Chasing Charlie: A Romantic Comedy (The Texas Two-Step Series Book 1) (6 page)

Davis didn’t bother considering whether Jim was right. He clenched his jaw, determined to keep his temper in check. He hadn’t given Jim any reason to think he was more serious about Charlie than any other woman. He’d been totally up-front about his motivations for bringing her into their lives. If it weren’t for needing a fiancée, he’d never have considered dating her. Jim was dead wrong. "I have plenty of female company."

"That’s not what I mean and you know it." Jim reached the store directory and turned to face Davis. "I hate to give you lectures as if I was your father, but I’ve always felt as though you were the son I never had. Even if that wasn’t the case, I’d owe it to you as a friend."

Davis shifted uncomfortably. He opened his mouth to speak but Jim interrupted him.

"Before I drop the subject, I have to ask if you aren’t denying this a little too much?"

Davis sighed, his gaze focusing on the large clock in the main mall, rather than on his friend.

Jim continued, "You’re so stubborn about living the bachelor’s life, you can’t admit there are fantastic advantages to giving it up. Believe me, I know. Dates with a thousand women couldn’t compare to what I have with your mother. I just hope it won’t be too late when you learn that lesson. Now, let’s go find that jewelry store."

"I’ll think about it, Jim. I’ve always valued your advice, but you’re dead wrong on this one. Charlie would drive me nuts within a week and you’d find me on your doorstep in Japan begging you to hide me." Davis smiled and relaxed a little as they moved on. "But I’ll keep an eye out for someone who might suit me. I never said I wouldn’t. Those long, cold nights would be warmer in front of a crackling fire with a wife and a couple of kids."

"As long as you’re keeping an open mind, then I’ll close my mouth. I really did think you and Charlie hit it off, the way the two of you were going at each other. One thing you can say for her—she doesn’t blend into the woodwork."

"You’re right there. Whenever she’s around, I feel like we’re back in grade school taking turns sticking toads in each other’s desks." Davis grimaced. "While I appreciate your wanting to look out for me, I have something a little different in mind when choosing a wife."

W
hen Charlie got
to the mall, the clock was just chiming eleven o’clock. Up ahead, she saw someone who closely resembled Davis from the back. But it couldn’t be him, could it? The man was dressed in a designer suit, like Davis. And like Davis, he wore cowboy boots.

Accompanying him was a gentleman who bore a striking resemblance to Jim Turner. Was it possible she’d run into them?

She watched them casually stroll toward a jewelry store and was rewarded with the men’s profiles as they studied the window offerings. It was Davis and Jim.

Charlie wondered whether she should head the other way or greet them. Hiding was tempting, but if she tried that, she was certain to be caught.

As she walked up to join them, Jim pointed out a ring, but Davis shook his head.

"Shopping for yourselves, gentlemen, or for a gift?" she asked.

"Hi, Charlie," said Davis with a friendly smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Heavy dress shopping again," she said. "When I buy one, do you want to carry it again?"

Davis gave her a sheepish grin. "If you’d like."

Jim turned and greeted her with a firm handshake. "I think you got here just in time. Davis doesn’t like any of the engagement rings I’ve pointed out. I think the two of you should select one together."

"Well, an idea did occur to me." She wasn’t quite sure whether would Davis would like the idea, but it would salve her conscience as well as save him money.

"Good," said Jim. "I’ll leave you to it."

"Wait a sec," said Charlie, but Jim dashed off down the mall before either of them could stop him.

Charlie laughed. "You must have been making a real chore out of ring shopping, Davis."

"Somehow I think this is your fault more than my own," he replied. "This ring business is difficult. Why don’t I give you my credit card and—"

"If we’re back to that, I won’t tell you about my wonderful idea." Charlie tossed her head.

"So, what’s your idea?"

"Are you through blaming things on me?"

Davis sighed. "I won’t blame you anymore. Now, what’s your idea?"

She bit her lip, then slowly grinned. "Well, there’s this knock-off store here, on the upper level of the mall. It’s got rhinestone and cubic zirconia copies of the big name designer rings, set in gold. They’re cheap and they look real. We could get something really showy for about five hundred dollars. What do you think?"

"No fiancée of mine would wear paste."

"Oh, it’s not paste. After our engagement is over, I won’t feel bad about keeping the ring. What do you say?"

"I suppose it won’t hurt to look." Davis set his jaw in a stubborn expression. "But if they look fake, I’m going to buy you the real thing. You can keep it any way."

"There’s no need to buy real diamonds. Our engagement is as phony as the knock-off rings."

"Lead on, McElf."

D
avis had
to hand it to Charlie. She even made jewelry stores fun. By the time they’d finally settled on the perfect engagement ring, she had everyone in the store laughing, including a couple of society matrons who’d been trying to shield their identities.

As he paid for the ring, Charlie stood outside the shop in conversation with a library patron. Earlier, Davis had seen a rhinestone pin shaped like a cowboy hat. He grabbed it and purchased it as well.

After the sales clerk gave him his bag with the two jewelry boxes tucked neatly inside, Davis rejoined Charlie outside the store. "Do you have time for some lunch?"

"Not really, but we do need to talk. Your mom called today."

"She did?"

"She invited me to her bridal shower this evening."

As they talked, they descended the escalator and found a quiet table on the edge of the food court. Davis pulled out her chair and then took a chair of his own. "I’m sorry this is turning into a lot more than I’d originally asked."

"Me, too. I feel as if I have the word ‘fraud’ stamped on my forehead." Charlie shook her head. "Maybe I shouldn’t go this weekend after all."

Davis’s heart sank. She was right. He kept asking more and more of her and it really wasn’t fair. "All I wanted was to see Mom happy."

Charlie reached out and patted his hand. "I know. I have to admit, I want her happy, too. But this is all more involved than I’d imagined."

He held himself totally still. If Charlie backed out now, what would his mother do? Would she go through with marrying Jim? Would she ever speak to Davis again? Not wanting to give away how important it was to him, he tried to keep all expression from his face and voice as he asked, "Are you saying you can’t go through with this?"

Charlie lowered her head. "I don’t know."

He breathed in a quick lungful of air. So it wasn’t hopeless. He remembered the mailbox, the cupid, the laughter in the jewelry store. "We’ve had a lot of fun, haven’t we?"

She looked up, smiling. "Yes."

"Charlie—" Would it be fair to beg her to keep up the ruse? Most of all, though, he didn’t want to stop seeing her. Somehow, she’d worked her elfin magic and he’d spent the entire week thinking about her silly dimple. How she’d have appreciated a joke or rolled her eyes at something someone said. How he felt on top of the world when he was with her. If it took begging, he’d do it. "It wouldn’t be for much longer and it means a lot to my mom." It did to him, too, but he couldn’t go admitting it.

"So I suppose I have to attend the shower tonight." Charlie sighed, looking resigned. "I’ll stop in and leave early."

"Thanks." He opened the bag and pulled out the jewelry boxes. "Guess we’d better make this official."

"Don’t even think about it," she growled.

Davis flipped open the ring box. "Think about what?"

"Don’t get any ideas that this is anything more than a temporary engagement as we originally agreed. No more, no less."

Again, Davis froze. Did she mean that if he was seriously offering to marry her she’d say no? He honestly believed she was attracted to him. What was it about him that she found so wrong? He bit back a taste of irritation. It wasn’t as if he’d even asked.

But it sure would be nice to receive reassurance he hadn’t lost his touch. Pulling the ring from the box, he gently clasped her hand in his, then tugged it to his lips and brushed a kiss on it.

He slowly slid the ring onto her finger, drawing out the moment as much as he dared, hoping his hands weren’t shaking. He looked deeply into her eyes and his voice came out husky as he whispered, "Be mine."

Charlie blinked, then yanked back her hand. "What?"

"That-ring-should-do-just-fine." She searched his expression suspiciously, and Davis grinned, once more reassured about the attraction between them.

He slid the other box in front of her. "I got you something else for being such a good sport."

A light of pleasure lit her face as she gazed up at him, making her eyes sparkle like sunlight on water. "What is it?"

"Open it and find out."

She deftly flipped the box lid open, revealing the pin he’d bought. The light in her eyes seemed to die. "Thank you, Davis." She scooped the boxes back into the bag lying on the table between them, then rose. "I have to go now."

She didn’t think she could bear being with him another second, much less for the weekend she’d promised him. She’d almost allowed him to pierce her armor plating, until his gift had recalled her just in the nick of time.

"Wait a sec, Charlie. What on earth went wrong?"

"Nothing went wrong." She looked at him defiantly. "You merely reminded me of why there can never be anything between us."

"What did I do?"

"It’s not what you did, Davis. It’s who you are." She turned to walk away.

"The fact that I’m a bachelor makes me ineligible?"

Facing him, her heart pounded. "No. The fact that you’re a cowboy, or the next thing to it."

With that, she walked off, not wanting to prolong the discussion, not wanting to face him and have to explain any further. Talking about it wouldn’t make her feel any differently. She’d never allow herself to fall in love with a cowboy. It was her own fault she kept forgetting Davis intended to become one.

C
harlie scooted
out of her car, carrying the shower gift she’d purchased for Ellen. She was a quarter of an hour late, having left the library early to buy the gift as well as a dress to wear in the wedding.

She was pleased with both of her purchases. For Ellen, she’d bought an attractive dressing case, outfitted with plenty of bottles for filling with shampoo and soaps, lots of little boxes and areas for organizing makeup and jewelry.

For herself, Charlie had bought a blue dress. The color matched her eyes and the lines of the dress were deceptively simple. It would be perfect for the wedding and practical in that she’d be able to wear it to work. Now, all she had to do was get through the next few days and she’d have all this fiancée business over with.

When she entered the office, a middle-aged woman greeted Charlie.

"Hi, you must be Charlie. Let me take that package. I’m Lily."

"Hi, Lily. It’s nice to meet you." They shook hands, and Lily led Charlie back to the conference room.

On the way there, Charlie looked around her. While the layout looked for the most part like a typical office, many of the furnishings and wall hangings had a western flavor. Typical.

When they reached the conference room, they found half a dozen women gathered around a long marble table. Centered on the table was a lovely flower arrangement. In the far corner stood a narrow wooden table where cake and refreshments had been laid out. Ellen stood there, in quiet discussion with another woman.

Lily announced brightly, "Look who’s here, ladies! Charlie Nelson, Davis’s fiancée. I’ll let you all introduce yourselves after I get her some punch."

Ellen came over and hugged Charlie. "Thanks so much for coming, dear."

Before she had time to answer, the woman Ellen had been speaking with joined them, cooing, "Let me see your ring!"

The next thing she knew, she was surrounded by women, chattering and asking questions.

"Have you known each other long?"

"How many carats is this?"

"How did you get him to pop the question?"

"Where does your family come from?"

"Let me get you some punch—"

"cake—"

"chips."

Charlie’s head swam. She grabbed a seat at the conference table and did her best to answer everyone. It was hard to keep up, however, and at some point, the conversation changed when she hadn’t been paying close enough attention. Now they were—giving her marital advice? Or talking about wedding nights?

She wasn’t sure.

"You know dear," assured one woman, "men have to be trained, just like any household pet. It’s up to the woman to lay down the rules from the beginning."

Lily piped up. "The main thing you have to teach a man is that timing is everything."

"Timing." Charlie nodded as if she understood what Lily meant. She didn’t, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, either.

A dignified matron on the other side of the table nodded her head sagely. "We want to know all about you, dear."

After another round of question answering, Charlie asked, "How do each of you know Davis? It seems—"

Her question was cut off by the opening of the conference room door. Davis poked his head in.

Ellen literally jumped out of her chair and dragged him into the room.

"I came to kidnap my fiancée. You guys about done?"

Ellen nodded. "I think Charlie’s had enough of Fifty Questions."

Once they made good their escape, and walked to the parking lot, Davis said, "I thought you might need some help in there."

"You’re right, I did. But they’re all very fond of you."

"I’m fond of them, too." They reached her car. Davis asked, "Want to grab a bite to eat?"

"No, but thanks for asking."

"How about if I drive you home?"

"I’m fine, Davis."

"It’s late for you to be out driving alone. I think I should drive you. Give me your keys."

"I’ve been driving myself alone at night for years. You’re being awfully bossy, acting like a typical man."

"I know." Davis nodded gravely. "Like most men, it’s one of my worst character flaws."

"You won’t get any argument from me."

"Good, because you’re about to learn about another of my character flaws."

"Oh, yeah?"

He nodded. "And remember, you’re the one who said there’d be no arguing."

With that, he lowered his head and kissed her.

T
he following afternoon
, Charlie busily packed her suitcase for the weekend at the lake. She tossed in jeans and a heavy windbreaker, as well as her bridesmaid dress and another in case they went out to dinner somewhere.

Joanne leaned against the doorjamb, overseeing. "You might want to add a bottle of aspirin, considering your reaction every time you’ve seen Davis."

"Very funny." Charlie threw in the aspirin, though, as advised. "So, I kissed the man. Again. I’ll be on guard not to let it happen any more."

"Right."

"And no matter what he thinks, he’s not my knight in shining stirrups."

"Whatever you say," said Joanne, grinning ear to ear.

"And no matter what you say, I was not singing in the shower this morning." Charlie grabbed her makeup bag off her dresser. "I never sing in the shower."

Joanne snickered. "Must have been that new love song radio station, WLUV."

Charlie laid the makeup bag back on the dresser and leaned toward her reflection in the attached mirror. She caught Joanne’s gaze. "I didn’t really sing love songs?"

Joanne nodded.

"I think I need to sit." Charlie sank onto her bed next to her suitcase, sending two pairs of socks tumbling to the floor. "I am not in love with him."

Joanne laughed. "Don’t worry, honey. It was just a kiss."

"You’re right."

Joanne waltzed from the room, but called over her shoulder, "By the way, you had a delivery this morning."

"What is it?"

"You’ll have to find out for yourself. It’s in the kitchen," said Joanne as she walked away.

Charlie wondered what it could be as she placed the makeup bag into her suitcase, fighting the urge to rush to the kitchen. That was exactly the reaction Joanne was hoping for. But Charlie was on a mission to break out of her old routine.

So, she’d kissed Davis. It didn’t mean anything. He was always trying to kiss her. She was not going to fall in love with a cowboy. She snapped her suitcase closed.

In the big scheme of things, a few kisses weren’t of earth-shattering importance. She’d just have to make sure there wouldn’t be a repeat.

She tried to work up some righteous anger, but she didn’t have any excuse for her behavior. Worrying about it wouldn’t get her anywhere. She’d just have to make the rules more clear to Davis. Sometimes she’d found it helped to be extremely explicit with men.

Turning, she checked herself in the mirror. Blue jeans, a sky-blue shirt with a button-down collar. Would she be warm enough? She opened her closet door and pulled out a red sweater. That should do it.

She was as ready as she’d ever be. Wasn’t she? Charlie looked back over her room, feeling as if she’d forgotten something, feeling reluctant to leave. She didn’t see anything to account for her feeling.

Then she remembered the delivery Joanne had mentioned.

She found it on the kitchen counter. A cut glass vase held a single daisy. Charlie picked up the note tucked underneath. It read: "I’m looking forward to this weekend." It was signed simply, Davis.

Why did he have to be so nice?

"
W
hen I agreed
to come to Lake Texoma, I thought we’d be
driving
, like normal people." Charlie strapped on her safety belt and looked out of the small plane at the runway. She felt thoroughly irritated.

Now here she sat beside him in a midget of an airplane of all things. He looked kind of cute, clad in a leather bomber jacket, jeans and a headphone. The man was big on wearing the appropriate apparel. She checked his feet. Some things never changed—he still wore cowboy boots.

When she’d first realized he meant to fly to the lake, she’d thought of backing out. She wouldn’t be a coward, though. She’d promised herself to stop living life in the safe lane.

"Normal people also fly," said Davis.

"Not the normal people I know. They use commercial airlines with real planes, not Tinker Toys. Are you certain you’re licensed for this?"

He looked at her with wide eyes. "You need a license to fly one of these?"

"I knew it." Charlie threw off her seatbelt and struggled to get out of her seat. "I knew I should never have let some sweet-talking cowboy convince me to do anything so stupid."

Davis flipped down a visor, then pointed out a certificate bearing his name. His license.

"I should get out of this clump of metal and go home. That’s what any sane woman would do." Charlie plopped back down and rebuckled her belt.

"Sanity is overrated."

"Ha! I’ve survived quite well with a mixture of sanity and common sense. And survival is uppermost in my mind right now. Where are the parachutes?"

Davis gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Charlie relaxed in spite of herself. She’d been dreading this trip all week, wondering if she’d be tongue-tied, wondering how she felt about this maddening man, sometimes forgetting he was a cowboy and at other times furious because he was. And there was the daisy.

"Thanks for the flower." She had to shout to be heard over the sound of the revving motors. "Why did you send it?"

"You’re welcome. It’s time to get ready for takeoff." Davis looked uncomfortable for a moment as he fidgeted with some gauges and dials. He adjusted his headset, then handed one to her. "Put it on."

"Why?"

"So we can hear each other."

"Oh." Charlie slipped it over her head, feeling foolish.

Davis pulled back the throttle, and suddenly the plane bumped into motion, taxiing down the runway. After takeoff, he pointed out a few sights, and flew as low over Addison, the north Dallas suburb in which the small private airport was located, as the flight controllers would allow. Charlie craned her neck to take in the sights.

Davis wasn’t entirely sure himself why he’d sent her the flower. He’d done it because he thought she’d like it, but that wasn’t it entirely. After they’d parted the night before, he’d been unable to get her out of his mind. When had pleasing her become so important to him?

She’d climbed under his skin in a way no other woman had and he wasn’t sure what he thought or how he felt about it or her.

He didn’t like feeling confused or out of control. Somehow he had to keep in mind that their relationship was temporary and she was only going to be around long enough to help him get his mother married off. It was time to relegate Charlie to the same status he’d always held other women: at arm’s length.

J
oanne ran
from the bathroom and answered the phone on the third ring. With Charlie out of town for the weekend, Joanne had planned an intimate dinner party: just her and the man of her dreams. She hoped it wasn’t him on the phone, telling her there’d be some delay. She didn’t think the Cornish game hens could wait.

She had to angle the receiver just right because her hot curlers interfered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Joanne. This is Monty Joe. How you doin’, girl?"

Joanne let out a sigh of relief. It was just Charlie’s brother calling to check on her. Joanne’s dinner could still go as planned. If she weren’t seriously involved with Barry, she’d totally think about pursuing one of Charlie’s brothers. They were incredibly good looking, even if they leaned a little to the macho side. "I’m doing fine, how about you and Bobby Gray?"

"We’re doin’ just fine. We’ve taken it into our heads to come to Dallas and see our little sister. Put her on, will you?"

"I’m sorry, but she’s not here." Joanne sniffed the air. Smoke? Something was burning -- she hoped it was dinner and not her hair. Dinner! "Look, I have to get to the kitchen. Charlie’s gone to Lake Texoma and won’t be back until Sunday night."

"Lake Texoma? What’s she doing there?"

Smoke wafted out of the bar area. The Cornish hens must be burning. "Don’t worry. She’s in good hands. She went with Davis Murphy."

"Hold on there a minute!"

"Hang on a sec. Dinner’s burning!" She threw down the receiver and ran into the kitchen, then pulled open the oven door. Sure enough the hens were overdone, but she thought they might still be salvageable. She pulled them out of the oven and turned on the exhaust fan.

Returning to the phone, she said, "I really can’t talk now, Monty Joe. I’ve got a date coming over and dinner is almost ruined."

"Do you know where ’bouts at the lake she’s headed?"

Joanne wanted to scream with frustration. Here he was, asking her fifty questions when she had hens to save. And if Barry arrived when her hair was still up in curlers, she’d look such a fright he might run for the hills. "She wrote down the phone number here somewhere…"