Hailey peered at her over a corn cob she’d just taken a bite of. She lowered it to her plate and wiped her fingers on her napkin. “Not much to tell. He’s nice. He’s cute. He’s kind to Lottie.”
“Wow! You’re really selling him.” Charlie laughed. “No offense, but he sounds very…one-dimensional.”
Hailey shrugged. “That’s one of his best qualities.”
“I don’t understand.”
Her friend took a long pull on her beer like she was avoiding the question or formulating an answer. “I’m completely off bright and shiny men. I mean, look at Derek. He burned brighter than the sun, so much so that I was blinded to his faults.” She poked at the baked beans with her fork. “And look where that got me, pregnant and married at sixteen, a GED instead of graduating from high school, and a husband who resented me for ruining his football career, then used that as an excuse to cheat and lie to me our whole marriage. Now that I’m free of him, I only intend to be with normal, regular, not-shiny men. Roger’s a computer geek, no flash in sight.”
“And that’s enough for you?” Sweet tea slid down Charlie’s throat as she thought about how sad Hailey made her life seem.
Her friend snorted without humor. “More than enough. Roger’s dependable. He gives me an orgasm a couple of times a week. He doesn’t get in my business, and he’s nice to my kid. That’s all I need.”
Charlie cut her chicken with a knife and fork. “I just worry that you’ll be bored.”
“I hope I’m bored out of my mind. In fact, if I thought he’d say yes, I’d ask him to marry me tomorrow.” She laughed. “Trust me, Charlie, living on the roller coaster I’ve been on for the last seven years was enough excitement and heartache for a lifetime.”
The food sliding down Charlie’s throat had to squeeze past a lump of sorrow and regret. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything, except to give me someone to listen to me bitch. I was so blinded by love that I couldn’t see my way out of my marriage. It wasn’t until I found out for sure he was cheating that my pride wouldn’t let me stay.” She took a big bite of brisket, then pointed her fork at Charlie. “Never again. I’ll never lose myself like that to a man. But enough about me. Let’s talk about you and Hank.”
Every morsel of food she’d eaten threatened to make a reappearance. “What about us?”
“Let’s talk about why he’s not here and why I’m going by to check on him on my way home.”
Oh no, had he really gotten hurt last night? “Why are you checking on him?”
“Because he has three bruised ribs and a swollen knee from falling off your roof.” The tilt of Hailey’s head dared Charlie to lie to her.
She played with the condensation on the side of her glass. “Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. He told me it was over between you two, something about a locked door and now you’d locked the window too.” Hailey lifted her heavy mane of hair from her neck with her hands. “Honestly, I think he was on painkillers because he wasn’t making much sense.”
“I told him the door between us was locked. Then he tried to get in my window, and it was locked too. But he is right. We’re done.”
Hailey rested her elbow on the table and covered her mouth. “Why?”
“Because he only wants me now that he knows about Pod. He didn’t want to have anything to do with me before that.”
Hailey laughed. “Are you kidding me? That’s what this is about? Hank told me the night you got up and sang that he was going to tell you how he felt about you.”
“Right. That’s the night he found out I was pregnant.” She crossed her arms over her chest like she’d just made the point of the century.
“He told me before you fell off the stage. He had no idea you were pregnant when he made that decision. Furthermore, the only reason he hadn’t done it sooner is because he was punishing himself for what he’d done to you in the first place.” Hailey matched her crossed-arm stance.
Really? Her heart jumped with excitement, but her head quickly put the double-crossing body part in its place. “Doesn’t matter.” She began cleaning up the table. “I can’t take the chance that he’d leave me again. It would break me, Hailey. I have a child to raise. I can’t do it if I’m broken.”
“Are you serious right now?”
Charlie stopped gathering dishes. “Yes, I’m serious.”
“Let’s review, Charlie.” Hailey stuck one finger in the air. “Did you or did you not leave Hank to go to Hollywood?”
“Yes, but I didn’t have a choice.”
“Just answer the question.”
“Yes.”
Another of Hailey’s fingers went into the air. “And did you or did you not return phone calls from him?”
“I didn’t, but my mom never told me either of you called.”
Hailey’s brow rose in challenge.
“I didn’t.”
A third finger came up. “Did you or did you not come back for him when you turned eighteen?”
Tears blurred her vision and all she could manage was a shake of her head.
One more finger. One more accusation. “Did you or did you not run from his hotel room without letting him explain about Karen?”
“Seriously? I was supposed to stick around and let him lie to me?”
Hailey stuck up another finger. “That reminds me. Did you or did you not think the absolute worst of him without getting all the facts?”
Defeat sat on her like a thousand-pound elephant. “Yes.”
The five fingers stood as evidence against her. “The way I see it, you’re the one who’s left Hank and not been there for him, not the other way around, and still he’s put himself out there to get you back.” Hailey took Charlie’s hand. “You’re throwing up defenses because you’re scared. I get that, but if you’re honest with yourself, you know that Hank’s the one who will always guard your heart.”
Was she right? Had all of this been one big excuse because of fear? The answer was a big fat yes. And didn’t she owe her daughter more than a mother so scared of life that she refused to live it? She also owed her Pod a mother and father that loved each other and tried to build a life together. The tears burning behind her eyes only confirmed that the place she needed to be was with the only man she’d ever loved, not running from him like she’d committed a crime.
She rose from her seat and hugged Hailey. “You’re right. I’m so stupid.”
Hailey patted the arm that was slung across her chest. “No, you’re just afraid. Go.”
She would. There was only one place she wanted to be.
With her man.
Chapter 51
Hank adjusted the ice pack on his swollen knee. He’d tweaked the old football injury when he fell from Charlie’s roof. The burn of humiliation scorched his skin. He’d made a damn fool of himself for the last time with her.
Who was he kidding? He’d do it all again if he thought he had a chance with her.
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him. Karen had always complained that his pride kept him from truly connecting with her, which was true. But his pride was nowhere to be found when he crawled onto Wardell’s roof. All that had mattered was getting to Charlie by any means possible, and look where it had gotten him. Three bruised ribs and a knee that looked like a cantaloupe.
The knock on the door drew him out of his misery. He glanced at the clock. Hailey must’ve left the party early. “It’s open.” It’d taken him twenty minutes to get comfortable, and he wasn’t moving again until he absolutely had to.
The front door slowly opened, revealing a resolute pair of blue eyes in the loveliest face he’d ever seen. “Charlie? What are you doing here?” He was sprawled on the sofa in a pair of athletic shorts and nothing else but the Ace bandage wrapped around his chest.
She didn’t answer, and her tentative steps into the house made him want to scream. The smell of BBQ wafted through his anticipation, and his stomach growled. H
e pointed to the plates of food she was carrying. “Is that for me?”
A nod and a cautious glance were all he got from her.
Why was she here? A guilty conscience had probably made her come by to check on him. She wasn’t a bad person, just a person who didn’t want him. “Well, bring it here. I’m starved. Would you grab me some utensils? They’re in the first drawer next to the fridge.”
Another nod, then she disappeared into the kitchen. She returned with a napkin, knife, and fork, then set the plates on the coffee table.
“Thanks.” He swung his leg around, careful to not make any jerky motions. “Have a seat.” It didn’t matter why she was here. He was just so damn glad to see her. The tangy BBQ exploded over his taste buds, and he nearly moaned. When the first bite of food hit his grateful stomach, he realized he hadn’t eaten since the night before.
They sat in silence while he ate. He noticed her examining his house from where she sat. He wiped his hands and mouth on the napkin and pushed his empty plate away.
She pushed the smaller plate toward him. “Dessert?”
His hands went up like he was warding her off. “Oh, no. I’m full as a tick.”
A weird look crossed her face before she schooled her features. “You should have dessert. It’s carrot cake.”
“Stick it in the fridge. I’ll have it later.”
“You really need to eat this cake.” Her eyes had gone a little wild.
“I will, later. I—”
“Eat it!”
What the hell? Maybe she’d made the cake. “Okay, fine. Hand it over.” It seemed to upset her that he didn’t want the cake, so he dug in with enthusiasm. But his fork clanked against something underneath the cake. He glanced up at her. The tears shimmering in her eyes were so confusing. “What’s going on, Charlie?”
She didn’t say anything, but one of those tears escaped her lower lid and slid down her face.
He flipped the piece of cake over and found one of the antique keys he’d given her underneath.
“I love you.”
“What?” He couldn’t tear his gaze from the key covered in frosting.
She dropped to her knees next to him. “I love you, and I want you, and I’ve been so stupid.”
For a second his head spun from the sudden about-face she’d taken, but he quickly caught up. The explosion of joy those three words elicited smacked a giant smile across his face. “Yeah?”
Hands clutched together in front of her chest, she nodded. The lower lip chewing was distracting, but not enough to take his focus off what she’d just said. He cursed his injuries because all he wanted to do was to take her in his arms. “Come here.”
She pursed her lips like she was battling her own smile. “Why?”
He pushed himself back so that both of his legs were stretched out on the sofa. He patted the place beside him. “Come here and find out.”
Her bottom wedged in next to his hip. Shaking fingers glided over the bandage around his chest. “Hank, I’m so sorry.”
“Shhh, it’s alright. They’ll heal.”
Blue eyes jerked up to his. “No, not about your ribs. Though I am sorry about that too. I’m sorry for all the mean things I said.” She swiped at another tear. “I’m just so scared of getting hurt, but Hailey helped me see that you’re the last person that would purposely hurt me.”
Suddenly the lid slammed on the elation bubbling up from his soul. He did have the ability to hurt her by not telling her about the DEA and Raul.
Her brow wrinkled. “What?”
Shit. His face must’ve reflected his conflict. He couldn’t lose her over that. He’d fix it. He’d make sure that didn’t happen. His determination shoved at the reservations plaguing him. Her skin was warm in his hands when he cupped her face. “Nothing. So what does this all mean, Charlie? I need the words, baby.” The warm kiss she placed in his palm cranked up his anticipation. “Tell me.” The whisper was all he could manage with her this close.
“I want us to be together.”
She’d barely spoken before he claimed her soft lips. Her taste was familiar and new, something to be savored and devoured, then go back for seconds. He held her in place to drink his fill of her.
Years of need and desire demanded a response. And she gave it to him. Low throaty moans, grasping fingers, and the way her body melted into his were something from a million dreams he’d had of her. A million wishes made in the loneliest times of his life, and a million regrets when he knew he’d hurt her beyond anything she could forgive. She needed to know. He had to tell her everything in his heart, so she’d know that no matter what happened with all the other shit going on between them that this one thing was real. He gripped her head and pulled away from the kiss. “Charlie.”
Her eyes were still closed and her swollen, wet lips still pursed. “Huh?”
“Look at me.”
Her lids fluttered opened.
“I love you. Have only ever loved you.” A kiss to seal things between them. “You know what this means, right?”
She brushed the hair from his forehead. “Charlie and Hank forever?”
The pieces of his life snapped into place. “That’s right baby, Charlie and Hank together forever. Now come here.” He went back to the place where all the answers of his life were found, and everything that didn’t matter fell away. In her embrace, with their lips mating and his body fused to hers.
Home.
Charlie’s knees came up on the sofa to give her better access to Hank’s mouth. The swooping dip of her stomach every time their lips touched was a sensation that was quickly becoming her favorite drug. Had she ever been so happy? Only briefly, and that was the night they’d made Pod.
They were together now, and that was the bottom line. A tiny fissure of unease threatened to crack through her happiness. He’d made that weird face when she’d said she knew she could always trust him, probably because he wasn’t sure the same thing was true of her. After all, Hailey was right. She’d been the one to leave him.
She’d have to show him that she was committed to him in every way. “Hank.”
Big hands smoothed the hair from her face. “Yeah, baby?”
“I want…”
“I want too, but I’m not exactly in the best shape.” He chuckled.
She could do this. She was a grown woman, and even though she wasn’t very experienced, she could do this. One more deep, soul-wrenching kiss and she stood. His fingers reached for her, but she stepped out of his grasp. “Hang on, greedy.”
“I am greedy. I’ve been deprived of your kisses for too long.” The teasing grin slid from his face when she reached up and untied the straps of her sundress. “What are you doing?”
She slid the dress down. The elastic top slipped easily over her rounded belly. “I’d think that was obvious.” Self-consciousness tried to worm its way into the situation, but she refused to let it. This was Hank, and he loved her. One arm went around her back, and she unhooked the strapless bra she wore, leaving her only in her panties. Her breasts were larger than when he’d seen them last…hell, all of her was larger than when he’d seen her last.
“Oh. My. God.” The reverence in his voice and the dilation of his pupils stoked the fire burning her alive.
Her hands went to his athletic shorts, and she pulled them and his boxers down his legs. The tips of her fingers ran over the part of him begging for her. A low, rumbling moan escaped his throat, and his whole body jerked with awareness. “You like that?”
“You have no idea, but it’s not enough. Get rid of that scrap of lace and come here.” The tension in his body ran from the corded muscles in his neck to his straining erection. She shimmied out of her panties and straddled his hips, kneeling just above him.
“Like this?” she teased. But her teasing died when the look on Hank’s face hit her. Had she done something wrong? “Hank?”
“You are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”
The blush started at h
er toes and bloomed over her body. “Thank you.” The strange thing was that she felt beautiful in his eyes. Not since that moment earlier, when she’d had a slight pang of self-consciousness, had she had an ounce of discomfort. This was right and where she belonged.
Warm, strong fingers slid into her hair at the back of her head, and he pulled her to him. This kiss was different than before—long, lazy slides of their lips. His tongue chased hers. Hers chased his. They played and teased, both trying to outdo the other. It was a game where there were no losers, only winners.
An incoherent sound fell from her lips when he began making circles around the tip of her breast with his other hand. He gently tugged on her hair. His teeth captured her lower lip then scraped along the flesh until he released it. He soothed the sting with a velvety lick.
Her body began the climb. Each sensation built on the last, soft, rough, pleasure, pain, until she was hanging on the brink ready to fall. When he brought his mouth to her sensitive nipple and sucked while still toying with the other, she crashed over the edge with his name ripped from her throat.
She collapsed on top of him, but caught herself with her hands on either side of his head, so she didn’t hurt his injured chest. Her ragged breaths blew the coarse hair on his chest. A minute. She needed a minute to recover.
“Charlie?”
“Hang on.”
He chuckled. “Take your time. I’m here when you’re ready.”
She glanced up at him through her lashes. “You think this is funny?”
“I think this is heaven.” His erection teased her opening…or was she teasing him? It was hard to tell. “You’re going to have to do most of the work, Charlie. I’m a little banged up. You alright with that?”
Her response was to lower herself onto him. She moaned low and loud. Sparks flashed before her eyes. This position and the added pressure of the pregnancy changed everything. More intense, more intimate, more everything. She gripped the back of the sofa with one hand to make sure she didn’t try to steady herself by placing her hands on his wounded chest. One rock, then two, and she found her rhythm.
Brides on the Run (Books 1-4): Small-Town Romance Series Page 77
