“This is killing me.” Luke yanked on his tie.
Standing beside him, Blue rolled his eyes. “It’s like your wedding day all over again.”
“Hey, I don’t like ties, all right? Red made me wear this. I mean hell, I’m here for a charity do, I can be nice and shit, but wearing a tie?” Luke ran a finger around his collar. “This is sheer torture.”
“No, torture is listening to you whining.”
Luke scowled.
“You’ve been back from your honeymoon one day, that being yesterday. Already you’re whining.” Blue looked at Jason. “Right?”
Caught in the act of running his finger around his own collar, Jason dropped his hand to his side. “Man’s a whinger.”
“Up yours,” Luke retorted. “Like I didn’t see you doing the same exact thing.”
“Yeah, but I don’t whine about it.”
“Boys, please.” Elspeth appeared behind them. “What’s wrong? Why the squabbling?”
“Just telling my relatives that a fancy party like this needs proper suits and ties,” Luke said.
“He’s lying,” Jason murmured, his gaze tracking his wife as Izzy came across the room towards them holding two glasses.
“I wouldn’t lie, Elspeth,” Luke said seriously.
Blue rolled his eyes again.
“Now, sweetie.” Elspeth straightened Luke’s tie.
Luke smirked at Blue.
“Straighten it up a little, there’s a good boy.” She shoved the knot tight, almost strangling him, and patted it. “Much better. Leave it alone, dear.” She walked off.
Luke managed to maintain a bright smile until she was out of sight, then he loosened the knot with a gasp. “Holy shit!”
Highly entertained, Blue laughed. “Serve you right, you smarmy bastard.”
“Whooee.” Luke’s expression lit up as Mikki appeared by his side with a tall glass of cold coffee. “Red, you know me so well.”
“Can you believe it?” she asked Blue dryly. “All this champagne and high-end beer and alcohol, and Luke wants the same kind of drink he consumes on the job.”
“Babe, never speak of my favourite beverage with such disrespect.” Luke took a sip, closed his eyes. “Ah, man, that hits the spot.”
One hand in his pocket, glass of champagne in hand, Blue surveyed his brother in amusement.
“Getting a little warm there, sunshine,” a voice said from behind him.
Smile widening, he stepped back to allow Charley to come up beside him. “That does happen when you walk in wearing a dress that-”
“I meant your champagne. You’ve been nursing it for half an hour.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not really my kind of drink. I prefer a light beer, but apparently there’s none here, so…” He shrugged.
“I can find you one,” Mikki offered. “Aunt Elspeth keeps some light beer in the kitchen ‘fridge along with the homemade cold coffee and Coke. She keeps it for Luke and Jason for whenever they come around, which Jason only does with Luke anyway.”
Not in the least disturbed by Mikki’s sly glance, Jason sipped the Coke, his free arm draped around Izzy’s waist as she leaned into him. His wife was drinking Coke as well, in unspoken support.
Blue knew that Jason was very likely not to even touch the light beer. Thanks to his early wild years and his harsh upbringing, he no longer imbibed in alcohol, the light beer the only thing he allowed himself to drink and even then it was rarely. Coke was more his style, as well as Luke’s beloved Iced Coffee.
Catching sight of Aunt Lora and Jim chatting to some guests, Blue chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Izzy queried.
“Look at Jim. The bloke talking to him doesn’t know whether to demand why he’s here, or simply agree with everything he says.”
“He does appear intimidating,” she agreed. “But he can’t help it. He’s really gentle. Right, Jason?”
Jason grunted.
“Jason?”
Another grunt.
“He’s gentle with your Mum.”
“He’d want to be.” Jason frowned across the room at his mother’s boyfriend.
“Come on.” Izzy soothingly patted his hand at her waist. “Let’s go for a little walk, see if we can’t get that frown off your face.”
“Yeah, good luck with that.” Luke jerked at his tie as they left.
Mikki slapped his hand away.
“Jesus, Red!”
Several people glanced over, a hint of disapproval on their faces that changed as soon as they recognised Elspeth’s niece.
Mikki laughed outright.
“What a sook,” Blue said. “Man up.”
“Man up?” Luke shook his hand. “She hits like a man.”
“Poor baby,” Mikki cooed. “Want me to kiss it better?”
His expression switched from chagrin to lascivious. “I choose the place, right?”
“Sure. Behind the curtains, in the hallway-”
“No, I mean the area on my body you kiss better.”
“You wish. Come on, let’s do the right thing and mingle. Aunt didn’t invite us here to just clump into a corner.”
Luke placed his hand in the small of her back as he led her away. “So raincheck on you kissing my body?” His hand slipped to her ample bottom, only to jerk away when she reached behind him to give his backside a pinch. “Holy shit!”
“How about it?” Blue looked down at Charley.
“Mingle?”
“We’ll start by just ambling around, see where we end up.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He offered his bent arm. “Shall we?”
She linked her hand through his elbow. “We shall.”
Walking around the room slowly, taking in the rich clothing of Elspeth’s friends and business associates, Blue thought that Charley was definitely more beautiful. Her gown was dark yellow rather than the bright yellow she usually wore, but the ribbon threaded through the intricate knot of honey-blonde hair at the back of her head was playful, a bright yellow that trailed down to caress her back. The bodice was daringly sleeveless, her generous bosom somehow lifted to hold the bodice out.
Whatever bra she was wearing, it was doing the job perfectly though he preferred her braless…with those delicious globes in his palms.
When she swung her head to see something, the dainty little drop pearl earrings quivered, perfectly matching the delicate chain necklace with the tiny pearl that sat just below her throat. A gift from her parents when she’d graduated nursing school.
In Blue’s eyes, she shone brightly and sweetly, a reflection of her nature.
As if sensing his regard, she smiled up at him. “You look handsome tonight, Blue.”
“Handsome enough to sneak out the back and make-out?”
“Absolutely.”
Blue started steering her towards a side door.
“I was kidding!”
“Now I’m crushed.”
“I was kidding about going out the back and making out.”
“Spoilsport.”
“I was honest about the handsome part.”
“No need to stroke my ego, Sunflower. You can owe me later.”
He delighted in the way those apple cheeks pinkened, the small white teeth nibbling her bottom lip, the shy but sparkling glance she gave him from beneath the shelter of those thick, dark eyelashes.
God, she was something, such a contradiction that never failed to delight him. Confident, sweet, funny, kind, thoughtful, and a little shy in the bedroom at times until he got her revved up, then she was a scorcher in the bed. Slowly, however, she was becoming less self-conscious with her nakedness in front of him. Probably because she finally believed that he loved all those lush curves.
He definitely owed Elspeth, Mikki, Luke and Aaron more than he could ever repay for their parts in Charley becoming his renter, because without them he might never have met her.
The thought alone made his elbow involuntarily bend further to hold her even tighter in his grip.
When she sent him a questioning glance, he simply smiled while steering her towards the banquet table set with so many finger foods of various kinds that he didn’t know where to start, much less what half of them were.
Taking a dainty plate each, they contemplated the food.
“What is this?” Charley whispered, pointing towards a tray of…something.
“I don’t know. They look like little wangers though, don’t they?”
“Blue!” She giggled, immediately slapping her hand over her mouth.
“Hey, I’m just saying. Want one?”
“Not after what you said.”
“But you like sampling min-” he began innocently, only to chuckle when she smacked his arm with a half-choked horrified whispered, “Stop that!”
“Okay. Moving right along. Okay, now that I do know.” Picking one up, he placed it on her plate.
“Wow,” she said dryly. “Fancy biscuit with spread.”
“Yeah. How smart am I?”
Laughing, they moved around the table, choosing a small assortment before he led her towards a table in the corner. Skirting the empty table, he walked through the heavy velvet curtains out onto a small balcony hidden from view. It was back lit by a softly glowing lamp in the garden.
“Oh, how wonderful.” Charley looked around, delighted. “It looks over the gardens, too. How utterly perfect.”
Pulling out one of the two wrought iron chairs with thin cushions that sat one each side of the little round table, Blue sat her down before settling into the other chair. “I scoped the place out earlier.”
“What? You just wandered in and poked around?”
“Sure.”
Charley studied the selection on her plate. “I don’t know whether to be horrified or admiring.”
“Admiring. When it comes to me, always be admiring.”
She chose a small, pastry-filled delicacy. “Your family seems quite close to Elspeth.”
“Don’t know about close.” Blue paused thoughtfully. “Though, yeah, I guess we kind of have grown close.”
“Have you known her long?”
“We first got to know of her with the fiasco with Luke, Mikki and Mikki’s then-boyfriend, but we got to know Elspeth personally when she contracted Dad’s company to renovate the old mansion she bought and turned into a hotel. Luke was also contracted to landscape the gardens, which is where he and Mikki spent time together and from there, well, the rest is history. Luke got it on with Mikki, and Elspeth came into the family via Mikki. Not to mention that Aaron has one of his security guards go off with Elspeth, Mikki and Izzy on their crack-brained ghost hunts.”
“Oh yeah, I heard about the ghost hunts.” She regarded him curiously. “You don’t believe in ghosts?”
He paused. “Well…” At her slightly raised eyebrow, he admitted slowly, “I’ve never seen a ghost, but I don’t disbelieve in them. How about you?”
“I’ve not seen one up close and personal, but I’ve seen some strange stuff.”
“Really?” Intrigued, he took a bite of a dainty pastry.
“Yes. A fan in a vacant room turning on by itself. You’d go in there and it would be on. You’d turn it off and unplug it, and sure as eggs next time you walked in it would be on.”
“Freaky. But hospital rooms don’t usually have fans in, do they?”
“This used to be a single room that was turned into a bit of a storeroom. So who knows who died there? The rumour was always that an old matron used to make sure fans were on in the room in summer.”
“So it only happened in summer.”
“No, it happened in winter, too.”
“Okay.”
“Hey, I’m just telling you what I saw, I’m not saying it made sense.”
“What about the nursing home you’re in now?”
“Oh sure. A call bell goes off in one of the rooms intermittently night and day, not every day either. Doesn’t matter if anyone is in the room or not, it’ll go off at odd times. The sparkies can’t find a fault, and we’ve all given up on it.”
“Doesn’t the patient get a little freaked?”
“No patient has ever said anything about it, no mention of feeling anything, and we don’t say much about it.”
“Have you told Mikki and Izzy this? Elspeth?”
“And have them sprung sneaking around the premises and getting arrested? No.” Charley wrinkled her nose at him. “Besides, I’m only telling you in strictest confidence because we do not discuss this outside work.”
“Oohh.” He winked at her. “Sunflower, you naughty girl. You’re telling tales outside work.”
“It must be you,” she replied primly. “Bad influence.”
He grinned expansively. “I own that, baby.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Sitting quietly in contented, comfortable silence, Blue relaxed. He liked that there was no need to talk, no need to fill the silence with chit-chat, that they were comfortable enough with each other to simply enjoy the evening and each other’s company.
It was as if they’d been married for years, and in fact he could imagine them sitting just like this in forty or fifty years time, just enjoying being together.
He flicked a glance at her. Charley was leaning back in the chair, knees crossed, hands linked lightly at her waist, elbows resting on the armrests, her gaze out over the romantically-lit garden. Okay, he was certain of his feelings about her, there was no doubt he was falling head-over-heels in love. While he really wanted to share that with her, he knew it was too soon. But that was okay, because he knew deep in his gut - heart? whatever - that Charley wasn’t going anywhere. He just knew she’d be here waiting for him.
At that particular second she glanced across the table with a small smile hovering around those sweet, plump lips. “What?”
I love you. I want to marry you. I don’t want to scare the shit out of you by laying all that deep stuff on you just yet. “Enjoying the scenery. Enjoying being here with you.”
“Aw, sweet.” Those adorable dimples popped out.
““I’m also lovin’ that sleeveless dress. I want to check out that bra you’re wearing when we get home.”
She burst out laughing. “You’re such a drongo, Blue.”
“No, I’m sex mad for you. There’s a difference. Geez, woman, you should know me by now.”
“Sorry.” Amusement danced in her eyes. “How could I possibly be so mistaken?”
“I have no idea. I’ve tried to teach you.” Sadly, he shook his head. “Guess I’ll just have to try harder.”
“That’s your mission for the next two weeks.”
“I gladly accept.”
She was still smiling, but a slight shadow crossed her face as she looked out over the garden again.
“Charley?”
“Yes?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, why?”
“For a second…”
“It’s all good.”
But he wasn’t convinced. As he studied her bright smile it hit him. Slowly, he bent his arm, his finger stroking along his chin. “It’s me going away, isn’t it? In two weeks?”
Charley met his gaze levelly. For several long seconds they looked at each other before she said quietly, “I won’t lie. I’m not looking forward to you going away. It just reminded me that we have two weeks left.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s just the way it is.” Her gaze didn’t falter. “This is the way it is. We know it, we accept it, remember?”
“Yeah.” He inhaled deeply. “I don’t like it when you’re sad, Sunflower.”
“There’s sadness that you’re going, Blue, but it’s a normal sadness. I’m not going to be hysterical or a sobbing mess. I knew what I was getting into when we started going out together, so sure, there’ll be bit of crying, but then I’ll have your return to look forward to.”
He felt a prick of guilt. “It’s a long time.”
Her calmness was almost tangible. “Yes, it is. But we can talk via Skype, we can email, we can write. It’s not the end of the world. I still have my job and life, I have Kitty to care for while you’re away. I have your family and my family. But most of all, Blue, I have you right here.” She tapped her chest. “I know you’re coming back to me. This is our life, Blue, and we’re going into it with our eyes open. I can’t say it more plainly than this - I will be here for you when you go, I’ll be waiting for you while you’re away, and I’ll be right here when you come home.”
His heart swelled, filled, and he actually had a stupid lump in his bloody throat that he had to swallow past before he could say, “How did I get so bloody lucky? How did you come to fall into my life, Sunflower?”
Her smile was gentle, a glimmer in her eyes that was possibly moisture. “I knocked you over in the hallway. You were naked, I was trying not to look.”
“Best knock-down I’ve ever had.”
“Don’t forget we cried into our Cokes and pizza together, too. Broken hearts and all that crap that actually turned out to be a great time.”
He couldn’t help the small chuckle. “Oh, Sunflower, you do know how to make me laugh.”
Her eyes twinkled.
Before he could say anything further, though, Luke stuck his head between the curtains. “There you two are.”
“Hey.” Blue scowled at him. “We’re enjoying a moment here.”
“Really?” Luke obviously didn’t care. “Because I’m bored shitless. Help me.”
“Do what? Disappear?”
“Good plan, but you’re useless as tits on a bull - and that’s useless - with magic. I thought we could raid the kitchen for more Iced Coffee.”
“Seriously? You can’t do that alone?”
“I’m trying to have a brother moment here, Blue. Help me out, you useless dick.”
Charley burst out laughing.
“Mikki really needs to do something about your foul mouth,” Blue informed him.
“I learned some of this from her.” Luke grinned. “Besides, there’s been a comment from Elspeth that she hasn’t seen you for awhile.”
“Go with him, we should be showing support for Elspeth after her kindness in inviting us.” Charley stood. “I’m going to the loo. I’ll look for you on the floor when I’m done, Blue.”
“I think the rich and famous call it a powder room, don’t they?” Luke queried.
“They might. I call it a loo.”
“Fair enough.”
Blue watched her vanish through the curtains.
Before he could stand up, Luke took her seat. “Wow, you really have it bad for her, don’t you?”
“I thought you wanted Iced Coffee?”
“I do. But before we do that, I’m just now seeing how far this has gone between you and Charley.” Luke’s eyebrows bobbed. “It’s pretty serious, huh?”
Feeling no need to hide the fact, Blue nodded.
“Yeah, it’s pretty plain to see.” Luke leaned back in the chair. “I’m glad. She’s a nice girl.”
“More than nice,” Blue stated. “So much more.”
Luke looked at him for several seconds then nodded. “Yeah, she is. Like my Red is to me.”
“Yep.”
“I hear you, mate.”
They looked at each other.
“Are we having a moment?” Blue asked.
“Yeah. It’s creepy.” Luke stood. “Get off your arse, let’s go find that Iced Coffee. I think Elspeth doctors it with ice cream.”
~*~
Coming out of the bathroom, Charley started to skirt the edges of the huge room. The people fascinated her, the flash of expensive jewellery, the way they all seemed so at ease with the surroundings
Elspeth was a lovely lady, but there was no doubting her richness. She never flaunted it, used her influence for good, but the beautiful house with the elegant furnishings wasn’t something with which Charley was accustomed. She much preferred Blue’s little house which had become her home. The three bedroom, one bathroom house with the heavy wood furniture, his colour-scheme that was blended with some of hers, and their combined items, was home. Kitty rounded it off nicely, and Charley looked forward to her furry little company whenever she returned to the house. She’d definitely be the best company while Blue was away. Just Charley and Kitty.
While Charley could admire the rich, she was more than content with what she had. Plus, she’d seen firsthand that no matter how rich or poor you were, one day you all faced the same when you got to the end of life’s road. You lay in the same bed, looking out at the same sun, knowing the next step you had to take alone. Rich or poor, it levelled the field like nothing else ever could.
Meanwhile she was happy to share life with Blue, however it travelled, having no illusions that it would be all light and sweetness. Life wasn’t like that, it was full of ups and downs, good and bad, but if they could be there for each other, that was what counted. That was life.
By the time she’d traversed the room, there was still no sign of Blue. Wondering if she should just go back to the balcony or join Mr Wells where he was chatting easily to a couple, she hovered.
One of the waitresses appeared at her elbow. “Ms Carter?”
Charley smiled pleasantly at her. “Yes?”
“Your boyfriend has asked you to join him in the library.”
“Really?”
“Those were his words.” The waitress nodded. “f you don’t know where the library is, I can take you to him.”
“Thank you. I’m afraid I’m a little lost here.”
Following the waitress from the room, Charley mentally shook her head. Had Blue and Luke snuck off to the library to enjoy their Iced Coffee? Cheeky buggers. She’d have to give them a little time and then drag them back to the main room. She wondered if Mikki had joined them, but she was sure she’d spotted her with Jason and Izzy.
The library was a large room off the side of another hallway. The waitress opened the door, gave a little dip that took Charley aback, and asked, “Will you be right to find your way to the main room, Ma’am?”
“I’m sure Blue will know the way. Thank you.”
The waitress nodded, waiting until Charley had entered the room before closing the door behind her.
At first the big room seemed empty. Looking around at the dark leather armchairs, the shelves and shelves of books, the side tables with various lamps on them, the big roll-top desk, the paintings on the wall and rich red carpet beneath her white sandals, Charley was in awe. It was the spitting image of all those old movies she’d seen depicting the grand libraries of old.
“Wow.” Turning around, she looked at everything, moving further into the room. “This is amazing. Blue, I could get lost in here for days just browsing through these books.” When there was no answer, she glanced around. “Blue?”
“Not Blue,” a familiar voice said.
Surprised, Charley saw a man push up out of a high-backed chair that was facing away from her. “Gary?” She’d seen him earlier on the far side of the main room, but he’d kept his distance apart from a slight nod of acknowledgement. She certainly hadn’t expected him to be here alone. Hob-knobbing with the rich and famous was more his style.
She didn’t even feel bad about that snarky little thought.
“Indeed.” He straightened his jacket, smoothed his hair. “Charley. You’re looking lovely.”
Now that she seriously doubted because he wasn’t a fan of her yellow-hued wardrobe. “Thank you.” Her gaze darted around uneasily. “I was told that Blue wanted me.”
“Not Blue. Me.”
“Pardon?”
“Blue didn’t ask for you. I did.” Hands in pockets, he posed beside the chair as though certain he was making an impression.
He was, only not the kind he was obviously after. She frowned. “I was told my boyfriend asked me to meet him here. That’s not you.”
With a sigh, Gary straightened. “Charley, we didn’t part favourably last time. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to be.” She took a step back.
“Wait.” He held up a hand. “Please.”
She halted.
“I really want to explain.”
“There’s really no need-”
“Please.” His expression was contrite. “Just hear me out.”
She very much feared if she didn’t, he’d just come looking for her later. Blue would not take that well, she was sure. Better to get it over with here and slip away before her real boyfriend came looking for her.
“I can’t stay long.” She folded her arms. “And I don’t appreciate being lied to, to get me here.”
“I’m sorry. I knew you wouldn’t come if you knew it was me.” He walked towards her slowly. “I behaved abominably, Charley. I can only blame it on stress, but still, it’s not good enough.”
“Okay.” She watched warily as he neared.
Coming to a stop a couple of feet from her, he smiled charmingly. “The times we had were good, though, weren’t they?”
Actually, they’d been pretty bland. “We did only go out a few times.”
“But they were good,” he insisted.
“Mmm.”
His gaze searched her face as though looking for something.
“I really must go-” she began.
“I saw you.”
“Huh?”
“On the motorbike.”
“Oh. Blue’s bike.”
“Yes.” His expression turned disapproving. “You don’t like motorcycles. You always said so.”
“Well, I still don’t, but relationships are give and take. We’re working on it.” Take that little hint.
It was pretty clear that failed. “He forced you onto the bike. I saw you clinging to him like grim death. He didn’t worry about your fears, did he?”
“Blue would never force me,” she replied tightly.
“He’s done a lot of things since he came here.” Gary’s lip curled a little before he remembered he was trying to make a good impression. “He arrived, got between us, broke up our relationship-”
“Whoa, whoa.” Indignantly, she held up a hand to stop his flow of words. “Now just a minute. You’re the one who broke up the relationship. Or rather, you and I broke it off-”
“I never did,” he denied sharply. “That was you. You had your head turned by a handsome soldier. Look, Charley.” His voice softened, empathy creeping into it. “I understand how it must be, a man in uniform coming in, being the hero. But he’ll go soon, find another woman - heck, he probably has one in every port-”
“I’m pretty sure that saying is for sailors, and it’s not always true.”
He waved that away. “But I’m still here.”
“Oh.” She sighed. “Oh, now I get it. Look, I’m sorry but we’re over. It has nothing to do with Blue and everything to do with your attitude.”
“My attitude?” He was astounded. “My attitude?”
“Gary, when we argued, you dropped me off at the house late at night and drove off without making sure I got in safely!”
“You have Wells’s Security monitoring the house. You were safe.”
“What happened to being a gentleman?”
“You wound me up. Honestly, Charley, do you not know how to act when out in prestigious company? Wait, of course not.” He shook his head. “Of course you don’t. But we can rectify that. I can instruct you on-
“How to box your ears?” she interrupted angrily. “I don’t know whether to laugh or smack you into next week.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Gary, we went out several times. You dumped me late at night once, but what really tore it between us was you being so willing to leave that injured cat on the road.”
“Oh for - are we really back to that? Wait. No.” He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Yes, we’re back to that,” she snapped.
“Fine. Look, I apologise. Next time - God forbid that there is a next time - it can go in the boot.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“I’ll make sure there’s a plastic bag we can put it in.”
“Are you going to poke a breathing hole in it?” she asked sarcastically.
“Don’t be tiresome.” He rubbed the back of his neck, changed tack. “Look, I didn’t want this to get nasty. I’m willing to meet you part way, okay? Come on, Charley, we had a good thing you and I. I want you to give me another chance.”
“I’m sorry, but no. We don’t value the same things, and to be truthful…” She hesitated.
“What?” He grabbed her hand tightly. “Come, sweetheart, just tell me and I’ll make sure I do it.”
“Look, this isn’t helping. You need to accept that this is over and-”
“Tell me.”
“If you could let my hand go-”
“Please, Charley.”
“Oh geez, don’t beg.”
“I won’t let you go until you tell me.”
She sighed. “Gary…” When he just looked at her beseechingly, she said, “I don’t want to hurt you, but honestly, there was nothing between us.”
“I know we weren’t intimate, but I can fix that. I know you need to feel loved and I wasn’t showing it in the way you like.”
“Firstly, we weren’t intimate because there was no attraction between us. There still isn’t, if you’re honest.”
“You just need to give it time.”
“You’re not listening to me.”
“No, you’re not listening to me.”
Annoyed, she yanked her hand from his. “Goodbye Gary, and this time don’t come looking for me. It’s over.”
Grabbing her arm, he pulled her to a halt.
Coldly, she looked from his grip to his face.
He dropped her arm. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart, and this is getting creepy. Please accept that it’s over between us. It never really started. I don’t wish to resume a relationship with you. In fact, I’m so far from the kind of woman you want that I have no idea why you went out with me. You obviously wish to impress the rich and important, I’m surprised you didn’t get a girl with good connections to…” Her voice trailed away as Gary glanced to the left.
A fleeting glance, but nevertheless done with a flicker of guilt.
“Are you kidding me?” As realisation slid through her, her jaw dropped in astonishment. “Seriously?”
His eyes flicked back at her. “It’s you I want, Charley.”
“No, you want the ties that I have with Elspeth Arkwell. My friendship with Mikki, who is Elspeth’s niece. You really thought my friendship with Mikki would give me access to Elspeth, and through me, you’d have access.”
“That’s not-”
“Bullshit it’s not. That’s exactly it.”
He started to protest, but when she stabbed her finger under his nose, he shrugged. “So what? It was nothing. To get somewhere in this world you need to have contacts. You have contacts.”
“Far out.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You just contradicted yourself right then.”
“Elspeth Arkwell is a valued client of my firm. I’ve never had contact with her, not being just an employee. Having contact with her, a friendship, that would seal my becoming a junior partner. Can you blame me for seeking to further my career?” He smiled winningly. “Just think, we could have everything. I’d have the partnership, the acknowledgement. We’d finally be moving up in the world. There’s so much promise, Charley, so much we could have.”
“You know what?” she replied. “You’re a dingbat. Money and prestige isn’t everything but you’ll never believe that. So guess what? Believe this. I wouldn’t go out with a money-grasping, power-hungry turd like you again. I can’t believe I went out with you. Find yourself a social climber like yourself and leave me alone.”
“Charley-”
“No. For the final time, this is goodbye.”
She swung around but hadn’t taken two steps before he sneered, “I see you’re getting your fun with the Wells bloke. Greasing you up good, is he?”
Ignoring him, she continued onwards to the door.
“Like the tough men, don’t you?”
She couldn’t be bothered to reply to the little toad.
“But I’m going to give you a warning, Charley. You walk away from me and I’m going to fix your boyfriend good. By the time I’m finished, he’ll be booted from the Army.”
Her blood went cold. She turned to face him. “What?”
“You heard.”
“You’ve nothing on him.”
“But I can get it. All I have to say is that he threatened me. Harassed me. I’m a good lawyer, I can make things believable.” His face was cold, merciless. “I know a few people who would be my- ” he made quotation marks in the air “‘- witnesses’ in exchange for a few dollars.”
“You’d really do that? Stoop so low?”
Hands in his pocket, Gary eyed her without answering.
Fear spiked through Charley. She’d already seen firsthand his total disregard for an injured animal. That had been terrible. Now here he was cold-bloodedly threatening to destroy an innocent man’s career just to get what he wanted.
“Don’t do this,” she said. “Blue has never done anything to you.”
“He’s got the woman I need to further my career. I’m not throwing away all the time and effort I put into you.”
The door opened. “Charley? What’s this I hear about - oh.”
Her heart fell. Blue. Turning, she smiled brightly. “Let’s go.”
“Is everything okay?” His gaze went over her head to where Gary stood watching them. “Charley?”
“It’s fine. It-”
“Oh, don’t you want your boyfriend to know his choices?” Gary asked.
Blue looked down at her.
“I…” She bit her lip.
“A little choice for you to make, Wells,” Gary continued. “Maybe Charley doesn’t want you to hear it because she’s afraid of the choice you’ll make. Is that it, Charley? Do you not trust him after all? Not trust this wonderful relationship you have with him?”
Blue’s hand came to rest in the small of her back. “What’s going on?”
Dread went through her. “He’s baiting you.”
“No, I’m telling you, Blue,” Gary said. “You see, I want Charley back in my life. She either comes back to me or-”
“I beg your pardon?” Blue’s piercing blue eyes narrowed coldly.
“Oh, you do have manners. I’m impressed. Tell me, Wells, how much do you like your military life? Your soldier-boy ways?”
“Perhaps you’d like to tell me what this is about before I answer that.”
“Please,” she whispered.
“It’s okay.” Blue’s gaze didn’t shift from the other man.
She could feel the coiled tension in him even though he spoke so calmly.
“You were saying, Gary?” Blue waited.
With arrogant confidence, Gary leaned against the closest armchair. “Charley comes back to me, or I’ll see that you’re dishonourably discharged from the Army.”
No hint of his thoughts on his face, Blue regarded him steadily.
Charley gulped.
Gary waited.
Deep voice cool and controlled, Blue broke the silence. “Firstly, Charley isn’t chattel to be passed around. Secondly, you aren’t good enough to even wipe her shoes on.”
She gasped. “Blue, no-”
“Listen to her,” Gary advised.
“Thirdly, what kind of a piece of shit are you to blackmail anyone like that, least of all Charley? What kind of low-life are you?”
“I’m warning you-”
“No,” Blue said with deadly quietness, “I’m telling you. You will leave her alone and stop harassing her. You will respect her wishes. You will not come near her again.”
Straightening, Gary’s nostrils flared, his hand coming out of his pocket to fist angrily. “Think you’re a real tough man, don’t you? Think being a soldier makes you a real hero? You’re just a hack who couldn’t get a job and ended up boot-shuffling, good for nothing more than bullet meat.”
“Hey!” Charley snapped furiously. “Blue’s worth more than you will ever even hope to dream of becoming!”
“It’s okay.” Blue rubbed her arm while keeping his gaze on Gary.
“It’s not.” A lump formed in her throat. “Blue, he’s threatening your career. Gary, I beg of you-”
“No.” Blue stopped her. “No begging. Not for this, and not from him.”
“So you’re going to give her up?” Gary sneered. “Keep your job? Keep your hero status?”
Blue shifted slightly, and Charley fearfully grabbed his waist. “Blue…”
“Come to me, Charley, and your boyfriend - or should I say ex-boyfriend - can keep his job, keep his honour. Wells, you refuse this offer and I will see your name dragged through the mud.”
Blue silently watched Gary with an intensity that was almost frightening.
Feeling so damned helpless, tears filled Charley’s eyes. “Don’t throw everything away, Blue. Don’t.”
“I won’t. I’m not.” He looked down at her, his eyes gentling. “I know what I have and I’m not giving it away.”
She knew exactly what he meant. He wasn’t giving her up. It was ludicrous what Gary was trying to do, but any hint of scandal would destroy Blue’s career, everything he’d worked for and believed in taken from him. “I meant your career.”
“I meant you. Don’t worry, Sunflower. Trust me. I know exactly what to do.”
“Make the right choice, I hope.” Gary smiled unpleasantly. ““Don’t worry, Charley, he might be screwing you in the bedroom, but I can do the same.”
At that Blue’s head jerked up, the tension coiling in him unfurling. His arm vanished from Charlie’s back.
Holy shit, he was going to fly at Gary and beat him to a bloody pulp!
Charlie reacted instinctively, her only thought protecting Blue from committing career suicide because of some dumb arse comment meant to push him past his self control.
Leaping ahead of Blue, Charlie punched Gary right in the eye followed by a kick to the nuts.
He went down like a ton of bricks, mouth gaping, hands clutching his abused privates.
Blue gaped at Charlie.
“Oh shit!” She wrung her hands. “I can explain!”
The library door opened and Aaron calmly strolled in followed by an indignant Elspeth and a furious Willard Lackey.
Oh no, Gary’s boss was in the library. Willard was a lawyer with a shark mentality. He’d shred Blue’s career. Charley groaned, covered her face with her hands, dropped them just as quickly and yelled, “I did it! I hit Gary! It was me!”
“Jesus, Charley,” Blue said. “Come here.” Grabbing her arm, he pulled her into his embrace. “Elspeth, I’m so sorry but-”
“It was me,” Charley broke in breathlessly. “Me, not Blue. I’m to blame and-”
“I know exactly who is to blame,” Willard growled.
Arms folded, Elspeth ran an angry gaze over them all. “So do I.”
“Me,” Charley insisted desperately. “It was-” Her words were cut off by Blue’s hand.
“Hush, baby,” he ordered quietly into her ear. “Just settle down.”
Walking across the room, Aaron’s expression was unfathomable as he surveyed Gary gasping like a stranded fish on the carpet.
Moving to stand beside him, Elspeth glared down at Gary. “I want this ingrate out of my house. Now.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“You-you don’t understand,” Gary gasped. “This man attacked me.”
Charley made a muffled sound, which was all she could do with Blue’s hand still over her mouth.
“She’ll back him up when he says no because she’s foolishly in love with him. But this is the proof.” Gary pointed with a shaky hand at his rapidly swelling eye.
“You idiot.” Willard snarled. “Wells Security have this placed monitored, there’s a camera in every room that is monitored whenever there’s a party here. Everything that was said here is taped.”
Taped? Charley stared at Aaron.
He just smiled slightly at her.
Relieved, she sagged back against Blue, who removed his hand. “Oh, thank God,” she whispered.
“How’s that for evidence of attempted blackmail and lying?” Elspeth scowled. “I’m sure it would also cover threatened defamation of character and being a first-class dickhead!”
Gary went white.
“We’ll be discussing your status at our firm,” Willard said grimly.
Gary went whiter. Painfully, he struggled to his knees. “Mr Lackey, I-”
“You’re a disgrace to my firm.” Willard’s nostrils flared. “If you even try to bring charges against any of these people, if you even dare to approach Charley, if you even think of trying to blacken Blue’s name-”
“Or the names of any of the Wells family or their friends or family,” Elspeth put in.
“Any of them,” Willard added furiously, “I will personally see to it that your name is dragged through the mud. You will never work in any law firm in the country ever again. One word, one whisper, one slight, one tiny hint, and you will be history, Gary. Not only will the taping of this disgraceful, contemptuous episode be seen on every TV channel in the country, but I have powerful friends in high places, and I will ensure that I use them against you. Do you understand?”
“Sir, I-”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes! Yes. I’m sorry-”
“Just shut up.” Willard looked at Charley and Blue. “Do you wish to press charges?”
If Gary got any whiter, she was sure he’d faint. As it was, he was staring up at her with desperation, begging her with his eyes for mercy.
What an utter arsehole.
Blue shook his head. “For my part, he’s not worth it. Charley fixed him better than any law court could. You want to press charges, Charley?”
“No.” She glared at Gary. “As long as he leaves us alone and causes no problems, then no, I don’t.”
“I won’t,” he promised desperately “I swear.”
“That’s a no from both of us.” Blue looked at Willard.
“Lucky for you.” Willard scowled at Gary. “Get off the damned floor and get out of my sight. I’ll be in contact.”
Gary got up with difficulty, no one making an effort to help him. Aaron followed him from the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
“Sweetie, are you all right?” Holding out her arms, Elspeth hurried to Charlie.
“I’m fine.” Charley hugged her, her voice wobbly with stupid tears. “Sorry, I’m a little weepy. Dumb.”
“Not at all,” Elspeth crooned. “Poor girl. Would you like to lie down for awhile? There’s plenty of guest rooms.”
“No, really, I’ll be fine.” Charley stepped back, wiped a hand under her eyes. “How did you all know? To come in here while this was happening?”
“As soon as Aaron’s security saw what was happening between you and Gary on the camera, they notified Aaron. He alerted us to come and listen at the door. Dreadful man,” Elspeth added. “Gary, I mean.”
“Thank goodness,” Charley said. “It could have gone so badly.”
“But it didn’t.” Elspeth looked at Willard. “How about we go and rejoin the party before it’s noticed we’re missing? One must keep up appearances at these things, or it’ll be whispers and scandal before you know it.”
Willard trailed her out with profuse apologies for his employee. The door shut behind them.
Charley turned to Blue.
He held out his arms and she rushed into them.
He dropped a kiss on top of her head. “You’re trembling, Sunflower.”
“I’m all right. Adrenaline and crap. You’re not shaking.”
“I am on the inside.”
“Pfft. Right. Sure you are.” Closing her eyes, she rested her cheek on his chest.
“With rage, Charley.” His arms tightened around her. “I wanted to punch his lights out. I was going in for the kill but you beat me to the punch. Literally.” Placing his hands on her upper arms, he pushed her back enough to observe her sternly. “What the hell, Charley? What was that?”
“I panicked,” she confessed. “I knew you were going to hit him, I knew he’d hold that over you, I couldn’t let it happen.”
“So you hit him instead.”
“Yes.”
“You could have been hurt,” he scolded.
“You might have lost your career.”
“No matter what happens to me, you are never to put yourself in danger again. Understand?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Charley.”
She nodded.
His eyes narrowed.
She met his gaze innocently.
“Charley,” he said quietly, “never are you to come in-between me and another man again. Ever.
“Wow, that sounds so….kinky.”
“Huh?”
“You and another man. Coming between you. Are you trying to tell me something? Do I have competition?”
Confused, Blue frowned before realisation dawned. With a groan, he dropped his forehead to hers. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“I know.” She looked into his eyes so close to hers, noting the worry deep in the bright depths. “I can’t promise not to come between you and harm, Blue, but I can promise to think first.”
“Jesus. You’re killing me.”
“But you admire my fighting prowess, huh?”
“It’s your need to yell your confession that impressed me.”
“I made his bells ring,” she stated proudly.
Blue winced then grinned ruefully. “Yeah, you did.”
“So it’s all good.” She sighed in satisfaction. “The evil villain has his comeuppance, the princess has her prince, the prince knows the princess will protect him. I’m so happy.”
“Little correction to your story, Sunflower.”
“Hmm?”
“The evil villain has his comeuppance, the princess has her prince, the prince will rip her a new one if she ever gets into danger when he can take care of her. She won't be so happy but the prince will be grimly satisfied.”
“What if the princess punches the prince and kicks him in the nuts?”
“She won’t sit for a week.”
“So maybe the princess just kisses the prince instead.”
“That’s a good story.” He kissed her softly. “But seriously, Charley, trust me. I’ll always take care of you.”
“That goes two ways, Blue.” She met his gaze steadily. “I’ll always take care of you.”
He studied her soberly. “I can’t hep being protective of you. I take care of every person who means something to me. It’s the way I am.”
“I know. I respect that. I promise to let you handle it first.”
“Charley,” he growled.
“I’ll only handle it if you can’t.” She dimpled up at him. “And you can handle anything, right? So we’ll never have to face that.”
“We are going to have a long talk when we get home.”
“Okay.” She kissed him again.
He took her kiss, meeting her soft lips, gathering her close as his tongue flicked across her lips before dipping inside, his taste filling her mouth as his warmth seeped into her body, the reassurance of his strong yet gentle hold surrounding her protectively.
When the kiss broke, he tucked her head under his chin.
She couldn’t help it. “But doesn’t it put your mind at rest that I can handle myself?”
“I’m not going to live this down, am I?”
“Hell no,” said a familiar voice.
Blue groaned. “Don’t tell me…”
“Yep,” Charley said. “It’s -”
“Jesus.” Luke dropped into the nearest armchair. “You let Charley kick some drongo’s arse while you just stood there? You’re embarrassing me.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?’ Blue asked. “In the kitchen pilfering Iced Coffee or something?”
“Nope. And shouldn’t you be kissing your girlfriend where you’re not being monitored by cameras? What’s wrong with you, man?”
“Oh!” Horrified at the realisation that Wells Security was watching everything that happened in the room, Charley dropped her forehead onto Blue’s chest, her cheeks flaming. “Bugger.”
Blue just laughed, Luke right along with him.