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The conversation shifted to food and excitement over whatever surprise dessert Emily had prepared for the evening.
Josh was quiet for a while, listening to the various chats, obviously waiting for his next opportunity. But Charlie was waiting, too.
“So, Emily,” he said. “That’s an amazing apartment your parents have. I bet you could get used to that type of luxury pretty quickly. Tooling around in a limo all the time. I know I can’t wait to get a cool place like that when my residency is over.”
Charlie almost laughed out loud. He’d really missed the mark on this one. She sat back and smirked at Josh, allowing Emily to cut him to pieces on her own.
“It’s all a bit ostentatious to me,” said Emily. “I was raised to believe money wasn’t all that important. As long as I have what I need, I’ll be content. In fact, the best thing about Steven Gherring’s money is how generous he is with it.”
Charlie flashed an amused grin at Josh. He winked and went back to his waiting game. When the conversation turned to work and school, he tried again. “Emily, it’s amazing you’re a CPA at what, twenty-four? You must be really smart.”
“She is,” declared Charlie. “And she loves numbers. You can make them all neat and organized. I guess that’s why she and Spencer are so compatible. They both work in accounting at Gherring Inc.”
“What about you?” said Josh. “What do you do?”
Charlie was caught off guard by his question. “I... I’m a college dropout,” she declared, lifting her chin, daring him to criticize her. She locked gazes with him, but he didn’t flinch.
“She had a four point grade average when she dropped out. And now she teaches snow skiing and leads rafting trips. But, eventually she’ll give in and go back to finish college.” Emily turned to Charlie. “Right, Sister?”
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“Maybe. If anything holds my interest long enough,” she replied without looking away.
“Maybe you might go into medicine?” Josh folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, still holding his own in their stare down.
“Nah,” said Charlie. “Blood is gross. I’m thinking law school. But I might be interested in personal injury law. Then I could sue all those incompetent doctors.”
He laughed, but his eyes never left hers.
Brad brought up the high cost of education, and Charlie breathed a sigh of relief, shifting her eyes his direction. Emily and Spencer appeared to be holding hands under the table, and so far there hadn’t been any out-and-out fights between Josh and Spencer.
She watched Josh from the corner of her eye, realizing his gaze was still focused on her. She looked back at him, pursing her lips and furrowing her brows, a silent message to knock it off. He couldn’t seem to take a hint. He raised an eyebrow, and without breaking eye contact with Charlie, he said, “So Spencer? Have you heard from Becca?”
An awkward silence descended on the table, and Spencer spoke through clenched teeth. “Josh. What’s your problem?”
He laughed. “I’m kidding you. Don’t be so uptight.”
“Josh—” Emily’s tone was plaintive, but Charlie held up her hand.
“Josh!” Charlie’s chair screeched against the floor as she pushed it back to stand, speaking in the stern mother’s voice she usually reserved for her young ski students. “I’d like to speak to you in the other room for a moment, please.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, rising and dabbing his mouth with his napkin. “I’m coming.”
Charlie marched into the living room and spun around to face Josh. He entered, closing the door behind him.
“Why are you trying to ruin things between Spencer and my sister?” She reveled in righteous indignation.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He smiled benignly.
“Yes, you do. Don’t play dumb with me.”
“I’d rather play something else with you,” he said, taking a step closer to her.
“You don’t intimidate me,” she snapped, backing away. “I’ve dealt with arrogant guys like you before. You think you’re God’s gift to women, and you’re not.”
“I’m not?” He grinned. “So I should start charging them?” He moved closer again, and she went back another step, feeling her face flush.
“Leave my sister alone. Spencer loves her, and he’s not a player like you!”
