by Joanne Ellis
“I have something for you,” he said.
He produced the arrangement from behind his back and handed it to her.
“Oh they’re beautiful, thank you.” Her beaming smile rewarded his gesture. “You’ve been to see my sister.”
“Yeah.” It was his turn to blush, another new sensation for him. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I just have to lock up.”
As they exited the front door and she locked up, he realised her car wasn’t in the car park.
“Where’s your car?”
“At home, I walked this morning.”
“You walked?” His mouth twitched in amusement.
“Yes, I’m not completely opposed to exercise, you know.” She lifted a blond eyebrow.
“Really?” He returned the gesture.
“Yes, really. You said you were picking me up so I thought it would be easier if I didn’t have my car. I have everything I need right here.” She gestured to the backpack on her shoulders.
“I suppose I have to bring you to work tomorrow too, then.”
“Yes, you do. I mean only if you don’t mind. You did say you wanted me to stay.” She lowered her eyes and her cheeks coloured. Her anxious expression prompted him to laugh. Her insecurities, he suddenly discovered, were endearing.
“Did I say something amusing?” Her brow creased in her adorable defensive way.
“Of course I want you to stay.”
“Oh, OK.” She didn’t look convinced.
“I was teasing you, babe. I like it when you look at me like that.”
She smiled. Throwing her arms around his shoulders, she brought her mouth to meet his again. The sudden motion caught him off balance and he fell back against the door of his car. Her free hand wound through his hair and across his shoulder.
Recovering quickly he embraced her, holding her tight against his body. Once again he indulged in the attention before bringing his hands to her face and gently easing her back.
“Let’s go home before I get you arrested for indecent exposure.”
* * *
The second he opened the door, Jared took her flowers and placed them on the hall table. He removed her backpack and, before she could say a word, hauled her to him. His hands weaved a vigorous path up and down her body. He lifted her feet off the ground and walked her to his room, their mouths locked together in an ardent embrace. As he spun her around to place her gently on his bed, his mouth traced a procession across her chin and down her neck.
Her hands tugged at his shirt, anxious to feel the hard body beneath. For a brief moment his mouth ceased its trail as they removed their shirts. In an instant his lips found hers again before continuing his path down her creamy skin. He shoved her skirt up not bothering to remove it and only paused to eliminate the remaining barrier in one swift motion. When his mouth and tongue came to rest between her thighs, she moaned deep and loud. Her breathing came in short and ragged spurts. She threw her arms above her head to grip the bed.
The tingle began at her toes and crept slowly through her veins. She cried out her pleasure and he lingered to tease her for a moment. Jared kicked off his pants, anxious now to be inside her. Their frenzied rhythm brought them a swift climax.
They lay tangled together as they attempted to regain their breath. Her hands leisurely caressed his back. He rolled to his side bringing her with him and they gazed into each other’s eyes, contented.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
“I can see that,” she murmured.
* * *
An hour later they sat at his candle lit table enjoying her favourite, an Indian dinner, in comfortable silence. She helped him clear up and, when they’d finished, he topped up her wine glass. Taking her hand, he led her outside and sat her down on one of the chairs before pulling another over to sit across from her. He held her hands in his and studied her wary, anxious expression and waited for her to tell him what was on her mind. When she wasn’t forthcoming, he decided to prompt her.
“What did you want to talk to me about, Charlotte?”
“It’s really not important. What time do you start work?”
“Midnight, I told you yesterday. Stop dodging.”
“I’m not. I don’t want to ruin the moment.”
“Is it really that bad?” A stab of fear shot through his chest.
“No, more an annoyance than anything.” Her nose crinkled as though disgusted with a thought she wasn’t sharing.
“Charlotte?”
His concerned expression prompted her to begin, wanting to alleviate his anxiety.
“It’s about Dr Shaw.” His brow furrowed and Charlotte could see she’d surprised and confused him. “He is … um, I mean … um, I don’t know how to put it.”
“Just say it, Charlotte.” His tone was sharp.
“Oh no, it’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I don’t, but you look worried and there is nothing to be worried about.”
“Charlotte … ”
“He keeps asking me out, flirting with me and making me really uncomfortable.” She saw his expression change into something harder, like he was angry, so she kept talking. “I told him from day one that I wasn’t interested but he doesn’t seem to be getting the message. He knows about us but this hasn’t stopped him. I just don’t know what to do.”
Jared stood abruptly and strode to the opposite end of the patio. He gripped the rail until his knuckles whitened. Charlotte regretted saying anything to him now. He was angry with her.
Torn between wanting to defend herself and wanting to reassure him, she debated over the best approach when he spoke between clenched teeth. “Did you give him any reason to believe you are interested in him?”
“What? No.”
She stood up and came to stand beside him. His eyes remained on the horizon and his expression was still hard.
“So you haven’t been … encouraging him?” he finally asked.
“No.”
“Has he … touched you?” His voice softened slightly.
“Oh no, nothing like that.”
She placed a hand over his clenched one but he didn’t turn to her.
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
“No.”
“Then what, Charlotte?”
His hands released the rail and he turned to her, his eyes dark.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to lose my job but he is persistent.”
“Have you told him how you feel?”
“Frequently.” She placed a hand on his cheek. She was thankful he didn’t pull away.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” His jaw remained clenched and she wondered whether he was upset with her.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Leave.”
“I can’t.”
“Then I’ll talk to him tomorrow when I take you to work.”
“Looking at you right now I don’t think that would be a good idea. I didn’t realise it would upset you so much.”
“What did you expect? Some guy is after my girl and I’m supposed to feel nothing about this.” His brow furrowed and his eyes remained dark.
“Your jealously is kind of nice.” She wrapped her arms around him but his remained by his side.
“Not a good time to be cute, Charlotte.”
“Look, forget I mentioned it. I’ll tell him that if he doesn’t stop I’ll leave.”
“Will you?”
“Yes, I’ll talk to him.”
His expression, though still serious, was slightly less fierce now.
“Trust is really difficult for me, Charlotte. Please don’t abuse it.”
“I won’t. That is the main reason I’m telling you this. I want you to know you can trust me.” She brought a hand to his face again but this time ran her fingers over his brow, straightening out the frown.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to ask him to back off?
”
He wrapped his arms around her and she realised, with relief, that she’d fought off a storm.
“I’ll let you know if talking to him doesn’t work.”
“Good. Now I only have a couple of hours before I have to go to work,” he paused to kiss her. “I would prefer we talked about something more pleasant.”
“I have a better idea.”
She took his hand and led him into the house.
Chapter 17
Love
Charlotte’s words buzzed around in Jared’s mind all shift. Could he trust her? Was she simply being honest to have no secrets between them or was this her way of testing the waters, to see how he would react to her seeing someone else? No, she was being upfront, letting him know he could trust her. Guilt crept in now; she'd asked for his help and he’d overacted. She wanted his advice and instead had received his doubt and jealousy.
Casting his fears aside, he smiled at the thought of how he’d left her hours earlier naked and sleepy in his bed. His shift couldn’t go fast enough. His anticipation of finding her the same way surged through him. Pushing the pleasurable thoughts aside, he tried to focus on the task at hand and attempted to speed up the slow moving shift.
A game of poker had been suggested and he had jumped at the chance to concentrate on the cards, however it was neither speeding up time nor diverting his focus, and he’d lost the last two hands. Even poker couldn’t stop his mind from wandering.
“Yo, Monty, it’s your bet,” Sam broke through his reverie.
“I know,” he lied.
He looked at his cards and glanced at the players waiting for his wager.
“Fold.”
He threw his cards on the table.
“I believe that’s three in a row. You’re slipping, buddy,” Sam said. His amusement at Jared’s expense was evident in his expression.
“Yeah, well, I can’t win all the time.”
Sam offered a smug smile. “Keep daydreaming so I can keep winning.”
“I’m out.”
Jared left them to it. He couldn’t concentrate and there was no use losing his money. He went to his office and decided to allow thoughts of Charlotte to fill his mind. This passed the time much quicker than the cards did.
* * *
Silently he entered his house hoping to wake her when he climbed into bed. As he walked into the room, his breath caught. Due to the warm night the sheet had slipped from her and rested at her waist. She lay on her side facing him, her face covered in curls. Jared removed his clothes and lay behind her. Lightly he brushed her hair aside and gazed at her sleeping face. Her full mouth was slightly parted and her face looked angelic in slumber. He nuzzled into her neck as his hands softly explored her body. She groaned in her sleep and desire shot through him like a forest fire.
* * *
Hot breath on her neck broke through her slumber. The gentle caress of warm hands sent a tingle over her skin. She groaned. Was she dreaming again?
Charlotte opened heavy eyes and felt his warm strong body against her back. She reached behind to run her hand over his naked skin. His hands became more urgent now as he realised she was awake. One hand came to rest between her thighs and enticed her to a quick climax. Then, without moving his hand, he entered her from behind.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
* * *
“Are you sure you don’t want me to talk to him, seeing I’m here?” Jared asked as they sat outside the clinic in his car.
“No, I’ve got it covered.”
“I’ll pick you up after work.”
“OK. You can have dinner at my house with Chelsea and Lucas.”
He kissed her again and shooed her out of the car. “You’re going to be late.”
“Whose fault is that?” she smiled, and jumped out of the car.
Charlotte waved as he drove off and rushed to the door. Dr Shaw had already arrived which meant she was already late anyway.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she called as she came in the door.
Martin walked out from one of the examination rooms and met her at the front counter.
“It’s OK,” he said. “I’m early. I wanted to speak with you.”
“I wanted to talk to you too.”
He leant against the counter, his stance relaxed and casual. “I firstly wanted to apologise for my … behaviour. I was being pushy and inappropriate. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
Astonished, Charlotte took in his expression and he appeared to mean it. “That’s OK.”
“I promise to leave you alone, unless of course you change your mind.” He smiled and it dropped when he caught her expression. “I’m kidding. I’ve met someone else so you’re off the hook.” His tone was teasing but Charlotte didn’t want to take any chances.
“OK … ” she said cautiously.
“Seriously, I want to remain strictly professional from here on.”
“Thanks.” Charlotte smiled.
Martin disappeared out the back again and Charlotte let out a relived sigh. Thankful she’d avoided having to be the one initiating the awkward conversation.
The rest of the day he stayed true to his word, remaining professional and pleasant. The enthusiasm she’d experienced on her first day at the clinic returned. Coming to work was going to be something to look forward to again.
* * *
With a spring in her step, Charlotte walked to Jared who was leaning casually against his car waiting for her. She greeted him with a kiss filled with her pent up relief and enthusiasm.
“How was your day?” he asked her once in the car.
“Great.”
“So … things went well?”
“If you are trying to find out whether I talked to Martin then the answer is yes. Well he actually brought it up. He apologised and said he is seeing someone and would keep our relationship strictly professional from now on.”
“Good.”
“Did you sleep OK today?”
“Not really.”
“I told you not to worry.”
“That wasn’t the reason,” he smirked.
“Oh.” She blushed.
He laughed and took one of her hands and brought it to his mouth. They drove in silence the short distance to her house.
“I thought we could go to the movies tonight after dinner, make out like teenagers in the back row,” he said as they pulled into her drive.
“Mmm, sounds good to me.”
Chelsea’s cooking greeted them as they entered. She took his hand as they walked toward the kitchen. The newlyweds were chatting quietly as they entered. Chelsea stood at the counter chopping vegetables and Lucas stood next to her leaning against the bench. One hand cleaned up her scraps as she chopped and the other played idly with her ponytail.
“Hey, guys,” Charlotte said.
They turned when she spoke and when they spotted Jared they offered a welcoming smile. Lucas stepped forward to shake Jared’s hand before returning to his wife.
“Dinner will be a little while, if you wanted to … freshen up. Lucas will help me and I can let you know when it’s ready.”
“Thanks.”
As Charlotte guided Jared towards the stairs, she rolled her eyes at Chelsea’s not so subtle way of giving them some alone time.
“Was that for our benefit or theirs?” he asked as they climbed the stairs.
“Ours, I think, though I can’t be completely sure.” She smiled.
While Charlotte changed, Jared watched her and each time he tried to grab her, she slapped his hand away. “Don’t even think about it. I can’t do that with my sister downstairs.”
He laughed and she blushed.
“I’m sure they do when you’re here,” he teased.
“I don’t want to know.”
* * *
After dinner they went to the movies and, as promised, Jared took her to the back row. He nuzzled her neck and caressed her leg as she tried to concentrate. Eventually she
gave up and they missed most of the movie. That night they stayed at his house. Mitch would be away on a shoot and the house would be theirs.
They collected her car on the way home from the movie as they both had to work in the morning. Charlotte packed enough clothes for the rest of the week and told her sister she would be home on Saturday morning. As both men were working on the weekend, the girls made plans to spend the day together.
Lying together later that night, they chatted quietly in the darkness. When Jared became quiet and his responses to her questions grew serious, concern flooded through her. Had she done something wrong? When his body went tense and rigid after the continued silence, she fought her fear and decided to ask.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Jared … ”
“You make me happy.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No.”
“You can trust me.”
“I hope so, because falling in love with you scares the hell out of me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she whispered to him.
He shifted to face her and studied her in the moonlight. His hand came up to stroke her face and hair. His jaw remained clenched as his serious eyes looked deeply into hers.
“Promise me one thing …. ”
“Anything.”
“No flirting.”
“Not even with you?”
“I’m serious.”
“If I do, it won’t be on purpose, that I can promise you. You have to know I don’t always do it intentionally, it is part of who I am.”
“I know, Charlotte. I don’t want you to change, just to be aware of how crazy it will make me.”
