Chasing Charlie: A Romantic Comedy (The Texas Two-Step Series Book 1) (8 page)

C
harlie opened
her suitcase and began to unpack. Her room had two twin beds and a small dresser. While not decorated in the height of style, it was attractive and clean.

She pulled out her bridesmaid dress first. After checking it for wrinkles, she hung it in the closet, glad it had traveled so well. As she returned to the case, she burrowed around in her belongings, unable to spot the lavender dress she’d stuck in at the last moment. It wasn’t here.

Then her gaze settled on something red at the bottom of the case. Joanne hadn’t… She had. She had removed the lavender dress and replaced it with The Dress. Now what was Charlie going to do?

Tonight they were having a rehearsal, then going to dinner. Besides the two dresses, she’d only brought casual clothes. Charlie noticed Joanne had even thought to include her awful matching shoes. If she were here now, Charlie would definitely consider choking her.

There was nothing for it but to wear the plagued red dress again. The one she’d promised herself she’d avoid. She laid it out on her bed, then finished her unpacking, every movement she made drawing her attention back to the dress. When she’d procrastinated as long as she could, from arranging her hairbrush to refolding her clothes, she took a seat on her bed.

"You’re to blame, you know." Charlie glared at the dress. "I just wanted to take one small step and you turned it into an earthquake. I was never going to wear you again, but I don’t have a choice tonight. Please, behave yourself. I don’t want more trouble."

The dress seemed to mock her.

But she didn’t have a choice.

Once she’d gotten dressed and buoyed her courage, Charlie went to the family room to find Davis. He sat with his back to her, facing the fireplace. Gentle flames highlighted his black hair, lighting it almost like a halo. Fat chance. Davis was no angel.

"Hi," she said softly.

"You look great tonight, Charlie," he said before he’d fully turned around. Then he saw her completely and the smile died from his face to be replaced with a look of admiration. Under his gaze, she fought an urge to return to her room and hide. But then he gave her a boyish grin and she relaxed.

"I see you’re wearing my favorite dress."

"It would be your favorite. This dress is the root of all my problems."

"You look fantastic in it. But you look great no matter what."

"Thanks, I’ll remember that the next time I have a bad hair day." She fought back a snort. The cad. He was feeding her ego, using his charm on her. But deep down inside, she appreciated the effort. He didn’t have to say nice things when they were alone, but he did. Even though it was probably habit from other women, it was a nice habit. "Where are the others?"

"They’re out in the gazebo, talking with Judge Walker about how to organize things. You ready?"

"Yes. Do you think I’ll be warm enough?"

"You might want to bring your sweater for when it gets dark, but it’s still warm now."

"I’ll get it." This was great; maybe wearing the sweater would impair the dress’s ability to cause trouble. She ran to her room and put the sweater on before returning. She didn’t look exactly like a fashion plate, but she’d be warm.

As she rejoined Davis, she said, "I’m ready."

He took her hand as they left the house through the glass doors that led out onto the deck facing the lake.

His palm was clammy, moist. "Are you nervous?"

"Yeah." He grimaced. "I think weddings might make me hyperventilate, too."

"Maybe you should bring a paper sack?"

"No." He gave her hand a squeeze. "I’ll be fine. If I’m not, just make sure you’re the only one who gives me mouth-to-mouth."

They walked the distance down the lawn to the pier. As they climbed onto the dock, Charlie’s stiletto heel caught in a gap between the slats. "I think I wore the wrong shoes for this."

"You want to go back and change shoes?"

"All I’ve got are sneakers or my blue flats for tomorrow." She shook her head. "I think I’ll be okay if I’m careful."

He put his arm around her back. "Lean on me if you have problems."

Charlie nodded. It was about all she could manage, considering the way she had to fight the urge to pull away as well as the conflicting urge to put her head on his shoulder.

They slowly made their way to the gazebo, Charlie careful to put her weight only on her toes. Davis’s arm helped steady her.

The gazebo was roughly twenty feet in diameter, large enough to hold the small wedding party planned for the next day, but they wouldn’t have a lot of room to spare. Along the outer edges, wooden benches were built into the latticework, and would serve as seating for the guests. Already, the gazebo sported huge blue and yellow satin bows accented with sprays of babies’ breath. It was an ideal spot for a wedding.

But nothing could have been more lovely than the sight of Jim and Ellen’s jubilant faces. They stood with the judge, in the middle of the gazebo, talking about their plans for after the wedding. "We’ll stay in town finishing last-minute arrangements and leave for Tokyo next Saturday," said Jim.

Ellen noticed Charlie and Davis first. "There you two love birds are. I thought we were going to have to send out a search party."

Davis grinned. "I wouldn’t miss this for anything, Mom."

Ellen gave them each a hug. "I’m getting so excited. I can’t believe this is really happening."

The judge and Jim laughed. "Yeah, we’ve been teasing her about tying an anchor to her feet to keep her head from floating into the clouds."

"I’m so happy." She smiled widely.

Jim brushed a quick kiss on her cheek. "No one could be happier than me." He turned to the judge. "Let’s get this show on the road so I can toast my bride."

For the next quarter hour, Ellen and Charlie practiced walking down the pier and to the middle of the gazebo. They were told where to stand and what to do. Gradually, the sun dipped over the quiet lake, beaming a huge orange slash across the blackening water, almost like an arrow directing the heavens to look on the gazebo and the wedding preparations within.

As the sky darkened, overhead lighting flashed on, illuminating not only the gazebo and pier but the beach itself as well as the boathouse. As they practiced their walk to the gazebo for the third time, Ellen suggested that Charlie and Davis sit the next part out because Charlie’s shoes made movement difficult.

"Good idea," agreed Charlie. "I’m sorry about the shoes."

"It’s no problem. If it were, I’d send Davis to the house for your sneakers. We’ve got the main part rehearsed and once we practice the ceremony part, we can head for the marina restaurant."

Charlie took a step closer to the gazebo, silently counting out one-kick, two-kick, three-kick in her head. Then another step, but this time, she misstepped, her shoe becoming hopelessly trapped between the slats. "Ow. I twisted my ankle."

Ellen came running forward. "Can you get your shoe off?"

Charlie nodded. "I think so." She bent to unstrap the shoe but had a hard time maintaining her balance.

Ellen called out, "Davis, we could use your help."

Both Davis and Jim came running up the pier. Davis had a worried expression on his face as he asked, "Are you hurt, Charlie?"

"No, I’m okay, just trapped."

Davis bent over her shoe and quickly unbuckled it.

Charlie giggled. "Ever since you saw these shoes, you’ve been dying to do that."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Finally, my chance." He stuck the shoe in his pocket.

Charlie wiggled her ankle.

"Does it hurt?" asked Jim.

"Just a little—more sore than painful."

Davis scooped her up in his arms. "I’ll carry you back to the house."

"I’m perfectly capable of walking."

"Maybe so, but we want you fit for the wedding tomorrow."

Ellen said, "I agree with him, Charlie. The less you use it now, the better it will be for tomorrow."

"But the rehearsal…"

Jim said, "We’re about done with your part and just have the bride and groom parts to go over now."

Charlie looked up at Davis, annoyed with him for being so quick to grab her into his arms and yet breathless at being there. "I don’t want to miss it."

"Don’t worry." Davis nodded toward the deck off the back of the house. "I’ll get some ice for your ankle and we can sit up there and watch. You won’t miss anything."

"Thanks." Charlie turned back to Ellen and Jim. "I’m sorry about this."

"Don’t worry, dear. It’s fine." Ellen laughed as Davis adjusted Charlie’s weight in his arms. "You’d better get her back to the house before you drop her in the water."

Davis laughed. "Good thinking."

Before she knew it, Charlie was seated in a deck chair watching the wedding rehearsal from a distance. The deck and house behind them were dark, the only light coming from down by the water. Davis had pulled another deck chair to her side and placed her foot on it, mounded with ice. He took a seat next to her and brought them each a steaming cup of hot tea laden with cream.

"Why don’t you go back down and help? I’m just fine here."

"They don’t need us. The rehearsal is almost over."

Ellen waved at them from the gazebo and both Jim and the judge turned and waved, too. Everything was fine.

At least tonight, thought Charlie, the dress hadn’t done the damage. Only the shoes were a problem and that was her own fault for wearing them.

She took a sip of her tea, breathing in the creamy aroma and the mists of the evening sky. The house behind them was cloaked in darkness but the night sky was lit up like a million fireflies. The moon was just past full, its beam reflecting off the inky water. Davis leaned his head back, too, gazing into the night.

"You know," he said, "this is just about perfect. All those stars—and you." Davis felt content. When was the last time he’d taken the time to soak in the beauty of his surroundings?

His life, and his goals, had always been there to hurry him, rush him. He’d forgotten the simple pleasures. Being with Charlie acted as a catalyst. He was more aware when she was with him, his vision stronger, aromas more pungent. Taste took on new meaning, and touch…

He leaned closer. "I’m going to kiss you. Stop me while you can."

She placed her arm around his shoulder and neck, drawing him nearer, as she returned his kiss. Davis groaned low in his throat.

Just then, he heard a masculine cough. Davis opened his eyes and looked up.

Two burly men glared down at him.

"
W
hat are you doing here
, Monty Joe and Bobby Gray?" growled Charlie as she bolted from the deck chair.

Davis stood, shot a questioning glance at Charlie, then offered his hand to Monty Joe. "Davis Murphy."

"In case you were wondering, these are my brothers." She turned to face them. "I’m asking again, what are you doing here?"

"Joanne told us everything—you off with some guy for the weekend. When we called, it sure sounded like some tryst. We came, hoping to make you come to your senses."

Bobby Gray glared at her. "Looks like we got here just in the nick of time, too."

"Don’t be ridiculous," said Charlie. "I’m not a child anymore and it’s time you stopped treating me like one. If I want to run off with a man, then it’s my business, not yours."

"You said it, sweetie," said Ellen from behind Charlie.

"Yeah, can you believe these guys?" she asked without thinking.

"Who are they?" asked Ellen.

"My brothers." Then it dawned on her. Ellen was witnessing the whole thing. She turned to face her. "I’m so sorry. I was hoping they’d go before you saw them. It’s a disgrace."

Jim coughed. "Glad to see your brothers made it here okay."

"Your directions were excellent, Jim," said Bobby Gray.

"Have you met?" asked Davis.

"No. We spoke on the phone." Monty Joe looked at Jim suspiciously. "We appreciate the invite."

"In that case," said Charlie, "I’d like to introduce you to our chaperones—Davis’s mother, Ellen Murphy, and Jim Turner, her fiancé."

Judge Walker leaned around Jim to add, "Don’t forget me."

"Oh, sorry, Judge. Monty Joe and Bobby Gray, take off your hats and shake Judge Walker’s hand."

The brothers wiped off their hands, removed their hats, then shook hands all around.

Bobby Gray stared at his feet. "Monty Joe told me you were up here for some round-day-voo, Charlie." He glared at his brother. "Might have known better than to jump to conclusions."

"Conclusions? Jim said you were mighty cozy up here."

She couldn’t believe Monty Joe thought that was an excuse for behaving like an idiot. Typical. "By cozy, I’m sure he meant warm and comfortable."

"What about that kiss we interrupted?"

Charlie wished she could disappear. Not only had her brothers totally humiliated her, but they had to remind her about how much she was like them in the idiocy department.

"Let’s all go in and have a sandwich," suggested Ellen.

"No," insisted Charlie. "You were going to have a rehearsal dinner and the arrival of my family lunatics shouldn’t change anything. I’ll stay here and make sure they crawl back under their rocks."

"I’ll stay, too." Davis put his arm around Charlie’s shoulder, making her feel a lot steadier on her feet. "Go on, Mom and Jim. I can take care of this."

"I wouldn’t miss it for the world," said Ellen merrily. "Besides, I haven’t been properly introduced to Charlie’s brothers. After all, we’ll soon be related."

"Related?" Monty Joe’s eyes widened. Turning, he narrowed his eyes at Davis.

"You know, Jim, I think Charlie’s going to be an interesting addition to our family," Ellen said musingly. "Think how lively family reunions will be."

Bobby Gray overheard her. "Addition to your family?"

Ellen nodded. "Of course. My baby boy and your little sister are getting married this fall. Didn’t Charlie tell you?"

All eyes turned on Charlie. Silence. Total silence. She cleared her throat. Finally, she shot a desperate look at Davis who understood all too well why she hadn’t told her brothers about their sham engagement.

"I guess that’s my fault," said Davis. "I only asked her last week and haven’t given her much chance to think. Fact is, I’d planned to ask for your blessings next week, once Mom and Jim were on their way to Tokyo."

Bobby Gray turned hurt eyes on Charlie. "You’re getting married and didn’t call and tell us right away?"

"I’m sorry. But that still doesn’t excuse the behavior of either of you." She did feel bad about hurting their feelings but her overriding emotion was anger that they’d butt into her life this way. How could they? "Hasn’t any word I’ve said for the past three years sunk into your heads? I’m not a six-year-old motherless little girl anymore. I’m grown and make my own decisions."

She blew out her bangs. "Please, Ellen. I’m so embarrassed about interrupting your rehearsal this way. Go to dinner and let me talk with my brothers."

"Charlie, I know you feel bad. Honestly, it doesn’t matter," said Ellen gently. "In fact, it makes me care for you even more. And it certainly gives me hope that you’re a match and then some for my son. Until now, I couldn’t help but worry that he’d run all over you."

"I should have warned you that your brothers were on their way," added Jim. "It completely slipped my mind."

"Now, here’s what we’re going to do," Ellen went on in a voice that brooked no argument. "We’re going inside and getting cleaned up. Charlie, stop twisting your hands together. This is family and no one thinks worse of you."

When they just stood there in stunned silence, Ellen added, "Did you hear me? Move it."

The group moved as one, tripping over each other to get into the house. Charlie ran to her room, certain that she’d never be able to leave it. She sank, face first, down on her bed. If she hid in here until the wedding itself, maybe, just maybe, she could live through this weekend.

Her brothers had always been interfering and overbearing and it had taken all of her strength to break away from them. She’d thought she’d managed to escape them by her move to Dallas. Her freedom had been merely a pretense on their part, though, based on their behavior over this, the first time she’d ventured out of her shell. Her relationship with them, her freedom, was just as phony as her engagement to Davis.

And Davis. What was she going to do about him? Previously she’d been able to blame her reactions to him on the situation. This time, however, she had no such extenuating circumstances to use as an excuse. She’d kissed him without hesitation.

The man was no better than her brothers. That’s what happened when dealing with cowboy types. They were all the same.

She knew that with every inch of her psyche. She knew better than to become emotionally involved with the type, yet here she was, eager to be back in his company.

She threw her hands over her face. She had to stop this. Their engagement was only temporary. They didn’t have a relationship. The whole thing was a farce.

Why was that so hard to stick to? The answer had to be loneliness. Somehow, when she was with Davis, she didn’t feel lonely or isolated any more. He laughed at her jokes, and he seemed to understand how she felt, often before she did. When their eyes met across the room, they communicated without speaking a word.

It was like a glimpse of nirvana, but it wasn’t real. That hurt the most.

It wasn’t real.

Was she so needy that even a pretense would do since the reality wasn’t available? That she’d accept feigned intimacy as a substitute for the real McCoy? Had she sunk so low, become so desperate?

Would she have been willing to give herself to Davis just to keep the wolves of loneliness at bay? The man didn’t love her, that much was clear. Moreover she’d sworn she couldn’t possibly ever love a man like him, a cowboy in the making. And if it wasn’t love, what kind of person did that make her?

What she wanted most was to escape, not from her brothers, but from herself, her own thoughts. Yet there was no getting away from who and what she was—a lonely woman with no hope, no end in sight. No wonder Joanne had been worried about leaving her.

Charlie had shut herself away so completely, had hidden her fears so well, that until now, she hadn’t admitted their existence. But taking that small step had been the forewarning that the walls she’d built would soon come tumbling down. They’d been constructed on such weak foundations. They hadn’t stood a chance.

Now she was faced with a choice. There was no going back. She could either change or end up as exactly what she was now, a woman so alone, so isolated, she was willing to do nearly anything to keep from facing herself.

No. She hadn’t sunk that low. And she wouldn’t. Charlie found her backbone, her strength, buried somewhere under that needy little girl. She pushed herself off the bed. Going into the bathroom, she ran icy cold water over her face until it stung.

It was time to snap out of it. No more hiding, no more feeling inadequate. Enough. She’d face the group out there with bravery, if little else.

Feeling as though she was about to face a firing squad, she entered the living room. No one noticed her. They were all laughing, sides heaving, slapping their thighs, and Ellen had tears streaming down her face.

Charlie laughed at herself. She’d been so self-centered. She had been sure the whole gang of them would be talking about her. Instead they were having a great time. Without her. She stood on the outskirts, watching, wondering if she should go back to her room, but Ellen saw her.

"Charlie, you just missed my story about the first time Jim proposed to me."

Her gaze shot to Jim. He had a self-satisfied smile on his face, the smile of a man who’d gotten what he’d set out to get. "I’m sorry I missed it."

Jim stood. "It’s time to get this show on the road. We’ve decided to take Monty Joe’s truck to the restaurant. Ellen’s never ridden in the back of a pickup and she’s insistent."

Ellen grinned. "It looks like this is my lucky week." She gazed into Jim’s eyes. "All my wishes are being granted."

Charlie’s chest heaved, making her hiccup. She folded her arms around herself. If only one of her wishes would be granted.

A
n odd noise
awoke Charlie from a deep sleep. Leaning up on her elbow, she listened closely. Nothing. In a strange house, any sound might seem peculiar. Laying her head back on the pillow, she closed her eyes, then bolted upright.

She heard the clamor again, like the sound of a door opening and closing and opening again.

Next she heard whispers—her brothers’ whispers.

Tossing off the bed covers, she bounced from bed, then dashed to her bedroom door. The room was nearly pitch black and it took a moment for her to find the doorknob. When she threw open the door, though, the noise stopped.

A faint light coming from her brothers’ room vanished as the door quickly closed. She headed down the hall and yanked their door open.

Monty Joe’s voice filled the hallway. "I told you your snoring would wake her, Bobby Gray."

"Are you guys trying to drive me mad?" she whispered. "What the dickens were you doing out in the hall?"

"Consider us your guardian angels."

"What were you doing, standing guard?" When she had said it, she hadn’t believed it. But the look on their faces said that’s exactly what they’d been up to.

"Told you the tag-team was a bad idea," said Bobby Gray.

"Shh. Keep your voice down. You’ve embarrassed me enough already." How could they do this to her? Her sleepy eyes narrowed. "What makes you think I need or want a guard?"

"We’re just making sure you get your rest—so to speak," replied Bobby Gray.

Just then, they turned at the sound of a door opening up the hall. Charlie recognized Davis in spite of the lack of light.

As he felt his way down the hall, she asked her brothers, "What, besides the two of you, could possibly disturb me?"

The brothers looked at Davis. Davis smiled. "I think watching out for her was a great idea."

Monty Joe clapped him on the back. "I hoped you’d see it that way."

There followed much slapping of male backs and general bonding among the men. Charlie wondered if she was still sleeping. She pinched herself. Nope.

Here Davis was, proving he was just as much an idiot as any cowboy she’d ever met. "What do you mean, Davis, that it was a great idea? Don’t you realize they don’t trust either of us?"

She crossed her arms in front of her. "Monty Joe and Bobby Gray, if you don’t get into your pickup this minute and head back to the ranch, I’m never speaking to you again."

She turned to go.

Davis spoke up. "I feel a lot better, Charlie, knowing you’ve got brothers like this to look out for your best interests."

Maybe her brothers weren’t so bad after all. At least
they
were motivated by love for her when they acted like buffoons. But what was Davis’s excuse?

"Grab your bathrobe, Charlie, and come out to the kitchen," ordered Monty Joe. "I’ll make you some hot chocolate like I used to do when you were a kid and had bad dreams. Otherwise, you’ll never go back to sleep."

Charlie sighed. He was right. She wouldn’t be able to sleep now. It was sweet of him to remember about the hot chocolate. "I don’t have a robe," she mumbled, more for the sake of not going along with everything he said, than any other reason.

"This should keep you warm." Davis removed his pajama shirt and wrapped it around her shoulders. Charlie could just imagine the smirks on her brothers’ faces. "Mind if I join you for that hot chocolate?"

"Yes," replied Charlie.

At the same moment, both Monty Joe and Bobby Gray said, "No."

"In for a penny," mumbled Charlie. "The more the merrier."

As the group stumbled down the hall, she cringed at every sound they made. All she needed now was to have the entire house in an uproar because of her. When they came down the stairs, they saw a light already on in the kitchen.

Ellen stood in the doorway with empty mugs in her hands. "Just in time, children. I’ve got milk heating on the stove."

Good heavens, had she heard every word? "I’m sorry we woke you, Ellen."

"You didn’t." She laughed. "I’m so excited about the wedding, I simply couldn’t sleep. When I heard you were coming for hot chocolate, I thought it was something I could do rather than tossing and turning."

Once Monty Joe caught sight of Charlie in the light, he immediately came over and made a move to button Davis’s shirt to hide her pajamas.

"Just stop it, already," she said irritably as she shook herself free.