“That’s okay,” she said. “Don’t go to the trouble of opening a bottle just for me. I drink beer.”
Hank's face fell. “I don’t have any beer.”
Did he think the reason I came over to watch the game was to drink all of the beers he's hiding in his fridge?
“You don’t have any beer?” Charlie was more than just a little surprised.
“No. I don’t drink,” Hank said. “But I’ve got root beer. There’s a guy I know who makes it locally. It’s really delicious.”
“Root beer? Seriously?”
Hank flushed red. “Chicks don’t root drink beer, do they?”
“I do,” she said.
“Excellent,” Hank said. “I knew you were a woman after my own heart.”
Hank and Charlie sat on the sofa watching the game. They each finished a bowl of chili. Hank had seconds and then went back for thirds. At the end of the second period, Charlie started getting nervous. She had to go home. As soon as possible.
“I should be going,” Charlie said, leaping to her feat. “Thanks for the chili.”
“Are you sure? The game’s not over.”
“I have to work in the morning.”
“Do you want me to walk you home?” Hank asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. If Hank was as nervous as she was, he was disguising it much better.
“No. I’ve got this,” Charlie said.
She walked toward the door and turned around. Hank was standing right behind her. Very close. And, he was so very tall. She was tall. Taller than a lot of men she knew. And still her eyes were on the same level as the middle of Hank’s chest.
She tilted her head back and look up. Way, way up to look him in the face. His beautiful face. She held her breath as Hank leaned down. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She swallowed hard. Time seemed to stand still. The world was silent. The only thing she could hear was the beating of her heart. At least, she thought it was her heart. It was beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.
Then, Hank planted a sweet kiss—on her cheek.
She let go of her breath. She was a little relieved but more disappointed until Hank lingered. He didn’t stand up to his full height again. His face was so close to hers. She could smell him. His scent was an alluring blend of musk, spice, that was unique to Hank Carter.
Solid. Dependable. Kind. And hot.
Smokin’ hot.
Her heart skipped a beat. His eyes ended the survey they’d been making of her face and returned to capture her gaze.
“Charlie?” he whispered. The way he said her name made her shiver.
She turned. His lips were inches away from her.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, his breath fanning her cheek. She couldn’t breathe. Just for a moment, she thought she might pass out.
Is he going to kiss me?
Is Hank Carter going to kiss me? For reals? Not just a peck on the cheek.
Her heart was beating like she’d been running the anchor leg of an Olympic relay race against Usain Bolt, and she couldn’t find the guy with the baton.
No. No way. It’s not going to happen. This guy is so hot.
And then, suddenly Hank’s lips brushed over hers.
Soft. Gentle. And a bit tentative.
The second kiss landed more firmly on her mouth. She relaxed her lips in a smile. Hank took advantage of the moment to slip his tongue in her mouth. She responded by opening her mouth even wider to encourage him to explore an even more passionate kiss. She welcomed his tongue with hers, touching and tangling like wild animals.
Hank tasted like jalapeno peppers and root beer: hot, sweet and just a little spicy. No man should be allowed to taste this good. He’s absolutely delicious.
His kisses created a tingling sensation from her lips all the way down to her toes. Hank made a low growling sound in the back of his throat. Charlie heard a gasp of pleasure escape from someone’s lips. It took her a moment to realize the sound had come from her own throat.
Hank’s lips covered her mouth again. No longer tentative or tender, his kiss was a bit more aggressive now. She didn’t protest when he slipped a hand underneath her sweater and silky camisole. His hand cupped her breast over the lace cups of her new bra. Silently, she blessed Billie and Monique for her break-up makeover clothes. She wouldn’t have had this confidence in front of Hank in her old white bra.
Charlie’s fingers itched to touch Hank. She put her hands under Hank’s grey T-shirt, letting her fingertips trace over his belly and chest. His flat belly was cut like glass. He didn’t have an extra ounce of fat on his body. She pulled him closer and continued her explorations.
“Charlie? Are you okay?”
She nodded. Now was not the time for words when actions could speak so much louder.
“Yeah.” She reached out and grabbed Hank’s face to pull him down for deep delicious kiss. Hank responded, pulling her closer. Their bodies were pressed together from tiptop to their toes.
Charlie was just starting to relax and enjoy the delicious feel of being so close to Hank when she heard the noise.
At first, she thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Then, she heard it again. Footsteps on the front porch of the duplex she shared with Hank. And then, the quick rapping sound. Someone was out there. Someone was knocking on her front door.
Who the hell would be looking for me at this time of the night?
***
Reluctantly, Hank separated his lips from hers. He didn’t let go of Charlie, resting his chin on top of her head. He’d finally gotten her where he wanted her. Charlie was in his arms and he was feeling protective and territorial. Maybe if they just stayed like this—quiet and locked in a private embrace, whoever was out there would wise up and go away.
Hank waited. The only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat hammering in his ears.
Until he heard the knock.
Not on his door.
Charlie’s front door.
“What was that?” Charlie whispered, turning her head turned in the direction of the sound.
“Someone is at your door,” Hank answered softly. “Are you expecting company?”
“At this time of night? Are you kidding? It’s past my bedtime. And I don’t entertain.”
Hank walked quietly to the front windows and peeked out through the blinds.
“Who is it?” Charlie asked in a hissing whisper.
Hank turned from the window. His face was a complete blank. “It’s Nels.”
“Who?” Charlie asked, looking completely confused.
“Your ex-boyfriend,” Hank said.
Hank opened the door and stepped out on the front porch. Nels turned around, looking surprised to see him.
“Hey Nels,” he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets so he didn’t wrap them around Nels’ neck. “Dude. What are you doing here? It’s really late.”
“I’m looking for Charlie,” Nels said. He looked uncomfortable, but still sounded arrogant and rude. “Do you know if she’s around?”
“I don’t think so,” Hank said. He’d barely gotten the words out his mouth when he heard Charlie behind him.
“Hey Nels, what’s up?” Charlie said, stepping out onto the porch. Hank flinched when he felt her put her hand in the middle of his back. She was using his body as a shield.
Hank turned and looked at Charlie through Nels’ eyes. Her lips were swollen from his kisses. Her strawberry-blonde hair fell around her shoulders in tousled waves. She looked serene and beautiful. It took every fiber of Hank’s being not to tell Nels what they’d just been doing.
Nels took a step to close the distance between himself and Charlie. Hank didn’t budge and inch. He stood between Nels and Charlie, keeping the former couple at a distance.
“What have you guys been doing?” Nels asked, his eyes darting between Charlie and Hank. He was rewarded when Charlie gave Hank a guilty glance.
“Just hanging out.” Hank shrugged innocently.
�
�Watching the Red Wings game,” Charlie said. “We’re just friends.”
“Can I talk to you?” Nels asked. He pointed at Charlie, casting a resentful glance up at Hank. “Alone.”
“Sure,” Charlie said.
Hank’s stomach dropped out. Charlie was actually going to give this guy some of her time.
“Twenty minutes,” Hank said. His caveman possessive streak had kicked in. Big time.
“What?” Charlie blinked up at him.
“The hockey game,” Hank said. “It just went into intermission. You have twenty minutes until the third period starts. I wouldn’t want you to miss face-off.”
Hank couldn't read Charlie's face.
Does she want me to rescue her? Or does she want me to go away?
Charlie smiled and nodded. “Thanks.”
She unlocked her front door. Nels followed Charlie inside her duplex and closed the door behind him.
Hank stood on the porch for a few minutes after they disappeared. He could still smell the sweetness of Charlie’s skin on his lips. His fingers still tingled from her touch.
Hank walked back inside his duplex and sat down on his sofa. He tried to force himself to concentrate on the television while he waited for intermission to end.
When had his perfect night gone wrong?
Hank had a hard time keeping his hands to himself during the first period of the hockey game. All he could see was the scrap of purple silk lingerie peeking out now and then from underneath Charlie’s sweater each time she moved. It was like waving a red flag in front of a bull.
There was a moment in the second period when she stood up and threw her arms in the air and shouted, “goal” when he wanted to kiss her, but he resisted his impulse and high-fived her instead.
She didn’t ask any stupid questions about hockey. She knew the game, the players, and all of their stats. He was surprised. Watching hockey with Charlie was as much fun as watching a game with the guys from work. The only difference was Charlie smelled better. Her scent drove him wild.
Charlie didn’t pick at her food, unlike some of the other women he’d dated. She enjoyed every bite. She drank her root beer with gusto. She shouted when the game got close and tense. He had so many fantasies about her since she’d moved in next door, he was surprised to discover she was so much better in real life than she was in his imagination.
The intermission ended and the face off started the third period. Charlie and Nels were still behind closed doors over at her place. He paced his living room for five minutes, trying to burn off the urge to go over there and find out what exactly was going on.
Why was he feeling so proprietary about Charlie? He’d never wanted to stake his claim before and now all he wanted was Charlie. Hank‘d always been able to untangle himself from chicks and walk away without a backward glance.
Charlie was different. Hank had to admit he had real feelings for her.
He didn’t want Nels have another chance to hurt her. As far as Hank was concerned, Charlie was already his. And, he was willing to put up a fight.
Wait! You can’t put up a fight. You can’t hold too tight. You’ve got to let Charlie make her own decisions. She’s not your Valentine. You only shared one kiss.
One incredible kiss.
Charlie is a grown up woman. She gets to make her own decisions.
Hank sat down on the sofa to watch the end of the period. As soon as he got settled his phone started ringing. He checked the caller ID and recognized the number immediately. He got to his feet, and went in search of his car keys.
Hank was locking his front door, when Charlie stepped out on the front porch.
“Hi.” Her smile sparkling and bright. “Did I miss the face off?”
“Just,” he said with a tightness in his voice.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you leaving?”
“I got a call. And I’ve got to go,” he said.
She thinks you’ve gotten a better offer. Why don’t you tell her the truth?
“But...” Charlie said, searching his eyes for the truth. Hank looked away so she couldn’t find it.
“I’ll catch you later,” he said. Then he stepped down off the porch and hurried out to his truck.
CHAPTER NINE
Valentine’s Day arrived right on schedule. Just like it did every year on the fourteenth of February. This year it arrived in spectacular fashion on the winds of a winter snow squall blowing in over the lake. When Charlie looked out her bedroom window, the duplex was up to its eyebrows in newly fallen snow. It looked exactly how she felt facing the holiday without the hope of a Valentine. Again.
At least this year, she didn’t care as much as she had in the past. She didn’t have time to be bitter, sad or lonely. She was too damn tired. There was too much still needed to be done in order for the party at the library to be a success.
It was after midnight when Charlie and Effie finished decorating the community room for the party. Effie had covered the tables with vintage tablecloths she'd found at the consignment store. It gave the room the perfect retro vibe for a small town party.
Mia spent the entire day up on a ladder hanging streamers and tissue paper hearts from the ceiling. Ariel set up a DIY craft table where partygoers could create their own giant personalized naughty conversation hearts. She created several for inspiration, including “GR8 PKG” and “OMFG UR HOT,” then hung them on the wall near the front of the room.
Charlie, Effie, Mia and Ariel had logged countless hours of unpaid overtime prepping for the party, while Katrina hadn't lifted a finger to assist them. Charlie was not surprised.
Effie was just finishing setting the tables when Charlie took a moment to survey the community room.
“It looks like a cupid exploded in here,” Charlie said.
“I think it looks great,” Effie said. “It's a good thing Hank was able to get the room into shape so quickly, giving us time to decorate.”
I can’t keep up the rock n’ roll lifestyle of a modern librarian. “I’m exhausted.” She rubbed the back of her neck.
Charlie laughed. “Me, too. I can’t remember ever being this tired.”
“Maybe instead of going home, I’ll just nap under the Information Desk until morning. Truth is I’ve got to be back here to open in less than six hours,” Effie said, checking her watch.
Charlie turned out the lights in the community room. She followed Effie up to the main lobby where Mia and Ariel were bent over hard at work on the computer at the Information Desk.
“How’s it going?” Charlie asked. “Are we viral yet?”
“We are so viral,” Mia said. “We’re like the flu.”
“I did a full court press on social media. I’ve Tweeted, Snapchatted and Facebooked,” Ariel said. “Now we just have to cross our fingers and hope all of Good Harbor turns out tomorrow to show its library a little love on Valentine’s Day.”
“Then, let’s get out of here,” Charlie said. “Tomorrow is the big day. We’ll all have to be at our best.”
“I know it’s wrong, but I’m actually looking forward to the party,” Mia said. She slipped her arms into a big black parka, then kicked off her shoes to put on her winter boots.
“I know. It’s the first time I can ever remember having something fun to do on Valentine’s Day,” Ariel said as she wrapped a long scarf around and around her neck.
“I just hope there are a couple more people who are looking forward to the party too,” Charlie said as she shrugged into her overcoat.
“I hope we’re all going to be surprised,” Effie said.
Outside the front door, all four librarians stopped to wait for Charlie to lock up and turn out the lights.
“Anybody want to stop for a coffee,” Mia said.
“Joe’s Cuppa closed up over an hour ago,” Ariel noted.
“The only place open this time of night is the bar at Blue,” Charlie said.
“Did someone say cocktails?” Ariel asked.
�
��I’m in,” Effie said immediately.
“Me too,” Charlie said.
“You guys aren’t drinking without me,” Mia added with a grin.
They carefully navigated the hill on Front Street, holding on to each other with a giant moon in the dark sky lighting their way. The sidewalks were clear but the night air was freezing.
“Be careful of black ice,” Effie warned. “We can't get injured before tomorrow night. We're going to need all hands on deck.”
They paused outside the upscale restaurant overlooking the harbor to watch the waves crash into the breakwater before Mia pushed through the glass double doors, and everyone else trooped in behind her.
Effie appointed herself team leader while she negotiated with the hostess for a table. Charlie was relieved when the hostess led the little group to a quiet table in a dark corner of the bar with a breathtaking view of the harbor.
“I think we’ve got the best table in the house,” she said.
Blue was surprisingly busy for such a late hour on a weeknight. The restaurant seemed to have a steady group of regulars.
“Who are all these people?” Charlie asked.
“I don’t know,” Mia said.
“Why are they all out on a school night?” Ariel asked.
“Maybe they’re all out drinking because it’s Valentine’s Day Eve.” Mia said. “They’re all getting a head start on drowning their sorrows.”
“Amen to that,” Charlie said.
“Who knew there were this many people in Good Harbor who hated Valentine’s Day as much as Charlie?”
“If I’d known I had so many kindred spirits in Good Harbor, I wouldn’t have been so lonely,” Charlie smiled in spite of herself. She'd spent the past few days trying without much success to paint a happy face on her bruised heart.
Hank's boss reassigned him to a commercial construction project on Old Mission that was behind schedule. Charlie hadn't seen him at the library in three days. She hadn’t run into him at home either. His truck was gone long before Charlie got up in the morning. He didn’t come home until well after she went to bed. It was highly unusual. Charlie was used to seeing Hank every day. She wanted to talk to him. She needed to set the record straight. She had the idea that Hank had been avoiding running into her.
Valentine Kisses: A Kiss to Last a Lifetime Page 37
