Charmed by Charlie

by Amanda Uhl

  As if the next few moments were in slow motion, he lowered my hand and brought his blond head closer to mine, staring into my eyes all the while. I could see the deep flecks of blue in his eyes, where the lighter ones disappeared. His pupils were dilated and seemed to swallow me whole. And then his lips touched mine, firm and soft at the same time, and I forgot everything.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  There was no tentativeness in Charlie’s kiss. His lips possessed mine like he had imagined all the ways he might kiss me a thousand times and now the moment was upon us, he was trying to fit in as many of those ways as he could. He left no time for me to think before he plundered his way beyond my lips. Our tongues dueled, while both of his palms grasped my cheeks where I lay against the back of the couch. My hands reached up and threaded through his thick, wheat-colored hair like I had dreamed of more than once since I’d known him. And then sanity raised its head and spoke in my ear. You are kissing your boss, and he has a girlfriend.

  I pulled away abruptly, gasping. “We can’t. What about George?”

  Charlie pulled away. “You still love him?”

  “What? No. I mean, I do as a friend but not romantically. George was all wrong for me. I told you that.”

  “Well, then, I don’t see an issue.” He reached for me, and I fought the temptation to succumb to his embrace and let our passion play out as it would. I placed my hands on his shoulders and pushed.

  “No, Charlie. It’s too soon. And besides…” I ducked my head, suddenly shy. “You have Melissa.”

  He smiled, both dimples in evidence. With the pad of his thumb, he forced my chin up to look at him, and smoothed a strand of hair from my eyes. “Jealous?”

  I stared at him, shocked. Of all the nerve. “I’m… I don’t know what I am.” Anger filled me. I pushed him away and stood up, placing myself on the other side of the coffee table. If I were going to resist Charlie’s charms, I needed distance between us. “I’m not the type of girl who kisses another woman’s man.”

  “I know,” he said, rising and stalking me. I backed away from him, but he followed until I touched the wall behind me and realized there was nowhere else to go. He slowly reached out a hand, but it was only to run a finger from my forehead to the side of my cheek. His touch sent little electrical shocks through my system. “That’s one of the things I like about you.”

  I drew in a sharp breath, struggling to contain my outrage. “Charlie, if you know that about me, and you have a girlfriend, you have no business kissing me or”—I brushed his hand from my face—“touching me.”

  He grinned and reached for me, pulling me into his arms. My heart struggled to keep an even pace. “That’s just it,” he said, his breath warm and soft against my cheeks. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  I barely had time to register what he was saying when he crushed me against the wall, and his lips found mine again. Warm and solid and deliciously sinful. This time he did not release me until we were forced to come up for air.

  “But Bernie said…” I gasped.

  “I made her up. She doesn’t exist. Kiss me, Val.”

  How I wanted to abandon caution to the wind and kiss Charlie. But I couldn’t. “She doesn’t exist? You lied?”

  He sighed, flashing me another mischievous smile. “Yeah, I suppose. A little one. It’s what I tell women when they come on a bit…strong.”

  “But that’s terrible.” I pulled my hair from his fingers and used my hands to wedge some space between us.

  “No, it’s not terrible. It gets us both off the hook so we can forget about dating and be friends.”

  “Does this happen often? Women coming on a bit too strong?”

  Charlie shrugged. “Enough.”

  “Does Julie know about Melissa?”

  I looked at Charlie, but he was watching my lips. “You’re not going to kiss me again until we talk this out, aren’t you?”

  “You got that right.”

  Charlie sighed. “Okay, let’s talk. But not here. I need fuel. I’m taking you to dinner.”

  “Are you always hungry?”

  He laughed and wrapped his hand in mine. “More than you know.”

  I could feel my cheeks flush, which he must have noticed because he laughed again, opened the door, and tugged me through. I had just enough to time to grab my purse and keys, which were lying on the counter, and lock the door behind us.

  “C’mon. I have something I want to show you,” he said.

  It felt like we drove forever, but it was probably only thirty minutes before we landed in Little Italy and a Godfatherish restaurant called Geraldini’s with a large back patio with tables covered with cloths in a wide array of bright colors.

  “Isn’t this great?” Charlie asked, his expression boyish.

  We sat at a corner table, listening to Italian classics piped out on speakers, and it felt like I was in Italy. Except I’d never been to Italy. But it was how I imagined the country to be.

  I broke down and ordered spaghetti and the best red sauce I’d ever tasted. Charlie ate calamari and bruschetta and kept my glass filled with dry red wine that paired perfectly with the meal. I so enjoyed the dinner, I used my bread to sop up the last of the sauce. I popped the warm bread in my mouth to see Charlie eyeing me. He smiled. “I love a woman who appreciates her food.”

  This was not the most romantic line I’d ever heard. My cheeks warmed, matching the color of the wine in my glass. “Your plate’s as clean as mine.” I argued, pointing to his empty dish.

  “I guess we have that in common,” he said. And the restaurant seemed to fall away from me as we looked at each other across the table.

  “Charlie,” I asked. “What are we doing here? I can’t be your usual date. I’m not sophisticated or wealthy. I like my food far too much. My family is a little crazy. I’m sarcastic and…and bitchy. You can’t want a relationship with me.” I took a deep breath. “I need to know what’s going on here.”

  Charlie didn’t flinch or look away as I half expected him to. Instead, he reached for my hand, entwining my fingers with his. “I thought I was pretty clear earlier,” he said. “I want you.”

  Take a chance. Take a chance. Take a chance. The words started up again in my mind, like a slow-moving freight train through the desert that was my heart.

  “Charlie, I’m not the kind of girl who…who takes a relationship lightly. It’s only been a few days since I made a mess of one with George.”

  “What is it you’re worried about?”

  “I don’t trust myself when it comes to men. Maybe I’m on the rebound? Besides, why do you want me? We’ve established I’m not your usual girl, right? So is this some kind of…of cheap thrill for you? Go after the girl who plays hard to get? Is that what this is about?”

  Charlie let go of my hands and shook his head. “You don’t think much of me, do you?”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but he stood up. “Don’t answer that or you’ll spoil a good meal. C’mon, I’ve something I want to show you.”

  He walked towards the exit, expecting me to follow. “Don’t you need to pay the bill?”

  He glanced back once, looking…frustrated. Had my earlier questions bothered him? No wonder he wanted out of the restaurant. “They know me here. I’ve…taken care of it.”

  “You were able to pay in advance?”

  He shrugged his broad shoulders, causing the woman at the next table to stare at him. Charlie didn’t seem to notice. “Something like that. We’d better get a move on before it’s too dark to see anything.”

  A few minutes later, we were back in Nick, driving to God knows where. “Where are we going?” I asked. I knew we were close to the lake because I could see it from time to time as our car followed the twists and turns in the road.

  “Patience. Trust me. When we get there, it will be worth it.”

  By the time we pulled into the abandoned Coast Guard station, my thoughts were wild and frothy like the lake in front of me. I was sure Ch
arlie had gone a little crazy. Maybe he was planning to put an end to my existence? Could a man get high on red sauce and wine?

  “Where are we?” I asked as we got out of the car, and Charlie pulled me along until all I could see was water. I took a deep breath. The view was stunning with the fading sun reflecting off the lake. It reminded me of Maui, when Seth and I had gone there on a romantic getaway. Long before his heartbreaking betrayal. Was the reminder the universe’s way of warning me not to get involved with Charlie?

  “This little spot is the closest place in Cleveland you can get on two feet to being surrounded by water. It’s a lonely place, isn’t it? But strangely inviting, too.”

  The setting sun shot bits of light off the water with a brilliance not unlike the diamond in the ring George had offered me. It stole my breath.

  Charlie turned to me, pulling my hands into his. His eyes met mine, and it felt like he was making a promise. “Like you,” he said. “The first time I saw you, sitting at your desk, doing your best to ignore me, but wanting to be part of the conversation, I thought of this place. You were so beautiful, I couldn’t help but notice. And yet, you stood apart, aloof. Then I learned you had a boyfriend. You were off limits. I told myself I should stay away from you. And I tried to. But the more we talked, the more I wanted to know the real you. The one you keep hidden behind your veil of sarcasm and logic. Even if all I’d ever earn was your friendship, I had to see what was there. I knew then I’d have my work cut out trying to break down whatever barrier you had erected. And I was right. You resist me at every turn.”

  How was it a man’s eyelashes could be so amazing, darker than the color of his hair but with a touch of gold? As I stood there, holding hands with Charlie amidst the dying sun and sparkling water, it was like I was standing on the edge of a mammoth precipice. One false move and I would go tumbling over the edge, and it would be painful. Did I want to go down this path again? Was it wrong so soon after George? Could I handle the fall when it came?

  “Val, I’m not going to lie to you. Your stubborn refusal to pay attention to me might have been the reason I was attracted to you at first.”

  “I knew it.” I tried to tug my hands from his, but he held on tight.

  “Hear me out.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve had…far too many women look at me with interest over the years.”

  I chuckled, but I didn’t think the conversation was funny. Far from it. I wanted to scratch out the eyes of all those women.

  Charlie shook his head, as if to deny he had anything to do with the women chasing him. “If that makes me sound conceited, then so be it. It’s the truth. I may have taken advantage of the situation from time to time. But…I’m telling you, I’m beyond that. God, I’m so far beyond that, Val. I want…I need you to give us a shot. If you want, I’m willing…I’ll try to keep my hands off you. Scouts honor. At least until I’ve had the chance to show you how good we can be together.”

  Charlie placed my hand over his beating heart. I could feel the pounding rhythm underneath my hand. “Please tell me you want me as much as I want you.”

  Yes, oh yes I do, I wanted to shout. But logic prevailed. “Charlie, you’re…you’re my boss. I’ve seen what happens when someone dates the boss, and it’s not good. What you’re asking me to do…I’m not so sure it’s wise.”

  “I’m only a temporary boss. I won’t be at Reynolds longer than the next six months. Once we launch the new product, and it’s successful, I’ll be gone.”

  Gone? Gone where? And why did it sound so final? “I’ll plan to stay in Cleveland of course,” Charlie said quickly, as if he were reading my mind. “I won’t move back to New York. We’ll still see each other. I’ll move on to other projects. What do you say? Can we give it a try?”

  In the last of the dying sunset, I stared at the orange reflecting off the lake and counted the seagulls. There were fifteen. It would not be wrong to get to know Charlie better, would it? Could I hold on to my heart? I put one foot forward and started down the giant precipice. “One week,” I said finally. “Let’s take it slow. We’ll try dating for a week, and see how we do.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  I didn’t see Charlie the next few days since I had to travel to Michigan for the interview with Abbott, so our week together began in the Cleveland airport on Wednesday. I had forgotten about the promised trip to New York to look at paint colors, but Charlie hadn’t. He insisted on picking me up in Nick that morning, looking hot in black jeans and a light gray, collared shirt. His eyes smoldered when he held open the car door for me, but true to his words, Charlie kept his hands mostly to himself. Good thing, because the few times he did touch me, my insides melted like butter in the sun. I was going to have to work mighty hard to keep myself from wrestling Charlie to the ground and jumping him. The irony was not lost on me.

  I clutched my cell phone between my hands so they wouldn’t do something I didn’t want them to and eyed him where he sat in Reynolds’s private jet, as we rumbled through what I hoped were friendly skies. Flying always made me a wee bit nervous. Charlie had a book on his lap, his long legs stretched under the seat in front of him. He had been staring out the window but glanced to the side and caught me checking him out.

  “Hungry?” he asked, his blue eyes questioning.

  Oh yeah, was I hungry, but for so much more than food. I nodded, and he went to a small area at the front of the plane to find us a bite to eat. Except for the pilots, we were the only two people on board. I took a deep breath, settled back in the leather seat, and watched his behind. This week would be time for me to get to know Charlie better. See if he was someone to be trusted. I didn’t want to screw it up by touching the goods too soon. Especially after he’d promised we’d take it slow.

  “Keep looking at me like that and you’re going to get more than you bargained for,” Charlie said, returning with an egg and cheese bagel on a plate and a glass of orange juice. My toes curled at the sound of his raspy voice. How were we ever going to get through the next seven days together?

  “Like what?” I asked, doing my best to convey innocence.

  He lips quirked in a wry smile. “Like you’re imagining what I look like naked.”

  I bit into my bagel and licked my lips. All the while I could feel Charlie’s eyes on me. Suddenly, the flight seemed a whole lot more fun. “I can’t imagine what you mean.”

  “Oh, can’t you?” Charlie gave me a naughty look and bent down like he was going to kiss me. Instead he whispered in my ear, “There’s only one way to find out.”

  How could the simple words cause my blood to heat and my body to tingle? I shook my head and took a sip of orange juice to clear it. “What are you reading?” I asked to change the subject. With his free hand, Charlie picked up the book, slid into his seat, and showed me the cover. I frowned. “A Traveler’s Guide to San Francisco?”

  He gave me a slow smile. “I figured if I was going to date a girl born and raised there, I needed to read up on the city.”

  “Have you been to San Francisco?” I asked, curious.

  Charlie shrugged. “A few times. Mostly on…business.”

  Had one of them been with a girlfriend? The stab of jealousy hitting my gut was so intense, I blinked. Get a grip on yourself, my alter ego scolded. She was right. I had no business feeling such strong emotions for someone I’d only known a few months. If I was going to date Charlie, I was going to have to get used to the fact women found him attractive. Lots of women. I struggled to find my way back to our conversation. “It wasn’t a bad place to grow up. Lots of diversity. Lots of eclectic personalities. Tons of walking. Amazing shopping. Fresh sourdough bread. I think I miss that most of all.”

  “Why not go back?”

  “With my tail between my legs? No, thanks. Besides, I don’t have family there any longer since my mother followed me here and my dad’s in Seattle.”

  “I haven’t heard you talk about your father. Are you close to him?”

  Yes, I wanted
to say. But I couldn’t lie. “Not really.” I rushed on, looking at my lap, afraid I’d spy pity on Charlie’s face. “My dad’s not a bad sort or anything. I mean, he wants me to be happy. But I always wished he was a bit more…protective, you know. The sort of dad who would be aware of the men in my life and grill them to make sure they were worthy of his precious daughter. The kind of father who’d want my boyfriends to ask permission before they offered me a ring.”

  Charlie didn’t say anything. He probably thought I was being ridiculous. I used the curtain of my hair to cover the blush that rose to my cheeks. When the silence dragged on, I finally gathered enough courage to look at him. He was staring at me with such tenderness, my heart began pumping furiously in my chest. I shrugged. “I guess I’m old-fashioned that way.”

  “Seth didn’t ask your dad for permission to marry you, did he?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “But in all fairness, it happened so fast, he hardly had time to. We did show the ring to my mom, though, the day we got engaged.”

  “And how is LuAnne?” Charlie said, taking a sip of his coffee and flashing me a warm smile. I tried hard to ignore the way his attention made my pulse throb.

  “Heading to California. Her boyfriend had a stroke. She’s to be his caregiver. Not a role she excels at, trust me. I convinced her it was the right thing to do and wouldn’t be work. Hope I’m right, or I’ll never hear the end of it. My mother is not a domestic sort of woman.”

  “She seems to have done a great job raising you.” Charlie tipped his drink up in a silent toast, causing heat to rise to my cheeks. How did he do it? Knock me off kilter with only a few words and a glance?

  I frowned. “I’m not so sure about that.”

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Malign yourself.”

  I looked down at my hands. “I’m…stating the facts.”

  “You have a skewed perception. It’s not real. You’ve let the whole thing with Seth make you believe you’re not—” Charlie’s phone buzzed, and he glanced down, stilled.