Page 7 of Unearthed Dreams (Sable Point #3)

Chapter Six

KAI

“Hey, pretty girl.”

I gripped Charlie’s sun-warmed shoulders, my big hands—probably cold from the air conditioning blasting in the grocery store—engulfing her small frame. She was a tiny fucking thing—except for her full tits, hips a man could grab and hold on to, and thick thighs that led to a round ass.

If I glanced around back, I was sure her ass cheeks were peeking out from those damn cutoffs. She didn’t have the flannel tied around her waist today—just a green tank, those beat-up Chucks, and a backpack that looked like it weighed more than she did.

It’d been three days since I’d seen her at the cidery opening, but I couldn’t get her out of my head.

Since Kels had died, women had been the furthest thing from my mind.

No need to get involved with someone else when one woman had fucked me up well and truly good.

Even now, two years later, I couldn’t decide if I felt more angry at her for why she was on the back of that motorcycle or sad because she was gone.

Charlie’s hurried apology snapped me back to reality. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. I was just?—”

I dropped my hands. “It’s fine. Where ya headed?”

“Oh, I—um, just looking for somewhere quiet to get some work done.” She hiked her backpack up and nearly toppled from its weight.

I grabbed one strap of her bag and slid it down her arm. Goosebumps broke out across her sun-kissed skin as my knuckles grazed her bicep.

“What are you doing?”

I let my actions speak for me.

I took the backpack from her and slung it across my shoulder, then started walking toward the crosswalk that would take us across the street to the bar.

A warm June breeze rustled through the trees lining Main Street, carrying the scent of fresh-cut grass and late summer flowers.

It was a quiet Tuesday morning, a few older folks getting their errands done or grabbing a coffee—not so much hustle and bustle that I was worried about being spotted leading this lamb into the wolf’s den.

Damn, she was barely old enough to drink. Had she ever even been in Callaghan’s before?

“Come on.” When I peered at her over my shoulder, her eyes darted between me and the direction I was heading.

She hesitated before jumping into action to keep up. “Where are we going?”

My jaw clenched. Two years of keeping to myself, and here I was, ushering the baby of the Everton family down the street like some kind of knight in tarnished armor. “The bar.”

“It’s not open.” For someone who seemed so quiet and shy, she had a little bit to her. I suspected that growing up with three older brothers meant she had to if she wanted to survive in that kind of chaos.

I would know. Growing up in a house of ten foster kids certainly wasn’t calm, and Kels—living right alongside me—was always at the center of the fray, pulling me along with her, whether I wanted to go or not.

“I know, Charlie.” I smiled—or did my best impression of a smile. “I run the place.”

Her brow relaxed a bit and the frown that marred her pretty face slowly tipped up. The sight gave me this fucking warm and fuzzy feeling that I was highly unaccustomed to. What was it about this girl—this ten-years-younger-than-me girl—that had drawn me in so wholly?

Charlotte Everton was Kelsey’s antithesis in every way.

Where Kelsey’s hair was platinum blonde, Charlie’s was a silky shade of chocolate.

Instead of cold, ice-blue eyes, Charlie’s were a comforting shade of stormy blue, like the sky just as the thunderclouds rolled in.

While Kelsey had stood a head shorter than my six-foot-four—less, when she was wearing the six-inch heels she loved so much—I had a solid foot on Charlie.

And the comparisons didn’t end there.

Where Kelsey was loud, Charlie was quiet.

Where Kelsey was outgoing, Charlie was introverted.

The list went on and on. It seemed strange that a person so opposite of the one I’d spend the better part of my life attached at the hip to could have captured my attention so thoroughly in such a short time.

But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.

Kelsey was chaos personified, and that was what life had been like with her. Here, in Sable Point, I’d been enjoying the slow pace, the quiet, the ease of small-town life. And if Kelsey was chaos, Charlie was peace.

“Where are your groceries?” she asked when we paused, waiting by my side at the crosswalk as a car rolled down Main Street. The driver, Mr. Laird, lifted a hand to wave, but his eyes widened when he recognized who I was standing with.

Fuck .

I took a big step to my left, putting some distance between us. Charlie side-eyed me.

“I don’t have cooties.”

A bark of laughter shot out of my mouth and startled the shit outta me. My expression must have given away my surprise, because she looked utterly fucking delighted with herself, chest puffed up with pride, like making me laugh was a gold-medal worthy achievement.

“I know you don’t have cooties, pretty girl. But I don’t need the whole damn town up my ass thinkin’ I’m doin’ somethin’ with you I shouldn’t be.”

Her brow furrowed and she pursed her full pink lips, but there was a mischievous twinkle in her pretty blue eyes.

“And what is it that you’re doing with me, Kai?” She planted a hand on one curvy hip and popped it.

Fuck.

She had no idea how sexy she was. The sass, the shorts, the shoes—they were all doin’ it for me .

What the hell was I doing with her?

“So, what are you working on?”

Charlie had come willingly at the promise of having a peaceful place to get shit done. I’d set her up at the bar so she wouldn’t be too far away while I got the place situated to open in a couple hours.

The dim lighting cast shadows across her face as she dropped her gaze to the scuffed bar top.

“I-I wrote a book.”

My heart skipped. “A book?”

A slight flush crept up her neck as she nodded. “A high fantasy romance novel.” The hesitancy in her voice made my chest ache.

“Are there dragons?”

Her lips curved up, just barely. “Yes, there are dragons.”

“Can I read it?”

“You don’t have to do that.” She waved a delicate hand.

“I want to.”

She shook her head, chestnut waves catching the neon beer signs. “I’m sure you have better things to do in your spare time than read my stupid book.”

The need to show her seized me. “Come with me.”

Confusion flickered across her face. “What? Where?”

Without a word, I strode behind the bar, past towers of liquor bottles and through the cramped storage room that smelled of cardboard and spilled beer.

The wooden stairs to my apartment creaked under our feet as we climbed.

The familiar musty scent of old paper grew stronger with each step.

When I reached the top of the stairs, I took a few steps into the small studio apartment and stopped.

I hadn’t realized how close behind she was, because she slammed right into my back.

The solid impact of her body against mine sent sparks down my spine.

“Ouch. Twice in one day. Good lord, you’re like a brick wall.”

I turned, fighting back a grin at her adorably wrinkled nose. “Sorry.”

Her deep blue eyes darted around the dim space. “Kai, what are we doing up here?”

My hand swept toward the organized chaos behind me.

Charlie edged around me, those expressive eyes widening as she took in the precarious towers of books covering every surface. Her mouth formed a perfect little O.

“Oh,” she breathed. My chest puffed up at the wonder filling her voice. “Wow.”

Kelsey had always thought my books were a waste of space and reading was a boring hobby. She preferred reality TV.

“So, can I read your dragon book?” I asked as Charlie drifted between the stacks, trailing her fingertip along worn spines. All I could picture was her tracing that finger along my spine.

“Umm, I don’t know. I’m no Tolkien. You’ll probably hate it.”

“Doubt it.”

I stood rooted to my spot by the door, but my gaze followed her graceful movements through the apartment. Having her here, in my space, was a mistake. Her presence was overwhelming me, but I knew better than to do anything about it.

I wasn’t right for her, and even if I was, I was in no position to give her what she deserved.

“I’ll think about it.” She peeked over her shoulder at me and smiled. It was small, soft—nothing fake or forced or manipulative about it—so unlike the smiles I was used to seeing.

It nearly unraveled me.

My control snapped and in two long strides, I was towering over Charlie. She spun to face me, tilting her chin up. I looked down at pretty face and the need to kiss her, to claim her, nearly brought me to my knees. It was like a sucker punch.

What is it about this girl?

Charlie was breathing faster, chewing on her bottom lip. My hand moved of its own accord, thumb pulling her plump, pink lip to free it from the assault. She let out a breathy little gasp and her pupils dilated.

Fuck , does she want me like I want her?

I traced along the shape of her mouth as she stared up at me, wide-eyed and questioning.

I had questions, too. Again, what the fuck is it about this girl? And, why can’t I stop this pull toward her?

But I didn’t have the answers, and I wasn’t sure I even wanted them.

I’d long thought the part of me that could want or trust or care for a woman died with Kelsey.

But Charlie was proving me wrong because I did want her.

Trust was earned. And caring for her? It would be a privilege only she could grant me .

But I could act on the want , as long as I was willing to risk my balls if any of her brothers found out.

Worth it.

I let my hand slide from her lips into her hair, leaned down, closing the distance?—

—and froze.

Panic had settled over her features like a storm cloud.

“Charlie?”

She opened her mouth to speak at the same moment my phone rang in my pocket, and she jumped back, knocking over a stack of books in the process.

“Oh, shoot. Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” I said as I dug my phone out of my front pocket.

It was a struggle, given how my cock was stretching the fabric.

She noticed, and her eyes comically widened as a blush colored her face and chest. Smirking, I finally freed my phone and glanced at the screen.

My expression fell in an instant at the name flashing there.

Pineview Cottage. They rarely called—only in emergencies.

I slid the button to the right, accepting the call. “Hello?”

“Hi, Kai. This is Gladys over at Pineview.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing to be alarmed about, sweetheart. Billy just took himself on a little adventure today. He was a little upset when we had to bring him back to his room, so we gave him a little somethin’ to calm him down. Just following protocol, letting you know.”

“He’s okay, though?”

“Oh, he’s doin’ just fine, sweetheart. As feisty as ever.” Gladys laughed over the line. “He’s a fan favorite around here, so don’t you worry.”

“Okay. And you’ll call if anything changes?”

“Sure will. You have a good rest of your day now.”

“Thanks, you too.”

When I ended the call, I looked up to find Charlie’s brow furrowed with worry, her arms wrapped around herself. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Billy just got into a little trouble, is all.”

At that, Charlie smiled. “Sounds about right,” she said, but then her smile dropped and that brow furrowed again.

“What?”

“How do you know Billy? I don’t think I’ve heard.”

“Yeah, I’ve kept that gossip locked down tight.”

Charlie’s expressive eyes gave every thought and feeling away. They flashed, like she knew there was a story there, but then settled her expression into a mask of indifference.

“Oh, no problem.” She flapped a hand in the air. “You don’t have to tell me. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have?—”

“Charlie, it’s fine. He’s my father-in-law.”

The widening of her eyes this time came with a look of horror. “Oh my god, you’re married?! But you—you almost just—” She backed away further, eyes darting around the room as if she was looking for an exit.

I approached her the way one would a startled animal—hands raised, voice quiet. “Shh, take a breath, pretty girl?—”

Her eyes, a dark shade of blue, flashed with anger. “Don’t you pretty girl me! You’re married!”

I crossed my arms over my chest while this tiny woman yelled at me. My next words came out harsh—harsher than I’d meant them to, but she wasn’t hearing me. “My wife is dead.”

Damn, this poor girl was running the gauntlet of emotions. Next up was shock, followed quickly by pity.

“Oh, Kai. I’m so sorry.”

I offered her a sad smile, but in truth, the grief had faded. It’d been replaced by a whole helluva a lot of resentment. Maybe that made me an asshole, but after the hell she put me through near the end, fuck, a part of me hated her for it.

“I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us.”

Charlie placed a gentle hand on my bare forearm. The barely-there touch lit up my entire system, out-of-use nerve endings waking up and sending goosebumps across my skin.

“Of course. Can I ask when it happened?”

“Little over two years ago.”

Her fingers lingered, along with her touch, her eyes glossy now. “Oh, wow. I didn’t even know Billy had a daughter.”

Not many did. Kelsey had been the product of a one-night stand on one of Billy’s trips down to Grand Rapids to gamble.

He didn’t even know she existed. So after Kelsey’s mom died of an overdose when she was thirteen, they placed her in foster care, and she wound up across the hall from me.

It wasn’t until we were out of the system and old enough to investigate our roots ourselves that me and Kels made our way to Sable Point to meet her father.

“They weren’t close.”

“Yet here you are, taking care of him and running his bar.”

“Here I am.”

Her eyes met mine and held.

This was getting too deep, too quick. Part of me wanted to spill all my dirt to this sweet, innocent girl, but I wouldn’t corrupt her with the sins of my past.

The thought was sobering.

Taking a big step back, I severed the contact between our gazes, between her hand and my arm. “I, uh, need to get back downstairs.”

She wrung her hands together, like she was trying to dull the ache that had erupted there. It must have been the same pain I felt at the loss of her touch.

“Oh, of course. I’m sorry for keeping you.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“Okay.”

We stood there staring again, neither wanting to leave the apartment, but likely knowing it was for the best.

“Let me at least pick up your books I knocked over. I’m such a klutz.” She turned, hurriedly trying to re-stack the toppled pile.

“Leave it.”

Her back snapped ramrod straight and she dropped the book she’d been holding to the floor.

It let out a loud clunk in the quiet room.

Once again, my tone had been harsher than intended, so it wasn’t surprising I’d startled her.

Most days, it felt like every soft and gentle part of me had died right along with my cheating wife.