Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Charlie
W hile Rhett had gone to work, Charlie had undertaken what she had thought would be a simple task of getting a new rental. It turned out the sole rental company in the area was completely booked out. They’d given her a list of the closest alternatives and she’d spent the afternoon leaving messages and taking calls. She hung up the phone after the fourth—and final—rental company told her they couldn’t get a car to her in Cape Wilde for at least another two days.
The cell phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, almost tumbling off and onto the floor before she caught it. Maybe there had been a cancellation and there was a car for her after all?
“Hello?”
“Charlotte, I’m here to take you home.”
What was Prescott doing in Cape Wilde? Her father surely hadn’t sent him all this way just to collect her? She pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it in confusion.
“Did you come all this way just to do that?”
He laughed, the sound twisting her stomach. “Oh no. I was nearby and offered.”
“Out of the kindness of your heart, I suppose,” she muttered, not believing a second of it. “I have work to do here, so you’ll just have to go back without me.”
“Work? On that pathetic little joint venture idea? Why did you think it had been approved?”
What? She’d spoken to her father’s 2IC herself, which was normally as good as speaking to her father, and he’d promised to call her if there was anything to clarify. She’d thought they’d trusted her finally. What was going on? Something wasn’t right.
She felt sick. What would Rhett say? She’d all but promised him—no. She had to sort this out. “Prescott, what exactly did my father say?”
She could hear the smile in his voice, and narrowed her eyes. Regrettably, she’d dated Prescott briefly during college. They’d both been studying law, and he’d been attentive to her, taking her out to dinner and listening when she spoke. To her shame, it had taken her six months to realize all he wanted was to get closer to her father. Prescott hadn’t loved her. He’d loved the idea of her and everything she represented.
Besides, his name wasn’t even Prescott. It was Paul. He was as fake as the Rolex he wore in college. She shuddered. She’d considered him a bullet dodged, until he’d wormed his way into Sinclair Properties.
“He wants you to return to discuss this in more detail.”
Prescott was a scheming ladder climber. She didn’t trust him, but there was too much at stake to dismiss what he said.
“Really? Why didn’t he just call me himself?” Her brow wrinkled.
“Oh, you know what he’s like.”
She did, and far better than Prescott, but she let him talk.
“Happy to let you have your fun, but the final decision always goes to him. Hmm?”
He wasn’t wrong. She shifted from foot to foot. She didn’t want to go back to New York, least of all with Prescott, but with her car stuck behind a felled tree and no rental available, she had little choice.
Oh goodie.
She told Prescott where to meet her and hung up, dropping her phone to the counter and staring off into space. Her stomach twisted, and she winced as she imaged what Rhett would think about her leaving so quickly.
He’d understand, wouldn’t he? She chewed on her bottom lip. They hardly knew each other. Would he trust her? He had plenty of reason not to, but she’d just have to make him listen.
The sound of Rhett’s truck pulling up alongside the house had her pulse quickening. The rumble of the engine quietened, his booted feet on the steps to the front porch seeming to echo in the quiet house. She turned to face the front door, twisting the hem of her tee shirt in her hands.
Rhett stepped into the house, not bothering to take off his boots.
“Rhett? Oh good, you’re home. I?—”
“You need to leave.”
His words landed like bombs, her chest constricting as she blinked at him in confusion.
“What?”
He paced slowly towards her. “I should have known this would happen.”
“What would happen? Rhett, you’re not making any sense.”
“No, what doesn’t make any sense is why Sinclair’s beautiful daughter would want to move to a small town like Cape Wilde and go into a partnership with me.”
She paled. “Rhett, I told you?—”
He kept talking, not paying attention to her. His mind was already made up. “How many college degrees do you have, Charlie? Or should I call you Charlotte, like Prescott does?”
Oh. Well, that explained things a little better. Not only was her ex here, but he’d taken the time to stick his nose into her business.
“Why?” She faced him down, her arms crossed over her chest. “Are you judging me now? Why does my education matter?”
He snorted. “I knew you were too good for me.”
Too good for him? What did that mean? What exactly had Prescott told Rhett?
“What? That’s a load of crap and you know it, Rhett West.” She was angry now. Furious at him for his lack of trust. For not coming to speak with her first before believing the bullshit the likes of Prescott St Johns would spread like fertilizer.
“Is it, though? Can you tell me with certainty that your proposal has the support of your father?”
Charlie pressed her lips together and didn’t answer. She couldn’t tell him that. At least not right now.
Rhett turned away, hands on his hips, walking a few paces before turning on her. He scoffed. “See? I knew it. It was all a lie.”
“You want to believe that, don’t you?” She whispered. Her heart felt like it was shattering into pieces. Was he that convinced that he was unlovable? That nobody—no woman—would ever want what he could offer?
“Who hurt you so badly that you’re willing to push me away at the first hint of a problem?”
He winced as if she’d struck him and she had the satisfaction of knowing she was right. It wasn’t a good feeling at all. She hated that this was happening. Hated that she would have to leave to sort this out, and that leaving was exactly what he expected her to do.
“I’ll leave, but I’m coming back. And you’re going to sit down and talk this through with me, Rhett West.”
He crossed his arms and ignored her, staring over her head.
A car horn beeped outside.
“That will be your… what exactly is he to you, Charlie?” Rhett almost spat the words.
“He’s nothing.”
“Didn’t sound like it to me,” he replied, watching her as she stuffed her laptop and charger into her tote.
She hadn’t even unpacked her suitcase, so she simply grabbed it from where she had left it against the wall, extending the handle with a decisive snap. She slung her tote over her shoulder and took one last look at Rhett.
“I thought you would believe me over someone you don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. She fought back tears with rapid blinks, not wanting to cry in front of Rhett or Prescott.
“Yeah, well, I thought I knew you. Turns out I was wrong.”
The words stung like a whip, the tears fell, and she walked out the door.