Heartless Read online

  "Kind of fond of me? Huh? There's a guy sitting next to you isn't there?"

  "Yeah, I just got here."

  "I didn't ask where you were. You're going to have a conversation with yourself aren't you?"

  "Hell.. I don't know, I've only been in town for two days, Jules."

  "Really Charlie? Since when do you play the game?"

  Charlie leaned back into her chair and ran her fingers through her hair. She felt like a moron and was glad Jules picked up on her game as she tried to play it cool. "Oh, okay, So will you still be at my place when I get back?"

  "Oh my God. Really? Who the hell are you and what have you done with my best friend? Whatever, you know what, I'm going to go for a swim and then I'm going to use your fancy schmancy shower."

  She laughed, and forgot about her little game.

  "Stay out of my shower. It's far too advanced for your pea-sized brain. Besides, the idea of you being naked in there makes me want to vomit, so don't you dare."

  "Oh, just for that I am going to rub my ass all over everything you will ever touch. Gotta go, lots to do."

  "Asshole."

  "Bitch."

  Charlie hung up and was so fixated on her one-sided, phone call victory that she hadn't noticed Callie walk up.

  "Hi honey." Callie placed her hands on Charlie's shoulders and squeezed.

  "Hey, where the heck did you go? We left the furniture store at the same time." Charlie wrinkled her brow and looked back at her.

  "Sorry, I needed to mail something, and the line was a mile long. Christmas time is always busy."

  "I was going to get you a drink. I almost got you a tea, but I wasn't sure if that's what you wanted." Charlie shrugged.

  Callie must have noticed the sexy beast sitting at the table next to them because she wagged her eye brows up and down with a vicious smile. She pretended to pull out a chair next to Charlie, but it got hung up. She fumbled the with chair banging it back and forth on the legs of the table.

  Callie looked over to Mr. GQ and smiled. She grabbed the back of the chair next to him. "Do you mind if I borrow this chair?"

  "No, not at all. It's all yours," he said, and looked back and forth between them.

  "Thank you so very much," Callie said, and winked at Charlie.

  Charlie chewed on her lip to suppress her smile.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  Sam tried to focus on his work but he was too distracted by his mystery girl and her friend. He took a sip of his tea and used the opportunity to check her out again. They were engaged in a conversation, and he hung on every word.

  "So, I hear you gave Julian a room at your house," the blonde said.

  "Yeah, I figured he would try to move in, and I'm sure as hell not sharing my bed."

  Questions swirled in his head and he wanted to know who the hell Julian was. Was he her boyfriend? She said she didn't want him in her bed, so that had to be a good sign.

  "Well, I can't blame you there. He is the biggest slob that has ever lived." The blonde responded with a smirk. His dream girl rubbed her face with her hands and moved them out to her ears. Dark blue eyes caught his and lingered before she answered her friend.

  "Oh, God. What have I gotten myself into?" They both burst into laughter. His heart raced and he focused on her mouth as she laughed. "So, now that you've bought new furniture to go with your new house, how do you feel?" The blonde asked and leaned back in her chair.

  "I think we picked out some nice stuff. I hope Joe likes what I picked out for him." She gave him a casual but confident glance.

  Sam crinkled his brows and wondered who the hell Joe was. Then again, she was a gorgeous woman, so it would make sense that she'd be surrounded by guys. He was pulled out of his brooding when the blonde responded.

  "I don't think anyone knows his taste better than you." All Sam could see was the back of the blonde's head.

  "I wonder how Jules' girlfriend is going to feel about him having a room at my house."

  He shifted in his seat and forced himself to look away.

  Sam was glad the Jules guy had a girlfriend. He stretched his neck and tried to relieve his tense muscles. He shook his head and took a long drink of his tea. His mystery girl was gone from the table. Lost in thought, he hadn't noticed her walk away. He looked around for her and his eyes locked with the blonde.

  She smiled at him "This is a really nice place to sit and work, huh?"

  "Yeah, I love this place. I should have frequent flier miles as much as I'm here." He wanted to kick himself. Why don't you just tell her your here from five to seven every day, douche.

  "The scenery is just beautiful, isn't it?" she asked, and glanced toward the door. His eyes followed hers and they landed on his dream girl as she walked back toward the table.

  He turned to the blonde and said, "Yes, yes it is. Very."

  She smiled at him as his mystery girl sat down and slid a drink she just bought over to the blonde. She looked at Sam and back to her friend suspiciously. Her friend kept a straight face and took a drink without saying a word.

  "I don't know what you're up to, but I need to get going," She said, to the blonde. Sam needed to speak up or his chance would be gone. Come on chump, at least ask her name. She got up from the table, threw her cup away, and said her goodbyes to her friend. When she walked past him he spoke up.

  "I didn't catch your name. I'm Sam."

  "That would be because I didn't give it, Sam," she replied, with an a smirk.

  He laughed, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned back in his chair. Her answer was so unexpected he thought he'd fallen for her right then.

  She walked to her bike, pulled on her backpack and stuffed her hair into her helmet. With her bike started, she looked back over her shoulder at him before she kicked it into gear and rode off.

  "Charlotte," the blonde said.

  "Excuse me?" He wasn't sure if she meant her name or his mystery girls.

  "The beautiful brunette that just left, her name is Charlotte." They exchanged smiles as she rose from her chair and walked past him, disappearing around the corner.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  While she rode around for about an hour, she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. The most gorgeous guy she'd ever seen in real life tried to talk to her, and she'd shut him down before she even gave him a chance. Not letting anyone in, especially someone new, was nothing unusual for her. She flared her nostrils and shifted into third gear. What the fuck were they talking about? Charlie had no idea what was said while she was gone, and she ground her teeth when she imagined what came out of Callie's mouth in her absence.

  The truck in front of her slammed on its brakes and Charlie downshifted hitting her brakes harder than she should have. The rear tire of the bike swung around and came to a stop even with the front tire. Her heart raced and her face shield steamed up as she exhaled a hot breath. She flipped up her visor and took a deep breath trying to steady her nerves.

  When the light turned green, she swung around and doubled back to a shoe store a few blocks back. She needed to focus on something other than him.

  As she pulled into the parking lot, she backed into a spot next to an all black Jeep. It looked familiar. Her stomach fluttered and she wondered if it was his. Theres no way in hell that's his, wishful thinking. She pulled her helmet off and hung it from the hook behind her seat. Scooping her hair up into a messy bun, she slid her thumbs under her backpack straps and walked inside.

  She wanted to get a new pair of shoes she could ride in because her it was a pain to wear combat boots all the time. Charlie walked up each aisle in the women's department and rolled her eyes at all of the pumps. A gray pair of laceless Chucks caught her attention on the bottom of a shelf and she squatted down to pull out a size ten to try on. She wiggled her toes, jumped up and down and ran in place. She took them off, slipped into her boots and headed to the check out counter.

  There were a few people in line in front of her and she wasn't paying attention t
o any of them as she tried to fit both shoes back into the box. She eyed the guy in front of her and sucked in a breath as recognition washed over her.

  Holy shit, it's Sam. Time to put up or shut up, she leaned toward him.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  Sam shifted the pair of dress shoes in his hand from one to the other as he waited in line. He knew if he didn't stop then to get them, he'd put it off again and never get a new pair. He let out a shallow sigh and thought about Charlotte. She hadn't given him the time of day and for some reason he couldn't explain, it intrigued him more. A voice from behind him pulled him out of his own head.

  "Pardon me?" he asked, and turned around. His heart jumped into his throat when he saw her behind him.

  "I said, if I didn't know any better I would say you're stalking me." She looked amused.

  "If anything, you would be the stalker, and I would be the stalkee. You're behind me." He gave her a slight smile.

  "I wasn't aware that stalkee was considered a word in the English dictionary."

  "It may not be in Webster's, but it is in the Urban dictionary." His heart fluttered and his mouth went dry.

  "Urban Dictionary huh? Is that in the reference section next to the English Grammar For Dummies ?" She tilted her head and her hair fell back, exposing her long neck. He was momentarily stunned.

  She nodded past him. "The next register is open. It's your turn there, Webster."

  He smiled at her and walked over to the annoyed cashier. He was barely able to think as he paid for his shoes and glanced to the other registers for her. Not wanting to miss the chance to talk to her again, he could only think of one thing to say to her.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  Charlie straightened her back and tried to look confident as Sam headed toward her after he paid for his shoes. He looked like he was going to walk past her and her heart sank, knowing the game was over. He took her by surprise when he leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear.

  "It was nice being stalked by you. Until next time." His voice was deep and sexy. His breath was warm on her neck and it sent chills down her spine. She stood there, flustered, not paying attention to the cashier that waved her change in her face.

  "Uh, hello ... here's your change."

  "Huh? Oh, sorry." She grabbed her money and practically ran for the door, trying to catch up with him. She was pleasantly surprised to see him standing there as he chuckled to himself. She guessed he'd seen her bike, and he hadn't noticed her behind him yet, so she took advantage of the situation and approached him.

  "Something funny you would like to share with the rest of the class?" she asked.

  He turned to look to her with a smile that showed off his dimples and green eyes. "Oh, just that your stalking knows no bounds."

  Goosebumps raised up her arms when she looked at his mischievous smile. "And how do you figure that one Webster?"

  When he laughed, she hoped it was at the new nickname she'd given him.

  "You parked next to my Jeep. Out of all of these empty parking spots, you choose the one next to mine. Just like you chose the table next to mine at the cafe. I think you secretly just want to be close to me."

  If he only knew how right he really was, but she wasn't about to admit that to him. "I think you read into things a bit too much. But you can tell yourself whatever you want to help with that ego of yours." She walked toward her bike and he was instep right beside her. He leaned against his Jeep and crossed his arms.

  "Careful you don't want to scratch that pretty little paint job of yours." She stuffed her shoe box into her backpack and slung it on.

  "Oh, I promise you it's not little."

  Charlie bit the inside of her cheek as she stuffed her hair into her helmet. She climbed on her bike and paused, at a loss for words.

  "Until next time, Sam." She flipped her visor down, clicked her gear shift into first, and pulled out of the parking lot without a second look back.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Narrowing her eyes, Charlie stared at the white line on the road. She took her time getting home and rode around Callie's car in the driveway to park. Callie hadn't said anything about coming over and she wondered why she was there as she walked inside.

  Jules and Callie were at the table in the kitchen and her dad was on top of the counter in his new spot. The man never used a chair and she had no idea why they even had a dining table. She rubbed the back of her neck when they all stopped talking at the sight of her.

  "What?" She set her helmet down on the table.

  "Hi, honey, did you enjoy the rest of your afternoon?" Callie asked, like they weren't just talking about her.

  "Uh, it was fine. What were you guys talking about?" Charlie gazed at each one of them and tried to read their faces.

  "Oh nothing." Callie smiled and took a sip of whatever was in her coffee mug.

  "Yeah don't worry about it kid, it's no big deal."

  "I'm not buying whatever you're trying to sell. So if it's not a big deal, then just tell me what it is." She scowled at Jules face and knew he'd break.

  "We're talking about your birthday okay?" He looked at the floor just as something sailed across the room and hit him.

  "Ow. What was that for?" Jules scowled at Joe and picked up the orange that hit him.

  "No, we're not doing this. You know how I feel about my birthday, so whatever you're planning, cancel it now 'cuz it's not happening."

  "Charlotte, I don't understand why you never want to celebrate it. Nineteen is a big deal and I think we should do something." Callie glanced around at Joe and Jules waiting for them to chime in.

  "It's all because of the birthday curse mom," Jules said, with a pointed look.

  "Oh come on now, there is no birthday curse," Joe chimed in.

  Charlie's clenched her hands and narrowed her eyes at her dad. "I'm not dealing with this. You guys want to throw a party for yourselves, whatever but don't expect me to be there."

  "Okay, we won't talk about your birthday. Did you meet anyone new?" Callie was trying to diffuse the situation.

  "Someone new? What? I thought you were looking for furniture?" Joe leaned forward with his forearms rested on his thighs. He stared at her waiting for an answer.

  "I did buy furniture, and there's no one new. What the hell's with the third degree?" Her nostrils flared.

  Joe sat up and raised his hands in surrender.

  "Whoa, Charles, what's got your goat?"

  "Nothing." Charlie took a deep breath.

  "Whatever you say, kid." Joe shook his head and looked at Callie.

  Charlie rolled her eyes, stormed into the living room, and took the stairs two at a time. She stomped down the hall to her room and tossed her backpack on her bed. Jules startled her when he spoke. She didn't know he was behind her.

  "What the hell was that about?" he asked, and sat down on her bed.

  "You tell me. They start in on the birthday shit and then your mom starts asking dumb questions." She pulled off her boots and tossed them in her closet.

  "Uh, they were just giving you a hard time. You flipped the bitch switch when you snapped at your dad for no reason." He glared at her.

  "Whatever, dude. I don't feel like arguing." She turned her back to him and slid the shoe box out of her bag.

  "I'm not trying to start an argument, Charlie. I know you don't like celebrating your birthday. I get it."

  "Well obviously you don't. You guys want me to celebrate the day my mom died and how sick I was every year. I don't have happy birthday memories, and I'd rather just let it go by unnoticed."

  "You don't think I know that? Nothing bad has happened in two years and we thought maybe, just maybe, we could do something special for you. But no, you have to be an asshole about it."

  "I am not being an asshole," she growled, and turned to face him with her hands on her hips.

  "Whatever, we're going to go to dinner. Are you coming?"

  "No." She shook her head and scowled at him.

&nbs
p; "Fine, I guess call me when whatever crawled up your ass, crawls out." He walked out the door. Charlie lowered her gaze and stared at her comforter.

  She was frustrated, she knew she started the fight by asking what they were talking about, but they shouldn't have been talking about it to begin with.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  Drenched in sweat, Charlie rolled over and looked at the clock, it was too early to be awake. Her eyelids were heavy and all she wanted was to go back to sleep. She thought about how Sam's warm breath felt on her neck, and how he smelled like body spray and fresh linens. No matter how hard she willed herself back to sleep, it just wouldn't come. She let out a heavy sigh and smacked the bed.

  A warm bath always made her sleep and it didn't make her feel like she was going to pass out the way showers did. She passed across the cold slate bathroom floor to turn the bath water on and dug through boxes for some candles. When she found them, she lit and placed them one by one around the tub and across the counter top.

  With her hair tied into a messy bun on top of her head, she slipped out of her clothes.The candle light flickered across the ceiling like she was laying under the stars. She eased her tired body into the steaming sudsy water and leaned her head back against the edge of the tub. It was easy to relax as she closed her eyes.

  Jules always told her she was some sort of a ninja with a sixth sense because she always sensed him when he snuck up on her. That night was no exception, she knew he was standing there before she even heard him knock.

  Charlie rolled her head to face him. He was leaning against her bathroom doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.

  "Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

  "Nope, you gonna stand there with your eyes closed or you going to come talk to me?"

  Jules pushed off the wall and sat down against sink cabinets with his knees bent.

  "Well, seeing you naked makes me want to vomit." He wrinkled his nose.

  "Oh shut up. You can't see anything past all these bubbles." She rolled her eyes and paused. "Sorry I was a jerk." She frowned and stared at the water.