Her phone rang, bringing her out of her daze. She quickly retrieved it from her pocket. “H…hello?” she answered.
“It’s me!”
She sighed, trying to calm her racing heart as she heard Ana’s voice. “Hey you,” she stated. “What’s up?”
She turned away from the wastebasket, taking Ana’s phone call as a saving grace and a sign that she needed to forget about him. “Well, what are you doing Friday night?”
Ana mentally attempted to ignore the napkin and think about her schedule for that day. She finally walked away from the wastebasket, putting some much-needed distance between the two of them. “Well…I work until six-thirty, then I’m free, I guess. Why?”
“This Friday night Jesse is having a party at his house. It’s sort of a party welcoming the fact that I’m moving in.” She paused, before adding. “Then…this weekend we’re moving me in. You’re welcome to help, if available.” She laughed.
Charity still couldn’t believe it was happening so quickly. She had the weekend off, so she was definitely available. “What time’s the party?”
“Whatever time you can get there. We’re saying seven. It’s only a few friends and a backyard barbecue. Nothing fancy.”
“I’ll be at the party, and you just let me know when and where and I’ll be there this weekend.”
“Thank you so much, Charity. Hey, someone’s beeping in on my other line. I’ll catch you later.”
“Okay, bye!” Charity said, before disconnecting the call.
She sat there for a while until there was no changing her mind. She was sure it was the wrong choice, but there was no stopping her. She got off the couch and walked back to the laundry room. She reached into the wastebasket and retrieved his number. Getting the courage to call him wasn’t easy, but she did finally dial up his number. After the third ring, she thought about hanging up, then he answered the phone.
“Hello?” Even his voice was sexy, catching her off guard. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Then he said it again. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
“Yes!” she blurted out. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Um, I mean. Hello, Damian. This is Charity.”
“Hm…Charity? I don’t believe I know the name.”
Her heart sunk. She clamored for something to say. Then settled on, “Oh…I…maybe I have the wrong number.” Before she could disconnect the call, he started laughing.
“Wait a minute. Charity…are you the beautiful waitress that ditched me in my hour of need?”
“Hour of need?” she asked quietly.
“I was starving.” He started laughing, which lightened the mood and caused Charity to join in. When things grew quiet, he continued. “I’ve been waiting for your call, but honestly…I didn’t think you would.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” she slowly admitted.
Again, another moment of silence and he added. “I’m glad you did.”
She smiled, walking out of the laundry room and into the living room, where she sat down and relaxed. “What are you up to today?” she asked. The moment the question left her lips, she knew it sounded like someone fishing for an invitation out. She quickly remedied the situation. “Just making conversation.”
He chuckled on the other end of the line. “Busy at work. I have a party I’m catering for and probably won’t be done until eight or so.”
She sat up. She had interrupted him. He clearly wanted a way out of the conversation so he could get back to work. “I won’t keep you. I simply wanted to say hi.”
“You don’t have to go,” he hurriedly stated. “I simply meant that should we get together tonight, it would have to be a late nightcap or something.”
“What?” she asked. “I didn’t call so we would go out. I’m not interested in that, at all. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t starve to death or anything.” Even Charity felt the lies in her statements. He wasn’t dissuaded at all.
“Besides the party is twenty miles outside of town. So, if we get together tonight it would be best to do it in Briar Ridge.”
Her mouth dropped. “You’re obviously not hearing me. I can’t believe I didn’t notice the lack of hearing you possess.”
“What about ten o’clock?” he asked. It was like she wasn’t saying anything at all. He ignored every word. “I’ll text you the address.” Before she could utter another word, he hung up.
She stared at the phone and placed it down on the coffee table, not fully sure what happened. She denied she was going numerous times before she suddenly was hit by facts. She couldn’t wait to see him, and she already needed to find the perfect outfit.
***
“I’ll be sure to call you by the end of the week,” Derek replied, shaking the hand of interviewee number five.
She smiled. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mayor Worthington.” She bounced out of the office like she was going to meet the ice cream truck. He groaned and tossed the resume onto his desk, sinking back into his office chair. It was a nightmare. Each person reminded him more and more, of how much he despised these type of situations.
He stared at the computer screen, getting hypnotized for a moment, that he barely noticed the knock at his door. “Hey…how’s it going?”
He slowly moved his head to stare at Jesse. “Don’t you have a job?” he asked. The sarcasm was thick in Derek’s voice.
“Ouch!” Jesse replied with a stiff laugh. “That’s the joys of working in the same building as you. I can get away at the drop of a hat.” He hesitated, as Derek leaned back in his chair and continued to stare straight forward. “Clearly not a moment too soon. You look awful.”
Derek snickered. “Gee…thanks!”
“You can always count on me,” Jesse teased. “But seriously…you look awful.”
Derek heaved a sigh and picked up the resumes from his desk. “Do you know how many people I interviewed today that had zero qualifications?”
Jesse raised an eyebrow. “All of them?”
Derek nodded. “You got it. I’ve never been so frustrated.”
Jesse laughed loudly. “Right. You’re the mayor of this city…I’m sure you’ve had a few frustrations in your life. They were that bad, huh?”
Derek slowly nodded. “The best one was the second woman, and she’s about three years shy of retirement age. Frustrating!”
“It’s not like the position has been posted that long. You have plenty of time to get a viable candidate.” Jesse, being encouraging, stated.
Derek tossed the resumes into his trash and looked up. “You’re right. So, what brings you here?”
“The party,” Jesse replied. Derek frowned, at first trying to remember what party Jesse was talking about. “The one I told you I was going to have so you could meet Ana.”
“Right!” Derek wiggled his eyebrows playfully in Jesse’s direction, and Jesse grinned.
“Don’t be jealous,” he replied.
“Whatever!” Derek mumbled. “So…the party…and what about it?”
“It’s Friday night at seven o’clock.”
“This Friday?” Derek asked in disbelief.
“You better believe it. What better time than the present?”
He wanted to ask what Ana’s parents thought of the sudden jump in relationship status, but he didn’t say it. Jesse’s parents wouldn’t care as they were enjoying retirement and living to the fullest. Last Derek knew they were away on a Caribbean cruise. He doubted Jesse even told them.
“I’ll try to make it.” Jesse opened his mouth to argue, and Derek held up his hand to stop him from arguing. “I’ll do my best. It’s a busy time, and there are only two days left.” Jesse looked annoyed by his answer, so he continued. “I swear that I will move heaven and earth to try to be there.”
“You do realize that this job doesn’t mean you can’t have a life, too, right?”
Derek laughed. “My father apparently taught me well.”
“Look where that got him,” Jesse pointed out. “
A life without friends and a sad journey until it ended.” Derek watched as Jesse got up and moved to the door. “You don’t have to live your life like that. The people will understand.” He left Derek’s office, giving Derek time to think. Jesse was right on one thing…he always put his job responsibilities as a priority, but that had to take precedence, and nothing would change that.
***
Damian motioned to the chair and waited for Charity to sit down. She smiled, still confused why she chose to go out with him. He sat down across from her, his eyes never leaving hers. “You are so beautiful,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you!” she replied casually, but her heart pounded so loud against her chest that she thought for sure he would hear her. He grabbed his menu and looked down, tearing his eyes away from her. She looked down in the menu, but the words all ran together. She couldn’t even read the words, as they turned blurry. She finally closed the menu and glanced around the busy restaurant.
She met up with him further than she ever drove for a guy. She’d never been to the place before so she chose to just follow his lead. When the waitress came back for their order, and he ordered the Filet Mignon special, she just agreed, nearly choking out the words. She’d never spent that kind of money on food, but she had just enough in her wallet to cover it.
“Nice place,” she replied, a little on the timid side.
He nodded. “I used to work here.” She opened her mouth, then closed it. He smiled. “A long time ago.”
“Have you lived here your whole life?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Not my whole life. I moved here with my mom when I was just ten.”
“What about your dad?” she asked.
He didn’t seem to mind to have to talk about his life. “He died the year before.”
“Oh…I’m sorry.” She replied, suddenly feeling bad she was noisy.
“Don’t be. It was a long time ago, and I’ve gotten past it.”
His words were tense and abrupt, but it didn’t stop her from pushing on. “How’d he die?” she asked softly. He looked down at the glass of wine the waitress had poured and when he looked up, she regretted asking. His eyes were dark. “Forget I asked,” she quickly said. “I can be a little too noisy for my own good.” She grabbed a sip of her wine and his lips curved up slightly.
“I really don’t mind answering. He committed suicide on my ninth birthday.”
Her jaw dropped. It was the furthest idea from her mind. “Wow. I truly am sorry, Damian.”
He shrugged. “Life goes on, right?” He nonchalantly took a drink from his wine glass, and the hurt appeared deep in his eyes. She needed to drop it. It wasn’t too hard to accomplish because he quickly changed the subject to her life. “What about you? Have you lived in Belfast your whole life? Do your parents live near you? Do you have any siblings?” He smiled genuinely, leaving her comfortable to talk about it. Plus, she didn’t feel like she could backpedal when he already talked about his.
“Born and raised in Belfast,” she replied. She paused, stumbling on the next question. She didn’t open up to too many people about her parents dying. She never thought it was their business, but again Damian had been so honest with her, and she didn’t feel she could lie to him. “My parents died when I was in college. They were killed in a house fire.” She swallowed hard, forcing the ever-growing lump out of her throat. “I have a younger sister. She’s getting ready to go to Harvard Law.” She smiled. She was proud of Tiffany. It was the one thing in her life she could brag about. “She’s a lot smarter than I am and I can’t imagine her not being in my life. She got me through our parents’ death.”
“Whoa…” he mumbled. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” He reached across the table to touch her hand, but she slowly pulled it back.
“Thank you!” she replied quietly. “Now, we can really change the subject to some happier times.” She laughed nervously, and he nodded in agreement. She thought about where to guide the conversation when she remembered what he had told her earlier. “So, you’re a caterer?”
He nodded. “Cooking is my passion and eventually, would like to open my own business.” Charity looked at his long hair and led her eyes down his firm muscles, and she chuckled softly. “What’s funny?” he asked, a hint of a smile rested on his lips.
“I mean no disrespect, but you don’t really look like the type to be a chef.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah…what type do I look like?”
She scrunched up her nose, thinking long and hard, before smiling. “You look like you could own a biker’s bar.” She laughed. “Or a model.”
He snickered. “What about you?” he asked.
She smiled. “What about me?” She took a long and slow drink from her wine glass, attempting to read his mind and getting nowhere.
“Do you long to be a waitress your whole life?”
She didn’t need a millisecond to answer that question. “I know this is going to be a surprise to you, but no…waitressing isn’t something I want to do for the rest of my life.” He tried to look shocked by that revelation, before laughing. “I would like to finish my degree and become a teacher. Children are and always will be my passion.”
He nodded. “Very commendable…I think we should toast to that.” He lifted up his glass, and she slowly followed. “Here’s to all of your dreams coming true.” He winked at her and touched her glass. She took a sip from her own glass, but couldn’t calm her rapid heartbeat. If he wasn't serious, then he was a great actor, but she had a feeling he was genuine.
They continued the meal with more conversation and she found herself laughing more than she wanted to. He was a charmer, if nothing more, and she was quickly pulled to him. When she was finishing her second glass of wine, he motioned to the dance floor. She paused, before finally agreeing. This wasn’t how she thought the evening would go. She definitely didn’t intend on feeling like she was on a date. They walked out to the dance floor, hand in hand and he pulled her to him. They gently moved to the music, and neither of them spoke a word.
Occasionally she found herself lost in his eyes, but then would look away so the moment was lost. When one dance ended and then two, things started to get cozier. She could feel his intimate movements, from a hand on her back to the breath against her skin. She couldn’t push the thoughts away. When the third dance ended, he whispered in her ear. “My bike is outside…my house is two blocks away. I need you tonight.” The emphasis on need caused her body to go numb. She nodded, and he grabbed her hand and quickly pulled her off the dance floor.
Once outside, she shivered, even though it was a warm Summer’s evening. He handed her his helmet, and she slipped it on. He didn’t come prepared with two, but she graciously accepted the one he offered. He got on, and she hopped on behind him as he started the engine.
“Hold on tight!” he cried over the noise. She obliged, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning into him. He tore out of the parking lot, the wind whipping through their hair. She rested her head on his shoulder and enjoyed the ride. She closed her eyes and took in a whiff of his cologne. This wasn’t her, and she didn’t know whether to love it or despise it.
He cruised around the lonely road, winding through the small town and then abruptly slowed down and turned right to another street. She looked at the perfectly aligned houses, all neatly placed in a row, several with white picket fences, and manicured lawns. It was several worlds away from the place she lived. He pulled into a driveway and sat up, gawking at the house in front of her. It wasn’t big by many people’s standards, but it was lavishly decorated with landscaping and didn’t appear to be something a bachelor would own.
He grabbed her hand and helped her down off his bike. “Home sweet home!” he replied with a chuckle.
She smiled. “Do you hire someone to do the landscaping?” she asked.
He tilted his head. “Don’t you think I have it in me?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
She laughed and shrugg
ed. “You’re a chef and a landscaping genius?” she asked.
He chuckled and pointed to the house across the street from him. “Old Mrs. Haversfield…she loves to work in the yard.”
She could believe that. The woman’s own home seemed perfectly set up with trees, flowers, rocks, and shrubbery. She turned back to him. “Do you think it’s nice to call her old?” she asked.
He thought about that. “Well, she is eighty-five.” Charity laughed. “Now, did you come here to talk about her or see the inside of my house?” he asked, grinning down at her.
He reached for her hand, and she accepted it. He was right, why prolong the inevitable? She followed him up the walkway and waited for him to unlock the door. Once inside, she glanced around the foyer. This looked more like a bachelor pad. She started to say that, but he already had his lips to hers. His tongue dove between her lips and claimed her voice.
“Let me show you my bedroom,” he whispered between kisses. She lost all senses and followed him up the steps, down a hallway, and into the main bedroom. Once they got into the room, he turned back around to her and pulled her into an embrace.
“I never…” she started, before another kiss captured her words. Screw it, she thought, grabbing his belt and undoing it, then pulling it free from his pants. She tossed it to the ground.
He started pulling her shirt off over her head and moving down to her pants.
She kicked out of her shoes as he pushed her back to the bed and guided her down to his comforter. Their eyes locked as she breathlessly pulled from the kiss and ogled him. He reached in a drawer next to his bed and removed a condom, and she stared as he pulled off his boxers and ripped the package with his teeth. He then fully sheathed himself, before climbing onto the bed. With one hand he undid the clasp to her bra and with the other, he yanked at her panties, expertly removing them from her trembling body.
The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1) Page 7
