"Do I detect jealousy in your tone?" She could all but see his grin.
Devil. Damn him. She'd been envious, furious, and then heartbroken, but she was over it now. So very over it. "She'll get whatever you need."
He laughed. The low sound arrowed straight through her heart. "I don't need anyone but you, Christine."
She wished she could believe it. She wouldn't fly to Australia, but straight to him. "Hopefully, everything will go well. Take care, Charlie." I'll miss you. She blew out her breath and put away her cell. Her desk stacked high with piles of papers and files. She'd do better to focus on them rather than what could never happen.
***
Charlie cursed after she disconnected. He'd wanted her every moment of the last six damn years, especially the last two. Six, for God's sake, and still he couldn't progress beyond mere flirting and suggestion. What would she say if she knew he couldn't wait for their nightly chats, even if they only lasted one or two minutes? He often searched for hours for a funny joke or story to tell her so she'd laugh that cute little giggle he loved so much. He wanted to take their relationship far beyond simple friendship. She occupied many of his waking thoughts and all of his dreams. He dated a lot, trying to forget her and never could. No other woman measured her standard, her intelligence, her beauty, joy, and sweetness.
He'd never been the type to sit and wait on any woman, yet Christine remained different. He'd wait as long as she needed. He wanted more than just a few nights of sex. He wanted her in his life, cooking meals with him, watching television, jogging, or just reading together. He wanted her face to be the last thing he saw before they slept and first when they woke. He hadn't wanted anything close to that in a long time. What made Christine so different?
He felt like a bloody horny teenager whenever he saw laughter in her deep brown gaze and heard her voice. The mere sound of her reading figures over the phone gave him a raging hard on. She had one of the sexiest voices ever. Lightly accented with a 'southern belle' tone she didn't even realize she possessed. He smiled as he stared at the dark videoconference screen. She'd been shocked the first time he pointed out how many times she'd said 'y'all' during one of their first ordering sessions. He could hear her voice, calling out to him as he suckled her breasts and licked along her creamy smooth skin. He groaned and leaned back in his chair. Was she a screamer? Or would she just sigh when their bodies joined and she climaxed around him?
He tossed a pencil across the room. What the hell? It hadn't been that damn long since he last had sex. He shouldn't be this worked up over simple flirting. They worked together for God's sake. They talked online every night as friends. He hated the word friends. A nonsense word that couldn't begin to describe what they had. He ran a hand through his hair. His own fault really, since he'd given her no reason beyond the flirting to think he needed more. Why hadn't he made some move? Being with her, even just talking, would beat the hell out of berating himself for not taking their relationship beyond friendship. He grinned and booted up his laptop. "Take a chance, Christine, and so will I." He began to type and hoped he didn't appear a fool.
Your Journey begins
And takes you Far from Me
Yet closer than we have been in so Long
Be safe on your travels.
The Path we started Long ago
And the Light which will stay burning
In the window only for You
Until you come safely back Home.
Charlie sighed and read over the lines three times before he took a deep breath and hit 'send'. He leaned back and let his breath out in a long slow stream. He'd either just made a complete ass of himself or set something wonderful in motion. All he could do now was wait and see. He closed his laptop and walked away.
The next day Charlie snarled into the intercom. "I told you to find the figures twenty minutes ago. What the hell is the hold up?"
"You'll have them in five minutes, sir." His administrative assistant switched off her com.
He slammed his fist on the desk. What the hell had got into him? He'd snapped her head off when she didn't deserve it. The figures weren't even needed for another hour or so. He sighed. He'd been in a foul mood ever since Christine departed for her dream trip and hadn't responded to his poem. He understood why. She'd been through hell and back. Taking a chance might still be too much to ask.