AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I'm heading up to New York City this weekend and I wanted to see if you would join me. I thought maybe some time alone would be good for us.”
Jake held back a groan. Time alone would only accomplish one thing; to remind him how ill-suited they were for each other. “I'm in the field right now, Blair. I can't go anywhere.”
“Come on. You can sneak away for a weekend. Who'll know? There are others who can do the work.”
“Blair, I told you before I'm not interested. We had fun together but it’s over.” So far he'd tried to be polite about the whole thing but she just didn't get it.
On the other end of the line Blair droned on, but he didn't pay much attention as she reiterated their earlier conversation almost word for word. Instead his gazed focused on Charlie as she approached his SUV with a backpack slung over one shoulder and a travel mug in each hand.
“Listen, I've got to go. I need to head out for my meeting. Have a safe trip to New York.” Jake cut Blair off in mid-sentence. He heard Blair mutter goodbye right before he hit the end button and stuffed the phone back into his pocket.
“I thought we might both want some more coffee.” Charlie stopped next to him and handed him one of the mugs.
“You read my mind. Only had time for one cup inside.” Before she could do it herself, Jake pulled open the passenger door for her.
Surprise skittered across Charlie's face but she only murmured thanks before climbing into the front seat.
“So what's the best way to Church Street?” he asked as he climbed behind the wheel and started the engine.
***
Charlie carried another case of bottled water into the senior center. Situated near the center of town it worked perfectly as a temporary supply distribution center. Outside there were several other volunteers helping to unload the trucks filled with bottled water and canned food, each one sent by the Falmouth Foundation. They had already unpacked one truck containing blankets and clean clothes for those in need.
After dropping the case next to the others she rubbed the dull ache in her back. She'd been working nonstop since climbing into Jake's truck that morning and her body felt it. First they'd met with the town administrator near the flooded areas of town. Together with the fire chief the four of them had gone out by boat so Jake could survey the damage firsthand before heading back to the town official's temporary office in the high school. The high school was one of the few buildings with electricity thanks to the generator supplied by the Falmouth Foundation. Workers were currently delivering the rest of the generators to other key buildings.
After a meeting to discuss what further aid and funds were necessary they headed over to the senior center and converted it into a makeshift distribution center. They finished the job a mere ten minutes before the first supply truck rolled in.
Charlie leaned against the wall. All around her people were coming and going. There wasn't a sole standing still including Jake Sherbrooke himself. When he wasn't carrying supplies off the trucks he was helping people bring what they needed to their cars. He treated them all as equals. Never once did he put on any airs and, like the day before, there wasn't any media around taking note like she expected. She was still trying to get her head around that fact. According to what she'd seen yesterday and today, he wasn't at all what she'd expected. And she had to admit, if it wasn't for him and his foundation the town would be in much rougher shape. The governor in Boston had declared a state of emergency for most of the North Shore but few towns had been affected as badly as North Salem. Still, state aid was spread thin and so far they'd received little help from the state itself.
“All the trucks outside are empty. Sherbrooke said the next few won't be here for an hour or so. He wants everyone to take a break.” Michael Smith, a former high school classmate, said stopping next to her. “I'm heading home to check on things. “Want a ride?”
At the mention of Jake, she began searching for him. The last she'd seen of him he'd been helping Mr. Wilson carry supplies out to his ancient pickup. “I'm good Michael. I think I'll just stick around here in case someone needs help.”
“Suit yourself. See ya later.” With his final comment Michael headed towards the main doors with several other volunteers.
In no time the senior center was virtually empty of workers. Only a handful of volunteers remained to distribute item
s as residents stopped in.
After getting a bottle of water and an energy bar, Charlie pulled a folding chair over to the table and sat down. Damn, it seemed like every time she came home Mother Nature went crazy. The last time she'd come back a blizzard dropped 20 inches of snow on the state. The time before that an early winter nor’easter roared through New England. Maybe Mother Nature was trying to give her a hint. Maybe she should ask her family to visit her instead.
From across the hall, the sound of the main door opening and closing echoed. Looking up just in time, she saw Jake enter the building and she almost sighed like a lovesick teenager. Normally she didn't get all worked up when she saw a good-looking man. She certainly came into contact with enough of them in the military. But there was something about Jake that turned her insides to mush and sent her heart rate into overdrive.
“I thought you might have headed out with everyone else,” he said as he crossed the hall toward her.
Jake entered the room and it felt like the temperature jumped twenty degrees. Today he looked more like a hard laborer with his sweat stained Cal Tech t-shirt and torn jeans than a pampered playboy and Charlie's pulse leaped with excitement. She shrugged and reached for another bottle of water. “I thought I would stick around in case anyone showed up looking for something. Besides I'd only have to come back in a little while.” Charlie slid the water bottle across the table toward Jake before he could say anything.
Jake downed half the bottle in one long drink. “So what do you think?”
Focused on the perpetual five o'clock shadow Jake seemed to favor, Charlie didn't immediately realize he was talking to her. Typically she didn't like any facial hair on a man. It reminded her too much of her father; he'd always sported a full beard. She could do without any reminders of him. Even after all this time the pain caused by his leaving remained. Yet she didn't mind facial hair on Jake. On him it only added to his sexiness.
“Doctor?”
“Think about what?” What had he asked her?
“You more or less called me a lazy playboy this morning. What do you think now?”
His tone was cool and direct but Charlie thought she detected a hint of vulnerability. Did her opinion matter to him? Could this man, who had everything, be insecure?
