Chasing Charlie: A Romantic Comedy (The Texas Two-Step Series Book 1) (5 page)

"You can let go now."

She did, sending him off balance. She kept walking at a steady pace.

Davis hurried to catch up. Something obviously was eating at her. "What’s wrong?"

She stopped and turned to face him. "Let’s get one thing clear here. I’m not one of your women, Davis. I’m a free agent who’s simply trying to help out. You got that?"

"I never said you were."

"Well, that kiss back there said something else."

It had only been a brief little kiss, even if it had hit him in his solar plexus. But she was overlooking one detail. "You kissed me back."

"I’m not sure I did."

He grinned.

"Even if I did kiss you, it must have been because of all that punch," she gritted out, then started her march again. When she reached his car, she crossed her arms and waited for him to open the door.

Davis felt a surge of confidence. It hadn’t been the non-alcoholic punch. Deny it all she wanted to, but she liked him.

He unlocked her door, noticing that she stepped out of reach while he did so. "You’re right. You aren’t like other women. Truce?"

Relenting, she dropped her arms to her sides as she got in the passenger seat. "I’ll think about it."

W
hen they reached her apartment
, Charlie tried to get Davis to stay in the car, but he insisted on escorting her all the way home. Not knowing what she could say to discourage him, she shrugged, then marched ahead as if they weren’t together. Upon arriving at her door, she offered her hand. "Good night."

Rather than shaking hands, Davis stuck the shoe box into her outstretched palm, then reached up to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Thanks again for everything."

She stiffened as he paused and she wondered if he was going to try kissing her again. Instead, though, he leaned close and kissed her forehead, then walked away.

She watched him sashay to his car, evidently pleased with himself, and she wanted to do something to even the score. At least he wouldn’t have the last word. "Don’t forget to buy me a ring."

That stopped him. He turned to face her. "Thanks. I’d forgotten that."

Not exactly the reaction she’d hoped for, but it was a start.

He shot her a chagrined smile. "Do you know your ring size?"

"Six."

He nodded, then walked a few paces back toward her. "Are you sure you don’t want to pick it yourself? I’m not good at this kind of thing."

"There’s no way I’m going to go buy my own engagement ring, even if it is a bogus engagement." She wasn’t going to let him off the hook. "This is something you’ll have to do on your own."

"But aren’t there different types and styles?" he wheedled, probably trying to make himself sound dumb and male.

On the other hand, all the indications showed he
was
a dumb male. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t want to be a cowboy.

"I don’t even know if you want yellow gold or white."

"I’m sure you’ll have no problem, Davis." She stepped into her apartment. Then she smiled. As she closed the door, she added, "Just buy one with a diamond to match your ego—extra-large."

T
o the sound
of Davis’s laughter, Charlie bolted her apartment door. She headed to the kitchen as always when she was upset.

The man was too good at this couple business and she didn’t like feeling this out of kilter, out of control.

She kicked off the killer shoes and swung open the refrigerator. Time for more chocolate pie.

When Joanne returned from her date, Charlie sat at the bar with her empty plate in front of her.

"You didn’t eat it all, did you?"

Charlie patted her abdomen. "I may have to buy all new clothes after this binge."

Joanne grabbed a glass of milk and talked to Charlie through the bar pass-thru. "You didn’t have fun with Davis?"

"Not hardly. He’s the most pig-headed, arrogant man I’ve ever met." She wasn’t going to let herself think about the moments when he’d actually been enjoyable to be around.

"Sounds like most men. What did he do to set you off?"

"He kissed me," Charlie said, accusingly.

Joanne laughed. "What’s so bad about that?"

"His mother saw us."

"I bet that was uncomfortable."

Charlie buried her face in her hands. "He’s a cowboy, or the next thing to it. How could I kiss him?"

"I thought he kissed you."

"I might have kissed him back."

"Aren’t you sure?"

Charlie moaned. "It must have been a reflex action."

Joanne handed her a glass of water and two aspirin. "Wash ’em down, sweetie, and look on the bright side."

Charlie took the aspirin. "What bright side?"

"You don’t ever have to see him again."

"That’s what you think. His plan worked too well. We’re spending the weekend together."

"What?!" Joanne looked at Charlie as if she’d gone off the deep end. "When I said to loosen up a little, I didn’t mean—"

"It’s far worse than that. His mother is getting married next weekend."

"That’s great."

"Just great. Fantastic even." Bubbles of hysteria rose in her chest. "I’m going to be her maid of honor."

"You mean you’re going to be his fiancée for an entire weekend? I hope you know what you’re doing."

"I haven’t a clue." What was it about the Murphys that made her do things she had no intention of doing? "I think I’ll bake another pie."

T
he entire week
had been quiet, almost too quiet. Everything had been silent on the Murphy front. There was nothing this Thursday morning indicating it would be any different.

Sitting at her desk at the library, Charlie reached over and picked up the jingling phone receiver. "Research, Charlie Nelson speaking. How may I help you?"

She’d said the same spiel so often, she did it at home by accident and suspected she did it in her sleep, too. This time, however, it wasn’t a library customer calling.

"Charlie? This is Ellen Murphy, dear."

"Ellen?" Charlie hadn’t expected Davis’s mother to call. If anything, things had been so calm at home and work this week she was sort of hoping she’d been forgotten. No such luck.

"How are you doing, dear?"

Charlie jammed her pencil into the silver cup on her desk, accidently tumbling the contents. "Just fine. And you?"

"It’s been a marvelous week, frantic but lovely. I’m calling for a couple of reasons. First is to discuss the wedding. We never talked about what you should wear, and I thought you’d feel more comfortable if we discussed it."

"Oh, that totally slipped my mind," said Charlie as she grabbed at writing implements rolling from her desk. She bent to retrieve a couple of pens. "I’m so glad you called."

Her forgetfulness showed how in denial she’d been about this weekend. She hadn’t considered what to pack. If Ellen hadn’t called, Charlie would have spent the next afternoon in a panic, wondering what to wear. "Do I need to buy a dress?"

"I feel guilty for not calling you sooner. The wedding is going to be informal. I’m going to wear a suit, so hopefully you already own something that will work?"

"I’ve got a couple of dresses or a suit that might work." She tried to visualize wearing her navy suit. Too conservative for a wedding. She’d look like she was attending a funeral. Maybe one of her dresses. "Do you have a color preference?"

"I think you’d look lovely in blue, but any color will do. I saw a couple of dresses at Rose’s Dress shop at the mall which might do if you need to buy something. The prices were very reasonable. But, honestly, dear, any color will be fine. Have you given any thought to your colors?"

"My colors?" For a moment, she couldn’t think what Ellen meant. Charlie’s brain finally kicked in. "Oh, you mean for my wedding? Davis and I haven’t talked about details yet."

"Oh, well." Ellen sounded disappointed, but then her tone became cheerful. "I’m sure you have plenty of time to decide on all these pesky details. I’m so looking forward to getting to know you better, which brings me to the other reason I called. What time do you generally finish up at work?"

"I get off at five." Charlie spotted some loose change that had spilled from the cup, as well as several paperclips. She threw them in her desk drawer.

"Perfect!"

Charlie realized she should have asked why before answering. She stopped herself from screaming, "What now?"

"A few of my friends are putting together an impromptu bridal shower for me today at five thirty." She laughed. "They thought the perfect place for a send-off is Murphy Title’s conference room, so that’s where it’ll be held. Do you think you can make it?"

Charlie desperately tried to think up some excuse for not going but her brain seemed to be malfunctioning.

"I’m looking forward to introducing my future daughter to my friends. You can make it, can’t you?"

Charlie’s stomach sank. How many people were going to become embroiled in Davis’s little scheme? Sooner or later, this was all going to come back to haunt her, and she suspected it would be sooner, not later. "I may have a conflict but I’ll do my best to come."

"Thanks so much, dear. I’ll let you get back to work. Do try to come. I’d love to have the chance to chat."

"I’ll do my best. Thanks so much for calling. I’m ashamed that I hadn’t thought to ask you about what to wear." Charlie found another pen and placed it in the cup, then wiped off her desk.

"Don’t worry. Davis is like his father. When we were engaged, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going." Ellen laughed, "I’m sure Davis has you as confused as I was."

"I’m relieved you understand."

"Oh, I do. And here’s a tidbit to relieve your mind." Ellen paused. "At least it was in my mind during Davis’s father’s courtship. Murphy men play the field before marriage, but once they make a choice, they take it seriously. They mate for life."

"That’s reassuring." She wondered if Murphy wives were known for their rose-colored glasses. She couldn’t imagine Davis ever deliberately choosing to settle down. "Thanks for telling me."

"Good. See you later, I hope."

After hanging up the phone, Charlie placed her head in her hands. She’d been doing that a lot lately. Rubbing her temples, she fought off the headache that threatened. She didn’t have time for it. Somehow, she had to figure out what to wear to the wedding, and if she didn’t have anything suitable, she’d have to buy something.

And then there was the shower. She had to make up her mind.

The phone rang again. "Research, Charlie Nelson. How may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Lily del Rietz. I’m president of Murphy Title."

"How can I help you?"

"We’re throwing an impromptu wedding shower for Ellen Murphy today and I called to invite you. It’s at five-thirty at Murphy Title."

"Yes, Ellen called, too."

"Oh great, you’re coming then. We’re all dying to meet the woman who finally lassoed Davis’s heart." Lilly chortled. "You should have seen him mooning around here until you agreed to marry him. Kept referring to you as an elf."

Charlie bit back a laugh. Elf was probably his substitute word for something not quite so polite. "I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do my best to be there."

"Thanks. I’m looking forward to meeting you."

The headache Charlie had been fighting came roaring to life as she hung up the receiver. Immediately, the phone rang again. She cautiously lifted it. "Research, Charlie Nelson."

"Charlie! This is Jim."

"Oh, hi." Not another of Davis’s cohorts. "If you’re calling about the shower—"

"I see someone else beat me to the punch. Are you going?"

"I’m not sure if I’ll be able to—"

"I sure wish you would. Davis told me all about his scheme. I’d sure appreciate it if you went tonight. It would make Ellen mighty happy."

"It wouldn’t be wrong to go?" She pulled a pencil from the cup and twiddled it in her fingers.

"Staying away would be worse. Now, don’t forget to get your ring from Davis first."

"Shoot. I’d forgotten all about the ring."

"Ellen will want you to show it off to all her friends."

The pencil snapped. Looking down, she saw she’d broken it cleanly in half. "I’ll give Davis a call and see what he wants me to do."

"You do that, hon. Now, I’ve got an appointment, so I’d better let you go."

"Thanks for calling."

As she hung up, Charlie asked herself how all this had started. She’d wanted to take a few little risks. Baby-step risks. Something small. And what had it gained her? A whole community of people to deceive.

The red dress. That crimson man-trap must be cursed. All she’d done was buy one little red dress. Who would suspect it could cause all these problems?

She should have known there was no such thing as small risks. They came in only one size, extra-catastrophe.

The phone jingled again. Charlie hesitated before answering it. "Research. Charlie Nelson."

"Hi, Charlie, we need to talk."

Philip’s voice grated down her spine. Who else was going to call today? She never received personal calls at work, or at least so rarely she could count the calls for the past month on one finger. "What’s up?"

"I’ve done some thinking, and I believe you’re wrong about not seeing each other. I was serious when I proposed."

She couldn’t help but suspect the only reason he’d even thought of marrying her was because she’d dumped him before he had the chance to think of it first. What was it about the forbidden that seemed to appeal to men? "We don’t have anything in common. I think that says it all."

"Meet me for dinner tonight and let’s talk."

"I already have plans." Plans to either attend a shower or hide under her bed.

"You’re going out with that Neanderthal again, aren’t you?"

"No, Philip." Not only hadn’t he been the one to break up with her, now he was jealous because another man seemed interested.

She thought of all the lonely nights she’d spent over the years. If only she’d realized that the secret to getting a man’s attention was making him believe he had competition. And if that was true, surely the reverse would be as well. "That was just a joke. He’s not seriously interested in me. I’m going to a bridal shower tonight. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to work."

"If you’re sure you don’t want to reconsider my proposal?" He sounded a lot less certain himself. So much for being serious and wanting to talk.

"No. I have to run now. Bye." Biting back a laugh, Charlie replaced the receiver. What was happening to her?

The phone chirruped again. She snatched up her handbag and literally ran from her desk. No telling who was calling now and what they’d want from her. She might have known the peace couldn’t last.

As she headed toward her car, she saw Jane behind the checkout desk. "I’m going to lunch."

"But it’s only ten forty-five!"

Not even eleven o’clock? She checked her watch. Sheesh. It felt like the end of the day. "I’m starving. I’ll be back." Rushing out the door, she made a beeline for her car.

She’d simply had to get away from the phone. Tossing her bag into the passenger seat, she started the engine. But where should she go? Charlie steered her car in the direction of the mall and Rose’s Dress Shop.

It probably wasn’t a bad idea to look at some dresses. Every time she’d opened her closet this week, all her outfits seemed dull and drab. She could use something more colorful, although she would steer clear of any shade of red.

O
n Thursday morning
, Davis picked up Jim on the way to the mall, glad for the company. He’d put off buying a ring for Charlie for as long as his conscience would let him. But they were supposed to go to the lake on Friday and he didn’t have much time left.

There was just something about buying an engagement ring that made it seem so real, rather than the masquerade it really was. At least the mall would have window displays and lots of choices.

The parking lot wasn’t as crowded during mid-week as it was on weekends, making parking easy. Entering the mall through a side entrance, Davis saw they were almost alone in the spoke of shops leading from the main mall area.

The sound of their footsteps seemed to echo off the glass windows showcasing the stores’ wares.

As they neared the store directory, Jim spoke up. "I’m glad you’re buying Charlie a ring."

"Well, if I didn’t, Mom would suspect something was wrong."

"Are you telling me you still aren’t serious about Charlie? I’ve always wondered about what drove you to date so many women, but wrote it off to not having met the right girl." He shrugged. "I never thought I’d have a fool for a stepson."

Davis didn’t like being called a fool, even by Jim. He glanced around, thankful no one was in earshot. "What is this? You knew from the beginning the whole engagement thing was strictly for Mom’s sake."

"Anyone who’s met Charlie knows what a gem she is and how exactly right she is for you. I expected you to be smart enough to see that."

"I don’t want to argue with you, Jim, but I’m having the time of my life right now. Why would I want to get hitched other than to make sure Mom marries you?"

"Have you considered the fact that you’re surrounded by people but you’re going to be terribly alone once your Mom and I head out to Tokyo? Your life is empty, Davis, and once you get that ranch you’ve been working toward, it’s not going to mean a hill of beans without someone to share it. Cows make lousy company and you won’t even have Murphy Title to keep you occupied."