CHAPTER THREE
Charley
“That’s all you’ve got for me?” Eva slammed her coffee mug onto my desk, spilling it in the process. “You were locked in a room with Senator Moore for a couple of hours and you didn’t walk away with any clue as to how he’s going to vote on the bill?”
“I had other things on my mind right then,” I said, using a tissue to wipe up the spilled coffee. “Besides, I don’t think the senator even knows how he’s going to vote yet.”
“Really?” Eva sat up straight. “So, you did have a heart-to-heart with him then?”
“That’s a bit of an embellishment. We talked a little, that’s all.” Eva and I had already been through this line of questioning several times. I was relieved when Eva’s assistant, Mindy, knocked on my open office door.
“I have a delivery for Charley,” she said, stepping into the room holding an embarrassingly large display of flowers. Mindy was grinning like a fool as she set the vase on my desk. “Looks like you have an admirer.”
Eva nearly knocked over the entire thing reaching for the card. Fortunately, my reflexes were quick and I snatched the card just before her hand closed over it. “I believe Mindy said these flowers are for me.” I gave Eva a pointed look as I opened the miniature envelope and slid out the tiny stationary inside. The handwriting was neat and precise, clearly legible.
Charley- I enjoyed our time together last night. Any chance you would be interested in doing it again? Minus the near-death experience, of course. We can even argue politics again. Just say yes. ~Nick
Well, that certainly was an interesting twist. I could feel both Eva and Mindy watching me and my cheeks flushed. If I told Eva who the flowers were from, she would never stop trying to use it to her advantage. On the other hand, she wasn’t going anywhere without some kind of explanation.
“Nothing to see here,” I said, pretending to shoo them away with the card. Eva wasn’t having it.
“Spill it, Tanner. You’re blushing too much for it to be nothing.”
“They’re from that blind date I went on last week. Remember the one my friend Tara set me up on? The guy that made me pay the bill? Anyway, this is his way of apologizing I guess.” I turned to my computer and pretended to be busy answering emails after sliding the card under my keyboard, out of sight.
“I don’t buy a word you said.” Eva slid off my desk and smoothed down her dress. “I have to run to a meeting, but this isn’t over.”
Eva was right– it wasn’t over. As much as I tried to forget about Nick and focus on work, the flowers weren’t exactly easy to ignore. And every time I saw them, or caught a whiff of them, I started thinking about the note. Nick wanted me to say yes, but he didn’t leave a phone number or email address. I couldn’t say yes even if I wanted to. The question remained– did I want to say yes?
I had a bad track record when it came to dating. Twenty-eight years and I had never been in a serious, adult relationship. But it wasn’t for lack of trying. My friends said that I was a commitment-phobe, but the reality was that I had a very low tolerance for people. That’s not to say that I was terribly picky, I just didn’t like to put up with people’s crap. Fool me once, get the hell out of my life.
Nick Moore was the exact type of guy I typically avoided, so when I found him sitting on my doorstep after work, I thought about running away. Unfortunately, he spotted me just as I was about to flee.
“Charley,” he said, rising fluidly. He was wearing a dark gray suit with a robin’s egg blue shirt that was just a shade darker than his eyes. Last night I had been in a bit of shock and hadn’t been able to fully appreciate his subtle beauty– the sharp cheekbones and strong jaw. His tall, lean body and inviting smile. Nick was classically good-looking, but not obnoxiously so. I couldn’t help but return his smile.
“Nick.”
His smile grew wider at the sound of his name. He straightened his tie as he stepped closer. “You got my note?”
“I did.” My brain had gone blank and I had to struggle to remember what the note had said. “You forgot to leave a number.”
“I didn’t forget.” Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and lowered his voice. “I prefer to get my answers in person.”
“Even if it’s a rejection?”
He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I never take no for an answer.”
“So, you really are just as cocky as they say.”
“As who says?” He tilted his head just a little.
“Everyone.” I was challenging Nick and he knew it. For his part, he didn’t take the bait.
“People like to talk. The internet let’s them do that anonymously. I’ve got more important things to worry about than what the internet says about me.” Nick tried to sound nonchalant, but I detected annoyance in his tone. “You’re not avoiding the question, are you?”
I honestly didn’t know. He had given me the entire day to decide what my answer would be and I was still undecided. “Thank you for the flowers,” I said instead. “That was very sweet of you.”
“I have my moments.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You still haven’t answered my question. Should I be worried?”
A cloud passed over us, literally, blocking the sun momentarily. The sudden darkening was ominous. Nick’s face was more angular in the shadow and made him seem slightly dangerous, like his inner bad boy was being exposed. I had a weakness for bad boys.
“Fine.”
“Fine?” His eyebrows rose hopefully.
“My answer is yes, I guess.”
Nick laughed awkwardly. “Please, try to contain your excitement.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right.” I was being rude and we both knew it. “Let’s give it a shot.”
“I was hoping you would say that.” He gestured down the road in the direction from which I had arrived. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go?” I asked in alarm. “Like, right now?”
“Sure. Unless you have other plans...” He gave me a quick smile that made it impossible to say no.
“Okay, let’s go,” I agreed. “What’s the plan?”
“What makes you think I have a plan?” This time his smile hinted of mischief and there was no doubt that he actually did have a plan.
“I’m just supposed to blindly follow you?”
“It’s called trust, Charley.” Nick held out his hand. “Do you trust me?”
I gave his hand a long look before cautiously placing my hand in it. “Don’t make me regret this.”
I didn’t know what to expect as Nick led me down the street. He walked leisurely but with confidence, keeping up a steady stream of small talk. I wasn’t usually a big fan of small talk, but Nick had a special charm in his demeanor that I couldn’t resist. Before sitting down for dinner, we had both run through our biographies and we were ready to tackle more serious matters.
“How did you find this place?” I asked, looking around the bar. It was nearly empty and we were seated at a small table near the back, while four other patrons lined the bar. We were able to talk freely without anyone overhearing us.
“My ex lived a couple of blocks over. I spent a lot of time in here when I needed to get away.” Nick took a long drink of his beer.
“The ex-fiancé?” My interest was piqued. It was no secret that Nick’s recently failed romance had been the talk of the town. His broken engagement had made him the most eligible bachelor in Congress.
Nick’s jaw clenched for several seconds before he nodded and said, “Heidi.”
I leaned forward and lowered my voice even though no one could hear a word we were saying. “Details please.”
“What details?”
“All of them. How did you meet? How long did you date? Why did you break up?”
“At a charity event. One year. And it’s a long story.” Nick tilted his beer at me. “Your turn.”
“Fire away.” I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms, feigning a confidence that I didn’t feel.
“Why do I know your name?”
“Because I told it to you?”
Nick shook his head. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. I’ve heard your name, and it happened long before these last 24 hours.”
“It’s a common name. I’m sure there are dozens of Charley Tanners floating around.”
Nick smirked. “Female Charley Tanners? I doubt that.”
I shrugged. “I’ve lived in Washington a long time. We run in similar circles.”
“Everyone in Washington runs in the same circle. This town is one giant political circle.” Nick twirled his beer bottle in a slow loop on the table. “I could just pull out my phone and Google you.”
“Our first date and you’re already talking about Googling me? Scandalous.” I tried to keep my tone even, but we both knew he had me. Even if I kept my mouth shut on the matter, it would take less than thirty seconds for him to find out on his own.
“Wait.” Nick held up a hand to stop me. “Where are you from?”
“Wisconsin.”
“Where in Wisconsin?”
The second I answered that question, Nick would figure it out on his own. I didn’t so much as blink when I answered, “Danville.”
I could see the recognition pass over his face. Any flirtation that had been skirting at the edge of our conversation was now gone completely. “How old are you?” Nick wasn’t at all embarrassed by his bold question.
“Twenty-eight.”
“Charley Tanner.” This time when he said my name his voice sounded haunted. “The lone survivor of the Danville High School Massacre.”
“You make it sound so creepy.” It had been at least two years since I had heard anyone mention that part of my past. The shock of it never faded. “That’s my big secret. Now you know.”
Neither of us said anything for a long time. Nick finally waved the waitress over and ordered another round of drinks. When she was gone, he said, “I’m sorry I pushed the issue. It’s none of my business.”
“Don’t worry about it. You were much more tactful about it than most people.” I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t been bombarded with questions once someone found out about my past.
“Let’s try a different line of questioning,” Nick said as the waitress returned with our beers. “Charley– is that short for anything?”
“Charlotte.” I allowed a small smile. “My mother was a big Bronte fan.”
“Not Emily or Anne?”
“Apparently not.” I shrugged.
“I always thought Charlotte was the most interesting Bronte sister.”
I laughed. “You’re telling me that you have actually spent time considering which Bronte sister was the most interesting?”
“What can I say, I’m a man of layers. You just have to peel them back one at a time to get a full appreciation of my many facets.”
“Kind of like an onion.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Take it any way you’d like.” I started to relax again. “I’m still thinking about your suggestion that I peel away your layers.”
Nick smirked. “I like where this date is headed.”
Twenty-four hours earlier, I had never met Nick Moore. I had heard his name on the news and read about his personal life in the gossip blogs. I thought he was arrogant, condescending, and smug. Fast forward one day and I was on a date with that very same man, no longer caring if he was arrogant or smug. I no longer cared because he was also charming and funny. Despite all the reasons to the contrary, I liked Nick Moore and for some unknown reason, he seemed to like me, too.
It took another five rounds of beer and four more hours of conversation before either of us thought to check the time. I was the one to call it quits first.
“I had a nice time,” I said as Nick walked me back to my building. It was late, and there was no one else on the quiet side-street.
“You sound surprised.” Nick’s arm brushed against mine and neither of us moved away. “I’ll try not to be insulted.”
“You shouldn’t take it personally. I’m a tough woman to please.”
“I’ve noticed.”
We were in front of my place now, but I wasn’t ready to leave Nick yet. “If you wanted to do this again sometime, I’d probably say yes.”
“That’s good news for me because I need a favor.”
“I never agreed to a favor.”
“I promise, it’s not that bad.” Nick grimaced. “Okay, it’s a little bad. But I will owe you one.”
“Out with it.” I crossed my arms and tapped my foot.
“I have a wedding to attend this weekend and I need a date.” Nick actually looked embarrassed. “If I don’t bring someone, I’ll spend the entire wedding answering questions about Heidi. I’d rather have a root canal on every tooth than do that.”
I had to admit, that did sound pretty torturous. “Who’s getting married?”
“An old friend. Craig.” Nick gave me a hopeful look. “So what do you say? You in?”
He didn’t know it yet, but I didn’t have the willpower to say no to Nick. “Okay. I’m in.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up Friday night at 8:00. Pack a bag.”
“A bag? For a wedding?”
Nick’s smile was half-sheepish, half-charming. “Did I forget to mention that the wedding is in a beach town in Virginia?”
“It must’ve slipped your mind.” I rolled my eyes. “A weekend away together after one date? Do you really think that is a good idea?”
“Charley, I have been on a dozen first dates in the last month. Friends of friends, blind dates, women I met in coffee shops.”
“You think this is helping your cause?” I asked with the raise of a skeptical eyebrow.
Nick held up a halting hand. “Let me finish. I’ve been on a dozen first dates, but not a single second date. Those women were beautiful, sweet, smart... and completely boring. None of them challenged me– not like you. You can be confident that I’m not taking this lightly.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better.” In fact, I could feel panic building in my chest. Nick was one of the most direct people I had ever met.
“You trusted me earlier and we had a wonderful evening,” Nick reminded me. “I’m just asking you to trust me again. I promise you won’t regret it.”
If I was a slightly more interesting person, I would’ve already had plans for the weekend. But I was a boring person who spent nearly all her time at work or at work-related events. I had no life, but now Nick Moore was offering me one. A weekend in Virginia with a handsome, powerful man that had no problem holding my interest and claimed to be equally enamored with me. I would be a complete idiot if I said no.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s do it.”