Kissing Charlie

by Elsa Winckler

Still muttering and swearing, Gavin finally left with Lindsay.

  With his eyes on her, Logan closed the door. “I’m sorry about that, but I...I simply had to see you. Are you okay?”

  Afraid of keeling over if she took her hand away, Charlie leaned against the cupboard. “I’m okay. There really was no need for you...”

  With two strides he reached her and the next moment she was pulled into a pair of strong, albeit slightly shaky, arms. “I lost twenty years of my life on the way to Alisson,” he murmured in her hair, his hands stroking up and down her back. “If anything happened to you...” He pressed his face into her neck.

  Her heart breaking, she clung to him. This was what she’d been longing for since the accident—for Logan’s arms around her.

  He was going to break your heart, Logic argued.

  Oh, but think of the time you’d spend together, sighed Heart.

  It wasn’t really a battle; Heart easily won. Even if this wasn’t going to last, she was going to enjoy these minutes with him. The heartache she’d handle when he left.

  Her phone rang. She couldn’t move, Logan was holding her so tightly.

  “Logan?” She smiled against his chest. “My phone...”

  Cursing, he dropped his hands and turned away while she answered her phone. It was Blake.

  “Hi, Blake,” she said.

  Before Blake could answer, Logan had turned back, his eyes blazing. “What the hell does he want?” His eyes were mere slits, his hands on his hips.

  “I just heard about the accident this morning,” Blake was saying. “Lindsay isn’t answering her phone. What happened?”

  “I was just about to tell Logan about it...”

  “Please tell me?” Blake interrupted.

  Logan was shamelessly listening to her conversation with Blake and was getting more and more irritated by the minute. He grabbed her phone. “Listen, Davidson, I’m here, I will take care...”

  He turned away and Blake obviously dropped his voice because Charlie could no longer hear what he was saying. Her head was pounding, she really didn’t feel well, she wanted everyone gone. Rubbing her temple, she sat down on her bed again.

  Her heart was still bouncing out of control. Logan was really here. In the flesh. Because he’d been worried about her. What did it mean? Did it mean anything?

  Logan turned back. Much calmer, he returned her phone. “Blake is still on the line; he’s worried about Lindsay. Will you please tell both of us what happened?” He sat down beside her and took her other hand in his.

  The very last thing she wanted to do was to talk about this morning again. She was tired and scared and fed up with all these men who were suddenly interfering in her and Lindsay’s life. But obviously, the only way she was going to get rid of both Blake and Logan was to tell them about the incident.

  “Charlie?” Blake said in her ear. “Lindsay—is she okay? And you?”

  “Lindsay is shaken, but she’s fine. And I’m tired and irritated and really not in the mood to rehash the events of this morning, but I’m also okay. We are both livid that Mark was able to follow Lindsay to this little town. Whether it was him or whether he sent someone, is still unclear.” Quickly she told them what had happened.

  “So what did the police say?” Blake asked.

  “Well, I haven’t spoken to them again since this morning, but they were going to see if they could find any other witnesses.”

  “Are there any cameras in the area?” asked Blake.

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Okay, thanks,” Blake said. “Please tell Lindsay...never mind. I...I have to be here in New York for the next month, but please let me know if anything else happens?” He ended the call and Charlie put her phone down.

  Logan was still holding her hand tightly, his eyes never leaving her face. “You’re so pale,” he muttered and combed her hair away from her face with his other hand.

  “I’m really fine. You didn’t have to come all this way...”

  He frowned. “Of course I had to! All I knew was that you’d been in an accident. I didn’t know whether you were hurt or...”

  She pulled her hand out of his. “Why are you here, Logan?”

  His eyes roamed over her face. “The last two weeks...” Inhaling shakily, he shook his head. “...were brutal. You’re all I think about, Charlie. And I’ve missed you, I’ve missed us. I don’t know what’s going on inside of me, but I do know I want...I need to be with you.” He grimaced. “And there I go again saying I, I, I—but that’s how it is.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say?”

  “I’m saying I want to be with you. Whenever it’s possible.”

  “For how long?”

  “Until one of us wants...out.”

  She did her level best to paste another smile on her face. “A no-strings fling? Okay, yes, I can try that.”

  He frowned. “I don’t know if I’d call it a fling. And the no-strings? I wouldn’t want you... What I mean is, I won’t be seeing anyone else while I’m with you.”

  If she had to look at him one second longer, she was going to burst into tears. “It’s your choice.” She forced a smile. “But now I need to lie down...”

  He got up quickly. “Of course. Is there anything I can get you?”

  “I’m fine. Please close the door on your way out.” She got under the covers, thinking he was leaving, but he waited until she was lying down.

  He bent down and kissed her forehead softly. Caring. Kind. He really was a good guy—that wasn’t the problem. She kept her eyes closed, trying to keep the stupid tears at bay until he left. Only when she heard the door closing softly behind him did she turn on her side and let the tears fall.

  Grabbing a tissue from the table next to the bed, she struggled to mop up her wet cheeks. Why was she crying, damn it?

  A short fling with a very attractive man was really all she could ever hope for.

  CHAPTER 17

  Logan looked back over his shoulder toward Charlie’s house as he drove away. She’d been glad to see him; she’d even agreed to his proposal to be with him whenever possible, so why was he feeling so disgruntled?

  He should be thrilled. It was what he’d wanted. Wasn’t it?

  Minutes later, his thoughts still muddled, he parked in front of his mother’s house. Even before his car stopped, the front door flew open and both his mom and sister rushed out.

  “Logan!” his mother called out as he stepped out of the car, and she opened her arms. “I’m so glad you’re here. Have you seen our Charlie? How is she? And Lindsay? We’ve phoned and Brooke took a pie over to their house earlier, but we didn’t want to disturb them today.”

  “Mom.” Brooke smiled. “Give the man a chance to catch his breath!”

  Logan hugged his mom and sister. “They’re both fine. Charlie is very pale, but she’s resting now. I’ll check up on her later tonight. Lindsay seems fine, too. Thanks for letting me know, Mom, and I’m sorry I was...”

  “Rude?” his mom interrupted him.

  He hugged her again. “Yes, I was rude. I’m sorry.”

  His mom patted his arm. “Of course, you’re forgiven. Come on in.”

  “So, you’re staying for a few days?” Brooke asked as they entered the house.

  “Yes, probably until Sunday.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad!” His mom beamed. “So what does this mean? You and Charlie? Please tell me you’ve told her how you feel about her?”

  “Well, we have an understanding. I’m going to try and get here as often as possible and she’ll visit me in Seattle whenever she can.” He smiled sheepishly. “Well, that’s the plans I’ve made. I still have to run it by Charlie.”

  He was expecting them to smile and be happy for him; instead, his mom was frowning and Brooke was fuming. His sister was the first to speak.

  “So what exactly have you told her?”

  “That I’ve missed her and I want to be with her!” he called out, heartily fed up wit
h these two women.

  “And she agreed?” Brooke wanted to know.

  “Well, yes.”

  His mother sighed. “My dear, sweet child. What did you feel when you heard Charlie had been in an accident?”

  “I was in a state. Flying here, getting a car, and driving here, not knowing how she was—it nearly killed me. By the way, why weren’t you answering your phones?”

  “Because we were hoping you’d see what was really going on in your heart,” Brooke called out. “But if even the thought of Charlie being hurt...” She rolled her eyes. “He’s a hopeless case, Mom. Hopeless. We’ll have to find Charlie another nice man to marry.”

  “She agreed to be with me. I don’t know what you’re going on about,” he grumbled.

  “She’s told you she loves you and you’re happy to have a fling with her!” Brooke scolded. She turned to their mother. “Ugh, I’ll see you in an hour. I have to finish dinner. If I don’t go now, I may just throttle your son.”

  Brooke wasn’t really a much better cook than his mom, but looking at his sister’s face, he should maybe just eat what was put in front of him without complaining tonight.

  He picked up his bag. “I’ll go change. And just for the record—I’m here.” And without looking back, he took the stairs two at a time to the second floor. There were way too many women interfering in his life.

  He and Charlie understood one another. He wasn’t happy about calling what they would have a “fling,” but did it really matter what it was called if he could be with her?

  He put down his bag and walked toward the window. It wasn’t difficult to figure out his mom and Brooke wanted him to marry Charlie.

  Marriage? To Charlie? She was so different from him in every possible way.

  Charlie was bangles and flimsy skirts and colored cushions and he was...? Well, he wasn’t. Even the job she did was something outside the box. Deep in thought, he moved his body from side to side. But whatever Bowen therapy was, it worked. He’d been without back pain since the last time he’d been to see her in her office.

  Besides, this feeling, whatever it was—lust, desire—it would pass. What Charlie made him feel, he’d never experienced before, but surely even these intense feelings couldn’t last, could they?

  Maybe after spending a week with Charlie, he’d feel differently. Which reminded him. He took out his phone. Depending on how Charlie felt, they could maybe finally spend a few days at a cabin, away from all the prying eyes of their separate families.

  When Charlie entered the kitchen Tuesday morning, Gavin and Lindsay were already both having breakfast.

  “Morning,” she called out as gaily as she could. The last thing she wanted was for Lindsay to be worried about her.

  “Oh, Charlie, you’re still so pale!” Lindsay cried, grabbing Charlie’s hands. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m...fine, I think.” She pressed her hand against the bruise. “This is much better, thanks to your oils. I’m a bit nauseous, but maybe I’m just hungry. I slept right through dinner last night.”

  “Logan came to see you last night,” Lindsay said.

  “Insisted on going up to your room to make sure you’re okay,” Gavin grumbled.

  “Well, you’ll have to get used to him being around. At least for the time being,” she said as she put two slices of bread in the toaster.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re having a fling. For now. Neither of us wants anything more permanent, so calm down, Gavin,” she hastened to add when her brother looked threatening.

  “What the hell does that even mean?” Gavin asked.

  “We’ll be together when we can until...well, until he doesn’t want to be with me any longer.”

  “And you’re happy with that?” Gavin bellowed.

  “I’m happy with that. Now please stop shouting, you’re giving me a headache.”

  Gavin got up quickly and stormed out.

  “You sure about this?” Lindsay asked. “Coffee?”

  The toast popped out. “I’m sure. You know, I think I’ll rather have tea.”

  “You, drink tea? Seriously, Charlie—are you sure you’re okay? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drink tea in the morning before.”

  “I’m totally okay. Tea just sounds nice now.” She turned around, looking for the tea. “Was Logan really in my room?”

  “Gavin nearly had a fit, but he sidestepped him, bounced up the stairs, and sat with you for a while.”

  “Really?”

  Lindsay nodded. “Really.” She checked her watch. “And he should be here any minute now. I didn’t tell him you’ll be going back to work today.”

  Just then the doorbell rang.

  “Let me get that before Gavin opens it,” Charlie said and quickly rushed to the front door. Her stupid heart was already jumping up and down frantically, and she hadn’t even seen Logan yet.

  Logan had thought he was prepared to see Charlie again, but when the door opened and she stood there in a glittering, soft yellow top, gauzy, white skirt, mini-chandeliers dangling on her ears, he couldn’t get a word out.

  Smiling, she opened the door and stepped forward into his arms. For a moment she held on tightly to him before she dropped her arms again. But he wasn’t nearly ready to let her go, so he cupped her face to keep her close.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked. She was still too pale for his liking.

  She pressed her face into his hand. “I am totally fine. I’m sorry I missed you last night, though.”

  “You were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “Well, this morning I’m feeling much better. I have appointments this morning, though, but I can see you this afternoon?”

  “I was hoping we could do that cabin trip we missed the previous time?”

  She frowned, glancing over her shoulder. “I really want to, but after what happened yesterday, I don’t want to leave Lindsay.”

  “But Gavin is still here,” he tried.

  “Yes, but he’s in the process of moving here permanently and will be leaving soon to finalize his things in South Africa.”

  “What does he do?”

  “He’s part of a fund-managing group in Johannesburg. He’s hoping to continue working for them when he moves here.”

  “He and I should have a talk, if he’s interested.”

  “Maybe not right now.” She grinned. “He’s very protective of Lindsay and me.”

  “That I can understand. So, no cabin then? May I take you to dinner tonight?”

  Happy, she nodded. “That sounds lovely. You can also drop me off at work, if you don’t mind?”

  “Of course. What about Lindsay?”

  “What about me?” Lindsay asked as she passed behind Charlie.

  “He’s offering to take us to work.”

  Lindsay widened her eyes. “Chivalrous, too. I like him, sis. A pity you can’t keep him forever.”

  “Lindsay!” Charlie said, clearly embarrassed.

  “What? If you were engaged, I could’ve said congratulations, but I’m not quite sure what to say when you are... How did you put it? Oh, yes, ‘having a fling.’” She motioned the inverted commas with her hands.

  Charlie laughed. “You don’t have to say anything, Linds. Just be happy for us.”

  “If you say so. Just going up to get my bag!” she called out as she took the stairs two at a time.

  “Me too.” But before Charlie could move, Logan pulled her closer and kissed her. The moment his lips captured hers, everything around them faded away. This was home. Here with her. The smell of roses encircled him, and within seconds, he was ready to make her his.

  Gulping in air, he lifted his head. “Woman, how the hell am I supposed to function today after that kiss?”

  She blushed and turned away, dashing up the stairs. “I’ll be back in a minute!” A glimpse of long, satiny legs nearly had him salivating.

  Cursing, he walked back to his car.

&nb
sp; “If you hurt her, you’ll have me to answer to,” Gavin snarled. He was standing next to Logan’s car, his hands on his hips.

  Of course, the brother. “Gavin. Good morning.”

  “There’s nothing good about this morning. You’re here.”

  “Well, get used to it,” Logan replied.

  Gavin’s eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything, Logan took out one of his business cards.

  “Heard you’re thinking of moving here permanently. Give me a call; it sounds as if we could maybe work together.”

  Lindsay and Charlie were approaching, Logan opened the car doors for them.

  “Why?” asked Gavin, waving the card in the air.

  “Why not?” Logan swallowed his grin, for the first time not feeling defensive around Gavin.

  Gavin didn’t answer him, but he didn’t throw away the card either. Progress? Maybe.

  Charlie sat next to him as he drove them toward the small building where Lindsay’s shop and Charlie’s offices were. He took Charlie’s hand. He simply had to touch her. Why was she still so pale?

  “You feel okay?” he asked.

  “She’s still very pale, don’t you agree?” Lindsay asked. “The doctor wanted to do some blood tests yesterday, but she refused. Maybe she’ll listen to you.”

  He glanced at Charlie. “It couldn’t hurt, could it?” He kissed her fingers. “Don’t tell me a nurse is scared of a little needle?”

  Charlie threw her hands in the air. “Okay, okay! I’ll see if I can get an appointment with the doctor. Geez—Lindsay is bad enough—now I have to deal with you as well. I’m telling you, I’m fine.”

  He parked in front of the building and got out to open the door for the two women. Lindsay quickly said goodbye and walked toward her shop, but he couldn’t let go of Charlie’s hand just yet.

  “What time can I pick you up?” he asked, playing with her fingers.

  “I’m not quite sure. But we can walk back home...”

  Shuddering, he pulled her close. “Please don’t. Promise me, until the police find out what happened yesterday, you won’t walk anywhere? I’ll talk to the sheriff again, as well. Maybe he can tell us what info the police have at this point.”

  “Okay, I’ll promise. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to leave. But now I really have to go.” She pulled out of his arms and with a wave, she walked toward her door.