Dylan clapped him on the back. “I hope you gave her more details than that. It's a rather vague excuse.”
Jake knew he should be pleased his brother wasn't pressing for more details. “She didn't give me a chance to explain anything. I tried.”
Jake didn't miss seeing Callie elbow Dylan in the side in an attempt to shut him up before saying, “Maybe she just needs some time. She's not used to the way the media plays things up. Try calling her in a week.”
He knew Callie meant well but it was so obvious she didn't understand anything about male pride. A guy was only going to take no for an answer so many times. After that it would be like begging. He had no intentions of doing that.
“How was Paris?” Jake figured if he got Callie talking about something else she might forget about Charlie for tonight.
His ploy worked beautifully. Without mentioning another word about Charlie, his sister launched into a detailed playback of her and Dylan's European honeymoon.
Chapter 14
With a groan Charlie kicked her heels off then began to unzip her skirt. After spending more than six hours in the awful shoes her aching feet reminded her why she didn't wear them more often. Today there had been no avoiding it. There was no way she could show up for an interview wearing running sneakers or the clogs she wore when on duty at the hospital.
After slipping on a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt she put the suit she'd worn in a bag for the dry cleaners and headed toward the kitchen. She'd missed lunch, but she guessed she'd find something yummy in the kitchen. Thanks to Beth there were always freshly baked treats in the kitchen. And judging by the cinnamon scent filling the kitchen, Beth had baked something that morning.
Charlie had one of the rolls half way to her mouth when she saw the magazine pages on the kitchen table. Her roommate was a regular reader of all the popular magazines. She never missed an issue of the weekly publication. By the looks of it her copy of Today had arrived and she'd forgotten to take it with her.
Most of the time Charlie didn't bother with the magazine. Occasionally she would do the crossword puzzle in the back but that was about it. But today it was as if her arm had a mind of its own. It dropped the cinnamon roll and reached for the magazine. Once again on the cover was a close-up shot of Jake. A smile lit up his face and she had to force herself to look away from his sapphire blue eyes. They seemed to almost jump off the page at her.
In an instant her appetite disappeared. For more than two weeks now she'd tried not to think about him, and every time she did, Charlie forced herself to remember the picture she'd seen of him on the internet with his arm around the blonde. Yet every once in awhile a tiny voice in her head whispered what if you are wrong?
Charlie turned the magazine over so Jake's smiling face no longer stared back at her and tossed it onto the counter. She didn't want to know what the magazine had to say about him.
“You okay? You look a little pale.”
Charlie's eyes flew open at the sound of her friend's voice. She'd been so distracted that she hadn't heard the door open.
“I saw the cover of your magazine,” Charlie nodded toward the counter.
Beth moved toward the cupboards above the counter. “Did you look at the rest of it?”
As her friend turned the other way, Charlie caught the triumphant smile that spread across her face.
“You left it on the table intentionally. Why did you do that?” Beth was one of the few people who knew how much Jake's betrayal hurt her. She didn't consider Beth a cruel thoughtless person so she didn't understand why her friend would leave the magazine behind.
Beth shrugged as she took the seat across the table with the magazine in one hand. “I thought you might be interested in it, but I take it you didn't read the article. He was telling you the truth about Blair. I saw it on Celeb Talk last night and the article confirms that some up-and-coming actor I've never heard of is the father of Blair Peterson's baby.”
“So?” Charlie tore off a large chunk of her roll and bit into it in order to give herself something to do. In all the time they'd been friends, Beth had never given her advice unless Charlie asked for it. However she suspected that Beth was about to give her some now and she knew she didn't want to hear it.
“The story he gave your mom could be true too. I don't know if he'd lie about his family like that. Would you?”
“I hear an 'and' coming.” Charlie tapped her fingers on the table.
“Since he was telling the truth about this,” Beth picked up the magazine. “I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on the other too.”
Charlie refused to look at the cover of the magazine. She didn't need to see a picture of Jake. His image was burned into her memory. At least once a day it made a cameo appearance in her thoughts even though she did the best she could to bury it.
“So what if he was, Beth. I don't do long term relationships. You know that. I'm not looking for the ring and the happily-ever-after like you.” Charlie recited the words she'd been telling herself and her friends for years, yet somehow they felt hollow today. They lacked any true conviction this time. And deep down in her gut she knew they were not true, at least not anymore. Somehow she'd let her guard down and let Jake sneak his way into her heart.
Charlie tore off another piece of her cinnamon bun. “I'm not interested in having Jake in my life.”
Beth raised an eyebrow and pointed her own cinnamon bun in Charlie's direction. “You Charlotte O'Brien are a lousy liar. You've been miserable ever since you got back.”
Charlie opened her mouth to protest, but Beth didn't give her the chance.
“You might get away with lying to everyone else but you should at least be honest with yourself.”
She hated to admit it, but her friend was right. Despite her words to the contrary she did miss him. But, she didn't know if she was ready to allow someone into her life permanently. That, of course, was assuming he was still interested and felt the same way.
Before she did anything she needed to think. “I'm going for a run. I'll see you later.” Charlie dropped the rest of her cinnamon bun onto her plate and stood.
“I'll be here if you want to talk later.”
***
Charlie pulled her Jeep into a spot alongside an electric blue Lamborghini that she somehow knew was Jake's and turned off the engine. The coffee she drank on the way over threatened to make a repeat appearance as she sat looking at the building in front of her. It'd been three days since she'd learned the truth about Jake's paternity suit. During those three days her conversation with her mother kept replaying in her head as did memories of Jake's and her time together.
Then the night before, after many internal conversations she'd admitted two things to herself. One that she was afraid to leave the Navy. Sure she loved what she did, but that wasn't the real reason she had been thinking of staying. She was scared to move forward. Afraid of what change might come from leaving her comfort zone, even though in her heart she was ready to start the next phase of her life. Secondly she'd finally admitted to herself that she wanted Jake in her life enough to risk a broken heart. If she didn't at least try she would forever wonder what if.
There was only one huge obstacle in the way now; what if he was no longer interested in her. He hadn't tried to contact her in weeks. Was that a bad sign?
Only one way to find out. Releasing the death grip she had on the steering wheel, Charlie opened the car door. A wave of hot humid air hit her, making her already queasy stomach flip in protest.
Before she could stop and reconsider, she slammed the car door closed and started across the parking lot to the building's entrance. A blast of cool air washed over her when she entered the lobby and, as she crossed the marble tiled floor, she thanked God for air-conditioning.
The doors to the elevator on the other side of the lobby were about to close as Charlie approached but the man inside saw her and held the door open for her.
“What floor?” he asked, his fingers hovering
over the buttons.
“Six,” Charlie answered as she moved toward the left-hand side.
“That's where I'm heading too,” the tall well-dressed man replied as the elevator door closed.
She didn't comment. Even on her best day she wasn't into idle chitchat with strangers. Instead she nodded and hoped he took the hint. As the elevator moved up, she tapped her hand against her thigh. Nervous energy coursed through her making it difficult to stand still. To make her unease even worse she could feel the other rider looking at her. He hadn't stopped eying her since she entered.
When the sixth floor lit up and the doors opened she all but bolted out. The Falmouth Foundation occupied the entire sixth floor of the building. With her shoulders back and standing as rigid as she would if she was about to meet a senior officer she walked up to whom she assumed was the receptionist behind a sleek black desk.
“I'm here to see Mr. Sherbrooke,” Charlie said in the same no-nonsense voice she used when giving orders at the hospital.
The woman behind the desk pushed the oval glasses up farther on her face. “What time is your appointment?” she asked her fingers poised over the keyboard.
Why hadn't she thought of that before? “I don't have one. But he knows me.”
The receptionist moved her hands away from her keyboard. “I'm sorry. He's scheduled for meetings all day. If you want to make an appointment maybe he can see you later this week.”
Later in the week? She didn't think she could wait that long. Now that her mind was made up, she needed to execute her plan.
Charlie clenched her fists by her sides. “I only need a few minutes. He must have a little time free today.”
“His next appointment is standing behind you.”
She'd forgotten that the man from the elevator was behind her.
“I can wait Kimberly. If this is who I think it is, Jake will want to see her. Let Cindy know Dr. O'Brien is here for him.”
Charlie whipped her head around toward the man who'd moved to stand next to her. How had he known who she was? Evidently whoever he was, he was more than just a business associate.
The receptionist picked up the phone. “Okay, Mr. Hall.”
“Thank you.” Charlie bit her tongue to keep herself from asking how he knew who she was.
In response the man extended his hand. “Christopher Hall. Jake told me a lot about you.”
She didn't know if that was a good thing or not, but since he was helping her to get what she wanted she decided not to think about it. “I won't be long,” she said.
“Take your time.”
Just then a slim gray-haired woman came around the corner. “Dr. O'Brien. I'm Cindy Thomas, Mr. Sherbrooke's assistant. Please follow me.”
Not a single person glanced her way as Charlie followed the older woman toward the line of office doors on the right-hand side. The assistant stopped at the last closed door in the corner and raised her hand to knock but stopped just before her knuckles made contact.
“You called to speak with Mr. Sherbrooke while he was in England didn't you?”
Charlie nodded curious as to why the woman asked but didn't question her. Any questions would only delay her.
“I wish you had given me your nayouryoume. name. Mr. Sherbrooke left instructions to tell you where he'd gone if you called.”
Charlie's stomach flipped as guilt mixed with the anxiety already racing through her body.
Before she could think of a response the assistant knocked and entered the office.
“Christopher says to take your time. He went downstairs for coffee,” Cindy said. Then she gestured for Charlie to enter and closed the door behind her.
As the door clicked behind her, Jake rose from his spot behind a large meeting table and took a few steps toward her. He was wearing black dress pants and a crisp white shirt. The knot of his red necktie had been loosened and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up exposing his tanned muscular forearms. For a moment she couldn't do anything but stare at his arms and remember how right it had felt to be held in them. How special and cared for she had felt.
Man, she hoped she hadn't blown things with him. Closing her eyes, Charlie took in a deep breath and then exhaled. It's now or never, she thought as tiny beads of perspiration trickled down her back.
“I know you're busy, but I need to talk to you.” Charlie locked her eyes on his face. The barest hint of a beard covered his face reminding her of how he looked first thing in the morning. “And I didn't want to do it over the phone.”
So far Jake hadn't said a word but his face did all the talking. Usually his mouth was set in a relaxed friendly smile that made others feel at ease, yet right then it was drawn tight and apprehension lurked in his eyes.
“I'll leave right after I say what I came here to tell you, if you want.” Charlie forced her feet to remain still. Fidgeting would only give away how nervous she was, besides only children fidgeted.
Still in shock at having Charlie show up at his office, Jake nodded toward the chairs around the meeting table. “Do you want to sit?”
Sitting was the last thing he wanted. More than anything he wanted to embrace her and then demand that she explain her behavior. But he didn't do either.
“Not now thanks.” Charlie gripped her hands together. “I came to apologize. When I heard you left Virginia and then saw that picture of you with another woman I jumped to conclusions. I shouldn't have done that. I was wrong.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say yeah you were, but he held the words back. Sarcasm wouldn't accomplish anything. “Sophia, AJ's girlfriend, called just after midnight. AJ had just been rushed to the hospital. I didn't have time to call before I flew out. I assumed you would call here when you couldn't get me so I asked Cindy to explain the situation to you when you did. But that didn't happen.”
“She told me before I came in.”
“When I did call you didn't give me a chance to explain.” Jake raked a hand through his hair as the need to know why she'd doubted him increased. Granted he didn't have the greatest reputation, thanks to the media, but he thought she knew him better than that. Until a few weeks ago he'd thought she trusted and cared for him as much as he did her.
Charlie blinked and looked away. “When I heard you were gone and saw the picture it reminded me of …” Charlie's voice trailed off.
He might not be a psychiatrist but he knew whatever was eating at her ran deep. Without hesitation he took a step closer. With a finger he nudged her face up. The sight of her hazel eyes filled with tears tugged at his heart.
“It reminded me of my father. I was twelve when he just walked out. After I saw the picture I started to think about Blair's baby and it all snowballed.”
He knew her parents were divorced but he didn't know the particulars behind it. Though it stung he could understand how she might relate the two.
“You should have trusted me.” Resentment leaked into his words and he clenched his teeth from saying anything else he might regret.
A single tear rolled down Charlie's face. Jake couldn't stop himself from wiping it away.
“You're right, but I kept telling myself we were a temporary fling. Nothing serious so it didn't matter how things ended.”
Charlie wrapped her arms around herself and Jake suspected there was more to her story.
“My mom was devastated when my dad left. I decided that I never wanted to end up like her. I figured skipping the whole love thing was better. I've always kept relationships strictly fun and unemotional. I figured that was safer.” A nervous laugh escaped her. “Until you.”
In his mind he could imagine what it must have been like for Charlie as a little girl after her father walked out. Anger toward the man he'd never meet welled up inside him.
“I understand if you don't forgive me, but I needed to apologize. I was wrong and I wanted you to know I'm retiring from the Navy. I shredded my re-enlistment documents last night.”
Charlie took a step back as if to
leave and Jake realized he'd been silent for too long, wrapped up in his own thoughts. “Don't go. I get why you reacted the way you did and I shouldn't have assumed you'd get the message from Cindy. In the future we need to communicate better.” Even though she didn't answer him, he wrapped both arms around her slim waist and pulled her close to him. He had no intention of letting her walk out of his office.
Charlie's forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Future?”
“I know my reputation sucks and you probably think I've said this to hundreds of women but I love you, Doc.” Once the words were out Jake wondered if perhaps he'd said too much. She'd come by looking for forgiveness not necessarily a declaration of love.
“I love you too.” Charlie smiled and put her arms around his neck. “And I don't care about your reputation as long as you’re mine.”
Jake lowered his head toward hers so he could kiss her. “I'm all yours, Doc.”
Epilogue
A wolf whistle had Charlie turning toward the door.
“You look incredible.” Jake closed the door behind him and walked toward her.
He was dressed in a black tuxedo and she thought the same thing about him. “Thanks. Your sister helped me pick out the gown last month.”
During the six months they'd been dating she had developed a close relationship with Jake's half-sister Callie. They spoke on the phone often and whenever Callie came to Washington to see her father she always stopped in for a visit. After having to decline several invitations to visit New York because of work, Charlie had finally made it up the month before.
Jake wrapped his arm around her waist and began to leave a trail of kisses down her neck. “What do you say we skip the party downstairs? No one will notice.” Jake reached the base of her throat, then began to work his way back up the other side.
As tempting an offer as it was, Charlie didn't want to miss the New Year's Eve party the Sherbrookes had planned. When she arrived at Cliff House two days earlier the place had already been a buzz of activity with preparations. According to Jake's mother, the Sherbrookes had been throwing a New Year's Eve ball at the mansion since 1900, and it was attended by everyone from top government officials and multimillionaires to A-list celebrities. Every time Charlie thought about that fact she almost had to pinch herself.
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