by Lori Foster
By that point, he had gotten under control. Charlotte wasn’t going to do anything with Jack…she wasn’t that type of woman, which was fortunate for Jack’s chances of survival. Charlotte had acted that way to take revenge on him. She’d turned the tables on him, and done it well. She’d expect him to do the same…and with pictures, he thought, he would do just that.
Taking the film to a one-hour Photomat had managed to produce one dark but distinct picture of Charlotte in the process of devouring that infamous cherry. He could have simply embarrassed her with it. The problem was, she was a master at revenge…like the time she had created a picture of him buck-naked except for an artfully placed party hat, and printed it on his surprise birthday invitations.
He smiled grimly. When it came to bets, he and Charlotte never did anything simply. Sometime in the next few hours, she’d get a nice little volley back in retaliation for her performance last night.
Frankly, her performance had shaken him badly.
He wished he could say it was anger, but he knew better. Just thinking of the episode made his blood heat, even now.
He got up to open his window, hoping that a cool breeze from the ocean would lower his temperature. He could only enjoy it for a second before his door flew open.
“What the hell is this?”
Gabe smiled out the window. He knew that irate female voice well. “Hi, Charlotte. What brings you here?”
He turned to see her, hazel eyes flashing with rage. She was wearing an ice-blue sweater set with a miniskirt that showed off her long legs like an art display. His temperature inched up another notch. Before anything else could inch up, he grabbed the printout she held, focusing on it as if it were the most important document in the world.
“It appears to be a picture of you eating…what’s that? A cherry?” He suppressed a grin.
“No,” she said, her voice hard enough to shape diamonds. “What I mean is, how did this get sent to my computer department?”
He blinked, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, don’t you?” She advanced on him, the look in her eyes murderous. “Then why is it that Ryan, our poker buddy and my co-worker, popped this into your company Web site?”
Gabe bit his tongue. He and Ryan had pulled practical jokes on Charlotte in the past, since Ryan’s presence at Howes Design made sneaking things into her office or car that much easier. When Gabe had called Ryan last night, Ryan had jumped at the idea. It was going to be one of Gabe’s best pranks yet. “I can’t imagine,” he said, struggling with a straight face.
“I can!” she yelped, poking him hard in the chest. “Everybody knows that Gabe Donofrio picks the photo for that asinine Lone Shark Babe of the Week page and posts it on the Internet. How dare you take my picture and put it there!”
He chuckled and dodged a hard punch in the stomach. “Now, now, calm down. I got the point across. Besides, it couldn’t have been on for more than an hour or so.”
“It was on all night!”
His laughter stopped dead. All night? What happened? “I told Ryan about this last night, true,” he said sharply. “He told me he didn’t come into the office until ten at the earliest, and it’s only eleven-thirty.”
“Yeah, well, he thought this was so amusing that it wouldn’t wait until morning,” she said, her voice dripping with bitterness. “And since everyone knows the new girl gets posted on Thursday, your little prank has been open season for any acne-covered horndog who regularly checks your Web site since midnight last night.”
He blanched. This had not been his plan at all. “He didn’t put your name on it, did he?”
“No, and it’s the only reason he’s still alive. If Wanda hadn’t warned me, God knows how many people would have seen it by now. Our Web site support people say we’ve been getting hits like crazy, all wanting to know who the mysterious ‘cherry girl’ is. Can you believe this?”
“Oh, God.” Gabe rubbed his hands over his face. “You’ve got to believe me…it wasn’t supposed to happen this way. I thought maybe you’d get ribbed at work, but…”
Gabe’s executive assistant walked in. “Um, boss?”
Gabe frowned, wishing Charlotte had shut the door before she exploded. “Yes, Jake, what is it?”
Jake’s eyes never left Charlotte’s legs. “Um…did you finish going over those memos I typed up for you?”
Gabe walked over to his desk, thankful that it gave him time to try to compose his apology. As he started to sift through the piles of papers, the younger man walked up to Charlotte. “Hi there. I’m Jake. I saw you on the Web site.”
“Did you?” She sent a poisonous glance over to Gabe. Gabe quickly shifted his focus back to his desktop.
“Yeah, and I was wondering if maybe you’d be interested in dinner sometime. Or maybe a movie?”
“You know, Jake—” Gabe’s voice cut through Jake’s invitation like steel “—I can’t find them right now, and I’m obviously in the middle of something. I’ll get them to you later.”
Jake looked ready to continue his pursuit, but a hard glare from Gabe sent him packing. “Oh. Sorry, boss.”
Gabe escorted him to the door. Before Gabe could shut it, however, three other men walked up to him, papers in hand. “Is she in there?” one asked quietly, trying to glance around Gabe’s chest.
“What do you guys want?” Gabe said shortly.
They shifted their feet, ignoring him even as they thrust documents at him. “We just thought you might have time to look these over.”
Gabe took a quick look at one of the sheets. “Dammit, Bill, this is a memo you sent me last month.”
Bill smiled sheepishly. “Cut me some slack, Gabe. I needed an excuse to get in here. Is that woman hot, or what?”
Hot? Other men were calling his Charlotte hot?
Gabe gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath for patience. “I’m in a closed-door meeting for the next half hour. I’ll talk with you later.” Without another word, he shut the door in their faces, and locked it.
He turned back to Charlotte. She was still on her feet, eyes blazing. He deserved it. It had moved beyond the playful prank that was so characteristic of their friendship. She had every right to be angry.
But it wasn’t the anger that worried him. In all their years of playful warfare, in all their competitions and rough times, he’d never seen this look of pain on her face.
“Charlotte, I’m sorry,” he said, knowing that the words did little and would not erase the anguish he was seeing. “I swear, I didn’t mean it to work out this way. It was just a joke. You know how we are, Charlotte. It was just…”
“Tell me something, will you?” Her voice was low and uneven. “How is it an intelligent man like yourself can be so completely clueless when it comes to women?”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, right, I forgot…I’m not really a woman, not to you.” Her voice was as bitter as coffee grounds. “I’m just good old Charlie, one of the guys. Fine for providing food, hanging out with, making fun of.”
“You make fun of me just as much as I make fun of you,” he argued, wishing she’d turn around.
“Oh, right. Add ‘gives as good as she gets’ to that list. Did it ever occur to you that just once, I’d like to be able to take it easy? I know I haven’t had much practice, but I’d like to try being girly and sensitive. I’d even like to cry once in a while. Did you ever think that what you were saying and doing was hurting me?”
That punctured him. “God, Charlotte. You know I never want to hurt you.”
She finally turned around, and her eyes were swimming in unshed tears. “Then why are you?”
“Charlotte,” he breathed. He was over at her side in an instant. “Angel, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” He tugged her up out of the chair and into his arms. “I mean it. I didn’t know that dumb prank was going to hurt you like this, I’m sorry.”
She cried on his shoulder for a minute, delica
te, soft little sobs that ripped his heart apart. He hadn’t known. Why hadn’t he known?
Because she was right. Until recently, he had only seen her as one of the guys. She was so strong, so ready to go head-to-head with him at the drop of a hat. It never occurred to him that she wouldn’t say anything until the hurt was so bad she was drowning in it. He was so intent on keeping his “perfect life” intact that he’d failed to see what she was going through. He was such an idiot!
“I’m sorry, Gabe. Last night, then the Web site… I guess it was the last straw.” She pulled back, and her eyes were huge and liquid, the hazel color luminescent. “I guess I don’t really have the right to be angry at you for speaking your mind. But I have to say this. It’s hard to hear from your best friend that you’re not pretty, not feminine, that you’re never going to get married….”
“Hey, wait a minute,” he interrupted, giving her a gentle shake. “I never said anything like that!”
She tilted her head to the side, a sad smile on her face. “Not precisely, but then, did you need to spell it out? I’ve known you for forever. I knew what you were trying to say.” She pushed out of his arms, walking over to the window as she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “Heck. It’s impossible to disagree with you. I mean, look at me. What would a man want with someone like me?”
“Are you kidding? Charlotte, you have plenty to offer a man.” He leaped to her defense, trying to undo some of the damage he’d caused. “You’re smart, and sexy, and funny. You just don’t see it in yourself.”
“Not you, too,” she said, hiccuping. “I thought you of all people would agree with me.”
If possible, he felt even lower. “You know I’m on your side, Charlotte.”
“You haven’t been. Not since this stupid bet got started.” She turned on him, her eyes large and luminous. “Do you know why I stuck with it? Because if I lose, your sister and Dana promised they’ll finally get off my back and let me live my life, my way. It’s the easiest solution. Or at least, it seemed like it was…until you decided to go to war.”
“Charlotte, please. I already feel so low, I could walk under a rattlesnake. Wearing a top hat.” Gabe rubbed a tear off her cheek. “I was just being selfish. I was…” He paused, taking a deep breath, and admitted to Charlotte what he’d never admit in front of anybody else…not his family, not the Hoodlums, not anyone. “I was afraid. I was scared you’d change into one of those superficial, man-crazy Guide girls. And I was afraid I’d lose the best friend I have. How lame is that, right?”
She sent him a watery smile. “Actually, I kind of know how you feel. I tried calling you last night. I chickened out, because I didn’t know how to talk to you about all of this.”
He stuck out his hand. “Let’s make a pact. No matter what happens, we stay best friends. That means we can talk to each other about anything, and whatever else is going on in our lives, we’re there for each other. Deal?”
She shook his hand. “Deal,” she said, then threw her arms around him. “Let’s not go through this again.”
He returned the hug fiercely, crushing her to him. “We won’t. I’m not going to risk losing you again, angel.”
They probably didn’t have to hug quite that long, but one minute seemed to stretch into another, and neither were in any hurry to leave the comfort of the other. She felt compact, fitting snugly against his body. He stroked the back of her head, feeling the silky softness of her hair beneath his fingers, and heard her sigh. He looked down, and she looked up. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were wide and clear, and looking up at him with that tenderness that he hadn’t seen in way too long.
Any woman who looks at you like that deserves to be good and kissed, Gabe.
Damn fine idea, he thought. Finally, his conscience had decided to help out, instead of being such a pill all the time. He leaned down, close, his eyes never leaving hers.
Just a breath away from her lips, he stopped.
Wait a second. What am I doing?
He jerked away as if she were an electrified fence. He put a few crucial feet of space between them, then stared at her. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest like a jackhammer, and noticed that her eyes were huge, almost wary.
“Well. I’m glad we got that all straightened out,” he said gruffly.
“Oh. Me, too.” Charlotte still stared at him.
“So.” He cleared his throat. Boy, that was a close one. What had he been thinking? “I’ve got an idea of how I can make it up to you.”
She sighed. “This ought to be humorous.”
“It’s my fault you’re stuck in this bet. The logical conclusion would be that it’s now my responsibility to help you out of it.”
“Gabe,” Charlotte said in a skeptical tone, “I think you’ve helped enough, don’t you?”
“I didn’t know what was going on,” he argued. “The problem is, you need to put on a really good show, get a little more comfortable around guys.”
“Oh, come on,” she said, laughing. “I’ve been hanging out with the Hoodlums since I could drive. Now you think the problem is I’m awkward around men?”
“But you are awkward…when you’re being a woman.” He looked her over. “I’ve got it. We’ll do a trial run. Are you busy tonight?”
“You’re kidding, right?” She narrowed her eyes at him, then shrugged. “Nope. No dates tonight, and what a shock that is. But it is a designated date night. Dana will probably drop by and drag me somewhere. I hope she doesn’t bring her husband with her. How awkward would that be?”
“Can you figure a way out of it, and meet me at Sharkey’s, around seven?”
“Sure.”
“And dress up.”
Her eyes widened. “Huh?”
“Just trust me,” he said, nodding. “With any luck, it’ll make this bet business a snap.”
“You’re lucky I’m your best friend, because no sane woman would put up with you,” she answered, then nodded. “Seven at Sharkey’s. Got it.”
THE PROBLEM WAS, this had seemed like a good idea in theory. Now, looking at it, it occurred to Gabe that this whole plan would have worked a lot better if the guys hadn’t taken their jobs so seriously.
“Gabe, this is ridiculous,” Charlotte said, laughing.
“I think Gabe had a spectacular idea,” Sean said, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “If you want to learn to catch a guy, you gotta go to the source.”
“Nobody said anything about catching guys,” Gabe said sharply. “I just said she needed to be more comfortable around them when she’s dressed up.”
And dressed up she was. She looked sharp in a dark lavender dress, similar to the pink one he’d first seen on her when this whole mess started. She was wearing heels again, too. He scrupulously avoided staring at her legs. Or her chest. Or her face, really. He’d pretty much resigned himself to talking to the top of her head.
But the other guys had no such problems.
“Hey, pretty lady,” Mike said, beaming his best come-on smile at her. “Come here often?”
“Mike, we were just here last Monday night, remember? Catching the game?”
Mike frowned, nonplussed. “Oh. Right.” He brightened, and tried the smile again. “But you didn’t look like this, gorgeous.”
“Gabe, this is insane.” She walked over to where he was standing. He noticed the guys riveted to the gentle sway of her hips, and had to stop himself from glaring at them. “It’s not like they’re really men. They’re just the Hoodlums.”
“I resent that,” Sean piped up.
“Yeah, just give us a try, baby,” Ryan said, wiggling his eyebrows. “We’ll be plenty enough love for you, hot stuff.”
“Hot stuff? Gorgeous? What, do you guys get handed a manual in high school or something?”
“Gabe,” Sean whined. “She’s not taking this seriously.”
“How can I?” Charlotte laughed. She was wearing a darker lipstick, too, and her eyes seemed even larger in t
he dim light. Whatever she was doing with makeup was working, big time. “You guys keep clowning around.”
“Just pretend you’re at some big party or something,” Gabe said, trying his best to be focused. He’d promised her he’d get her out of the mess he’d landed her in. He meant it. If he had to help her become the girliest woman on the face of the planet, then he’d do it. “No matter what the guys say, just keep smiling, but throw attitude at them.”
“What kind of attitude?” Charlotte asked, bewildered.
“Like they’re bugs.” He smiled. Teaching her to be girly didn’t mean she had to be a pushover, however. He wasn’t about to teach her how to catch a guy. “Like you’re the most beautiful woman alive, and they’re wasting your time. Like they’re insane to even dream they’ve got a chance at you.”
“Hey, Gabe, no fair,” Mike said, frowning. “I get treated like that by every other woman I meet. You’re ruining all my fun here.”
Charlotte smiled wickedly, slowly getting the idea. “You mean, treat them like dirt, and they’ll revere me as a goddess?”
“It’s a trade secret, but yup, that’s it.” Gabe smiled back, savoring the look on her face. This was going to be good.
She sashayed back to the bar stool she’d been sitting on. Gabe couldn’t help but be riveted this time, either…the sassy little swing in her hips was mesmerizing.
Mike stepped up to the plate again. “Hey, pretty lady…”
Her eyes were wide and sexy, but her voice was coolly amused. “This—” she gestured down the length of her body “—is not for you.” She pointed at him, then smiled and looked away.
Mike goggled. Ryan laughed and nudged him aside. “Excuse me, miss, do you have thirty-five cents?” He grinned. “My mother told me to call her when I fell in love.”
Charlotte reached into her purse and produced three quarters. “Here. After you reach her, try calling somebody who cares.”
“Ooh, she’s good,” Sean said as Ryan good-naturedly grumbled and stepped back. “Here’s a better one. Are you tired? Because you’ve been running through my mind all night long.”
Charlotte tried to look bored, but the humor glinted through her eyes. Finally, she broke down and laughed. “Okay. You win. You get one dance.”
