Charlie gazed directly at her as he spoke. "My personal life and time is my own. I haven't discussed this directly with Christine so she should not be penalized. She's also already been suspended, which seems punitive enough. But I can also put two and two together. If the board still wants to bring me up for disciplinary action, I'll email my resignation and save them the trouble. It's already written."
Christine shook her head and tried to jerk away. "No!" Charlie's arms only tightened more around her. "You can't resign, it's your dream. Please Charlie, think about this. I don't need my job back and I'm happy to be terminated if it means you can stay."
"Hush," Charlie said simply. Christine's mouth snapped closed. "It's done."
"I agree with Ms. Howell. There's no need to be hasty." Peg's protest mirrored Christine's. "You've cooperated fully with this investigation."
"It is necessary." Charlie's gaze stayed on Christine as she shook her head over and over.
"Would it help if I apologized for my earlier statements? I see Ms. Howell is indeed what you say."
Charlie laughed as Christine went stiff against him. What had he said? She almost punched him, but she couldn't with one arm in a sling and the other squeezed around him. "It helps us as friends. It doesn't help us professionally."
Peg sighed. "I'll throw the going away party. Although it will be hard to match those luaus you've been hosting. I'll call you later."
"You always were the brightest bulb in the pack. Talk to you soon."
Christine jerked away as he disconnected. "You can't resign. You're up for promotion."
"I have other plans." Charlie's smile dimmed a bit. "I had other plans. Those seem a bit waylaid now, but it doesn't matter. I'll find a plan B."
"Stop saying it doesn't matter. Of course it matters." Christine gaped at him. "You love your job and you're amazing at it. Why would you quit?" Her telephone rang, but she waved her hand. "The answering machine can get it. You're more important."
Kathy's voice filled the air. "Hi, Christine, I need you to call me as soon as possible or meet me at the coffee shop in thirty minutes. We have to talk immediately."
"Want me to drive you?" Charlie ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm not going anywhere until we get this settled." Christine tried to cross her arms, muttering as the sling prevented her, and she swung her free arm wide. "You are not resigning, especially because of me. This promotion is everything to you."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. You've wanted it for ages."
"There's nothing I want more than you. Don't you understand you're everything to me?" Charlie pounded on her desk. "There's only you, Christine. I don't care about anything else. The job is a job. It doesn't matter when I don't have what I want most. And what I want most is you."
Christine swallowed and wanted to kick herself. How could she even begin to make this right? "You said you didn't protect me. So tell me how Jim's attack is your fault?" She tapped his chest with her finger, watching his expression. "It's not your fault. After all we've gone through, you pushed me away because you didn't have ESP? This isn't caveman times, and I don't need to be wrapped in cotton or treated like the helpless little woman."
"I understand you aren't helpless." Charlie took a deep breath. "But you were hurt."
"Oh for God's sake, I got bruises from the grip of the kid on the plane too, but I don't blame you for those any more than I do for Jim's attack."
"I blame me." He took a step from her, backing her into the wall. "How can you ever forgive me?"
She opened her mouth to scream then snapped it shut. She had to tread gently. "There's nothing to forgive. I thought you couldn't touch me because Jim's attack made me undesirable or dirty."
"Never." His eyes blazed hot and furious. "You are the most beautiful, desirable woman in the world to me. What he did has nothing to do with how I feel for you or how much I want you."
"Right. He"—Christine emphasized—"Jim. Not you, never you. He hurt me. I recognize the difference. If you'd just touch me and let me show you, you'd recognize it too. Damnit, Kale, for such a brilliant man you sure are dense at times." The phone rang again, Kathy's voice more insistent this time. Christine muttered a curse at the same time Charlie did. "I don't blame you. Please understand, please."
"It sounds important and she won't give up. Go see what Kathy wants." Charlie ran a hand through his hair. "We'll talk when you get back."
"Yeah?" Christine marched over and yanked his head to hers, kissing him long and deep. She grinned as his eyes widened, body hardened, and hands shook. "A preview of coming attractions. You damn well better believe we'll talk. So you best be ready, Jergens."
Chapter Fourteen
"Where are we going?" Did it work? Can he hear me? Christine gazed out the car window, praying panic didn't show in her voice. Had she hit the right button on her cell hidden in her sling? She'd heard him answer and then nothing since.
"Just down the road."
Damn, her ploy to say where they were had failed. "Ever go in the place we just passed, Judy's? They have amazing bagels and."
"Stop talking, Christine."