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Charlie's eyes fluttered closed at his gentle caress and in a heartbeat she knew that if she wasn't careful she could fall for this man in a way she'd never fallen before. When it came to the opposite sex she picked only those men she knew she wouldn't get emotionally attached to. There was no way she was going to let a man hurt her the way her dad had hurt her mom when he walked out. To this day she could remember how depressed and withdrawn her mom had become after her dad left. It’d been as if her mom had been replaced by a different person. Her mom hadn't been the only one to change. Sean matured virtually overnight, going from regular high school football player to the man of the house. She'd changed too.
For months after her dad left she'd cried herself to sleep. Once that phase passed she'd started to shield herself emotionally by making sure she didn't let anyone get too close; especially those of the opposite sex. She no longer thought about doing it. It just came naturally. Yet, despite years of emotionally distancing herself from people, somehow Charlie knew if she wasn't careful she could fall for this man. Under no circumstance could she let that happen. So although it went against her body's desires, she moved enough to the right so that she was no longer trapped between Jake's SUV and his muscular body.
“Come on. Mr. Quinn is waiting for you.” This time Charlie didn't wait for a response. She started toward the hospital entrance. She heard him fall into step next to her, but refused to look over at him as they entered the hospital's main lobby. She remained silent, keeping as much space between them as possible without seeming obvious, while they waited for the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, he allowed her to enter before him and she realized for the first time what a gentleman he was. It hadn't struck her until then how rare it was that he always opened doors for her or allowed her to precede him into a room.
Hitting the button for the fifth floor, he turned to her. “Mr. Quinn will be happy you’re here. Yesterday he couldn't stop talking about you.”
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief at Jake's choice of conversation. While waiting for the elevator she feared he'd say something about their parking lot make out session. Something she didn't want to discuss now or ever. However, a conversation about Mr. Quinn she could handle.
“Jessica and I were friends in school. I spent a lot of time at their house growing up.”
Jake's eyebrows came together in confusion.
“What?” she asked.
At first he just shrugged as the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor. “After you.” He gestured toward the door.
Bothered by the look of confusion on his face, she couldn't let the matter go. “What was that look for?” she asked inhaling the familiar scent of the hospital. Most people found the smell unsettling but not her. It comforted her.
“She doesn't seem anything like you. I just don't see you two as friends.”
Not about to go into great detail, Charlie kept her answer short. “We're more alike than you think. We used to have a lot of the same interests when we were younger, and her parents divorced when she was young too.” She didn't give him a chance to question her any further. Instead she pushed open the door to room 506.
Jessica and Martha Quinn sat inside the hospital room with Mr. Quinn and when Charlie walked in all three of their faces lit up. Jake knew inviting her along had been a good idea. After a short conversation about the man’s health the three of them began catching up.
“Do you remember the Lindsey twins from high school -- the ones we went on that double date with?” Jessica asked, her voice not much louder than a whisper.
Jake thought it fit Jessica perfectly. It was a voice you could easily miss and overlook, much like Jessica herself. That had been one reason he found it odd that she and Charlie were friends. Charlie wasn't the type you could ever overlook.
“How could I forget them?” Charlie rolled her eyes and Jake guessed their double date had been less than ideal.
“Zack was in town last month. You'd never recognize him. He looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy these days.” A deep contagious laugh escaped from Charlie and Jake instantly smiled at the sound. Content to just sit and listen as the two women reminisced about the double date they'd once shared, Jake leaned back in the stiff plastic chair and watched. Away from recovery work and surrounded by friends, Charlie underwent a total transformation. The commanding take-charge air that seemed an integral part of who she was dulled, and her very kissable lips were curved in a permanent smile.
Damn, her lips had felt perfect against his. And right now as he sat here, their kiss dominated his thoughts. When he woke up this morning making out with Charlie in the hospital parking lot had not been on his to-do list. Yet when she stepped down from his SUV, he hadn't been able to stop himself. Despite what the tabloids said about him, he wasn't really a playboy. Yeah, he dated and had been in several relationships but it wasn't like he slept with every other woman in America like the media made it seem. Yet when she touched his hand an invisible cord had pulled him towards her. Nothing could have stopped him from kissing her at that moment.
“How'd your meeting go?” Mr. Quinn asked, his surprisingly gruff voice interrupting Jake's thoughts. “Those engineers of yours making any progress?”
For the next several minutes, Jake explained the ongoing plans to rebuild the town. His surprise that the older man understood even the most technical terms must have shown on his face.
“I studied to be an engineer before the war broke out. Decided to drop out and join the Marines, and then got shipped off to Korea.”
He couldn't help but respect the guy. Mr. Quinn had put his country and fellow man ahead of himself. How much easier it would've been for him to stay in school and finish his degree.
“My parents were mighty disappointed too. They tried to talk me outta it but I wouldn't budge. I was a stubborn SOB back then. Some would say I still am.” Mr. Quinn looked over at his wife.
Jake could relate to that. His parents had done the same thing when he'd shared his plans to apply to the Naval Academy while still in prep school. Unlike Mr. Quinn though, he'd let their opinion influence his decision.
Thinking about how he'd failed to follow his dreams because of his parents’ wishes always put him in a foul mood. Today was no different. Deciding that a few minutes alone would be good, Jake stood. “I'm going to grab some coffee downstairs. Anyone want anything?” After jotting down how everyone wanted their coffee, Jake retreated from the room.
Neither Jake nor Charlie said a word on the ride back to the Victorian Rose a few hours later. Though his mood had improved, the sense of failure that always plagued him whenever he thought about his past weighed heavily on him. If he could only go back in time and redo things.
“You seemed to hit it off with Mr. Quinn.” Charlie broke the silence in the SUV as they pulled onto her street. It had been reduced to one lane as repair trucks worked to restore electricity, and he had to wait for his turn. “He doesn't usually take to outsiders.”
Jake navigated his way around a utility truck. “Must be my charming personality. I knew it worked well on the ladies, but it must work well on retired Marines as well.”
“Must be it,” she agreed laughing.
