by Lexy Timms
“I can invite her over for Christmas. We could do that whole fondue thing again at your dad’s place and see what happens.”
Her heart warmed at his suggestion of them spending their next Christmas together. Even if it was meant in a joking fashion, she loved that he saw the two of them together. “Or we could go there.”
“Only if you promise to surrender your passport to me the minute we arrive.”
She laughed and elbowed him in the side. “Fair enough. Except I highly doubt you and my father will both leave the hospital for two weeks at the same time.”
“Duck!” Two kids with kites came whipping by. Elijah and Charity had to drop their heads to avoid getting decapitated by a wild one. “Sorry about that!” one of the kids shouted as they raced by.
Charity and Elijah turned around and began walking back to the hotel. The wind blew her hair out of her face this time but it now felt like they were walking slightly uphill.
“Might be better if we hung out inside for a while…” Elijah suggested.
“Just til the wind dies down… For safety, of course. We don’t want to be blown away.”
Elijah pulled her to him and kissed her. “I won’t let you get away.”
They spent the afternoon in their hotel room, exploring more of each other. When Charity’s stomach began rumbling loudly, Elijah took her to an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant. The wind died down after dinner and Charity challenged him to a round of mini putt.
“What do I get when I beat you?” he teased her as they headed out to the Peter Pan golf course.
“Tinkerbelle? Or tick-tock croc?”
“How about if I win, you agree to a round of eighteen holes of golf tomorrow?”
“And if I win, you agree to come shopping with me?”
He hesitated. “Shopping? How about something more along the lines of golfing?”
She shook her head. “Just try your best and I’ll try and go easy on you.”
They started out playing competitively, either tying or taking turns beating the other by a shot. They came to the hole in the skull cave and Elijah’s shot ricocheted off the wall and landed in the water that dropped over a small waterfall. A fake tick-tock croc floated in the water below.
Charity burst out laughing. “I believe that’s a two stroke penalty. And now you have no ball to finish the last four holes.”
He pressed her against the fake cave wall and kissed her. “Is there a way I can get out of this predicament?”
She slapped his hand away from her pocket. “Stop trying to steal my ball.”
He stepped back, trying not to laugh. “Fine. I’ll find a new one.” He left her in the cave and came back a moment later with a bright pink ball. “Found one! Game on.”
They teased each other the rest of the holes. Pretending to stumble and kick the other’s ball or set the putter on the ground so the rolling ball hit it. Charity gave up trying to beat him, but it was the best round of mini putt she had ever played.
“Eighteen holes tomorrow!” Elijah said as they drove home.
“I have no clubs. Or proper attire.”
“We’ll go shopping. My treat.” He grinned. “Looks like we both won.”
The weekend ended far too fast. Golfing turned out to be an afternoon of fun and she promised Elijah she would sign up for some lessons in the summer. He said she was a natural and she thought she didn’t end up doing half bad during the last nine holes. The drive back to the airport was a quiet one. Charity didn’t want the weekend to end but she knew they had to get back to the business of their lives.
“Two weeks til the Diamond Gala,” she murmured.
“Less. One weekend and then you’ll be up for the next.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Twelve days and counting?”
“You better believe it.” He glanced at her before focussing back on the road. “Don’t book a hotel. How about you stay at my place when you come?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
“Me, too.” He pulled off the highway to the airport. They dropped the car off at the rental location and headed into the terminal. They checked their bags and walked toward his gate. His flight was an hour earlier than hers.
“Call me when you get back?”
She bit her lip, not wanting the amazing weekend to end. “Definitely.”
He hugged her as a stewardess announced the last boarding call for his flight.
“You’d better get going.”
“I had an amazing weekend.”
“So did I. Thanks for inviting me.”
He chuckled and kissed her softly on the lips.
The kiss deepened and it took a conscious effort by Charity to step back. “You’re going to miss your flight.” She glanced at the stewardess grinning from the counter. “She’s going to announce us on the loudspeaker. Go!”
He kissed her quickly one more time. “See you in eleven days, twenty-two hours and however many minutes!”
She blew him a kiss before he disappeared through his gate. She was so falling in love with him. What in the world was she going to do?
Chapter 16
Where had the time gone? It felt like only a couple of months ago she had just signed the contract with Forever Hope in Atlanta and then had agreed to the Diamond Gala for her father’s birthday. It seemed like only yesterday but it also seemed a long time had passed since she had flown to New Zealand with Elijah.
Her thoughts moved to him. She wondered what he was doing right now. Probably in surgery or doing rounds. She highly doubted he had the day off. She didn’t think he ever took time away from the hospital. Would it be different if she lived in New York? She had thought about it several times over the past few weeks. The key train of thought always ended on what she would do when her contract ended in Atlanta. Part of her wanted to move back here while the other half preferred to run and hide.
She pressed the gas pedal when the car behind her honked for her to go. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t noticed the light change to green. She checked the GPS knowing she was heading in the right direction but wanted the confirmation. The last time she drove to Elijah’s place it had been dark and snowing. March was not proving to be much warmer than Christmastime, but at least the sun was shining.
Her phone began buzzing so she pulled over in a parking lot to check the caller ID. There were a million things to organize today and tomorrow. She wanted everything perfect. Whoever might be calling could need confirmation on the flowers, tables or food.
“Hello?”
“Charity?” Her father cleared his throat.
“Hi… Dad.” She didn’t need any pressure from him right now. She rolled her eyes to the roof of the car.
“I was wondering if I could invite two more colleagues for tomorrow night. I know it’s last minute, but they flew in for a pro-bono surgery and I’d like to invite them to come. If it’s okay with you… and if there is still room.”
She smiled. He sounded nervous, like the way she felt when trying to ask him something. “It’s fine. Could you email me their names so I can add them to the guest list?”
“Fantastic! They both offered to purchase their tickets and already wrote a check to cover the cost.”
She shook her head. Of course they had. “No problem. Just shoot me over an email with their names so I can get them on the list and sitting at a table.”
“Will do.” He coughed and cleared his throat again. “Charity?”
“Yes?” Why did he sound so anxious?
“You’ll be dressed up at the gala tomorrow, right? You won’t be in the kitchen or organizing things from the sidelines?” He exhaled a loud breath into the phone. “I’d like you to be there.”
If it was anyone else, she’d have thought; Ahhhh cute. However, coming from her father it sounded kind of weird. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. “I’ll be there.” She planned on working and organizing right from center court. She had gone over the list of doctors coming
with Elijah the other night over the phone and had him fill her in on the big honchos and the little ducks. She spent the next hour looking the main ones up on the internet and memorizing who was who so she would know something about each one if her father introduced her to them. “I’m in New York now. Just flew in actually. I will let you know if there is anything I need once I get setting up. Are you working today?”
“I’m just finishing up. I’ll head home shortly so you can call me there if you need me.”
“Okay. Everything should be good to go. Just make sure you are ready on time tomorrow night—”
“I’m never late!”
She inhaled and let the breath out slowly. “I’m sure you are very prompt. I’m not saying this to you as your daughter. I’m saying this to you as the person you hired to do the gala. I have a white limo coming to pick you up at the house at seven-thirty.” That’s all I was trying to say, Dad.
Silence on the other end of the phone was her response. Had she surprised him? She smiled. The man on the other end of the phone always knew what was up. Kind of like her and guessing Christmas presents and… oh shoot, she was turning into to her father!
“I had planned to be at the hospital til it was time to head over. Can you get the limo to pick me up here?”
She blinked. Surprise! “Dad, why don’t you take an hour to yourself? Go home, eat dinner, shower, get dressed and relax for a bit? Then you don’t have to worry about your car either.”
A sigh from her Dad echoed through the phone. “I guess I can do that. There are a lot of doctors and nurses off tomorrow night. The hospital doesn’t stop because of a silly party.”
She bit her tongue to stop herself from throwing a comment back about his “silly party”. He had asked for this. She hadn’t offered. A thought occurred to her; could he be nervous about tomorrow? The man was the image of composure. If you were looking the word up in the dictionary, you would find a picture of him right beside it. But maybe…
“Fine. I’ll head home,” he said.
A beeping noise came through the line, warning Charity she had another call.
“Will you be riding in the limo as well?”
“I can’t. I’ll meet you at the hall.” She paused, wanting to get the other call but also wanting to make her Dad all right with tomorrow night. If he called in sick or did a runner, the whole gala would be a mess. He’d miss seeing all the work she had done. That wasn’t going to happen. “Do you want me to get Elijah to ride with you?”
“You don’t have to do that. If he…”
“He would love it. He can have a few drinks if he wants then.” Or whatever. “I’ll get the limo to pick him up first and then come get you.”
“Alright then. Since he needs a lift, it works out perfect.”
She smiled at his excuse. “Sounds good. I gotta go, Dad. I have another call coming through. See you tomorrow.”
He hung up without saying good-bye.
She switched to the other caller who had a private ID. “Hello?” No answer. “Hello? This is Charity Thompson, hello?” She looked at the phone and set it down. She must have taken too long with her father and the other caller hung up. They could leave a message and she would check it when she got to Elijah’s.
Just as she pulled out of the parking lot, a horn honked loud and hard at her. She jumped in her seat and slammed on the brake, looking around. A car sped dramatically around her. A flash of blonde hair followed by the infamous finger pointed in Charity’s direction. She blinked in surprise. The car had been travelling in the opposite direction from the way she planned to turn and she wasn’t even close to it. Why they beeped their horn made no sense. Had someone been behind her, they would have nailed her. “Crazy New York drivers,” she muttered and pulled slowly out, double checking both ways and waiting for absolutely no cars in sight.
She headed to Elijah’s place and carried her dress and suitcase to the front door. Elijah had left a key for her in the mailbox. She unlocked the door and turned off the security system as soon as she stepped inside. The house was clean and smelled of Pine Sol but she could also smell Elijah’s cologne. She went back to the car and grabbed the rest of her stuff.
Unsure of where to put all her stuff, she settled on the spare room that probably worked as a guest room. She laid her suitcase on the bed and hung her dress in the empty closet. She smiled. Only a guy could actually have a closet that had nothing in it. That would never happen in any house she lived in.
She checked her phone as she walked to the kitchen to see if she could make a sandwich of some kind. Julie had messaged to say she couldn’t wait for tomorrow and attached a picture of her dress. Charity smiled. She missed her friend and it would be fun to have a few drinks and a laugh with her tomorrow night. She replied back that Julie and Simon should meet her and Elijah for brunch on Sunday. She’d have to tell Julie about Alex buying the Have a Heart Valentine’s Dinner ticket. She wouldn’t believe it.
Her phone rang just after she sent Julie the message. It was Elijah this time.
“Hi gorgeous! Did you make it in okay?”
“I’m at your place, stealing your bread and making myself a peanut butter sandwich.”
His chuckle rumbled through the phone and vibrated against her ear. She loved the sensation it gave. “I do have meat in the fridge.”
“I saw that. Peanut butter just sounded good.”
“There’s English muffins in the freezer. I like peanut butter on a toasted one for breakfast.”
“Good to know. Oh, I asked Julie if she and Simon wanted to do brunch on Sunday. Is that okay?”
“Sounds good. I’m in on nights Sunday. I’ll finish tonight around seven. Do you have plans for this evening?”
She could hear the sly smile in his voice. “Want me to see if we can get reservations for the Twisted Cork? Or we could hit a couple of dance clubs.”
“Or we can have dinner at my place and you could dance for me.”
“Are you hinting you want me to have a nice warm dinner waiting for you when you get home? I’m not the happy homemaker kind.”
“I’ve seen your place. I agree.” He laughed. “I was more thinking about the dancing part. I’m trying to figure if I know anyone who could get a pole installed this afternoon in the living room.”
“Pig!”
“I know. I’m just kidding.” He chuckled one more time. “But I do like the way you dance.”
“Then I’ll save you a dance tomorrow night – after the gala.”
“Hmmm… I like the way that sounds.”
She popped a grape into her mouth as she washed a handful. “How would you like to take a limo to the gala tomorrow night?”
“Can we fool around in the back?”
“You can. But it’ll have to be with my Dad.”
“Huh. What?”
“I’ll have to be there early, but I rented a limo for my father.” She wasn’t about to tell Elijah that her father didn’t want to go in on his own. “I just figured it would save you driving and we can get a lift back in it at the end of the evening. Drop my Dad off and…” She let the sentence trail off so Elijah could come to his own conclusions.
“I’m in. Sounds good to me.”
“You’re awesome.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
She smiled. He was the easiest guy in the world to talk to. The sexy accent and hot body didn’t hurt either. “I need to jet. I have a million things to get done. Want to call me when you finish work? I can make us something to eat here. Might even try and snag an apron at the caterers.” She knew exactly where his mind would go with that. She was thinking the same thing.”
“I think that would be a great idea.” His voice changed from the teasing tone to a more professional one.
She laughed. “My father walk in the room?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll let you go then. Just think about an apron, thong and black lace bra.”
He groaned and covered it
with a fake cough.
“Have a great day!” She giggled as she hung up the phone.
Chapter 17
The day flew. Charity rushed to each location and finished at the hall. Louis and his wife had done an unbelievable job. The inside of the building had been transformed into something magical. From the wooden floors, the intricate carvings and paintings and the millions of little lights hanging from the ceiling alongside the extravagant chandelier, Charity had never seen anything more beautiful. She suddenly couldn’t wait for tomorrow night.
She found her way back to Elijah’s place close to seven o’clock. She picked up a steak and mushroom pie from the old baker her mother used to go to. The owners were English and made pasties and pies that she still remembered from when she was a kid. Her mother had a knack for finding little hidden gems all over town. Charity made a mental note to try and remember other places and write them down. The first two on her list would be the butcher she used at Christmas and the baker now. She giggled as she turned the oven on. She had the butcher and baker, and now she just needed to find a candlestick maker.
Checking her watch and phone, she saw Elijah had sent a message to say he would be another half hour. She had enough time to shower and change. She slapped her forehead. She had meant to get an apron. Guess that idea was out the window now.
She showered and changed into a long cotton dress with black, blue, and white stripes. It was completely casual and still a little dressy at the same time. It hugged and curved her body without feeling too tight. It wasn’t an apron, but at least she had the thong and black lace bra to wear underneath. She smiled, feeling giddy as she headed back to the kitchen to check on the pie. Elijah made her feel pretty and sexy. She liked the effect she had on him. It worked both ways.
“Charity?” Elijah called out just as she pulled the pie from the oven.
“I’m in here.” She set the hot plate on top of the stove to cool a moment.
“It smells good in here.” He came into the kitchen and closed his eyes as he inhaled. “Really good. Kinda smells like home.” He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her hard on the lips. “I missed you.” He nuzzled her neck.
