Heartless Read online

  "Dance with me," he said.

  She blinked a few times and tried to process his command. "What?" She turned to face him.

  "I said, dance with me." He stood in front of her with his hand extended.

  "I don't dance. Besides, no one else is dancing." Charlie shook her head.

  "There's no one behind us and you don't strike me as the type that worries what anyone else is doing. Come on." He reached over and grabbed her hand pulling her out of her seat and into him. Sam took her right hand into his and held it close to his chest. His other hand was on the small of her back as he held her right against him.

  Just breathe.

  She laid her free hand on his chest as they swayed back and forth to the song. He cupped the side of her face and his pulse drummed in her ears. Her breath sped up as he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers before pulling away. Charlie's senses went on high alert as he pulled her face toward his. Oh my God. His lips were soft but strong and he parted her lips with his. His tongue grazed her bottom lip and she was losing every ounce of self control she had. She pulled away, and her face felt numb.

  Charlie knew she was panting and realized he was too. She turned and sat back down at her table trying to regain control of the situation. Her mind said no, but her body said yes, and she didn't know what to do. Sam sat across from her with a puzzled look, but he didn't say anything. She forced herself to watch the band and chewed on the inside of her cheek.

  Her phone vibrated and lit up on the table. It was a text from Jules. Hey can you breathe?

  She picked up her phone and typed. What are you talking about?

  Oh I saw you, was wondering how long before you came up for air lol

  Charlie smirked and shook her head. She knew Jules was never going to let her live it down.

  Sam reached over and touched her arm. "Are you okay?" He looked concerned.

  She handed her phone over to him without looking up and heard him chuckle as he slid it back into her hand. She picked it back up and sent him another message.

  Where the hell are you?

  Giving you alone time with lover boy

  Did you set this up?

  Psh wish I could take credit but nope

  Are you coming back over here?

  Sam reached over and laced his fingers into hers and she no longer cared that Jules didn't respond. They played another song, she tapped her foot and sang along. Charlie glanced over at Sam and his eyes were on Florence as she rocked the microphone. Two songs went by without an answer from Jules.

  In a daze for the rest of the show, when the house lights came back on she saw Jules headed down the stairs. She jumped up and waved at him but he didn't see her. Calling him would be useless because he'd never hear it so she text him.

  Where the hell are you going?

  My buddy needs a ride. You need to find another way home! *wink wink*

  Are you fucking kidding me???

  Love you!

  You are so dead, Julian!!!!!!!

  Charlie watched the people headed to the stairs and realized she'd never make it to him through the crowd.

  What the hell am I going to do? Tell Sam, 'Oh, hey, by the way, my so-called date just bailed on me.'

  Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what to do. Worst case I can always call a cab home.

  "Is everything okay? Did I cross a line or make you uncomfortable? If so, I'm sorry."

  "Yeah, I mean...no...uh." Charlie flushed.

  "Then do you care to share with the rest of the class what you're upset about?" He flashed his dimpled smile.

  "My date-slash ride-slash ex-bestfriend just ditched me." She shrugged and tried to look indifferent even though she was livid.

  "He just left you here?" His voice was laced with anger.

  "Yup... He will be dead by tomorrow. So, if you don't see me again it's because I've been arrested for first degree, premeditated murder," she said with a nervous laugh.

  "In that case, we better make the most of your last night as a free woman."

  Relief washed over her. Thank God he has a sense of humor.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  It sucked that her friend ditched her, but it gave Sam the opportunity to be her knight in shining armor. He couldn't explain his need to protect her even though he was pretty sure she didn't need protecting. Sam wanted to get to know her better and see if there was anything behind their attraction.

  "We better get you home before your chariot turns into a pumpkin then." He pushed his chair back and offered his hand to her. They walked down the balcony stairs, stopped to grabbed his jacket from the coat check, and headed toward the valet. Even though the rain stopped, it was chilly, and Charlie shivered from the cold. Sam slid his jacket over her shoulders as they waited for his jeep. Without thinking, he ran his hands up and down her arms to warm her. Everything was natural with her, and he had to remind himself he'd only met her the day before.

  "I guess chivalry isn't dead," she said with a sweet smile.

  His Jeep pulled up, and he held her door open for her to climb in. Sam shut her door and walked around to tip the valet before he got in. Out of habit he set his phone on his docking station.

  "So where am I headed?"

  "The historic district." She glanced at him and then away.

  "Roger dodger."

  She laughed as he pulled out and he knew he sounded like a moron.

  "Feel free to look through my play list." He nodded to his iPhone. It was obvious they had Florence and the Machine in common, and he wondered what else she liked to listen to. She picked up his phone and scrolled through it. After a few minutes, Charlie set his phone back on the docking station. "Spellbound" by Lacuna Coil played through the speakers, and he couldn't believe she knew who they were.

  "Are you trying to tell me something with that song choice?"

  "Stop reading into things so much Sherlock, it's a good song," she said, with a small smile.

  He pulled up to a red light and used the opportunity to look at her. She pulled at the hem of her dress and smoothed it out with her finger tips.

  "So what's the deal with your friend leaving you high and dry?" He arched a brow at her.

  "I wish I knew." She shrugged.

  "Is this the best friend?"

  "Yup, may not be for long once he's dead."

  "You've been friends for how long?" He glanced at her and back at the road.

  "Since the womb, basically."

  "Let me get this straight... your life long best friend thinks it's perfectly okay to leave you with some strange dude at a bar?" He tried to keep the frustration out of his tone and hoped he didn't sound like a dick.

  "Well he knows you're not a complete stranger."

  "And how is that, exactly?" He peeked over and her eyes were on him as his heart thumped hard in his chest.

  "I've told him about you." She dropped her gaze and looked away.

  "Oh, you did, did you?"

  "Possibly."

  "What, exactly did you tell him?" Amused, Sam smiled at her.

  "I don't recollect."

  He laughed and thought about their sarcastic exchange the day before. "I can honestly say I'm happy I ran into you tonight."

  "So am I," she said.

  "Wow, a straight answer for once." He pulled up to stop sign and made eye contact with her.

  "It happens from time to time."

  "Apparently. Okay, were in the historic district. Where to?" The car behind them honked its horn.

  "Turn right here, left at that funky house, and stay on I think Applewood for a few blocks."

  Sam turned right and drove slow to take in the houses they passed.

  "These houses are amazing." He felt out of his league, all of a sudden.

  "Yeah, they are. Turn right here. It's the white and gray one on the left."

  Sam pulled into her driveway and sank back in his seat with a wide eyed expression.

  "Wow." He took in the monster Victorian in front
of them.

  "Yeah, I guess you could call it my dream house."

  "And here I thought you said you didn't have any dreams." He smirked.

  "It's a reality now, so it doesn't count."

  "Oh, is that how that works?"

  "Something like that."

  She didn't bolt from the Jeep as soon as he pulled into the driveway, which he took as a good sign. He wanted to tell her how he felt but didn't know if it would scare her off. Sam took a deep breath and decided it was time to put up or shut up. He turned off the engine and turned toward her. She watched him intently.

  "Charlotte, I..."

  "Call me Charlie."

  "Okay, Charlie... I have to be honest with you ..." Before he could finish, her face looked like she was anticipating him dropping a bomb on her.

  "I don't like to play games," he continued. "I'm very interested in you and I haven't stopped thinking about you since the moment I first saw you." He rubbed the back of his neck.

  "That was very honest." She turned her body toward him and leaned against the door.

  "I've scared you...I'm sorry...shit."

  "No, you're fine. I... I'm just not very good with this kind of stuff."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I may not word things right." She laughed like it didn't bother her.

  "Well, I tend to stick my foot in my mouth, so try me."

  "I'm still trying to wrap my head around whatever is going on here."

  They sat in silence for a moment as music played quietly in the back ground. Sam wasn't sure what was going on either, but he didn't want it to end.

  She smoothed out her dress and looked up at him. "I had a great time today, both times I got to see you. Thank you for the dance, this was definitely the best birthday I've had in a long time."

  Charlie leaned toward him and stopped. She seemed unsure before she closed the gap between them and gave him a swift peck on the lips. She pulled away and her hand was on the door handle. Sam reached out and grabbed her arm bringing her back to him. He slid his hand up the side of her face and kissed her top lip softly. He pulled her bottom lip between his, released it and parted her lips with his tongue. Their tongues danced together slowly. She broke away and planted a quick kiss on his lips before she opened the door and stepped out. He sat there, reeling from the kiss.

  "Until next time," she said before she closed the door and walked up to her front door. Charlie looked back at him and smiled before she disappeared inside. He laid his head back against his seat and laughed to himself.

  This girl is going to drive me insane.

  ♥♥♥♥♥

  Charlie rolled over in her bed and looked at the clock. It was eight thirty and it took her moment to realize the night before wasn't a dream. She pulled her covers tight around herself as thoughts of Sam flooded her mind. Charlie ran her fingers across her lips with a smile and remembered how soft his felt against hers.

  What the hell is happening to me?

  She knew better than to let anyone new in, especially someone she'd just met, but there was something was different about Sam. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard a text ping on her phone and she dug around the covers on her bed, chasing the sound. She hoped Sam noticed she'd snuck her info in his contacts while she was looking through his playlist. A pang of disappointment rippled through her when she saw it was only Jules. She had unfinished business with him and he was going to get it.

  Hey, you make it home ok?

  Her thumbs hit the screen hard. Yeah, no thanks to you, prick.

  Are you seriously mad?

  YES! Ok, not really.

  So it went well then?

  I guess you could say that.

  Her phone pinged twice. One was Jules response of Well? and the other showed a message from an unknown number. Charlie's heart fluttered, and she was giddy for one of the first times her life. She opened the message and smiled at it like a bubbling idiot.

  Good morning, Ninja.

  She didn't want to seem to eager and respond right away. Who the hell am I right now? Sam brought out a side of her she was unfamiliar with and she wasn't sure how to tread. She took a breath before she typed her response and stared at it for a minute before she hit send.

  Ninja?

  Yes, Ninja. That is my reasonable explanation of how you got your number in here without me noticing.

  I know nothing of what you speak.

  No complaints here, was a pleasant surprise.

  Good to know.

  Her phone pinged again.

  Would you like to join me for breakfast?

  She jumped out of bed, ran into the bathroom to get ready and brush her teeth. Holy shit, he wants to see me again. Her hair was still in decent shape, but she tossed it up into a messy bun. The sound of her phone's incoming text made her jump, and her stomach fluttered as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

  Who are you right now?

  She padded into her closet to slip on her favorite tattered jeans and a long sleeved white t-shirt. Her boots were nowhere in sight. Frustrated, she dug through her closet looking for them.

  "Where the hell did I throw you bastards?" she mumbled. She threw her hands up and walked over to her bed to check her phone. Both messages she'd heard were from Jules.

  Hello?

  Fuck this ... I'm coming over

  She scrambled to text him back because knowing Jules, he was already dressed and on his way over for interrogation.

  No, I wont be here.

  Where the hell are you going?

  Breakfast

  With?

  Sam...

  No shit? Damn, dude.. Get it.

  She laughed as she tossed her phone onto the bed and put her socks on. It dawned on her she hadn't responded to Sam's message, and pulled up his text. She typed I'd love to and stared at it for a second before she shook her head at the screen and deleted it.

  Sure

  Great, would you like me to come get you?

  I can meet you. Where?

  Do you know where the pancake house is on Main?

  I can find it.

  Want to say in about a half hour?

  K, See you there.

  Charlie laid back on her bed and put her hands behind her head. She didn't know how much was she willing to reveal about herself or her past to him. She needed a pep talk or she was going to cancel, so she called Jules and he picked up on the second ring.

  "Hey," he answered.

  "I can't do this." She closed her eyes as panic rose inside of her.

  "The hell you can't. You better go."

  "I don't think I can, Jules..."

  "Charlie, I say this with all the love in the world. Don't be a fucktard."

  "How am I being a fucktard?" She threw her arm over her face.

  "Dude, I have never seen you like you were last night. It was refreshing to see you join the human race."

  "Wait, what the hell is that supposed to mean?" She sat up on the edge of her bed and scowled.

  "Exactly what it sounds like. Stop over thinking it. Pull your head out of your ass and embrace this. It's a good thing, Charlie."

  "What if he wants to know more about me? I think maybe I could tell him, but I barely know him. This is just too much. I don't do this, dude."

  "I know you don't, and that's why you need to. You need to trust someone for once, and I think it's worth taking the chance."

  "How the hell could you tell if it's worth taking a chance?"

  "I'm a guy. I know how guys act around chicks. We either treat them like they're a conquest. Or, we are actually interested in something more."

  "More?"

  "Yes, more. And trust me on this one, he wants more."

  "I don't know that I can give him that." She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

  "You owe it to yourself to try."

  "What if I fuck it up?"

  "Then you go down in a blaze of glory, but at least you put yourself out there long enoug
h to see."

  She rubbed her face furiously and knew he was right.

  "Stop rubbing your face and go to breakfast. Call me after. I'll come over, and you can tell me during swim therapy."

  She swore he was hiding around the corner and could see her. Jules knew her better than she knew herself.

  "All right. I'll call you later."

  "Charlie?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Just go with it, okay?"

  "I'll try."

  Charlie hung up, not knowing if she felt better or worse. She'd dated over the years, but she vowed to never let herself emotionally attached to anyone after her first love broke her heart. She crossed her room, grabbed her new converse and slid them on. She glanced at the clock on her phone and realized she had wasted a shit load of time as she hustled down the stairs.

  Charlie jumped on her bike, started it and sped off toward Main Street.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Charlie's nerves were on edge as she pulled into the parking lot of the cafe and parked in an empty spot a few spaces down from Sam's Jeep. He wasn't outside so she assumed he already went in and got them a table.

  A bell above the door dinged as she pushed it open and walked inside. She stopped at the 'wait to be seated' sign and looked around, spotting him at a table.

  "One?" The hostess asked.

  Charlie nodded her head toward Sam. "No, he's already here, thank you."

  A petite blonde was leaning against the edge of the booth twirling her hair and laughing. Charlie stopped in front of the booth and waited for the girl to move but she didn't.

  "Can I help you with something?" She raised an eyebrow and eyed Charlie with a smirk.

  A smile pulled at Sam's lips as he looked up and met her eye. "Good Morning, sunshine."

  Charlie narrowed her eyes at the waitress blocking her seat. "It's morning, I'm not sure how good it is yet." She smirked as the girl pushed off the booth and walked away.