MAIN STREET was one of the few streets in my town with parking slots in front of the shops. I usually sat in my Jeep for a few minutes before going into work, staring at the bold lettering of Jack’s light-up sign. At night, the sign read, ‘Jak’s Dine’, thanks to the dead bulbs Jack never replaced. Today I would tell Jack I couldn’t work night shift for a while. He wouldn’t mind. He almost never put me on the night shift anyway.
When I arrived, Charles was parked nearby, leaning against a blue Toyota Prius. Earth-friendly, at least. I’d give him that. His eyes seemed more alert today, his dark tousled hair slightly less erratic. The sun and shadows on his face sharpened the lines of his jaw and nose, and his heather-grey, short-sleeve shirt revealed the contours of the muscles in his arms.
Flutters started in my stomach, and a strange sensation rushed into my lungs. I shouldn’t be happy to see him. I certainly wasn’t surprised. Just nervous, in that breathless, pulse-drumming kind of way. The kind of way that probably indicated something other than a dash of hope he might help me deal with Marcus.
I raised my chin and straightened my shoulders, as if that alone would make me seem confident. I needed to push this attraction away. Far, far away. The last thing I needed was another person to hide my secrets from, especially someone who had abandoned me when I was in danger. I needed to focus solely on getting some helpful information.
I hopped out of my Jeep and locked the doors. Turning toward the restaurant, I found Charles standing only a breath away, his scent of vanilla, musk, and sandalwood immediately hitting me at my core. My heart thrummed. I stepped back, hoping to put more distance between us, but my back was met swiftly with my car door. He exhaled, warm air caressing my cheek and sending shivers over my body.
“Could you…give me a minute?” Or at least some space. I stepped around him before turning back to face him again—this time with my back to the diner, so I couldn’t get trapped. “Aren’t you cold?”
“No.”
Huh. “So…you came to my work….”
“You said I’d find you here, remember?”
“Yep. I’m here. This is where I work, so I come here sometimes. For work.” Shut up, Sophia.
He tossed a half-sneer toward my Jeep. “That thing yours?”
“Is that a problem?”
“I’m sure the ozone is none-too-thrilled.” He scrutinized me, and his lips softened into a secretive smile. “You’re all dressed up. Special occasion?”
“None that I know of.” I would never achieve a normal heart rate in his company. Surely he wasn’t implying I’d gotten dressed up for his benefit, even if it were true.
He lifted his finger to my lips, and heat rushed to my cheeks.
What the hell was he doing?
His eyes searched mine, his gaze so unrelenting I had to remind myself to breathe. The heat spread to my ears, my insides trembled, and the fresh pull of oxygen did nothing to cure the lightheaded feeling. I hoped none of this was visible, as I could think of only one thing worse than being attracted to Charles, and that was him knowing it.
As he grazed my lip with his finger, a minty scent filled the air between us, and his thoughtful expression turned into a chuckle.
“Toothpaste,” he said.
Mortifying.
At least now I wouldn’t walk around all day with toothpaste crusted to my face. Though that might have been better than him mentioning it. Not that I cared what he thought, because I was definitely telling myself I didn’t.
I started to walk away, but his voice stopped me.
“I didn’t wish to come here.”
I spun toward him, hands clenched. “Of course not.”
“I mean no offense,” he said, in the same way everyone did before saying something offensive. “I’m certain you’re a very nice girl, but I’ve come only to give the explanation I promised. I am a man of my word.”
A very nice girl. “What makes you think—”
“Don’t bother,” he said, giving me a cutting look. “I can offer you nothing more than this. If you’re not interested, that is fine. Perhaps even better for us both.”
“I’m interested,” I said. “But now’s not a good time.”
He looked to the sky and squinted, the sun highlighting his bright eyes and dark lashes, then his gaze dropped to mine. “You’ve experienced something most people never will.”
“Lucky me.”
He grinned. “Did you just roll your eyes?”
“Did I?” Heat gathered in my cheeks.
A light breeze lifted the gentle curls that nearly tumbled into his eyes. Damn him for looking good.
“You appear to have recovered well from last night’s events,” he said.
As if I needed the reminder. “Look, I have a lot on my mind. Marcus was in my house last night and—”