Chapter Eleven
C harlie took Jared’s hand in hers. “I know your mom died. How old were you?”
“Thirteen. Dad was on a business trip. Aiden and I were at sleepaway camp. Dex was at football camp. Fallon was home sleeping, and Remy was supposed to have dinner with Mom. There was a girl he liked and he blew off hanging out with our mother.”
“So she was basically alone in the house?”
He nodded. “And one of my father’s clients who’d lost a shit ton of money because he refused to take valid advice to sell, broke in and killed her to get back at Dad.”
Charlotte gasped. “That’s awful! I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hand.
“I tell myself I’m fine, that I don’t have any residual emotional scars, but seeing your brother was triggering. The man who killed my mom got hooked on meds after he lost everything. When he couldn’t get more benzos, he went to the street for drugs. He was high when he broke in.”
He ran a shaking hand over his face and it wasn’t a trembling one like her brother’s. No, she hadn’t missed that Dan was high, either.
“Dan isn’t okay and I don’t want him anywhere near you, the baby, or the twins.”
She opened then closed her mouth again. On the one hand, she completely understood where his concern was coming from. On the other… Dan was the only family she had in her life. “I wouldn’t let him near the girls. Ever. As for me, my brother wouldn’t hurt me.”
Jared’s frown turned into a fierce scowl. “But the men he owes money to would.”
She shivered at the prospect, acknowledging Jared had a point. But she was more concerned about his emotional torment. And she didn’t want his past to cause him pain because her brother brought back bad memories.
She sought to reassure him. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m in a building with a doorman.”
He blew out a breath and nodded. “It’s a start. Promise me you won’t give Dan full access? That he will have to call up each time he comes by and you can make a decision if seeing him is wise?”
“I promise,” she said, meeting his gaze. “And I’ll be careful. Dan usually shows up for money and disappears again for long periods of time. I’m the one who keeps hoping he’ll change. That he’ll come by just to see me or get sober and care about the girls.”
“Who he didn’t even ask about. He doesn’t know you’re pregnant?”
She shook her head. “There’s never been time to tell him.”
“Because it’s always about him,” Jared muttered.
“I know.” She dipped her head in acknowledgment. “I’m sorry this was all triggering for you.”
“It’s fine. I’m more worried about you.”
She leaned over and pressed her lips briefly to his. “Don’t be. I’ve got the situation under control.”
Nodding, he seemed to accept her at her word.
He placed his hand on the arm of the sofa, prepared to stand. “I hate to say this, but I need to get going. I have to stop home to shower and change for work.”
“Go on. Thank you again for last night.” Her body lit up at the memory of his hands on her skin, his cock inside her, and all the ways he took her hard and fast, leaving her completely satisfied.
“My pleasure,” he said, his voice gruff, and she sensed he was thinking about the same thing.
***
It took a while for Jared to shake off the effects of the morning. He took a hot shower and drank two cups of coffee before hitting work.
He walked into his office to find Brooke there waiting for him, an amused smirk on her face. Meeting his gaze, she tapped her Apple Watch. “Thirty minutes late, Mr. Sterling. That’s completely unlike you, so what gives?”
“You’re grinning like you already have the answer,” he said to the woman he’d moved up to vice president status at the company. It wasn’t her place to question his hours but she was talking as his friend, not his employee.
She sat on the edge of his desk while he unpacked his laptop and water bottle. “Well, you’re not the type of guy to spend all night with a woman during the week. Work is too important. On the other hand, you’re going to be a father and you have an obvious interest in your baby’s mother.”
He raised an eyebrow, grateful for the ability to stop thinking about the events of this morning. “How would you know that?”
She shrugged. “I know you well. If you weren’t into Charlie, you’d be a lot more shaken up by the idea of being a father.”
“Do you want to talk about what really happened between you and Aiden that makes things so awkward now?”
“Not really,” she said, her cheeks turning a healthy shade of red. “And touché.” She grinned at his non-subtle way of making his point. Good thing she wasn’t sensitive and understood him.
Both she and Aiden avoided all discussion about each other and their past, leaving Jared damned curious. Knowing he wouldn’t get answers, he focused on his own life.
And considering he’d just spent all night with Charlotte, and he’d admitted out loud that he had feelings for her, and this morning he’d felt completely protective, he wanted to sit with those feelings, and not discuss them. Not even with Brooke, who was like a sister to him.
“On another subject, did you see the invitation to the gala next weekend? I left it on your desk yesterday as a reminder.” She glanced at the desk where he’d piled stacks of papers before heading out yesterday. “I guess not,” she muttered.
“I didn’t need the invitation to remember the gala that’s in honor of my mother.”
After Gloria Sterling died, once his father pulled himself together, he’d set up a charity to help fund drug programs for addicts. His mother’s killer—they never said his name—had been on benzos at the time of the murder and his attorney’s argument was that in his right mind, he’d never have hurt Gloria Sterling.
No one in the family knew whether that was true but the need to help people was obvious. And anything they could do to keep their mother’s name alive was important.
Jared was notorious for ignoring galas unless he had no choice. Give money? He was all in. Attend an event? Not if he could avoid it. Too many people, too many single women looking for a man with money and, worse, too many mothers looking to pair up their daughters. But next weekend, his whole family would attend and Jared wouldn’t miss it.
“Why don’t you invite Charlie?” Brooke suggested, waggling her eyebrows.
He shook his head at her antics and laughed. “That might be the best idea you’ve had all morning.”
“It’s the only idea I’ve had since we haven’t gotten down to business yet.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, picked up her iPad, and took a seat, ready to work.
An hour later, they’d wrapped up their meeting and Brooke headed to her own office. Before making any business calls, Jared pulled up Charlotte’s name and hit call.
She answered on the second ring. “Hi, Jared.”
“Hello, beautiful. I’m calling to ask you to accompany me to a gala next Saturday night. Black tie,” he said.
“A gala?”
He leaned in his chair and pushed back, propping his feet on his desk. “It comes with the territory. This one’s in honor of my mother. The money goes to programs for drug addiction. I go but it’s always difficult. And it would be much more pleasurable with you at my side.”
“That’s a cause I can get behind,” she murmured. “I’m sorry all these things are back-to-back. My brother, the gala…”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. I just want to spend time with you.”
She let out a light tinkling of laughter that made him smile. “Well, aren’t you the charmer.”
“I try.” He grinned. “So? Next Saturday night? I should warn you, my family will be there and there’s no time like the present to make a statement.”
“What kind of statement?” she asked, wariness in her tone.
Clearing this throat, he said, “That we’re a team, you and I.”
“Jared Sterling, are you avoiding the word couple because you think I’d freak out?”
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
“Well, you’ll be happy to know I agree. We should make a statement. We’re raising our baby together and sometimes… we’re—”
“You can say it,” he urged. “A couple.”
And if he had his way it would be more than sometimes, both in reality and in her mind. One step at a time, though. She’d agreed to go with him.
“It’s just…” She paused. “I don’t have another black-tie dress,” she said softly. “Just the one I wore to the wedding and since everyone who saw me is going to be there…”
“Don’t worry about it. I promise you’ll be set.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see. Thanks for agreeing to be my date. So, when are you moving in?”
She groaned, obviously not looking forward to the prospect. “I spent the morning on the phone with moving companies. How is Friday?”
He nodded. “That works. I’ll make the arrangements for you with the building supervisor and take the day off.”
“Oh! I know how important work is to you. I can handle the move by myself.”
He shook his head, realizing how little she knew him, but he’d rectify that. Make sure she knew she could rely on him. Since Friday was days away, he’d give her some space. He’d be living above her and seeing her daily soon enough.
***
Charlie woke up the day after Jared invited her to the gala, showered and readied for the day. Her plan was to go shopping for a dress that was appropriate for a black-tie affair but wouldn’t break the bank. Tomorrow she’d be out of the hotel and she could begin to regulate her spending. The girls were coming over after school to spend the weekend, help unpack their bedroom, and get used to the new apartment. She was excited to get them settled into the new place.
A knock sounded on her door and she opened it to find a bellman standing with a dolly filled with garment bags hanging from the high bar. “Delivery for you, Ms. Kendall.”
“I didn’t order…” Her voice trailed off as she took in the name of a very expensive department store on the bags and she immediately knew.
What had Jared done?
“Come in,” she said, and rushed to her wallet to pull out a tip which she handed to the man once he’d settled the dolly in a corner of the front room.
“Thank you,” he said, and left her alone with what she assumed was a selection of gowns.
She bit the inside of her cheek as she pulled down one zipper to find a silver beaded gown with ruching along the stomach. The second bag had a teal Grecian gown with one shoulder knotted at the top. And the third was a simple black trapeze-style gown that obviously had some give around the waist.
Knowing she shouldn’t but unable to resist, she looked at the tag on the silver one, gasping at the price. She glanced at the shoe boxes on the bottom, caught sight of the name, knew they had red soles, and tried not to pass out. How he knew her size was beyond her but she had a feeling her girls might have played a role. They’d always liked to try on her clothes and no doubt they had an idea of sizing.
The allowance around her bump was a no-brainer. She was going to have to buy a size up in leggings soon. After the twins, this second pregnancy had her body changing shape very quickly.
She ought to scold him for spending so much but she couldn’t. Not when he’d been so generous and he really wanted her to come with him.
A card stuck out of one of the shoeboxes and she pulled it out, opening the envelope and reading the note inside. Keep them all. No doubt you’ll look beautiful whatever you choose. I’m sure there will be other galas and events for us to attend. Jared X
“Oh wow.” She’d assumed she’d choose one dress and he’d call to have the others picked up once she’d decided.
This whole moment was like a dream, she thought, twirling in the mirror. Except it wasn’t. This moment and these garments were real. Which meant she needed to keep a smart head on her shoulders and remember this wasn’t some fairy tale.
Jared was her baby’s father, a man she enjoyed spending intimate time with, but he wasn’t her Prince Charming. Even if this exorbitant gift said otherwise. Keeping her wits about her and her heart to herself was the only way she’d survive this situation. Because they were tied for life by their baby and she couldn’t risk rocking that boat.
Knowing which gown she preferred, she tried on the silver, praying it would fit. Though she couldn’t zip it herself, she could tell the size was right, as was the silhouette. She looked like an elegant woman who just might belong at the event, especially when she’d put on one of the three pairs of Louboutins, something she never thought she’d own.
Blowing out a breath, she called downstairs and made an appointment at the salon for the works next Saturday, knowing nothing less than her very best would do. Jared deserved to walk into the event with someone who’d put effort into her appearance. Though she might pretend she fit in, at least she’d look the part.
As she slipped out of the dress and hung it back up, she noticed a small shopping bag across the dolly from the shoes. Inside she found a silver handbag that would go with all the gowns but was especially perfect for the one she’d chosen.
When she was finished trying on the other two dresses—just in case—and finding they all looked beautiful on her, she repackaged the shoes and the handbag and placed them on the dolly. Everything would be ruined if she tried to stuff it in the small closet.
Once back in her normal old clothes, she picked up her phone and she noticed her hands were shaking and her heart was racing inside her chest. No one had ever treated her so well or made her feel so special. She might want to protect her heart and her emotions so she could continue to be her non-reliant, independent self… but Jared was making it very difficult.
She called Jared, reaching his voicemail. She left a message filled with all the excitement and gratitude flowing through her at the moment. He deserved nothing less.
After the exertion of trying on the gowns, she was ready for a nap. A quick look at her phone before she closed her eyes and she discovered an email from the museum who’d requested an interview. They offered a few dates and times to meet. Charlie gave them the order of her preference and between Jared’s gift and the interview, it was a wonder the adrenaline flowing through her body let her sleep.
She woke up to a voicemail from the twins, both yelling for their turn to talk, but Dakota asking her if she wanted to go for a pizza dinner with Noah and Fallon. She called and replied with a definite yes. She enjoyed the company and the meal, so grateful to be home with her daughters.
Thursday, she packed up her hotel room and settled her account, doing a pre-checkout at the front desk. She napped in between gathering her clothing, cosmetics, and toiletries. The gowns were still in their garment bags and she’d have to make sure the driver was careful transporting them to her new home.
Jared called a few times, never letting her forget he was a part of her life now. More than once she had to calm her hormones that surfaced when she heard his deep voice and the way he—and only he—called her Charlotte. Tingles went through her body every time he said her full name. He even dialed her from the office late Thursday night. Knowing he was working late so he could be with her for the move tomorrow touched her deeply.
She tossed and turned that night, anticipation of her new life keeping her awake. So did thoughts of living below Jared, knowing he was so close, and remembering how he’d played her body perfectly.
She’d even had to unpack her vibrator and give herself an orgasm, all the while pretending it was Jared’s talented tongue on her clit while she came.
When it came to the man, she was in deep trouble and she hadn’t even moved in yet.