She hesitated, surprised by the impact his sincerity had on her when he brought it out. Normally, Oz was all charm and laughter, which was devastating enough. But when he was like this, sincere and honest…well, she just had to remember that he wasn’t the kind of man who was sincere all the time. And if she’d thought her ex-husband had some secrets, Darrin had nothing on Oz!
Clearing her throat, she looked around. Bart waited not-so-patiently for her to attach his leash so she bent down and secured him. “Ready to go.”
“Coat? It’s a bit chilly out there tonight.”
“Right!” she turned and pulled the soft, yellow pashmina from the chair by the door.
“Here,” he said, taking it out of her hands before she could wrap it around her shoulders. Oz opened it up, waiting for her to step into it. She did, knowing that it was the wrong thing to do, but unable to stop herself either.
When his strong arms closed around her, wrapping the ends on either side of her shoulders, she closed her eyes, savoring the moment. Wow, she was in his arms! His strong, muscular arms were literally wrapped around her like a hot, sexy blanket.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice dangerously close to her ear.
“What?” she gasped, her eyes flying open, stunned to find him watching her. “Oh. Yes. I’m fine!”
“Maybe we should just stay here. We might not be very good role models for the kids tonight,” he warned, grabbing the ends of her pashmina and turning her around. But he didn’t release the ends. In fact, he held onto them and pulled her closer. Closer still. “You look beautiful tonight, Charlotte,” he murmured, his lips hovering over hers.
Charlotte felt warm and gooey all over, but it wasn’t because of the soft wool of her yellow pashmina. It was all Oz! “Um…we should probably head out. We don’t want to be late for the dance. Randy teenage boys and all,” she managed to get out.
Thankfully, Oz pulled back, releasing the ends of her pashmina. “The teenagers aren’t the only ones in that state,” he teased, but he took Bart’s leash and called out. “Let’s go, big guy. A little girl needs your sweetness.” He paused at the doorway. “That’s Chloe,” he warned the eager beast. “Betty will be there but you need to keep your paws to yourself.”
Charlotte couldn’t stop the burst of laughter. “I think we need a chaperone for the dogs, too.”
Oz grinned. “I’ll put my brother on the case.”
He opened the door to his Land Rover and she slipped into the soft leather seat. Thankfully, he had a blanket spread out over the backseat. He drove through the streets of LowPoint easily, even without the streetlights on the back roads. When he pulled up outside of one of the beautiful, old Victorian houses on the edge of town, she was surprised. “Your brother lives here?” she asked.
“Yeah. I was pretty surprised when Jayce chose this house too.”
Bart jumped up, his mushed nose pressing against the backseat door, eager to get out. “Does he know that his lady love is inside?” Oz teased.
Charlotte groaned. “I think he does. He must smell Betty.”
Oz took Bart’s leash and led the way up the wooden stairs, walking in through the cut-glass door without knocking. “Hey! Jayce!”
“Back here!” his brother called out. Before they could even move, Betty flew around the corner, coming to a skidding stop as she stared at Bart with delirious happiness.
“Oh boy,” Charlotte groaned.
“I agree.” He bent down and smiled as an adorable little girl peered shyly around the corner. “Hi Chloe. Do you remember me?”
The girl’s fingers curled around the edge of the wall, but she nodded, smiling slightly.
“Well, this is Betty’s boyfriend. His name is Bart. Would you like to say hello?”
Sebastian walked around the corner, taking his daughter’s hand. “I don’t think this dog bites either, honey,” he said softly.
Charlotte stepped back, fascinated by the scene. She watched as Oz charmed the beautiful girl, bringing Bart closer and closer. Bart wasn’t nearly as cute as Betty, but he knew how to handle kids. He inched closer and closer, sitting down every few minutes and staring, willing the child to come closer. As soon as Chloe reached out, Bart snuffled her hand, causing the girl to giggle as Bart’s tongue tickled her.
With the giggle, Bart moved closer, leaning his body against her skinny legs and snuffling her again until she had the courage to pet him. After that, it was love. Bart nudged her hand, encouraging her to pet him. The whole time, Betty stayed back. When Charlotte looked over at Oz, she realized that he was giving his lady hand signals. Wow! Betty was better trained than most dogs!
Jayce stepped into the hallway, watching the scene. “This is Bart?” he asked. “Hey big guy!” he said. But Bart didn’t move from Chloe’s side, even as he turned his head to smile at Oz’s brother.
Jayce nodded. “Good boy!”
Sebastian looked over at Charlotte, admiration in his eyes. “Thank you for bringing your dog over for my daughter, Dr. Bixby,” he said, extending his hand to Charlotte. “Bart seems like an outstanding canine.”
“I’ve trained him to be a good therapy dog. He helps with my more timid patients. They talk to him just as much as they discuss their fears with me.”
Sebastian looked down at his daughter who was telling Bart and Betty a story. “I can see that it works,” he chuckled. He then looked at Oz. “I think you are holding back on the entertainment for the evening.”
Oz rolled his eyes. “Oh, you are so going to pay for tonight at the next meeting,” he warned. Then Oz turned to Charlotte. “Are you ready for the Terrible Teens?”
Charlotte glanced back down at the little girl, then up at the three, no four, huge men who were watching her as well. “You’ve warned them all to pay extra attention to Bart and Betty? About their…uh…romance?”
Jayce laughed. “I’ve heard all about Betty’s hopes and desires. But there will be no hanky panky under this roof.”
Chloe looked up, one hand on Betty and another on Bart. “Daddy, what’s ‘hanky panky’?”
Sebastian groaned. “I’m not sure that this group is a good influence on you, my dear.”
Oz laughed, thrilled that Sebastian had to answer that kind of a question. “On that note, we should go,” he said to Charlotte, taking her arm and leading her back out of the house.
Chapter 8
The gymnasium of the local high school was decorated in red and white balloons and streamers, representing the school’s colors. There were also white twinkle lights strung across the basketball hoops on both ends, some of the bleachers and the dessert tables that lined one end of the gym. The effect was festive, although a professional party planner would cringe in horror at the lack of coordination and willy-nilly streamers.
They stepped through the doors as the DJ was setting up his equipment on the makeshift stage. “We should probably introduce ourselves to the other chaperones,” Charlotte suggested.
“Yes, by all means. Let’s dive deeper into the sweaty-sock-smelling gymnasium and meet our fellow control freaks,” he agreed, sliding a hand up and down her back.
“Behave,” she whispered over her shoulder, even if she silently agreed with him. “Good evening, Evelyn,” Charlotte greeted the principal.
Evelyn swung around, looking at both of them, a blank stare replaced by recognition. “Oh, Charlotte! You’re here! Thank goodness! And Mr. Cole! You look magnificent,” she said, preening just a bit.
Charlotte silently agreed with the principal - Oz was a fine specimen of manhood! Of course, several of the female teachers agreed and started eyeing Oz like he was an ice cream sundae and they hadn’t had a meal in a month! She had to stifle a chuckle when she felt Oz’s hand reached out to her, sliding around her waist. Any other time, Charlotte might have thought of that gesture as proprietary. But in this instance, the big guy was using her as a shield against the hungry gazes of the line of female chaperones.
“Don’t leave me alon
e,” he whispered into her ear, confirming her suspicions and causing her to smother a laugh. Even the male chaperones felt the increased tension as they shifted back and forth uncomfortably, eyeing Oz and comparing themselves to his brawn. But there was no comparison. Oz’s arms were larger than their legs! And he was at least a head taller than every man here. Charlotte knew that men were more self-conscious of height than penis size, so the comparison was brutal.
Thinking to tease him a bit, she turned and looked up at him over her shoulder. “I think I need to visit the ladies room,” she teased.
“Don’t even think about it,” he whispered right back, his fingers tightening on her waist.
The DJ finished setting up and tested the sound system, making adjustments. Several parents came in, chatting with the other chaperones as they set up the dessert table and punch bowl, lining up cups and filling them with the pink punch.
A few minutes later, the kids began filtering in. “Here we go,” Evelyn announced, clapping her hands as if she were still in the classroom and the parents were her students. “If all of the chaperones could spread out around the gymnasium, that would be ideal. I don’t want to discourage you from having a nice evening and talking though. So please, enjoy the music, and feel free to dance if you choose.”
“Are you going to dance with me?” he whispered.
Once again, Charlotte peered at him over her shoulder, suddenly realizing that they looked like a couple. Moving out of his arms, she started to move over to an empty corner of the gym, prepared to begin her vigil of the eager teenagers.
“I’m not a good dancer,” she told him, hoping to discourage him. And perhaps herself a bit too. She wasn’t sure she could resist Oz when he was like this, all sexy and responsible. He was quite charming. Plus, the image of him bending down to talk to that little girl kept popping into her head. No matter how much she tried to deny it, rationalize it, or dismiss it, the image of a grown man in the role of a protective father never failed to be attractive. Add in Oz’s muscles, which made him appear to be more of a player, a role that ran counter to the fatherly image, and all of her senses were on high alert.
Maybe if he’d stop touching her! These casual touches were…taunting. Tempting. Causing her to be hyper aware of him next to her.
Distance, she told herself mentally. She needed both physical and mental distance from Oz.
Unfortunately, he walked beside her as she took up a position on the opposite side of the gym from the punch and dessert table.
“There’s a place over there that doesn’t seem to be occupied,” she said, pointing to a place on the opposite side of the gym.
“Yes, but then I wouldn’t be able to smell your perfume.”
“I’m not wearing perfume.”
Of course, he then had to lean closer, his nose burying into her hair for a brief moment. And his strong hands tightened around her waist again, causing her to shiver. “That makes the scent even more intriguing,” he murmured in a low, husky voice.
She opened her mouth to say something, but the music blasted and she jerked a bit. With his hands on her waist, he pulled her against his side and Charlotte was shocked at how strong he felt. So powerful and rock hard! Um…everywhere!
“You okay?” he asked.
Oh, that primal thrill of knowing a man could protect! Subconsciously and consciously, women the world over searched for men who could protect their offspring. That would be why police officers and doctors were so attractive. Both of those occupations gave a woman the impression that they were better at ensuring the longevity of their children. Primal or not, it was powerful. Oz’s power, combined with his steady hand in the face of danger, was incredibly alluring.
“I’m fine,” she whispered back, then cleared her throat, needing her voice to be stronger, more confident. “Do you want something to drink?” Again, she stepped out of his arms, even though his hands felt so good!
Oz glanced over at the punch bowl with horror. “I don’t think I could drink anything that is neon pink.”
Charlotte laughed. “You might have a point.”
At that moment, more kids wandered into the gym, this wave a bit larger. The kids still looked awkward, but eager and awed by the transformation in the gym. Instead of dancing, most of the kids moved to the punch table, then grabbed cookies and grouped together, talking and laughing in the various cliques that naturally formed in high school.
“Seems like an easy enough gig,” Oz commented, scanning the kids in what seemed like a professional manner.
She looked up at him, startled. “You do this a lot, don’t you?”
He pulled his eyes away from the kids and looked down at her. “Do what?”
There was a very subtle tension to his body now. Even more interesting, she thought. “Are you often in situations in which you need to watch people?”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers sliding over her skin. “You are a beautiful woman, Charlotte.”
Startled again by his touch, she blinked up at him. The music faded. The twinkling lights overhead changed from glaring and tacky to oddly romantic.
And then she realized what he’d just done! Fury hit her and she jerked backwards, pulling herself out of that romantic haze and…what in the world?!
For some reason, the sexual tension faded, zipped away. Looking up at him, she felt…manipulated. He watched her, assessing and calculating. Charlotte was no longer turned on. She was pissed! “Okay, so you don’t want to discuss what you do,” she snapped, turning and stepping further away from him.
Oz must have realized his error because he sighed heavily, pulling her closer again. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. That was a jerk move. It’s a habit and I shouldn’t have done it to you.” She looked at him again and saw the contrition in his eyes. Slightly mollified, she relaxed ever so slightly. He continued, “It isn’t that I don’t want to talk about my job,” he explained. “It’s that I can’t. There’s a difference, Charlotte.”
His words felt honest, but she was still irritated. No one liked being manipulated. But he’d just used her attraction to him and it felt…dirty. “Right. Whatever. Just…don’t manipulate me like that!”
“Hey Doc!” one of the kids called out, waving to her.
Charlotte turned to the awkward teenage boy, smiling and waving to him, relieved to have a distraction. “Hi Matt. Having fun?” she called back.
“It’s all good!” the teenager replied with a grin, a pretty girl on his arm as he led her towards the dance floor, a large group of other teens following behind.
“A friend of yours?” Oz asked, standing beside her instead of behind her this time.
“He came to me a few weeks ago, interviewing me for the class newspaper.”
Oz stood in the ridiculously decorated gymnasium, smelling the vanilla scent of Charlotte next to him and trying not to touch her again. She was pissed, and rightfully so. She was beautiful. There was no question about it. Her soft, blond hair was curled and piled artfully on top of her head with a few soft curls falling down around her ears. Very sexy. Very romantic.
But yeah, his touch several moments ago had been a prick move. He was so used to his distraction tricks that they were automatic now. Oz had manipulated her, distracted her, and he hadn’t consciously realized he was doing it. A tool of the trade which had kept him alive over the years, but this was Charlotte. And this wasn’t a city filled with terrorists. He wasn’t surveilling an enemy. He wasn’t in the middle of nowhere, waiting to capture someone. And he wasn’t trying to extricate hostages. This was a damn gymnasium filled with innocent teenagers that just wanted to dance. Well, some of them…maybe more of them…wanted a bit more. Regardless, he should have been honest with her and just told her that he couldn’t talk about his work. Or changed the subject. Hell, there were so many things he could have done, but he’d…Oz knew that touching her would distract her and he’d used their attraction against her.
He was an ass!
But he didn’t move away from her. Yeah, he could walk across the gym to mingle with the guys that were hanging out near the entrance to the locker rooms. But hell, high school locker rooms reeked! Besides, Charlotte smelled good. And looked good. Hell, she felt good!
So, he stood there watching. A few of the other chaperones came over, introducing themselves and chatting together. Oz noticed that the adults were more interested in talking and weren’t watching very carefully. But that was okay. He could watch for all of them and not appear to be doing it. He caught several worried glances from Charlotte. Damn, she was good. Or perhaps she was just more in tune with his moods. That was both dangerous and…somehow comforting. He kind of liked the fact that she knew he was in “business mode” as Jayce called it when they were alert and waiting, ready for anything that might happen. It meant she was aware of him. Plus, the concern in her pretty blue eyes meant she couldn’t dismiss him. She knew exactly what he was feeling, how he was alert and aware.
It was such a turn on to know that she was watching him! Damn! He liked it! Other women had watched him, but not with the same degree of concern for him as a person. They’d only been aware of him as a male. The sensation was different.
The dance was in full swing now and the chaperones he’d learned were made up of parents, teachers, and business owners from around the town. But none of them were paying a great deal of attention to the kids. They were much more interested in talking amongst themselves.
Which is why Oz was the only one who spotted a group of boys in the corner trying to hide something.
For several minutes, he watched, waiting for the sign. What was under the biggest teen’s jacket could be completely innocent. But he suspected that it wasn’t. He suspected that the boy had something that wasn’t allowed. Something that could get him in trouble. Or worse.
“Oz?” Charlotte asked softly, laying a hand on his arm.
He didn’t look away from the boys, but took her hand, squeezing it briefly. “I’ll be right back,” he told her and walked over to the corner where the boys were hiding in the shadows. He took a circuitous route, not wanting the boys to realize that he was on the way. Whatever they were hiding, he wanted to confiscate it.
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