The Proposal (Forever Bound Book 2)

by Bree Callahan

  A tall man with sunglasses on top of his head leaned up against the wall and had his eyes closed. He had been there longer than she had and by the look of things, he was ready for the plane to get there unless he enjoyed taking a nap while standing up.

  She chuckled as she looked away from each of the people standing or sitting in the airport lobby. Her phone sounded with a text, so she graciously took the distraction and looked at Derek’s response.

  Derek: So glad to hear it. Enjoy the beautiful night with your sister.

  Charity smiled. He was sweet and caring. She couldn’t deny that. Then there was Damian who sent her gifts and poetry, and she was starting to wonder why she never saw him as a guy that could give her everything she wanted. “Because he wasn’t that guy!” she whispered. She heard someone clear her throat, and she looked up at a man that sat in the seat two spots down from her. He raised an eyebrow and was looking right at her, clearly thinking she was nuts. She smiled and looked down. If he only knew the dilemma she was in.

  She heard the call of Tiffany’s plane arriving, and she thought it couldn’t have come at a better time. Of course, she knew that they would be getting instructions, just in case anyone was a first-time passenger, but soon the gate was opening, and passengers started filing out of the corridor. She stood up from her seat, while the other people located the person they were there to see. Arms were flailing around, and eager cries of enjoyment ensued and then she saw Tiffany coming out of the door.

  She squealed, then realized it was a little louder than she should’ve gone with. Tiffany ran towards her, and they hugged one another. “I’ve missed you so much!” Tiffany mumbled against Charity’s hair.

  “So did I!” Charity exclaimed. After they had several minutes of embracing, Charity was the first to pull apart. She looked her sister over and felt herself getting misty. “You have grown so much.”

  Tiffany laughed. “Um…that’s something you say to a five-year-old. I’ve always been this mature.”

  They both erupted into laughter and then hugged again. “Come on you mature one…time to get your luggage.” Tiffany snickered, and they walked arm in arm to the baggage claim area. Tiffany immediately started chatting away about how she was doing in college and Charity hung onto every word. She could at least live vicariously through her sister and still hope that one day she was able to get there too. Then she switched the topic to boys and Charity quickly had to stop her.

  “Boys?” Charity asked.

  Tiffany laughed. “In case you haven’t noticed sis, I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  “I noticed,” Charity whispered. She hated seeing Tiffany grow up so fast, but talking about boys wasn’t something she intended on doing, so she quickly changed the subject. “So, excited about starting Harvard in the Fall?”

  Tiffany snickered. “Yes…” she then looked excited and flung out her phone.

  “What are you doing?” Charity asked with a chuckle.

  “I want to show you a picture of Paul. He is hands down the best catch at school. He’s planning on coming to Harvard, as well. We’re just friends now, but you never know.” She thrust out her hand to show Charity his picture.

  Charity stared at her. “When did you become so boy crazy and what did you do my sister?”

  Tiffany shrugged. “I guess I’ve always been boy crazy and you just never noticed.”

  Charity grabbed the phone and looked at Paul’s picture, while Tiffany grabbed her luggage. “Hm…I guess he isn’t bad. Does he know you have these feelings for him?” Charity asked, handing the phone back to her sister.

  Tiffany laughed. “Uh no. That’s not the way things work.”

  Charity shook her head and helped Tiffany with her bags. They carried them through the airport and made their way out the front door. “I parked over here.” Charity motioned with her head, and they headed to her car. Tiffany started talking about Paul again, and Charity only half listened. When they got to the car, she opened up the trunk, and they put the luggage in. Charity walked to the driver’s door, and Tiffany walked around to the passenger side. She took a breath as she slid into the seat, but then started right back up.

  “His favorite musical group is Pink Floyd. Can you believe it? Pink Floyd…I told him that’s so 80’s, but he told me I’m nuts.” She sighed. “He is so unique, and that’s what draws me to him.”

  Charity chuckled under her breath and went to start the car. She turned it once, and it started to make a sound, but then quickly died. “Oh…no…no…no…no…” she chanted, trying again. The second and third time she did the same, and the car did the same. She hit her hands across the wheel.

  “What’s happening?” Tiffany asked.

  Charity took off her seatbelt. “I don’t know. Haven’t had the issue before.” She opened up the hood of her car, then got out of the vehicle. She walked around to the front of the car and lifted up the hood. She stared aimlessly into the motor and whatever else was under the hood.

  “Do you see anything?” Tiffany asked as she leaned out the window.

  Charity laughed. “That would mean I have a clue what I’m looking for.” She grabbed her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through until she found the tow service that came with her car coverage. She clicked on their information and waited for a woman to answer.

  “Main Street Towing…how may I help you?”

  “Hello. My name is Charity Parker, and I am stuck at Portland International Jetport in section G of the parking lot. I can’t get my car started, and I was hoping someone to come and try to jump it for me.”

  “Do you have coverage with us?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  “Alright, let me look you up.” She heard some typing on a computer and then the woman came back on the phone. “Charity Parker you say?”

  “That’s right.”

  “What’s your date of birth?” The woman asked.

  She told the woman her birthdate then proceeded to wait for her to look up the information. She came back and said she found it, but the news she gave wasn’t the best Charity could’ve received. “Three hours?” Charity asked.

  “I’m sorry, but that’s the earliest anyone can get there.”

  Charity closed the hood of her car and glanced at Tiffany in the passenger seat. “I’ll call you back.”

  “Suit yourself. I’ll be here until seven o’clock, then the night shift comes in.”

  “Okay…thanks!” Charity hung up the phone and moved to the driver’s side of the car. She got in and shut the door hard. “Well, this will be fun. Feel like waiting it out for at least three hours?” Charity asked.

  Tiffany chuckled. “Do we have an alternative?”

  Charity thought about it, then dialed up Ana’s number. They could hope that Jesse could come and help them out of this bind, or wait until some nice person just happened along and could jumpstart the car. Ana answered the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Ana. What are you and Jesse up to?” Charity asked, attempting her hand at a positive sounding voice.

  “Well, we were supposed to be going out, but he just called and said he needed to reschedule. He has to stay late at work and meet with a client. Why? What’s up?”

  “Oh…” Charity groaned. “Well, Tiff and I are stuck in the parking lot of the airport. My car won’t start, and I was hoping for a jump.”

  “Oh geez,” Ana replied. “I’d come and try to help you out, but my Mom just came and got my car.”

  “Why what’s up with their cars?” Charity asked.

  “The Camaro is in the shop getting detailed, and she needs a car for tomorrow. Dad dropped her off, and they just left.” She paused. “I could try to reach them on the phone and see if Dad can come and give you a jump.”

  Charity hated burdening them, so she turned down the offer. “I’ll figure something else out. Thanks anyway.” She hung up the phone, and Tiffany gave her a weary look.

  “No luck?”

  “All hope isn’t lost.” C
harity responded.

  She dialed up another number and waited for him to answer. “Hello? Charity?”

  “Hey, Derek…I’m stuck in the parking lot of the airport. My car won’t start. I hate to bother you, but could you bring some jumper cables and help a girl out?”

  He didn’t even hesitate and said he would be there as soon as he could. Charity told him they were in section G, thanked him and hung up the phone. She turned to Tiffany, who seemed more hopeful. “You have help?”

  Charity nodded. “There’s something you should know before he gets here, though. It’s Derek Worthington.” Tiffany didn’t seem to catch the drift until Charity reiterated the name. “It’s Mayor Derek Worthington.”

  Charity’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” She lowered the visor and checked herself in the mirror. “I look hideous.”

  Charity laughed. “You look fine.”

  Tiffany flipped the visor back up. “I know you work for him and all, or you did, and now you do…” she shook her head. “I’ve lost track.” She snickered and ignored Charity’s glares in her direction. “Anyway…I know you work with him, but I didn’t think you were chummy enough to call him up and ask him for a favor. I’m impressed.”

  Charity rolled her eyes and looked away from Tiffany. Eventually, she would have to confess everything to Tiffany and Ana, but she just wanted to keep things between Derek and her. “We’re friendly with one another. That’s all.”

  “Right and I’m friendly with Channing Tatum…no big deal.”

  “You are?” Charity asked. “That is awesome!”

  This time, Tiffany shot her daggers. “In my dreams, Channing and I are very close. My point is that there is obviously more to your story than you’re letting on.”

  “Just a boss helping their co-worker out.”

  Tiffany tossed her head back and laughed. “Keep saying that, but I highly doubt Bill would’ve hopped in his car to help you out.” She then frowned. “That’s probably a bad analogy because Bill was pretty nice and he probably would have.”

  Charity smiled. “Tiffany was right about that, but that was so off the point. Derek was simply trying to help her out, or at least that’s what she had to make Tiffany believe because she didn’t want everything blown out of proportion.

  ****

  Before Charity officially asked him to come help her out, he was headed towards the airport. The whole way he silently cursed the traffic to get out of his way, and he didn’t totally breathe until he was turning into the parking lot.

  He scoured the lot and finally noticed section G. It didn’t take him long to find Charity’s car, and he pulled up in front of her. She got out of the car and so did the woman in the seat next to her. Before he could even say hello to Charity, her sister approached him.

  “Hello…my name’s Tiffany.”

  She outstretched her arm in front of him, and he shook her extended hand. “Hello…Mayor Worthington, but you can just call me Derek. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  Tiffany started giggling, and he snickered and noticed Charity’s mortified expression. “Hey!” she coolly replied.

  “Hey!” He figured she wanted to still keep this on the down low, so he made sure not to mention that Charity and he were technically dating. “Go ahead and up your hood.” She went back to the driver’s side of the car and pulled the switch for the hood, while he did the same for his.

  “I really do appreciate you coming here. You didn’t have to, but it was…nice.”

  He smiled and shrugged it off. “No worries. I had nothing going on.” He winked at her, making sure it was discreet, and Tiffany didn’t notice the action. Charity smiled, looking down at the ground.

  He grabbed the jumper cables from the back of his car and attached them to each of their batteries. She slid into her car and turned the key in the ignition. The car sputtered, but then stalled. He frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Well, maybe it isn’t the battery.” He went to the back of his car and pulled out a battery tester.

  She seemed intrigued. “You really do come prepared.”

  He laughed. “You never know.” He approached her battery and attached it to the tester. He turned it on and shook his head as the dial kept going until it hit the mark proving it wasn’t her battery. “I’m sorry, but it’s not the battery.” He removed the tester. “It could be the fuel pump. Ever had that replaced?”

  She frowned, then laughed. “Um…I’m going to say no, but I could be wrong.”

  He grinned. “I’d say get it towed in and have it worked on tomorrow. I’ll take you home.”

  She glanced over at Tiffany, and he noticed their secretive exchange. She then explained it to him. “They said it would be at least three hours. Do you mind waiting that long?”

  He shrugged. “I have no plans. Who would be coming?” he asked.

  “Main Street Towing.”

  He grabbed his phone from the dash of his car and dialed up their number. She watched him as he made the call. A woman answered the phone. “Hello, this is Mayor Derek Worthington. I have a friend stuck at Portland International Jetport. I need a tow truck out there right away.”

  “Oh…yes…of course. They’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  He told the woman where they were parked, then hung up the phone and put it back into the front seat of his car. He turned around to find Charity’s jaw dropped. “What’d they say?” she asked.

  “They’ll be here in ten minutes.”

  She laughed, and he felt a little guilty for using his name, but it wasn’t like he was doing evil. They had the resources to get out there earlier, and he just made sure they utilized them.

  Tiffany snickered. “It pays to know someone, that’s for sure.”

  He smiled at her reply. “I’ll move my car into a parking spot, so they can easily have access to your vehicle.

  He had to drive to the next aisle over, but then he parked and headed back to where they stood. They were talking quietly, until he approached them and Charity looked up, instantly breaking off the conversation. “I don’t think I can ever repay you,” Charity replied.

  He brushed her words away. “Don’t be silly. It was no big deal.”

  The next few minutes was kept with Tiffany making most of the conversation. She was more talkative than her sister, but they both had very similar features in their mannerisms. He noticed that right off. He didn’t mind hearing Tiffany chatter away, as it kept him from glancing at Charity and showing Tiffany exactly how he felt about her sister.

  When the tow truck got there, Derek gave his information, despite Charity profusely arguing with him. He held up his hand and silently told her he would talk to her about it later. The driver said that he had to take the vehicle to the nearest shop, but Derek talked him into taking it to the Lowell’s Automotive, which was just into Buxton. That way Charity didn’t have her vehicle too far away. As the guy drove the tow truck, with her car on the back, out of the parking spot, Charity, Derek, and Tiffany all walked back to his car. He opened up the trunk, so Tiffany could put her luggage in the back.

  Tiffany started to get into the passenger seat, but Charity cleared her throat, causing her to rethink her decision. Derek chuckled, and they all loaded up into his BMW. He heard Tiffany mumbling about never being in such a nice vehicle, but he chose to ignore it. “Ready to go?” he asked.

  Both Charity and Tiffany mutually agreed that they were ready to get out of the airport parking lot. He pulled out of his parking spot and Tiffany started to talk away once more. Periodically he saw Charity’s amused expression and he relaxed and enjoyed the ride to her apartment.

  ****

  Charity and Tiffany got out of the car. Derek helped Tiffany with her luggage out of the trunk, then they all stood awkwardly, standing around and gawking at one another. That was until Charity broke the ice. “Thanks again for coming to the rescue.”

  He snickered. “You would’ve managed just fine, but it wasn’t a
problem at all.”

  She wanted to kiss him and give him the proper thank you he deserved, but she couldn’t; at least not with Tiffany standing at her side and observing every move.

  Derek started to reach for the luggage, but Charity stopped him. “We have it. I’d hate for you to be detained much longer.”

  He reluctantly pulled back from the suitcase, but she saw a flash of disappointment on his face. “I’ll come pick you up tomorrow about seven thirty. Does that work?”

  For a brief moment she was about to question why he had to pick her up, but then it dawned on her. The car wouldn’t be available to drive. It made sense, but she felt bad she had to rely on him anyway. “That would be fine. I’ll call the shop as soon as I get upstairs so I can give them my contact information.”

  “Sounds good,” he softly replied. His eyes drifted over to Tiffany, who looked like she was just enjoying the view in front of her. She didn’t move. She didn’t talk. She just stood there.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Charity mumbled.

  He turned to Tiffany and reached out to shake her hand. She beamed from ear to ear. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mayor Worthington,” she said, as they shook hands.

  “The pleasure was all mine, Tiffany.” He looked between Charity and Tiffany. “Enjoy your night.”

  “You too!” They replied in unison. Charity watched as he got in his car, that was still running and pulled out of the parking spot. He waved out the window. When he was out of the parking lot completely, Tiffany turned to face Charity.

  “The Mayor? Are you kidding me?”

  Charity frowned, picking up one of Tiffany’s suitcases. “What are you talking about?” She nonchalantly asked. She pretended to be struggling with the suitcase and moaned as she shifted herself. “How long are you saying for, anyway?” Charity teased.