by BJ Hyman
CHAPTER SIX
War Paint
Charlie felt a bit like an interloper when she was dragged to her sister’s doorstep. Kellie opened the door and shouted inside, “Mitchell, we’re here so no naked surprises!” She twisted her lips at Charlie. “He thinks he’s funny and does these surprise naked attacks. I was afraid he might not believe that I was bringing you with me.”
Just then a pale naked form flew by at the end of the hallway. He was so fast that the only discernible thing was flesh colored movement. His voice echoed back down the hall. “Shit! I thought you were kidding. I’ll put something on. Just give me a minute!”
“What did I say?” As Kellie shook her head, Charlie couldn’t help but laugh. It was the best she’d felt since waking this morning.
Within moments, a red-faced Mitchell came out in chinos, a button-down shirt, and a V-neck sweater. His feet were the only things still bare. He adjusted his hipster glasses on his face as he caught sight of Charlie. “Geez. You look terrible. So, the clothes thing was for real? Is it Dean?”
Charlie pulled the blanket tighter around her as Kellie pushed her toward the bedroom. Kellie practically shouted at Mitchell, “Yes, it was for real! And we’re gonna find out. She’s having coffee with him in less than 45 minutes.” She pointed Charlie toward the bathroom once they got through the bedroom door. “Get your ass in the shower and don’t dally. I’ll have clothes for you when you get out.”
She did as she was told and closed the bathroom door. Stripping down, she caught sight of herself in the mirror above the sinks. Her shadowed eyes looked as if she hadn’t slept in a week, although that was the one thing that rarely was disturbed. She was probably the only person on the planet that wished for a restless night. At least then, she’d know when someone had come into her home.
The warm water was a welcome delight. She scrubbed quickly and felt a world better when she exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel looking all shiny and new. Kellie gave her an approving glance before pointing at a set of clothes laid out on the bed. “I’ll help you with your makeup and hair, if you want. Let me go get something to give a bit of liquid courage. What do you say?”
“Sounds great.”
Kellie closed the door behind her leaving Charlie to analyze the clothes her sister chose. She put on the clean, utilitarian underwear set. It was the kind that Charlie wasn’t even sure her wild sister knew existed. She smiled to herself. There was a soft flowing skirt and a sleeveless top and cardigan all in fall colors of pumpkin, mustard, and brown. A pair of chunky heels finished off the outfit. It could have been worn for church or a casual date to a gallery. It wasn’t the usual for either sister, but it was lovely. Charlie wondered when Kellie had ever had occasion to wear it. A quick rap on the door had her calling out, “Come in. I’m dressed.”
Kellie smiled when she saw her. “You look good.”
“Since when do you have clothes like this?”
Kellie’s hand waved at the air dismissively. “Mitchell’s family visits. I have to have some conservative stuff so that they won’t hate me. They still can’t understand my hair.” Her laugh held a touch of devilry.
She carried a saddle-style barstool under her arm and sat it in the bathroom next to the sink. Pointing, she ordered her sister to, “Sit!”
Charlie was compliant and swept the skirt beneath her before climbing on the surprisingly comfortable stool. Kellie grabbed a hairdryer and made quick work of a soft blow-out before pulling out the makeup. They didn’t speak. Charlie didn’t feel like it and Kellie seemed to be in “mission mode.” All at once, Kellie put her final brush down. “What do you think?”
Charlie looked at her reflection and almost didn’t recognize herself. She looked fresh and younger. She blinked at herself several times with eyes that were accented to perfection. It was the best makeup job she’d ever had. “I should have you on retainer. Seriously. How much would you charge me to come to my apartment and do this for me every day?”
Kellie harrumphed while putting her tools away. “I wouldn’t waste the work on someone who covers her face in real paint every day so that my work would be ruined. Hire me for dates.” She put up a finger. “Scratch that. Make it special dates. I can’t be harassed constantly by your dating schedule.”
Charlie laughed. “Yeah, because it’s just so busy!”
Kellie stops and puts her hands on her hips. “You ready to roll?”
Charlie’s laughing smile slowly faded into a tight lipped straight line. She looked down at her Fitbit to check the time. “I guess I have to be.” Kellie gave her a quick squeeze before holding her by the shoulders. With a nod, she walked from the room and Charlie followed with dread filling her very bones.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Strange Brew
Charlie sat with her coffee in front of her unable to drink a bit of it. It was so full of sugar, caramel, and heavy whipping cream that it was really more a dessert than a drink. She had always loved the creations at Strange Brew but had to make it only a special treat to keep from weighing 500 pounds.
The sweetness had nothing to do with her inability to touch it though. Her hands were shaking so badly that she found herself shredding a napkin to try to calm herself. Dean had not yet arrived to the surprise of both Charlie and Kellie. He was five minutes late and had not so much as sent a text in explanation. Punctuality had been an obsession of his, and she began to wonder if he was even going to show up. Maybe he had been the one getting into her apartment and took her sudden need to have an outing with him as a sign she was wise to it. Maybe he was spooked.
Charlie glanced over her shoulder at Kellie, who was hidden by a book shelf near the corner. Kellie had taken the extra effort of donning a striped toboggan over her obvious hair and wore sunglasses and a scarf to cover part of her face. It made Charlie feel less stressed knowing her little sister had her back. She glanced at her watch pointedly with a shrug. Kellie acted as if she were scratching her face but used a finger and gave a small point toward the door. Charlie turned just in time to see Dean pulling his sunglasses off as he crossed the threshold. All the air left her chest. If seeing someone could cause physical pain, Charlie was feeling that as she looked at Dean. Catching sight of her, he gave a palm out to her and pointed at the counter. She barely nodded as he went to make his order.
She rubbed her damp hands on the skirt under the table as she watched his familiar ordering stance. If all she had were black cut outs of men ordering at a register, she could pick his form out of a thousand. He slightly bent one knee as he placed both hands on the counter in front of him. He cocked his head slightly to the side with his face tilted up to read the menu of various coffee flavored delights. Decision made, he tapped the counter with both hands and gave a charming smile full of dimples and grace to the barista who took his order. Charlie felt a stab of jealousy as the pretty blond smiled and brushed her hair out of her face in an obvious sign of attraction before turning to fill it. Before the feeling flamed up too high, she chided herself by thinking of Eli’s face last night as he gazed at her after they had made love.
It only made her feel worse.
With a shake of her head, she grabbed her coffee and took a long gulp. Maybe the sugar and caffeine would help. The liquid was so hot that she sputtered and nearly spit the whole lot down her front. Grabbing for a napkin, she found she had shred them all. A fresh one appeared from just out of her line of sight and she looked up to find Dean as the one offering salvation. Taking it, she held it over her mouth until she managed to swallow the mess and gain some composure. She looked up at his lean strong jawline from under her lashes. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “Thank you.”
With a smile, he turned and walked back to the counter to fetch his own drink. He had grabbed a scone too, Charlie saw, when he returned to sit down across from her. The sound of his chair scraping across the rough wooden floors almost made her jump out of her skin. Maybe coffee had been a bad idea. She should have suggested a drink a
t a bar. At least then she wouldn’t feel so fried even before she had extra stimulants.
He took a couple of extra seconds placing his drink and scone on the table before looking at her fully. Their eyes locked and seemed impossible to break away. It was as if the air around them had become solid concrete. His lips twitched, and the silence stretched longer than it should. Finally, he found something to say. “Hi.” It was both a beginning and a continuation. How could one word hold a million things?
Charlie instantly wanted to cry. She shook her head and looked at his hands. Those hands had always been such a delight to her. She chanced another sip of her coffee. There was more than one danger in this meeting.
He looked at the confetti she had made of the napkins with a smirk. “I see you still tear defenseless napkins apart when you’re feeling anxious. Good to know some things don’t change.”
“You’re late.” She chewed her lip. “You’re never late.”
“Other things do change. Timeliness is not one of my biggest priorities now. I’ve found that there is more to life than the ticking of a clock.” He picked up his scone and took a bite. He groaned with satisfaction. As he wiped his lips, he noticed her barely touched cup and empty table. “Why didn’t you get something to eat? The scones are still one of the great wonders of life.” His eyes widened in delight before he broke off a part of his. He put it on a napkin before sliding it over to her. “Here. Have a bite. You look pale. Lovely, but pale.”
She gingerly picked it up and took a bite. The wonderful flavor filled her mouth and she couldn’t help the small moan of delight that escaped her. It instantly made her feel more comfortable.
He took a drink and observed her over the lip of his cup. “So, what are we doing here? I have a feeling there’s a reason for this little reunion.”
“Cutting right to the point, huh?” She smoothed her skirt with her eyes pointed toward her lap.
“If you want to keep sitting here trying to make small talk we can, but I’m not under any illusions that you would contact me unless you had a reason. You ended it and cut me completely out of your life. I got the point a long time ago.”
He took another drink of his coffee and casually took another bite of his scone. He had the relaxed look of someone without a care in the world while she was a writhing snake pit of turmoil inside. Taking two deep breaths, she looked back up into his hazel eyes. She couldn’t help but notice the slight scruff across his lightly tanned face. He looked good. Healthy. Strong. And she had to admit: sexy. “Someone has been coming into my apartment while I’m sleeping and…doing…things.”
“And you thought it might be me? Why? What have I done in the last year to make you think that I might do ‘things’ to you? By the way, what kind of things?” He leaned forward, and his chest flared as he put his forearms on the table. It was as if he grew larger at a perceived threat while unconsciously reaching closer to protect her.
“I never got my key back from you. I just trusted you. And I’ve realized that was probably stupid of me.”
“Trusting me?” His face flashed both confusion and surprise.
“Yes…No…I don’t know. Maybe.” Her flustered hands reached for another napkin victim and she began tearing tiny pieces from the edges.
“You didn’t answer me. What things?”
“They seem a bit silly. You probably wouldn’t even see it as a problem.”
“Try me.”
She concentrated on making the napkin smaller and smaller. “The first night, someone brought me sunflowers and placed one on me in bed. That was just yesterday. This morning, I woke up naked with my covers pulled off of me and all of my clothes in the floor in a pile. And I mean all of my clothes. My closet and dresser were both emptied completely.” She chanced a glance at him. His face was set in stone. His jaw clenched.
“Did they take your clothes off?”
She flushed. “No, I was already naked but under the covers. They just took the sheets off me to leave me exposed.”
He forced his hands to straighten from the fists he had clenched them into. “Did they touch you? Are you hurt?”
She pulled a sleeve back to reveal the bruises on her wrist. “These came from the first night. I have more on my ankle from last night.”
He reached out and took her hand softly to turn it and get a better look at the bruising. His skin on hers sent electrical fires through her body and she pulled her hand back as soon as he seemed satisfied he had seen it completely. “Do you have evidence they touched you…anywhere else?”
She shook her head before searching his face with her frightened eyes. “No. I…I don’t think so.”
“How can you not know?” His voice rose slightly. Charlie looked around the table to see if anyone was listening in. She had almost forgotten they weren’t alone.
With dread, she admitted, “I had…sex…last night so I can’t be completely sure.”
Abruptly he sat back in his chair. He seemed to leave the room and drive a hundred miles away. He stared out the window for several minutes. Charlie wondered what he was thinking. Oh, to be able to read minds! Then, with a hard edge to his voice, he said, “If you want the key, I’ll drop it off, if I can find it. I haven’t touched it since you broke it off. I’m not that kind of guy. In the meantime, I think you should have this new boyfriend stay as your guard dog. Or was it a one-night stand kind of thing?” The eyes that pierced her to her seat were angry.
“You know it wasn’t. I’m not like that.”
With a shift in his seat, he looked back to the windows. “I don’t know that at all. Things have changed, and I don’t know what you do any more.” Turning back to the table, he took a hard drink of his coffee and crumpled up his napkin before standing. “I’ll drop the key at the store one day soon while you’re out. I’ve got to go.”
Charlie felt desperation rising in her chest. She reached out and grabbed his wrist. “You can’t have expected that I wouldn’t date again. That I wouldn’t have another boyfriend?”
He looked down at her hand circling his wrist. “Of course not. I’m not a fool. I’ll get your key. And tell Kellie that her disguise didn’t fool me. I’ve seen her giving me the stink eye from across the room this whole time.”
He pulled his hand from hers and walked out onto the street.
Charlie couldn’t even see which way he went. Her eyes were full of tears. The only napkin she had to use was his crumpled one in his plate. She grabbed it and dabbed at her eyes as Kellie came running over. Kellie took one look at her and sat down. “What did he say that upset you?”
Charlie pulled herself together and stood up. “It’s not him. I told you it wasn’t. I don’t want to talk about it ever again. Please, just take me back to work.” She clutched the crumpled napkin in her fist as she walked out the door.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fear, There, and Everywhere
Once Charlie was at work, she couldn’t keep still so she decided to run some errands. Besides, she was still wearing her delicately feminine outfit she borrowed from Kellie. She knew her sister would kill her if she got paint on it and she, for once, didn’t have anything else to change into as she had taken all her extra clothes home to launder.
She usually loved looking through the beautiful wallpapers and paints at her local crafting store. Today, she was positively unable to focus on any of the vast array of colors and patterns. Her hands fluttered over the selections with no rhyme or reason. Nothing could keep her attention.
Going to the paint brush section, she was determined that it wouldn’t be a wasted trip. She destroyed brushes way before their time with her techniques she used on her various pieces of furniture and decorations. Painting with dainty strokes was not her usual. Her style could be considered overly aggressive and it often tore up her tools.
As she picked up brush after brush to test the bristles and textures, she began to feel a crawling on her skin. It was just a sensation, but she was sure she was being watched. She t
ried to convince herself it was just her imagination, but the longer she stood there, the more the feeling overcame her. Soon, it was no longer supposition, but just a matter of where the watcher was. Turning around, she looked to see if there was anyone nearby who was looking in her direction.
Nothing that she could see.
Still.
The feeling lingered.
She gathered the brushes and moved toward the other various tools that were usually for sculpting but for her were so much more. Glancing behind, she caught sight of a figure slipping into another aisle out of her range of vision. With a jolt, she picked up her pace.
She ducked down the sculpting aisle and held the paint brushes to her chest. Her heart was pounding. Grappling with her phone, she began to dial Kellie’s number. Then a thought hit her: What could they do to her in a store full of people? She shook her head, feeling silly.
