Chapter Eight
A week had passed since that incident in Jake’s office and Charlie still couldn’t get him out of her mind. Just thinking about it was slowly driving her insane. Charlie’s nerves were so frazzled she felt as if she would snap at any moment. Now was not the time for anyone to get on her bad side. She’d just come out of a meeting she had barely paid any attention to, and to top things off, her head was throbbing.
While Brian had been outlining the quarterly goals for their department, Charlie found herself in the middle of a daydream, remembering every graphic detail of that fateful day. She remembered the way he had kissed her, the way his tongue had trailed its way over her skin, tasting it, and the feel of his cock inside of her. The very thought of those hard, thick nine and a half inches made her tingle between her legs. And had she been alone in her room, she would have massaged her clit to relieve some of the ache built up inside of her.
Everywhere she had looked she saw Jake, or at least she imagined she did.
Charlie couldn’t believe how easily she’d surrendered to him. It was as if she’d become a slave to her hormones. When she had lost Paul over four years ago, she vowed she would never let herself to love anyone the way she’d loved him. No other man would be allowed to pierce her heart that way again, and that’s the way she wanted it.
She had loved Paul with such intensity that the pain of losing him was emotionally crippling. Although the pain had lessened, in her heart Charlie knew that she would always love her handsome big-hearted husband, but now it was a closed chapter in her life. Charlie was too much of a coward to put herself through that again. Loving someone didn’t always guarantee they’d be around.
The way Jake made her feel scared her. She couldn’t let him into her life and if that meant keeping his daughter a secret, then so be it. Granted, she had needs, but it wasn’t something her vibrator couldn’t handle. It was too bad, though, because her pussy tingled at the mere mention of Jake’s name. It certainly didn’t help matters that she saw him so often. He made more trips to her department in the past week than he had the entire time she had worked for MBF.
Not only that, he always managed to brush up against her. Charlie swore the man was doing it on purpose in order to mess with her head. Jake also seemed to know how disconcerting his presence was to her. If the job didn’t pay so well, she would have been out the door. She still looked through the classifieds in earnest, but nothing was comparable to what she had at the moment.
She walked back to her desk from the meeting still deep in thought. When she sat down, the phone rang.
“MBF accounting department, this is Charlie speaking.”
“Charlie, Jake here.”
She nearly dropped the receiver. He had never called her desk before. What did he want?
“Yes? Can I help you?” she asked, silently congratulating herself on the coolness of her tone. She refused to let him know how flustered his call had made her.
“I know this is late notice, but I was wondering if you had plans on Saturday.”
Charlie paused. He had to be joking, she thought. “Umm, why do you ask?”
“Let’s not play games, Charlie. You know I want to see you.”
“Do I? That’s not the impression I’ve been given. As I recall, you seem more interested in getting me into the sack.” She pulled no punches.
There was a pause before Jake spoke again. He let out a long sigh. “I won’t lie to you and say I don’t want that delectable body of yours again, but I would like to see you. Socially, I mean. We can do a little sightseeing around the city for the day, and then have dinner. Or we’ll do whatever you want. I’m game. This isn’t just me trying to get you back into bed, because if sex was all I wanted, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
For a brief moment, Charlie wanted to say yes, but she quickly dispelled any notions in that direction. “No, I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“Why not?” he demanded. “I think we would have a good time together. Give us a chance, Charlie. All I’m asking for is one date.”
“Jake, you’re my employer. I don’t think we should fraternize outside the office.” Charlie pointed out.
“But you’ll let me fuck you inside of it?”
Charlie gasped, robbed of words.
“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I just find this situation a little frustrating. Surely you know how I feel about you.”
“Actually, I don’t,” she said, finding her voice once more, “and frankly, I really don’t care. Like I said, I work for your company and I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Don’t give me that crap. I find you attractive and I know you feel the same—”
“That’s awfully presumptuous of you to tell me how I feel,” she interrupted, not liking where this was headed. Why did he have to be so damn persistent? With Steve, it wasn’t difficult to turn him down at all, but Jake made her think twice and Charlie hated second-guessing herself.
“But we both know it’s the truth, otherwise you wouldn’t react the way you do when you’re in my arms.”
He was right, but she wouldn’t let him know it. “I’m beginning to find this conversation very distasteful. I hope my job isn’t hanging in the balance based on my response,” she said coldly.
“I’m not that kind of boss and that cheap shot was uncalled for. I wasn’t asking you out as your employer, but as a man to a woman.” A long sigh followed. “It wasn’t my intention to start an argument with you. I just don’t like being accused of conducting business that way. I didn’t realize you had such a low opinion of me, Charlie. What did I do to deserve it?” She could hear the hurt in his voice.
It was now Charlie’s turn to apologize. Accusing him of unsavory business practices had been below the belt. “I’m sorry, too. I know you’re not like that, Jake.”
“Look, I guarantee going out with me will not jeopardize your job one way or the other. I’m not petty.”
“I don’t mix business with pleasure,” she said primly.
“News flash, doll face, you already have and you liked it. We both did. Charlie, please reconsider. I would really like to spend some time with you.”
“Can’t you understand that I don’t want to go out with you?” Charlie asked.
“Why? If it’s a problem with getting a babysitter for your daughter, we can work something out,” he offered in a conciliatory tone.
At the mention of her daughter, Charlie panicked. “What do you know about my daughter?”
He paused for a moment. “Nothing except for what you mentioned. I gathered that she’s still pretty young since you were only married for a short period of time. You daughter is around three or four right?”
Charlie let out a soft sigh of relief. Jake obviously believed Kristy was Paul’s daughter. “Yes, that’s right.”
“What’s her name?” he asked curiously.
“Why do you want to know?” she asked, a little more harshly than she intended.
“Just curious. I didn’t realize it was such a big secret.” He paused before changing the subject. “Getting back to what I originally called you about, will you at least think about it? There’s something between us that can’t be denied.”
“It’s called sex, Jake. And it was a mistake. It won’t, I mean, it can’t happen again,” she said vehemently.
“A mistake? Call it what you want but it wasn’t a mistake and it will happen again. You may be willing to cut your nose off to spite your face but I’m not. If it helps you sleep better at night, you can pretend I’m your dead husband, but deep down, you’ll know the truth,” he ground out.
Charlie sat in stunned silence for a moment. She couldn’t believe that Jake had the nerve to say that to her. “You didn’t know my husband, so I will thank you not to mention him again. This conversation is over so please don’t call me again, unless it’s business related.” She hung up the phone with a decisive click.
Jake stared at the receiver. She had hung up on him and he couldn’t blame her. What in the world had possessed him to say such a foul thing to her? He hadn’t meant to upset her, but she frustrated him to no end with the way she ran hot and then cold on him.
Charlie was obviously still hung up on her husband, but he knew his comment was way out of line. He would apologize when he saw her next, but damn it, why did she continue to deny the chemistry they had together? No other woman had disturbed his equilibrium at such a level and he wondered why he even bothered.
Why bother when there were so many willing women out there who practically threw themselves at him? Cynthia, for instance, still called him. Those calls were not welcome, but at least someone wanted him.
Charlie was even coming between him and his long-standing friendship with Steve. Steve, who wasn’t slow on the uptake, knew exactly what had happened in Jake’s office last week. In Steve’s mind, Jake had committed the ultimate sin by breaking the bro code and going after someone Steve had wanted for himself.
Never mind Steve had done it to Jake many times over the years, but Jake wasn’t as competitive when it came to women as Steve was. And never mind Charlie hadn’t shown the slightest interest in Steve, but Steve’s ego was bruised nonetheless. Jake had succeeded where Steve had failed, and for a man like Steve, who had never had to work particularly hard for female attention, that was unforgivable.
Jake knew in time that his friend would get over it, but in the meantime, he’d had to endure the cold shoulder for a little while. Maybe he should have tried harder to explain his involvement with Charlie when the subject had come up, but something had stopped him. How could he lay prior claim to a woman who had left him after a one-night stand with no explanation?
Jake’s phone rang, breaking into his thoughts. It was his private line, and since no one but Steve and his family had the number, he figured it was one of his family members.
‘This is Jake,” he answered a little tersely.
“Of course it is, dear, who else would be answering your private line?” Moira Fox laughed.
“Hi, Mom. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
“I’m just making sure you’re coming to dinner tonight,” she answered breezily.
Jake rolled his eyes heavenward, glad his mom couldn’t see his face. His mother was probably one of the sweetest ladies anyone would have the good fortune to meet, but she had the unfortunate tendency to nag sometimes.
“Yes, Mom, I’m still coming. You’ve already called yesterday and the day before about my coming over and nothing has changed, Mommy Dearest.”
“Jake, you know I hate when you call me that. Surely you don’t think of me that way.”
“No, I don’t. Joan Crawford was not as relentless as you are,” he said dryly.
“Humph. I swear, Jacob Andrew Fox, you have the most twisted sense of humor,” she scolded lightly, but he could still hear the laughter in her voice. He and his mother shared the same sense of humor.
“I learned from the best. So what’s so great about tonight of all nights? I have dinner with you guys every week.”
“I know but your brother and sister canceled. The twins have colds so Carl is helping Bridget out at home, and Helen twisted her ankle.”
“That’s too bad. Is it anything serious?”
“No. It’s not so bad, just a light sprain. That’s how it goes when you’re dealing with a bunch of rambunctious boys. I can’t tell you how many times I injured myself chasing after you, Helen and Carl when you were kids. I guess they’re finally getting their payback. I’m a bit disappointed though, I was looking forward to seeing my grandkids tonight.” Moira sighed wistfully.
Oh God, here it comes. Jake, braced himself. Since Jake hit thirty, his mother never failed to bring up his single state in conversation. They could be talking about something as mundane as the weather and Moira would manage to twist it around to marriage and babies.
“It would be so nice to have more grandkids, particularly a sweet little boy or girl with your eyes. You have your father’s eyes. Imagine those eyes in a little baby. You were such an adorable baby, Jake. The twins have my eyes, and Helen’s boys take after their father.” She let out a long, pained sigh, laying it on thick.
Jake shook his head in exasperation. “Mom, I know where you’re going with this, but you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“Is it so wrong for me to want to see you happy and settled down with some children of your own? Look at how happy Helen and Carl are with their families. Forty isn’t that far off for you, Jake. No one deserves to kick loose as much as you do, honey, especially after you’ve worked so hard to build your business, but I think it’s time for you to stop sowing those wild oats of yours and give your father and I some more grandchildren,” Moira lectured
“Gee, Mom, and I thought the idea was for me to be happy, not for you and Dad to have more grandchildren. Isn’t six enough?” Jake asked, getting a bit irritated. It was hard to be angry with his mother, but she had called when he was already in a bad mood.
“Yes, we have six grandchildren, but none of them are yours,” Moira pointed out.
She sounded hurt and Jake felt like the biggest asshole on Earth. Lately, he seemed to be rubbing everyone the wrong way. “Mom, I’m sorry. I’m just a little stressed.”
Silence.
“Mom, are you there?”
“Yes, I’m here. I’m sorry too. Sometimes I forget you’re a grown man capable of making your own decisions, but you’re still my baby,” she said fiercely.
“I know, Mom.” Not knowing what compelled him to do it, he said, “I’ve met someone.”
“Really?” The happiness in her voice was enough to bowl him over through the phone. “Will you bring her to dinner with you? I would be happy to make room for one more.”
He would have laughed at how quickly she snapped back to her cheerful self had he not been so depressed. “No. It hasn’t gotten that far yet,” he said dejectedly.
“Is everything okay, son?”
“She doesn’t feel the same,” he said hoarsely, his voice full of emotion.
“Who is she? What woman wouldn’t want you? I don’t think I like the sound of her,” Moira huffed indignantly.
“Take it easy, Mom,” Jake laughed at his sweet-as-pie mother turning into a fierce lioness. “Remember, you were the one who taught me anything not worth fighting for wasn’t worth having.”
“I know, but really, Jake, I can’t see how anyone could turn you down. I remember when you were a teenager and all the young ladies would call asking for you. It drove your father and me nuts. You were voted nicest smile, eyes and hair in your senior class. Is this woman blind?”
He wished she hadn’t reminded him. Those superlatives had been embarrassing enough in high school, and to this day, his brother and sister still teased him about it. “Mom, that was years ago, and looks aren’t everything.”
“I know but I don’t ever recall you having problems with a lady before.”
“You can’t always get want you want, I suppose,” he said, his throat tightening.
“Well, I guess all I can say then is good luck.”
“Thank you. Can I bring something for dinner tonight?” He changed the subject.
“No, we have it covered.”
“Okay, Mom, I’ll see you guys tonight. I love you.”
Later that night Jake lay in bed trying to sleep. It was good spending time with his parents. His mom had cooked his favorite dish of spaghetti and meatballs. He was actually glad Carl and Helen hadn’t shown up with their families. It wasn’t that he didn’t adore them and his nieces and nephews, but at times he felt a little out of place.
Lately, he had started to feel envious of them all. He wanted what his parents and his siblings had. He wanted it all, companionship, love, and a family to fill his big empty house. The problem was he had found that one person to share his life with and she ran the other way whenever he was near.
For the past three years, he wondered what it was about Charlie he simply couldn’t forget, but when he held her in his arms again, he knew. He was in love with Charlie Brown. His father was right. When you found that special someone, you knew right away.