"You expect me to just drop everything because you happen to be in town?" She snorted. "And act like everything's fine?"
"I did for you." Charlie spoke quietly yet saw his words slam into her as hard as any physical punch. Hurt and betrayal entered her face, making her take a step back as her lips parted in a gasp. He hated hurting her, but he had to reach her somehow. "I will do anything for you."
"Yeah, well." She turned away. "We had a fine time, but we aren't in paradise anymore."
He reached for her, hearing his Christine in the soft reply, all her anger gone. He could make this right, make it better, and take the hurt away. He just needed to hold her. "But all good sex ends." She whirled to face the wall. "Sex and pleasure, like you said before I left for Australia. Just a good time. Nothing more."
He felt as though she'd hit him again even harder. "Just sex? You're saying our night, our time was just sex?"
"Sex, of course, nothing more." She shrugged then wrapped her arms around her waist.
"No damn way." Charlie grabbed her arm and spun her around. "Why are you lying to me?" He jerked her closer and raised her chin so he could see her face. "The hell you'll reduce what we have to simple sex. Damn it, talk to me."
She gazed up, her eyes depthless with hurt, tears, and resolve. The hurt and tears upset him, made him feel guilty, but the resolve terrified him. "I'm fine. There's nothing to say."
"There's everything to say, especially since you keep stressing fine and punched the hell out of me." He tightened his grip. "How could you think for a minute sex was all we had? I wanted you then; I want you now."
"No," she whispered. "Don't say anymore; it's all been said and done. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great flight home. Good bye."
He released her, stunned. "Fine. Sorry I interrupted your redecorating projects. Make sure to nail the molding to the wall and not the floor next time." He walked to the doorway and halted. He'd be damned if he left things like this and wonder the whole flight back and beyond what he should have done instead. She turned the volume up so Celtic fiddle and drums swelled around the room, the beat urging him on as he jerked her body against his. "Just sex? Let's see."
His mouth fused to Christine's when she gasped, his hands pulling her body to his, the thin cloth between them no barrier. Charlie smelled the sweat from the hard work she'd done, more arousing than any perfume. Her hands fisted in his shirt, yanking him closer as he gentled his lips and explored her sweet mouth. She tasted even better than he remembered. With a half sob, her tongue darted to meet his, deepening the kiss, creating a mesh of warm heat and need. He leaned his forehead to hers, gazed at the woman, the best friend he'd missed so much, and wrapped an arm around her, holding her thudding heart against his. "I'm sorry for the whole mess, you being on leave and me not. I'm sorry you're so hurt. I believe in you. You're innocent. I believe you, my Christine."
Tears flowed down her cheeks. "Thanks, but I almost don't even care about the case."
He caught one crystal drop, flicked it away, and stroked her soft cheek. "Tell me, please."
Christine took a shuddering breath. "Why have you been so short? Is it because we had sex or the corporate directive? Is there someone else? What's wrong?"
He couldn't, wouldn't lie to her. "It's not you, sweetheart. You did nothing wrong. Whoever is stealing and trying to make us take the fall is the one in the wrong. I thought it would be easier for us both if I kept my distance. There's no one else. No one, but you."
She frowned, a tiny line creasing the top of her nose. "What about the woman at the airport, the one who grabbed and hugged you?"
He leaned back with a grin, knowing he could have such fun with her jealousy. No more separating them though. "She's a flight attendant and my sister."
Her frown grew. "She's your sister? I met her on my flight, and she never said you were siblings or that she even knew you."
"I should have guessed you two would end up on the same flight. She usually does the Hawaii to LA shuttle, then LA to France or England." He chuckled. "So you're jealous of my sister. She'll be delighted to hear this."
The blush staining her cheeks fascinated him to no end. "You were so distant when I saw her jump in your arms; I naturally assumed you'd moved on."
"The only woman I've seen since I plucked you from the bench in the airport is you. Only you." He cupped her cheeks and softly kissed her.
But the line remained between her eyes. "'Whenever I tried to talk, you kept saying, 'fine', putting a wall between us. I couldn't figure out how to get over it."
"There's no wall now." He needed her. He had to make her aware and understand, somehow, she remained all he wanted and needed. He ground his hips against hers. "Let me show you nothing between your skin and mine."
Her mouth rounded in a perfect O. "I'm so sorry I shouted at and hit you. Can you forgive me?"
He stroked her back, and then began to lift her shirt up. "Make it up to me."
Chapter Ten