I work out, do the shopping, and then have a meeting with my boss about the job I went out on last night. The rest of the day is mine and I try to think of something that might sweep Charlie off her feet, but I worry that the time for such things has passed. At least, for now. I have to get her to trust me before I do anything else.
Sitting in my car, I debate just driving to the Abbott Winery to see if Charlie might talk to me on her own turf, but Da Abbott seems like a pox and I can’t afford for things to get squirrelly with him right now. Charlie doesn’t strike me as being all that fond of her father, but the last thing I want is to cause a scene with him at home, especially not in front of Charlie’s wee sisters.
Maybe the best thing is to just wait it out. Give her some space. I won’t text her again, but I’m not giving up, either. I know how to be patient. I’ll let things simmer before I circle back. Give her some time to think before I make my next move.
I go back inside and spend the rest of the day cleaning the house, which is something I do often, partly because I’m a bit OCD and partly because it’s soothing and mindless. But for some reason, today the house feels big and lonely, though it’s neither of those things. It’s not even 1,000 square feet of floor space, and I’m not the kind of person who has trouble being alone.
Though the place is a tad sparse. I guess I never realized until Charlie commented on it, and why should I? It’s just me living here and I’m rarely home long enough to use anything but the shower and the bed. I suppose I could paint it up, get nice furniture. Curtains? What sort of things would a woman want in a house…?
Shite. I need to get out of here.
Grabbing my keys, I step outside with every intention of getting in my car and driving straight to the pub. And that’s when it hits me.
I think I know exactly where to find her.
* * *
Pullinginto the parking lot at McGrady’s, I groan when I see how many empty spaces there are. Normally this place is completely packed, and you have to park three blocks away. But it’s still early yet. People haven’t started getting off work and coming out for the evening. Which means there’s no way in hell Charlie will be here.
She needs the energy of the crowd and the loud music to help her forget her problems. She’s an adrenaline kind of girl when it comes to taking her mind off things. Funny how I know that about her already and I’ve just met her. Imagine what a little more time might reveal.
Fuck it. I’ll get a drink and then go find something else to do.
Inside, the music is tame, the crowd thin. I find a seat at the bar, which happens to be the same seat I was in when I first met Charlie. The bartender isn’t busy, and he quickly brings me a beer and a shot of whisky.
Tossing back the shot, I turn around to survey the crowd. Bars help take the edge off for me, too. Something about being immersed in a sea of people you don’t know to help you loosen up. Strange logic, but it seems to work. It might be an old standby, but I have to admit that being here can’t hold a candle to how much it helped being in bed with Charlie. Not just the sex, either. It was like her touch made me feel human. Helped me to not dwell on the shitty things in my life that I don’t want to face.
When I was with her, I forgot, for those few blissful hours, what I am. I felt like things could be…different. Fuck. I don’t need this in my life. She’s going to be my wife. That’s the arrangement. It’s a done deal. No matter if she accepts me or not.
I down half the beer and then order another shot. I’m just about to toss it back when I spy a familiar head weaving through the crowd. Glossy hair, high ponytail. Black leather jacket.
Well, I’ll be jiggered. She came here after all.
Charlie looks around, then heads straight to the bar. She doesn’t seem to spot me, so I turn back on my stool and nurse my drink at the other end of the bar. A big fella in a plaid flannel lumbers over and sits himself down on the seat beside me, which is going to be a problem.
Holding the neck of my beer bottle, I nod with my head toward the door. “Beat it.” I take a drink, waiting for his reaction.
He gives me a once-over and scoffs. “Fuck off.”
No useless scut is getting between me and my woman right now. I can smell the soft floral scent of her as she moves to the same stool she was in the other day. I drink the rest of my beer down, then set the bottle on the bar in front of me. I look over at the man again. I don’t have to do anything special. I know what rage looks like on my face, and apparently so does he, because he picks up his drink and leaves.
Charlie’s leaning over the bar, looking at her phone as she types. She gives the most miniscule of a glance in my direction as I make my way closer, and my heart lurches. But then she fixes her attention back on her phone. So, she does know I’m here. She’s just determined to act like she doesn’t care.
When I reach her, I move the stool next to her out of my way and lean back on the bar. She huffs out an annoyed breath and tucks her phone away, sipping her drink and purposely not making eye contact.
“What do you want, Clayton?”
She sounds bored, but she wouldn’t have sat here knowing full well I was mere feet away from her if she didn’t want to see me. Leaning toward her, I take her chin in my hand, firm but gentle, and turn her head so she has no choice but to look at me. Her quick intake of breath gives me a promising hard-on as I dip my head to claim her lips. There’s no hesitation on her part. She kisses me back right away, one hand wrapping around the back of my neck, a soft sigh coming from her throat.
“I want you, Charlie,” I whisper.
She shivers at the words.
“Not like this. I can’t.” She takes her hand off me and looks down. “How’d you know I’d be here?”
“I’d find you anywhere. Because we’re meant to be together. You’re meant to be mine.”
She scoffs but there’s not much force behind it. She knows I’m right. “I thought you were here to find my replacement.”
