Winning Charlotte Back, page 17
“That’s all right. The storm woke me up before you did.”
Her voice was slightly husky with sleep and he remembered how perfect it felt to hold her as she slept. She’d been so sweet. So warm. He’d give anything to have her in his arms right now. Since that was impossible, he needed to end the conversation before he did something stupid like beg her not to leave him. She wanted a fresh start away from Sweet Briar. He needed to respect her wish. “I’ll say good-night so you can get back to sleep.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath and knew his tone had been harsher than he’d intended. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her feelings. “Good night.”
The phone clicked as she hung up. Man, doing the right thing sucked.
* * *
Charlotte smiled as she exited the office building and walked down the busy Charlotte street. The sunny day suited her mood. The interview had gone great. She liked the people she’d be working with. The position would be challenging enough to keep her on her toes with a salary commensurate with her experience and responsibilities. The city was the right size, with plenty of cultural activities to fill her spare time. And it was only two hours away from Sweet Briar. So why had she told them she needed time before making a decision?
Sure, it was never a good idea to accept a job offer on the spot, but it was more than conventional wisdom that had her hesitating. Her relationship with Rick had her questioning her decision to leave Sweet Briar. Did they have a future? No matter how often she told herself to remember how badly she’d been hurt by him, she couldn’t help hoping things would work out between them this time. But even though her feelings for Rick had grown, she didn’t think he felt the same.
He had begun pulling back from her. When Bobby stopped by every evening, Rick made excuses to avoid joining them. Not only that, he’d started coming to get Bobby twenty minutes after he’d arrived, barely giving his son enough time to eat his snack and share the events of his day.
If she didn’t know better she would think he was ending things. She remembered how she had begged him not to end their engagement and how he’d left her behind, not giving her a thought for twelve years.
She certainly wasn’t going to plead like that again. One humiliation was more than a lifetime’s worth. If he wanted to walk out of their relationship, she wasn’t going to grab his ankles and hold on to him. It would hurt like heck to let him go because she’d once again stupidly fallen in love with him, but she would take that secret to the grave. She might be trying to become a better person, but she still had her pride.
The hard part would be maintaining her relationship with Bobby. Rick might be trying to ease her out of his son’s life, but she wasn’t going. Bobby had suffered enough when his mother walked out on him. There was no way Charlotte would do the same. Rick should be smart enough to know that, but if he wasn’t, she’d tell him. She loved Bobby and she wasn’t going to hurt him. She and Rick needed to get along for Bobby’s sake. Once she was settled, she’d invite him to spend a weekend with her. Maybe they could take in a Hornets game. And she’d come back to Sweet Briar on a regular basis to visit him.
She spent the entire ride back from Charlotte mulling things over. By the time she pulled onto her street, she was both relieved to be home and apprehensive about encountering Rick. She immediately saw him on his front stoop, watching Bobby dribble the basketball in the driveway.
“How was your interview?” Bobby asked as soon as she got out of the car. He had become her biggest cheerleader, a stark contrast to his father, who’d grown increasingly negative by the day. Rick walked up behind Bobby slowly, and she wondered if he was listening.
“It was great. They offered me the job.” She lifted her chin as she answered. She wasn’t going to let Rick’s negativity bring her down.
“It’s funny that your name is Charlotte and you might move to a city named Charlotte.”
She smiled. “Yes, it is.”
“I wonder if there’s a city named Bobby. Or Robert since that’s my real name. Do you think there is one?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. We can always look on the internet. Have you had dinner yet?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I didn’t have dessert. Just an apple. Dad thinks an apple is dessert. I don’t.”
“Neither do I. Lucky for you I have cookies and ice cream. You can put cookies in your ice cream if you want.”
“Great.”
Rick placed his hands on his son’s shoulders, halting him before he could dash up the stairs. “Charlotte had a long drive home. She’s probably tired. You can have ice cream some other time.”
Lips compressed, she spun and faced Rick. “I’m not tired. And even if I was, Bobby would still be welcome.”
She turned on her heels and stalked up the stairs before Rick could see the pain in her eyes. How could he try to yank Bobby from her life? Did he think she didn’t have feelings? She did, and he was stomping all over them. She knew he was probably trying to protect Bobby from getting hurt, but that didn’t make her feel better. It irritated her that he didn’t give her credit for caring about Bobby’s feelings. She didn’t want Bobby to be hurt, either.
Charlotte unlocked her door, letting Bobby inside. He turned and peered around her. “Aren’t you coming, Dad?”
Rick hesitated as if searching for an excuse. Apparently he couldn’t find one. “Sure. I could use some dessert myself.”
Charlotte managed to cover her surprise. Now he wanted to be around her? The man was nothing if not confusing. “You guys go ahead and get started. I’m going to get out of this suit. I’ll be down in a minute.”
And hopefully when she returned she would have a better understanding of just what was going on in Rick’s head.
* * *
What in the world was he thinking? He was supposed to be easing Charlotte from their lives. Instead, he was sitting on her back patio, polishing off a big bowl of Oreo cookies and vanilla ice cream and trying not to stare at her mouth. Every time she spooned some of the treat between her lips, she gave a sexy little moan that was dangerously arousing. Given that his son was sitting across the table, indulging in his own dessert, Rick’s reaction was totally inappropriate. Worse, when the three of them were together like this, he could envision their lives together. Was he making a mistake by not pressing Charlotte to stay in Sweet Briar and give their relationship a chance?
He managed to stop staring at her lips and look into her eyes. “So...you have a big decision to make. Chicago or Charlotte.”
“Not really. I already decided that Chicago is out of the running.”
“Really?”
“It wasn’t a good fit. The people were nice but the company was too laid-back for me. I don’t want a place as staid as my father’s company, but something in the middle would suit me just fine.”
“Too bad. We could have gone to some Bulls games,” Bobby interjected before scooping more ice cream into his messy mouth. “I always wanted to do that.”
“That would have been great,” she agreed.
“What did you think about the company in Charlotte?” Rick hadn’t meant to ask, but suddenly he needed to know.
“They seemed like people I could work with. And the job sounded interesting. I could be happy there.”
In Charlotte. Away from him. Charlotte was much closer to Sweet Briar than Chicago, but it was still a couple of hours away. He couldn’t imagine that she’d want to drive that distance every day. It wouldn’t be conducive to having any type of life. She might try for a while, but eventually she would end up relocating.
She and Bobby had their heads together, whispering about something. Bobby glanced over at him then quickly away when he realized Rick was watching. Rick tried not to feel left out, but wasn’t entirely successful.
“Hey, Dad,” Bobby said, dropping his spoon into his empty bowl. “I was wondering if I could sleep over here tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
He shook his head. Didn’t Charlotte see what she was doing? Didn’t she care? Bobby loved her and was growing more attached every day. Surely she knew how destroyed Bobby would be when she left. He knew how badly he himself would hurt watching Charlotte drive away for the last time. “Not tonight. In fact, you should say good-night now and head on home.”
“What about you?”
“I want to talk to Charlotte for a few minutes.”
Bobby looked like he wanted to argue, but then he suddenly smiled. No doubt the poor kid thought this was part of Rick’s plan to make Charlotte fall in love with him. He didn’t have the heart to tell him there was no way that was going to happen. Not with Charlotte leaving them behind. She had a right to be happy and free from the past. If moving away from Sweet Briar was what it took, then it was only fair that he let her go. Still, she should have considered Bobby’s feelings. She should be helping Rick ease Bobby from her life, not pulling him in closer.
“Sure.” Bobby gave Charlotte a hug then looked back at him. “Is it okay if I practice free throws until you come home?”
“Yes.”
Bobby flashed a thumbs-up sign before he disappeared into Charlotte’s house. A few seconds later, Rick heard the front door slam followed by the dribble of a basketball.
Rick told himself to stay calm but couldn’t. “Just what game are you playing?” he said without preamble.
Her eyes narrowed and he couldn’t help noticing just how cute she looked despite being angry. “Excuse me?”
“Why did you invite Bobby to spend the night with you?”
“I didn’t. I told him I bought a new DVD and he asked if he could stay over and watch it with me.”
“Oh.”
She stood and slammed her hands onto her slim hips. “Yeah, oh.”
Feeling he was losing control of the conversation, he stood, too, hoping his greater height would shift the balance of power into his favor. “I just don’t understand what’s going on here.”
“I’m not playing games, that’s for sure, and I resent you accusing me of that.”
“I’m concerned about Bobby. I don’t want him to be hurt when you leave.”
She nodded slowly. The indignation in her eyes turned to deep sadness. “I get it. You just assume that I’m going to hurt him.”
His stomach churned at her sorrow. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. “Not purposely. I know you love him, but he’s bound to be hurt when you leave him behind.”
“So you’re going to keep us apart. That’s your plan, right?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a stupid plan.”
“Maybe, but Bobby’s my son, so I make all the decisions concerning his welfare.”
“Fine.” She clamped her lips closed as if she were holding back words. Her chest heaved with angry breaths. “You can leave now. And don’t come back. I don’t want to hurt you, either. I know how that feels.”
His insides froze at her parting shot and his fury burned hotter. “I didn’t think this was some type of payback. At least not before. Was this part of some sick plan? Were you trying to get me to fall in love with you so I would know how it felt to be left behind?”
“Are you saying you’re in love with me?” The mocking tone in her voice was painful. Apparently she wasn’t in love with him.
He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing how much he’d come to care for her. “That’s not what I said. But nice dodge. I notice you didn’t answer my question. But tell me, Charlotte, was your need for revenge so great you would hurt an already hurting child?”
“Right. My need to work has nothing to do with anything. It’s all about you. I’ve spent the past twelve years plotting my revenge. You figured it out.” She shook her head. “Your ego is so big I’m surprised you can carry it around.”
“Charlotte...” His voice trailed off as he realized how stupid he’d been. He knew she wasn’t heartless or vengeful. And she certainly would never hurt Bobby.
“Just go. And don’t come back.”
Chapter Nineteen
Charlotte dressed with care for her interview with the mayor. Too bad things had ended the way they had with Rick, because this job sounded like something she’d enjoy. And under other circumstances, if it was offered to her, she would accept it. But she’d foolishly fallen in love with Rick and he’d told her point-blank he didn’t love her. The past was repeating itself. Her heart would never heal if she lived in the same town with him, hoping he’d one day return her feelings. So she was accepting the other job and moving. Grabbing her purse, she left her house and climbed into her car.
The ride to city hall was short. For the first time in a long while, she actually looked at the scenery. The trees were filled with large green leaves that swayed in the gentle breeze. Flowerpots bursting with colorful blooms were strategically placed along the sidewalk. There were numerous black iron benches on either side of the road, where vacationers were taking a break from shopping and locals were sitting and visiting with friends.
The benches were new. Mayor Devlin had begun making little improvements since the beginning of his tenure. Many of the old guard had fought him tooth and nail about the expenditure, but he’d been up to the challenge. He’d won the battle and Sweet Briar was better for it. He’d been reelected last fall in a landslide.
Charlotte parked on the street and headed into city hall. The building looked the same as it had all her life. Her respect for the mayor grew as she realized he’d spent taxpayer dollars on improvements that would benefit the citizens and not wasted it on cosmetic changes that would benefit only himself.
Denise Harper, the longtime secretary for many mayors, looked up as Charlotte entered. She smiled professionally and led the way to the mayor’s office.
“Good morning,” he said, rising and circling his sleek, uncluttered desk. He offered his hand. “You’re right on time.”
“Good morning,” she replied, shaking his hand.
He led her to a seating group in the corner, waiting until she took a spot on the sofa before sitting in a chair across from her. She felt so comfortable with him. She would have liked working for him. Too bad she had to leave town. “I’ve taken a good look at the packet your human resources recruiter provided. It’s quite impressive.”
“Thanks. I enjoyed the work. It was often challenging, but always fulfilling.”
He nodded. “Let me tell you a bit about the position. It’s a new one, so you’ll have a lot of freedom to make it what it needs to be. Within reason, of course,” he added with a grin. “That’s the good news. The bad news is the salary.” He mentioned a number that was lower than what she’d been making, but not insultingly so.
“I can live with that.”
He nodded. “You’ve lived in Sweet Briar all of your life, so you’re well aware of what we have and what we lack. Your job would be to work with me to keep improving the town and publicizing those improvements. Right now we have several businesses geared specifically for tourists and a few small businesses that serve the town. We need more. Don’t worry. I’m not trying to turn Sweet Briar into another Chicago or New York.”
“Thank goodness,” Charlotte replied.
“But we can grow and offer more amenities without losing what makes us special. For instance, I’ve been looking into the possibility of attracting a minor-league baseball team. I’m also considering the feasibility of building a theater where we could produce shows throughout the year.”
“You could attract traveling shows and concerts,” she mused. “You would need an in-house director. And a fund-raiser. Not to mention a group of actors and staff to put on productions to fill out the year.”
“True. But if we do things right, we can draw visitors from neighboring states.”
She leaned forward, her interest growing. “What else are you thinking about?”
He smiled as if he knew he had hooked her. For the next twenty minutes he outlined plans for projects. Not all of them could be undertaken immediately. Some wouldn’t happen for another five or seven years. But they would help Sweet Briar to prosper without compromising the essence of the town. She tossed out a couple of suggestions of her own, thinking of ways to improve his plans.
Finally he leaned back in his chair. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re brilliant.”
“Well, that goes without saying. But feel free to say it to whoever you can get to listen. I meant about the job. Do you want it?”
“I do.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. They were a truth from her very soul. This job would be a perfect fit for her. “But I can’t take it.”
“Why not? Is it money? I might be able to find a couple thousand more dollars, but not much more.”
“No. I would love if the salary was higher, but no one works for small-town government in order to get rich.”
“That’s true. So what is the problem? If it’s something I can fix, I will.” He asked the question as if he was her friend and not her potential boss.
To her horror, her eyes filled with tears. She hated crying, especially in front of people. And during a job interview, no less. She blinked rapidly, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I have to leave town.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. She could get up and leave with her pride intact, but didn’t. Despite not knowing him well, she could tell he wanted to help. Before she knew what was happening, the words were tumbling out of her mouth.
“It’s Rick.”
“Tyler?”
“Yes. We were dating, but now it’s over.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I can’t stay in Sweet Briar. Seeing him would hurt too much.”
“I understand.” Mayor Devlin drummed his fingers against his thigh. “I’ll tell you what. I know you’ll be perfect for the job, so I’ll keep the position open for a few weeks, just in case things work out between you and Rick.”
