Charlotte's Dilemma

by Diane Leyne

  She turned and sat back down. He took the glasses off her face and put them down beside her. Then her reached out and took her right hand and held it out in front of her, plan up. He could feel her pulse jump.

  She wasn’t as unaffected by him as she pretended.

  Taking the tube of lotion, he poured a generous amount into her palm. “This is for your face and cleavage. And don’t forget the back of your neck.”

  He laid the tube down beside her in case she needed more, walked back to raise the anchor and then took his seat and started the engine. He didn’t start the boat forward right away. He gave Charlotte a chance to apply the lotion first. He told himself that he was just being polite. He wouldn’t want the island doctor to be injured on his watch. Who would look after her then?

  You could, his traitorous inner voice whispered. Tamping it down, he pressed the throttle forward abruptly. Charlotte hadn’t been expecting the sudden acceleration and fell hard.

  Shutting the engine off, JJ ran forward to help her.

  “Are you okay?”

  She was sitting on the floor of the boat cradling her elbow.

  “You’re hurt!”

  Chapter 9

  “Just give me a minute,” she snapped. Carefully Charlotte ran her hand over her elbow, but it wasn’t broken. It probably wouldn’t even bruise. It just hurt like a son of a gun. Damned funny bone.

  But then she looked up at JJ hovering solicitously over her, his face creased with concern, and she immediately regretted her thoughtless words.

  “I’m okay, JJ. I just need a second.” She looked up and smiled. “Can you help me sit up?”

  He hunkered down. “Should you be moving? Maybe I should get you a pillow? Or maybe you should stay completely still until we get to the island. I can radio ahead and Caleb can meet us. He’s the island doctor.”

  Charlotte pushed herself into a sitting position, wincing as she did so. “I’m a doctor, too, remember?”

  Now that the throbbing in her elbow had started to subside, she realized that her wrist hurt, too. Carefully she ran the fingers of her other hand lightly over it. Nothing broken. That was good. She flexed it. Nothing. She ran her fingers over it again, pressing lightly. Ouch. Bruised but not broken.

  She looked up at JJ who was hovering uncertainly. She smiled.

  “Nothing broken. Just a bruise. Can you help me up?”

  She expected him to take her arm and help her stand, but, instead, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the chair beside his, under the canopy. He set her into it gently. Then he leaned under the console and pulled out his tank top. He went to the cooler and scooped up some ice into his shirt and created a makeshift ice pack.

  “Thanks.”

  “Um, yeah. No problem.”

  She watched as he started the engine again and reached for the throttle. Then he stopped. Charlotte watched as he walked back to her and leaned over, brushing her hair out of her face before leaning down and kissing her gently on her cheek.

  Then he walked back to the pilot’s chair and soon the boat was flying through the water again, and sooner than she would have liked, they arrived at the dock for Libertine Island. She could see a few other boats moored and another dock running parallel to this one. Between was a beach set with umbrellas, loungers, and several dozen people enjoying the sun and water, many of them apparently naked.

  She swallowed and turned to JJ.

  She smiled tentatively at him. He walked up to her, his eyes tender as he reached for her wrist and took the now-soaking tank from her. Most of the ice had melted, leaving a damp spot on her tank top where she’d clutched her wrist close to her body.

  He ran his fingers lightly over it.

  “How does it feel?”

  Charlotte flexed her wrist, and it was still fine. Then she twisted her wrist to the left and right and then flexed it. Still fine. Then she ran her fingers along the side and winced slightly when she reached the spot she’d hit. It would definitely bruise, but it was already starting to feel better, which she told him.

  “It’s going to be fine.” She reached out and pushed his hair out of his face. “I think it’s all going to be fine, given time.”

  She saw the comprehension dawn on his face, and hope and fear. He straightened and helped her from the seat. Then he framed her face in his hands, leaned down, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

  The kiss didn’t stay light, though. Charlotte started kissing him back and then felt him push her back against the side of the boat as he deepened the kiss. When her ass hit the side of the boat, she flinched but kept kissing, so happy to be back in his arms.

  But JJ broke the kiss immediately.

  “Did I hurt you? Your wrist?”

  “The wrist is fine. But it seemed I also bruised my butt.”

  “Did you now? Maybe I should have a look. Strictly to look for any damage, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  She leaned back in to kiss him, but he was now looking down the length of the dock. Turning her head, she could see a greeting party of sorts coming their way. She looked up at JJ and smiled. He smiled back and leaned in for a quick kiss before scooping her up into his arms.

  “I can walk!”

  “I know.”

  * * * *

  It felt nice to have her in his arms again. It had only been a few hours, but it felt longer than that. He didn’t think she’d ever let him kiss her again. He didn’t want to get his hopes too far up. Maybe she’d decided she wanted a longer fling. Maybe she just felt embarrassed about refusing to tell him where she worked when she realized that they worked for at the same place and she would be seeing him on a regular basis. Or maybe she just plain regretted dumping him so unceremoniously.

  Whatever, he’d protect his heart this time. He wouldn’t let himself fall deeper in love with her unless he was sure she was returning his feelings. On the other hand, he’d never wanted a woman more than he wanted Charlotte, and he’d spend as many nights in her bed that she’d allow.

  He’d just keep things light. Sex and fun. That would be it. He’d gone too fast the first time. He could see that now. He’d scared her off. This time, he’d keep it light and casual. He’d thought about it when he was waiting for Mike to arrive with the boat. Mike would bring JJ’s boat back to the island, but they had both wanted to show off the bigger boat to the new doctor.

  JJ stepped carefully off the boat and onto the dock.

  “Charlotte, this is Mal, Mike’s brother. Mal, can you grab our bags? They are in the forward hold.”

  “Hey, Charlotte. No problem, JJ.”

  “And this is Duncan, the general manager, his wife and the island accountant, and Caleb, the doctor you are replacing.”

  “Hey.” Charlotte wriggled in his arms. “You can put me down, now.”

  “Not until we get you to the infirmary and Caleb can look you over.” He turned to the tall redheaded man. “She fell on the boat. I don’t think she hit her head, but she bruised her wrist and her ass.”

  “Which means I can walk.”

  “Not until you’ve been properly looked after.”

  JJ saw Caleb smile.

  “No problem, JJ. It will give me a chance to show her around the infirmary. Charlotte, your things have arrived.”

  “Excellent!”

  “And perhaps you’ll join us for dinner tonight? Seven?” Andie smiled and looked over at JJ. “The both of you.”

  “We’ll see how she feels later. I think she might need an early night. I can sit with her and make sure she doesn’t have a concussion.”

  * * * *

  Charlotte wanted to laugh, but she could hear the deadly serious tone of his voice. She looked over at the others, and they were trying to hide smiles. She could feel JJ getting agitated by the fact that they weren’t taking this seriously.

  “Look, JJ. I’m fine. I’ll just go with Caleb, and I’ll see you later. Why don’t you take charge of our bags?”

  At fir
st she thought he was going to refuse, but he moved abruptly, handed her to Caleb, who was as tall as JJ and looked to be even more muscular. Once she was securely in Caleb’s arms, he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before stepping back.

  “I’ll get your things to your room, and then I’ll be along to check on you.”

  “No.”

  All eyes swivelled to Caleb.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said no, JJ. You’ve handed her to me for care, and I’m going to do just that. And then we have some work to do. We’ll both see you at dinner at seven.”

  “But that’s more than seven hours away.”

  “That’s right. It is. If we’re done earlier, we’ll meet you by the pool. Otherwise, we’ll see you in the dining room at seven.” He looked down at Charlotte. “You ready?”

  “Yes, but…”

  Caleb turned and strode away quickly. “Shhh. Once we are out of sight of the dock, I’ll put you down and let you walk. If I do it now, JJ will insist on carrying you himself, and then he’ll probably hover all afternoon.”

  Charlotte relaxed. She decided she liked Caleb. It was too bad he was leaving, but then again, she wouldn’t have a job if he was sticking around.

  They entered the lobby, and, true to his word, he set her on her feet once they were inside the door. While he was helping her find her feet, they were approached by a beautiful blonde woman and a sexy Hispanic-looking man.

  “And who is this woman who needed you to carry her?”

  Charlotte was surprised it was the man who spoke, the jealousy in his voice clear to her even though he was trying to hide it.

  “Rey!” the blonde woman remonstrated. “Hi, I’m Jen.” She held out her hand.

  “I’m Charley. I’m the new doctor. I had a bit of a spill on the boat and bruised my left wrist and butt. JJ was convinced I was concussed or something and insisted Caleb carry me.”

  “JJ? Are you two together? That’s great. He’s the nicest man. I’d been hoping he’d find a nice woman. You are nice, aren’t you?”

  “I like to think so. But we aren’t…I mean we did…but we are…hell, I don’t know what we are just now.”

  “Jen!” Rey’s voice was a mixture of annoyance and fond amusement. “Let the doctor get settled before you start grilling her about her sex life. “Charley? I am Rey Montoya.”

  Charley shook his hand, trying to sort out the relationship because it was clear that the three of them were involved. Rey smiled and added, “I am the Dom. Jen submits to Caleb, and they both submit to me.” He leaned over and kissed Caleb on the mouth before kissing Jen. “I hope we will see you at dinner.”

  “Um, yes. Uh, nice to meet you both.”

  “Until tonight.” Then Rey turned to Jen. “I think I must redden your bottom for your impertinence, putting the new doctor on the spot before she has had a chance to settle in.” He looked over at Charley. “These subs, sometimes. They need regular discipline or they think they run things. You tell me if Caleb here misbehaves and I’ll tan his ass, too.

  “Jen, come.”

  Charley watched them walk away and grinned as Jen looked back over her shoulder and smiled. Rey noticed it, too, and smacked her sharply on the ass before kissing her again. Charley stared longingly after them. They both seemed very happy.

  She turned to Caleb, who was watching his Dom and his sub walking away with a small smile on his face.

  “You’re a lucky man.”

  “Yes. I am.”

  Chapter 10

  JJ wiped the grease off his hands. A sound in the engine had been bothering him earlier, and he had decided to have a look. Six hours later, he finally had the problem licked, but he was starving from missing lunch and needed to clean up. Dinner was in an hour, and he wanted to look presentable.

  He packed his tools away carefully. You always needed to take care of your belongings. That was one of the few lessons his father had taught him that stuck. The old man also taught him that women, hell, everyone who wasn’t a Jesperson, was inferior.

  His mom had been the exception. She was twenty years younger than his father, and the old man had worshipped her to the extent that he had, at times, ignored his own son. The summer he turned seven, his father had sent him down to St. Maarten to spend the school holidays with the housekeeper’s family. She didn’t mind. It meant she could spend the summer back home with her father, Roy, mother Marie, and the rest of her extended family, including her nephew Kristoff, who was almost the same age as JJ.

  It turned out that the arrangement suited everyone just fine, including JJ. He hadn’t been pleased at first, but within the first week, he fell in love with the island and had to be sent back home in September in tears. After that, he’d spent every holiday on the island until he was eighteen and went off to university, where Kristoff had joined him and they’d roomed together through four years of college and three of grad school.

  And now he was back to stay. He looked around. Life was good. There was just one thing that could make it better, and that would be if Charlotte would just relax and take a chance with him. On the boat she’d seemed to have had a change of mind, but even in just a few days, he knew that the longer they were apart, the more her doubts would return and she’d talk herself out of being with him again.

  He snorted. She thought she was too old for him. Yeah, right. She wouldn’t have said a thing if he were eight years older than her. It was pure ageism, and he wasn’t having any of it. She was a smart, beautiful, desirable, kind woman, and he’d get her to see that if he had to beat it into her ass, and he’d enjoy every minute of it.

  In the meantime, he’d made a few decisions while he was working on the engine. There was something about working with his hands that was very soothing and helped him think.

  He was going to take things slow with Charlotte this time. He wouldn’t even fuck her, not even if she begged. It wouldn’t be easy. He might even have to get one of those male chastity devices Rey had locked Caleb in before when he was being punished. It wouldn’t be fun, but JJ had decided that sex just complicated things.

  But could he resist her? She’d mentioned being friends-with-benefits. JJ hated that term, but what if that was all she’d convinced herself she wanted with a younger man? Maybe he should keep sex on the table. He wouldn’t dominate her in the bedroom, though, but he’d make love to her so sweetly that she wouldn’t be able to imagine not having him in her bed and gradually she wouldn’t be able to imagine not having him in her life because he’d woo her outside the bedroom, too. He’d get her to see him as a man, not just a sex partner.

  He looked down at his tool case. There was only one potential sticking point. She was a doctor, and he worked on boats. Maybe it wasn’t just his age. Maybe, she didn’t think he could make enough to support a family. Did money matter to her? That was one subject they’d never discussed.

  She’d seemed to enjoy the Sonesta Great Bay. It was a nice hotel, but not a luxury one. She didn’t seem to mind. And when they were out on the boat and he pointed out some of the great mansions, she didn’t seem all that interested. But that could also mean that she had never thought of him as a potential family provider so she didn’t care what he made.

  Other women had cared. He’d played a few times with women in the clubs back in Chicago. They’d snuck looks at his watch and the labels of his clothes and had been anxious to play again. When he dressed down and wore a Timex, some wouldn’t even play and the ones that did took what they wanted and then left. Labels mattered a lot to some people. Just not him, and so far, not Charlotte.

  He stepped off the boat. It was just after six. He had time for a swim if he hurried. Luckily, he didn’t have to change. He went into the locker room and scrubbed the grease off his hands. Then he came out and walked over to a free lounger. Stripping off his shorts, he dove naked into the refreshing water.

  There were definitely some perks to working at an adult resort.

  * * * *

 
Charlotte walked with Caleb back toward the main building. The infirmary was amazing. She couldn’t think of a thing she’d change.

  “You did an amazing job with it, Caleb. How can you bear to leave?”

  He laughed. “Jen’s a lawyer back in Chicago. Or she was. She quit her job. And Rey was a cop in Miami. He quit his job, too. We’ve had an enjoyable couple of months here, but we’ve only stayed as long as we did because I signed a six-month contract. They’ve both taken jobs with Whelan Corp in Chicago. It’s based in Seattle, so Jen’s going to set up the Chicago office. And Rey’s going to run the Chicago office security.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m going to take a job in a free clinic and help those who are underserved by our medical system. With both of them working, we can afford for me not to bring in much of a salary. In a couple of years when Jen gets pregnant, we’ll have to re-evaluate again, but for now, we think we have it figured out.

  “What’s up with you and JJ?”

  “Good question.” She paused and looked at Caleb. They’d bonded over discussion of health care and war zones. In fact, they’d realized that they’d even met once in an area devastated by famine. They’d both only been there a few days when their location was attacked by rebels after the relief supplies. They’d ended up in different parts of the region after that and hadn’t crossed paths again until this day, but they both knew about the other and a lot of the same people. When they walked back to the main building, they were laughing like old friends.

  Charlotte wished Caleb was staying, but she was thrilled to see just how happy he was and wished him well. Stopping, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Promise we’ll stay in touch!”

  “I promise.” He kissed her back, lightly skimming her lips.

  Charlotte took his arm to start walking again when she saw JJ standing in the water surrounded by young naked hotties in a game of volleyball. He didn’t notice her at first as a blonde with large fake breasts flirted outrageously with him between points. Charlotte swallowed. The blonde looked to be about twenty-five and much more suitable for JJ than her.