“I guess the last image is…”

Andrew looked up from the screen at the sound of a soft snore. As they’d sorted through the long trail of images, she’d slowly propped herself up on cushions at one end of the sofa. She’d been staring owlishly for the past half hour, struggling to stay awake, and he if he was honest, hadn’t pressed her to. She needed rest and if she stayed here, he’d make sure she got that.

He leaned back in his corner of the sofa and watched her sleep. He’d wanted to press her about this reason she had to go back to Australia. It must be a big one. It was probably the reason she worked so hard. Big enough for it to have fallen on her shoulders with the weight of the world. There was a hollowness in her eyes, fear, sadness that swamped her when she’d spoken of it.

But there was hope. She had opened up to him. A spark of light had broken through that hard, thick, ominous wall she hid behind. It might be only a spark, but it had bathed him in a light of hope.

And she was still here.

In his condo.

Asleep on his sofa.

Whatever it was, he was sure he could help her. He was going to stay by her side, earn her trust. Because if there was one thing he knew, her being here for one night was not enough.

His heart did a slow tumble and he wondered if this was what she meant about having special people around. About how it made you feel. Complete.

There were memories of his parents and sister. He hadn’t been that young when they died not to remember them. He’d had a normal childhood. School. Friends. Mum and Dad. Sunday roast dinners. Those were the memories that tumbled unbidden through his mind now. His mother’s smiling face when she spoke to him. Laughter. There had always been plenty of that. Everyday.

His condo rang with silence. There was no laughter here. It had only been a place to come at night to sleep and somewhere to keep his clothes. Charlotte was right when she said there was something missing.

His condo could be anyone’s. It could even be a hotel room for all of the warmth it exuded. Her blonde hair splayed out over the sofa cushions, soft as silk. Her lush lips were slightly parted in sleep. She looked so lovely as she slept, lost to the world but trusting that she could let herself fall asleep and he would protect her. It was a home he could look forward to coming. A place of sanctuary. Home.

But only if she were a part of it.

He retrieved a soft blanket from his bedroom and carefully laid it over her, so as not to wake her. He wanted to keep her here. Where she belonged.

Emotion swelled in him and he knew it was true. It was no use denying it. He cared for her. Deeply. Not in a casual way. He felt settled. As though he’d finished looking for that indefinable thing he never knew he was looking for. There was an internal peace, a calmness, besides the spark of desire and excitement that only Charlotte was able to make him feel.

He was falling in love. And he wasn’t worried that he was. He couldn’t help the way he felt about her and for the first time in his life he didn’t care. He welcomed it. Didn’t push it away as he’d done so many times in his past which had started with the death of his parents and rejection by his sister.

He had perspective now and if he was totally honest with himself, he pushed people away before he could lose them. Just like his parents and his sister. It was better to feel nothing than to lose like that again.

But now he wanted more. He didn’t just want her sleeping on his sofa for a few hours. He just didn’t want her before she returned overseas. Not just now. Not just at Christmas, but all of the time.

Charlotte had shown him that trusting and hoping and loving was a far, far better way of living than what he’d called his life.

He sat on the end of the sofa careful not to wake her with his movements. He knew she liked him. Hell, he hoped she more than just liked him, but she was so adamant that she was going home. Well, he was going to show her just how serious he was.

She could still go back to Australia. He didn’t want to limit her by telling her he wanted her to stay in New York. The city really meant nothing to him but work opportunities. His home would be wherever she was. He would have to make her see that.

Home wasn’t just one other person either. He did have a family. A sister who he’d neglected. She had tried to keep in touch with him, but he’d hated the world when he was a teenager and he’d hated her. Hated anything that had reminded him of his parents and the life he’d lost.

He’d embraced being lonely and had done his best to push everyone away. Looking back, the cost had been too great. It had taken Charlotte’s soft comments only an hour earlier to show him how wrong, how lonely he really was

And that there was no need to be.

He settled the laptop onto his knees and opened Facebook. He hadn’t opened it for years. Didn’t know if his account would still be active. Mandy had sent him a friend request and he’d never accepted it. How stupid. How hateful.

Charlotte sighed in her sleep and resettled. He glanced at her. There was no way Charlotte would do anything like that. It seemed she went out of her way to be there for her family. If Mark, a family friend, thought so much of her, then Andrew should be ashamed at his behaviour to his own sister. She was the only family he had, but he was the only family she had too. A key point he’d forgotten in his righteousness in his world of hate.

His fingers trembled as he accepted the long sent request. He couldn’t blame her if she ignored it. He waited, surfing through random web pages until his eyes grew heavy. He hadn’t answered her request for years, why should he expect a quick answer from her? He couldn’t blame her if she never wanted anything to do with him after his rejection of her. He was about to close the screen when he received a message.

* * *

It’s so good to hear from you, Andrew! Oh my gosh, I thought you’d forgotten about me. How are you doing? I hear you have your own business and it’s going well. Have you met anyone special. Are you married? Here is my phone number – I don’t have yours to contact you. Give me a ring. Please. Now. I miss you so much and we have so much to catch up on. Merry Christmas. Mandy. Xxx

He reeled back from the screen, surprised that he’d received a message so quickly, and even more surprised Mandy still wanted to speak to him after all of these years of neglect. Slowly he reached for his phone. It answered on the first ring.

An hour later and his world had changed. He’d missed his sister and all the denying in the world would only be a lie. A calming warmth filled his heart to brimming. The woman sleeping next to him on his sofa had done that for him.

Charlotte loved her own family so much, that was clear, but there was something else going on underneath and damn it all, he was going to find out what it was. There was no excuse to do what he had done to his sister and ultimately to himself. It only lead to self destruction. She was on the same course.

He sat with his elbow on his knees and rubbed his hands over his face. What a night. Charlotte’s phone burst into life and she stirred in her sleep, a frown forming. Andrew lurched for the phone. Luckily he knew her passcode, he’d seen her use it often enough. She needed to sleep.

“Andrew Robinson speaking.”

There was a pause. “Robinson? That you? I knew Charlotte was doing some hours with you, but I didn’t think she’d be working with you so late.”

Gabe Oliveri. Andrew’s hand tightened on the phone. “Thanks to you and the stress you’ve put her under, she’s been working around the clock.”

“I take it she’s not around,” Gabe said.

“She is right here next to me, sleeping,” Andrew said.

“Oh, I didn’t think it was like that between the two of you. Sorry for the disruption,” Gabe said.

“What? No! It’s nothing like that. She was so exhausted she fell asleep on my sofa.” He didn’t deny that he liked the sound of her sleeping on his sofa, as well as in his bed while he was sprawled out naked beside her. “I’m not sure if you know this Gabe, but she’s been working around the clock for you and I’m not going to wake her up. She’s exhausted and I’m going to let her sleep.” He wanted to say a hell of a lot more, but the fact was Gabe was still Charlotte’s boss and Charlotte liked her job.

There was a deep sigh on the other end of the phone. “I know she’s got a lot on her plate and I’ve been the one to pile it onto her. I was actually just ringing up to thank her and to tell her I’ve bought her a plane ticket home.”

That comment took him by surprise. He expected Gabe to be phoning with more work and more unreasonable deadlines. “I can pass the message on and get her to call you tomorrow.”

“I just wanted to confirm the date and time. It’s first class so she can always change it if she wants to, but if she wants to get home for Christmas, she’d better book it soon. By the way, how is the rollout to shelter cuts coming along?”

If Gabe had been around, then he’d know how everything was proceeding. Andrew stifled his sound of frustration. “We’ve rolled out the introduction in the first store. Just some minor tweaks and I’ll have my staff introduce the program into all of your locations before Christmas.”

“I’m so grateful I have you and Charlotte to rely on.”

“She knows a lot about the business,” Andrew said.

It seemed she knew as much as Gabe. She was driven, that was for sure, but she was driven to the point of self-destruction. He could identify with that. It was what had enabled him to build his own successful company. He saw it in himself. Gabe was the same. Still, there was an edge inside her that was more than just driving force. A shadow that had a death grip on her. All he knew was that he would help around in anyway he possibly could, and if that meant taking on more work and billing Gabe, then so be it. “She is smart, that’s for sure. I’ll let her know you called.”

“Thanks, Andrew. Take care of her, okay?” It occurred to Andrew that the two of them were quite close. He hadn’t thought of that before, but why else would Gabe be so forthcoming with business information? Knowing that she would take it away with her to start her own business?

“Of course.” Andrew hung up and sat back, his hand clutched the phone limp in his lap. Was there something going on between Gabe and Charlotte? The thought left him feeling cold.

His. She was his to cherish, protect, care for. Love. She was worth fighting for. If there was something going on between Charlotte and Gabe, Andrew would make her see how wrong Gabe was for her if it was the last thing he did. The phone rang again. “Gabe, I’m not sure what’s going on between you and Charlotte but I’m serious about her, so…”

“I’m sorry, I think I have the wrong number.” A distinctly Australian accent said.

“No!” He nearly shouted to stop the lady from hanging up. “I mean, this is Charlotte’s phone. I’m just answering it for her. My name is Andrew Robinson.” He mentally winced. Should have checked the screen before he answered.

There was a pause. “From KnowFactor?”

“Yes.” He wondered how she could know of him.

“Charlotte has told me a lot about you. In fact, I hear about you every day. You do all of that creative advertising. Design. Photography.”

“Yes. That’s me. My business I mean,” Andrew said. Every day, huh? Interesting.

“It sounds like you do a good job. I’m glad Charlotte has someone like you to rely on. I’m her mother, Alison, by the way. I guess since you’re answering her phone she’s not available right now?”

“I’m afraid she’s a little... indisposed. I’m taking her calls for the next little while,” Andrew said.

“I never know when a good time is to ring her, to tell you the truth. She seems to be busy all of the time,” Alison said.

“That’s going to change very soon,” Andrew said.

“I’m glad to hear that. Every time I speak to her she seems to be busier and busier. I just can’t wait to see her in the next couple of weeks. This is a very special Christmas for us,” Alison said.

“She’s been doing everything she can to get back home to you,” Andrew said.

“That’s good to hear. She just hasn’t given me the details of when she is coming in so I can organise to pick her up from the airport. Could you let her know I called and if she could pass on those details in a message I’d appreciate that.”

Andrew rang off. Charlotte had a plane ticket, that much was clear now, but with only two weeks until Christmas it was doubtful she’d even get a seat next to the toilets in economy. She really should have booked her ticket much earlier. She’d been just too concerned with everything else, and everyone else, to book a date.

For now he’d do what he promised Alison. Andrew picked up the laptop and settled into the armchair to give Charlotte room to stretch out, and proceeded to upload the images they chose and email the graphic designer with the changes to the artwork. Then he set about organising his contractors that would meet with the store managers and roll-out the program.

* * *

Charlotte broke through the layers of sleep more leisurely than she’d done in, it seemed, forever. She’d slept so well and long enough she didn’t already feel tired before she woke as she usually did.

Her toes bumped the end of her bed as she stretched and she stilled. She didn’t have a bed frame. She peeped out from beneath the blankets to find herself stretched out on Andrew’s sofa. The events of last night came back to her. She groaned and covered her face with her hands. She fallen asleep on Andrew’s sofa! And by the looks of it he’d covered her with blankets and let her sleep. The room was filled with light and a quick peek at her watch told her it was mid-morning. She not only slept on his sofa, she’d been here for hours!

The line not only had been crossed but was way back behind her in the dust.

Maybe she could just leave quietly and try and offer her apologies for being such an inconvenience. Heavens above, Andrew was asleep in the armchair opposite. His large frame was sprawled uncomfortably in the chair. His long legs kicked out in front while the top half of him was angled into a corner. His hair was messed up in short choppy waves and his jaw was shadowed with the hint of dark stubble. As handsome as he was awake and alert, she couldn’t peel her eyes away from his sleeping form. There was a vulnerability that wasn’t there when he was awake and it had her hypnotised.

She realised, with a start, that she’d been staring at him for minutes now. Lost in time. Then she realised she liked watching him sleep as much as liked waking up to him.

“Voyeur much, Charlotte?” She whispered to herself.

Andrew stirred, his legs stretching. The laptop that was perched in his thighs started to slide. Charlotte leapt up from the sofa to catch it before it hit the floor. She caught the edge just before it landed but accidentally jostled the chair. She looked up into piercing blue eyes, awake and alert in an instant.

“Hi,” she whispered. That was really lame, Charlotte. She felt her cheeks heating as embarrassment claimed her.

The edges of his lips curved. “Hi yourself.” His deep sexy voice was enough to send shivers down her spine. She needed some distance between them right now.

She edged back to the sofa and placed the laptop on the coffee table. “Your laptop… It was just falling… I had to catch it before…”

“Indeed.”

He hadn’t taken his eyes off her and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She could only imagine what a mess she looked like. “I’m sorry for falling asleep on your sofa.”

“Don’t be. I’m not. I like waking up to you in the morning.”

Her stomach fluttered with a heady torrent of adrenaline and excitement, but then logic prevailed and the light fluttery feeling became a sickening lump. There was no ambiguity to his statement and there was no way she could pass this off. She needed to end this… attraction between them. Right now. While she still had the strength to do it.

She sat on the edge of the sofa straightening her crushed blouse as best she could while she gathered her thoughts. “Andrew, I…”

“Don’t say anything yet, Charlotte. Let me speak first.” Andrew leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. She resisted the urge to catch his hand in hers as he sat there so close they would touch if she reached for him. Her mouth was so dry that she had to let him speak anyway.

Tension ran along his shoulders and the seriousness he pinned her with was so intense that everything faded into the background. “I meant what I said, Charlotte. I like waking up to you. Hell, I’ve dreamt of it for months. I know I’m not reading you wrong knowing you’d like the same thing as well. Last night, when you spoke about your family and said there was something missing here, I didn’t really notice until you pointed it out. There was something missing from my entire life. Not just my condo. I did it, Charlotte. I called my sister and spoke to her the first time in years. That’s all because of you. My condo is a cold place without family, but it’s a cold place without you in it either. I like you, Charlotte. I more than just like you. I want you in my future. Not just for work. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there’s more to life than work. I want more than having you sleep on my sofa. I want to get to know you. I want to spend my time with you. I want to hold you and care for you. Kiss you and make love to you. I want it all with you.”

A muscle worked at his jaw and he was tense, but there was also a determined, brightness in the back of his eyes. Something died inside her when she knew she was going to snuff it out.

For a split second, she thought she might not be able to stay strong. That she’d give into temptation and say yes and end up in his arms kissing him just as she’d wanted to for months.

But cold reason prevailed and the knife of reality sliced through her warm and fuzzy thoughts. She held herself still, keeping her fingers clenched together in her lap and her gaze trained on his face. She had to make him believe the lie. Because it was a lie.

One Hell of a lie.

“I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression… I... don’t feel the same way about you, Andrew.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, spiking it up in all directions. “The wrong impression… feel the same way… why aren’t you being honest with yourself, Charlotte? What we have between us is once-in-a-lifetime. This isn’t just a new feeling. I’ve liked you for months but I’ve never had the courage to act on it, either. This is not just something I decided overnight. I’ve wanted you for months. Wanted you at my side. In my arms. Wanted to kiss your sweet mouth.”

She heaved one breath in. Two. Mustered the will to stand on shaking legs. Steeled her strongest resolve. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Andrew. I’m sorry if you’ve taken my friendship the wrong way.”

“That’s not true, and you know it. I care about you, Charlotte and that’s not something I say lightly.” Andrew stood up closing the gap between them. The sheer masculinity of his presence had her taking a shaky step backward. She had to get out of here. Now. She grabbed her coat with a shaky hand and scrambled to her bag she left on the kitchen bench.

“I don’t say these things lightly either. I’ve got to go now, Andrew.”

“You are allowed to have happiness in your life, Charlotte. Whatever there is between you and your family, and I know there’s something, it couldn’t be so bad that you should deny yourself.” Andrew said.

Charlotte whirled to face him. “My family is everything to me. I’m doing all of this for them.”

“Denying yourself for them? Sacrificing yourself? Believe me, I know what you’re talking about. But it won’t work out. It will never work out,” Andrew said.

“How do you know that? How can you say those things? You’re exactly the same as I am,” Charlotte said.

He came towards her. She stiffened, holding her bag to her chest and he stopped. “That’s why I know that you’re lying to me, but you’re also lying to yourself. Let someone care for you, Charlotte. The way you care for everyone else. Let me in.”

But all she could do was shake her head from side to side, words impotently swallowed before she could utter the denial in her head. She reached for the door handle her hand clumsy. “You don’t know… What it’s been like. I have to change it. For my parents. For my mother.”

“What do you have to change? Let me help you. Believe me when I tell you I have been through some pretty dark stages in my life myself. Let me in and I’ll help you. We can do this together,” Andrew said.

She inched the door open. “You don’t understand.”

“Charlotte, I understand that your family is important, but you’re the person who ultimately has to live your own life.” The pain in his voice was so raw that it enveloped her. It was too much. Too painful.

“I don’t deserve this from you. You’re too good for someone like me. For someone who did…” She bit off the words, knowing it was too late.

A deep lines formed in Andrew’s forehead. “For someone who did what, Charlotte? What did you do?”

Her chest heaved as her heart rammed blood so forcefully through her veins she heard it gushing in her eardrums. “Okay. I’ll tell you. Tell you everything. Then you’ll see. I told them to do it. They asked for my help. I was too busy doing irrelevant things. Too busy thinking about myself. It was a business deal. One of my dad’s friends. I thought it would be a good venture for them. That Barry could be trusted. They’d known him for years. Come to so many Christmas’. We considered him one of the family. If only I had looked into the deal a little more like they’d asked me to, but I didn’t. I didn’t even read the business plan. They went into it on my recommendation. But they lost everything, Andrew. Their business. The house. The furniture. Even Mum’s antique vases she was given from her grandmother. They had nothing left and it was all because of me. What sort of a daughter would do that to her own parents! Someone who doesn’t deserve anything, that’s who. I have to make it up to them and nothing is going to stand in my way. Not even… not even you. So please, just let this rest. Leave me alone. Forget about me. Find someone who can give something back to you, because that’s what you deserve, Andrew. You deserve it all. You deserve the best. And I’m definitely not the best.”

His hands went toward her and she backed away. “Charlotte. Don’t go!” The pain in his voice seared through her heart. The two ragged sides fell apart. Irreparable.

“I… I’m so sorry, Andrew.”

She staggered into the hallway and ran towards the stairs, not wanting to have to wait for the elevator. Not wanting to leave any time for Andrew to change her mind. Because if she heard one more word from him she could throw herself into his arms to find the peace and love she knew would be there.

Now, not only had she lost a friend, she had lost the most important thing that had ever happened in her life. A chance for real happiness and love.