte sat back on her heels, finished stacking the books on the desk and looking for something sharp to break the tape from the box. She accepted the pocket knife Jesse held out to her.