AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The waiter returned with their appetizers. They immediately dug in, settling in to a nice conversation that flowed effortlessly. They talked about favorite vacation spots, climate change, local politics and the upcoming exhibit at the Savannah museum of art. More and more, Marc found himself seeing remarkable aspects about Charlotte. She was smart and could easily hold her own in a conversation. And she didn’t monopolize the chatter either. Her smile worked its way into the inner recesses of his heart and lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
By the time they had finished their entrées, Marc knew this evening was one of the best he’d experienced in recent memory. And he needed joy in his life. His father’s illness was taking a toll on him. He hadn’t been sleeping well and he’d lost five pounds without even trying. And he wasn’t even his main caregiver, although Marc pitched in several hours a day at the house to give his mother a break.
As he walked Charlotte outside to her car, he found himself dragging his feet. He didn’t want this evening to end.
“Care to take a walk by the river?” he asked, praying she would feel so inclined. He wanted to stretch this evening out until the stars were stamped from the ink black sky.
“I’d like that,” Charlotte said with a smile. “I used to walk down here with my father every time he took me to Huey’s. It was our special bonding time. He would take me over there to the candy store and I’d leave with a sack of my favorites.” She giggled. “Mama would have a fit when I got home because she thought he spoiled me.”
Marc waved a hand, dismissing her mother’s viewpoint. “All fathers should spoil their little girls. And by spoiling I mean make ‘em feel special. It sounds like your daddy did that. One on one attention. Making the most of your time together. I hope to do that for my daughter someday.”
“I think you’ll make a great father,” Charlotte said, studying Marc’s face. “You’re patient and kind and you’re a really good listener. That tells me you must have had a really great father.”
Marc felt emotion rising up in him at the mention of his father. These days his feelings were resting right on the surface. Dealing with a terminally ill family member was the most difficult journey he’d ever been on aside from losing Gretchen. Both then and now it made him reconsider everything about his life. Was he truly moving toward leading a happy existence? Was he making the most of every day?
Marc looked over at Charlotte. “Thanks for saying that about my dad. It’s true. He was and is an exceptional man. And an even better father. I can’t think of a single time he ever let me down, although I know I let him down numerous times.”
“That’s what kids do. We let our parents down and they love us anyway. It’s all part of the beauty of being a parent.”
“I’m not good at pretending or playing games,” Marc blurted out the words, surprising even himself with his bluntness.
Charlotte frowned at him. “Is there something on your mind, Marc?”
He moved closer to her, eating up the small space between them. “Yes,” he said with a nod. “I’ve been thinking all night about kissing you. And I know kissing on a first date can be awkward, but honestly Charlotte, this doesn’t feel like a first date. It seems as if we’ve had a series of dates before tonight.”
“Sometimes you just have to go for it,” Charlotte said with a grin. “You didn’t have to announce it in advance.”
Marc slapped his hand against his forehead. “Ugh. I’m an idiot. Let’s just call it a night.” He made a move to turn back away from the Riverwalk.
Charlotte tugged at his sleeve and pulled him back. “Not until you give me a goodnight kiss. You can’t just announce something like that and then just walk away.”
Marc grinned down at her. Her words were like music to his ears.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he murmured, looking deeply into her azure blue eyes. He took Charlotte’s face between his palms and leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were warm and inviting. A floral scent rose to his nostrils. Her lips tasted sweet. Marc felt Charlotte grab hold of his collar for leverage. Charlotte kissed him back with a tenderness that made his heart threaten to crack wide open. Although he wanted the kiss to go on and on, common sense dictated otherwise. It was time to call it a night.
As the kiss ended, Marc reached for her hand and entwined it with his own. They walked back toward their cars, enjoying the balmy air and the comfortable vibe that flowed between them.
“No need to follow me home. I’ll be fine,” Charlotte said as he pulled open her door for her.
“I want to. Just in case,” he said in a firm voice. “My mama raised me right, Charlotte. She’d have a conniption if she knew I hadn’t made sure you were safe and sound.” He reached out and caressed her cheek. “Plus, I wouldn’t be able to sleep without knowing you’d made it home in one piece.”
Charlotte, with a pleased expression on her face, reached up and placed a kiss on his lips before slipping into the driver’s seat. Marc closed the door for her, then moved toward his own car. As he once again followed behind Charlotte, a sense of urgency enveloped him. He wanted Charlotte to meet his father. On a practical level he knew it was much too soon for such a meeting, but knowing his father’s days were limited added another layer to the situation.
He knew—somewhere deep down—that he would regret it for the rest of his life if Charlotte didn’t meet his father. It meant asking Charlotte over for dinner with his family and breaking the news to them that he was dating a member of the Duvall family. Marc sucked in a deep breath. He could do this. It was his romantic life after all. He was tired of putting himself last. Marc Cabron was going to start reaching for the brass ring.
* * *
A week had flown by since Charlotte’s first official date with Marc. As she sat in her office at Savannah House, she flashed back to that wonderful evening she’d spent with Marc at the theater and Huey’s café. It had been a little slice of heaven. And it hadn’t even felt like a first date. Marc had felt the same way. It was uncanny. Once they had cut through all the initial tension regarding the past, they’d soon discovered an amazing connection.
And their first kiss had been electric! Marc had literally swept her off her feet with his tenderness and charm. They’d been out on dates three times since then—a movie date, dinner at his place and a night out at a jazz club in downtown Savannah. Charlotte had to say every kiss since the first time had been just as powerful. She’d never felt like this before!
Morgan poked
her head into her office. “Care for a mushroom cap?” she asked, holding out a silver platter.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Charlotte said, leaning across her table to take one. She popped it into her mouth and nearly groaned as the wonderful flavor exploded in her mouth.
“What do you think?” Morgan asked, watching Charlotte like a hawk to gauge her thoughts.
