Chapter 16 Charlie
CHARLIE
Charlie sat at the large mahogany desk in the library, surrounded by stacks of legal documents and her laptop open to multiple tabs of research.
She had been working for hours, piecing together corporate filings and property records, trying to find the connection between Simon’s law firm and the mysterious developer who wanted to buy the Christmas Inn.
But right now, she was distracted by Logan’s hands on her shoulders, his strong fingers working out the knots of tension that had built up from hunching over paperwork.
“Don’t you have work to do with Jack and Holly?” Charlie asked, unable to stop smiling as Logan rubbed her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“In a bit,” Logan told her, his voice warm. “You’re so tense and have been working so hard. On both the inn stuff and your firm’s work.”
“Private client’s work,” Charlie corrected automatically, though she was leaning into the shoulder massage despite herself. “Mmm. That does feel good, though.”
She really did need to get Logan to leave so she could call her PI friend, Angus, back. He had left a message an hour ago saying he had information about Pamela and her family. Information Jane desperately needed. But Logan’s hands felt so good, and she found herself reluctant to send him away.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go for dinner and a sleigh ride tonight with me?” Logan asked, stopping his massage and leaning against the desk beside her.
Charlie looked up at him, feeling guilty. This was the third date she had cancelled this week. “I would love to,” she assured him. “But we still have so much to do here, and I promised Jane I’d lend an extra hand with the magic stars for the ballroom.”
“Who knew you were such an excellent attorney and so good with arts and crafts?” Logan teased, his eyes crinkling with affection.
“Not me, that’s for sure,” Charlie laughed. “She could use your help with them, too. There are a thousand to do.”
“Yeah, I’ll lend a hand,” Logan promised. Then he leaned down and kissed her gently. When he pulled back, his expression became serious. “Charlie, I know we said we were taking this slow...”
His voice dropped lower, and Charlie felt her breath catch at the intensity in his eyes.
“But I’m in love with you,” Logan continued. “And as you keep cancelling all my romantic dates...”
Charlie’s eyes widened as Logan knelt down beside her chair.
“Logan, what are you...” Her heart started racing as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket.
“We’re not spring chickens,” Logan said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. “And I, more than anyone, know not to waste a single moment with someone you love. I don’t want to waste another moment with you.”
“I...” Charlie swallowed, her heart beating so loud it was almost deafening her.
“Will you marry me, Charlie Burke?” Logan opened the box, and Charlie’s eyes widened even more at the sparkling diamond on the blue velvet bed. It was beautiful—elegant and classic, exactly what she would have chosen for herself if she had been picking out a ring.
“Please say yes,” Logan added with a slight smile, “because I’ve just realized we have an audience.”
His head bobbed toward the door, and Charlie turned to see Isabella and Jane standing there, staring at them in awe. Isabella was holding a tray of food, and both women looked like they had frozen mid-step.
“I... uh...” Charlie felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment and joy and a dozen other emotions all tangled together.
“Come on, Charlie, don’t leave my uncle hanging,” Jane said, a huge smile spreading across her face.
“Yes, Charlie...” Isabella added anxiously, practically bouncing on her toes.
Charlie turned back to look at Logan’s handsome face. Her heart did that flutter thing it always did when she looked at him or when he was near. The thought of a life without him suddenly hit her, and it seemed unbearable. Impossible. Wrong in every way.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
“I’m in love with you, too, Logan,” Charlie admitted, her voice thick with emotion. “And yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Jane and Isabella cheered, and Jane clapped in delight. Logan slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit, she noticed right before he jumped up to crush his lips to hers in a kiss that made Charlie’s toes curl.
“Uh hum,” Jane’s voice broke through their bubble. “Sorry to break up this happy moment.”
Logan and Charlie pulled apart, both slightly breathless and grinning like teenagers.
“But we need your connoisseur taste buds, Charlie,” Isabella said, holding up the tray. She glanced at Jane uncertainly. “Or maybe we can come back later?”
Jane looked at Charlie and Logan, then seemed to realize what she was interrupting. “Uh...” She swallowed. “Of course. How stupid of me. This is a big thing for you.”
Jane walked into the library and hugged them both. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you both.”
Isabella did the same, and the most divine aroma hit Charlie when she placed the tray on her desk. It made her realize she had worked straight through lunch and was starving.
“Please, stay,” Charlie said, unable to keep her eyes off the ring on her finger. The diamond caught the light from the library windows, sparkling brilliantly. “Let’s taste these delicious creations of yours, Isabella.”
Logan’s phone beeped with a message. He pulled it out and grimaced. “It’s Jack. I have to go.”
He looked at Charlie apologetically, and she smiled. “Go,” she told him, accepting another kiss. “But, Logan...”
He stopped at the door. “Yes?”
“Let’s keep this between us...” Charlie looked at the two women in front of her. “All of us,” she warned. “Until we’ve got this sorted out.”
“Maybe it’s what everyone needs,” Isabella pointed out gently. “Some happiness in the midst of all this stress.”
“I understand where Charlie’s coming from,” Logan agreed. “While I want to sing it from the rooftops, let’s keep it quiet for now. We’ll pick a magical night to announce it.”
“Like the Winter Ball,” all three women said in unison.
“Yes, like the Winter Ball,” Logan agreed with a laugh. He blew a kiss at Charlie and then left, closing the library door behind him.
Excited chatter erupted among the three women as they gathered around the desk. Charlie’s eyes fell on the tray, revealing several small plates of exquisite-looking appetizers.
“These are the entrees I want to make for the ball,” Isabella explained, catching Charlie’s gaze. “I need honest opinions on which ones work best together.”
They spent the next fifteen minutes tasting Isabella’s amazing creations.
An assortment of delicate pastries filled with savory mushrooms and herbs, tiny tartlets topped with fig and prosciutto, and elegant canapés with smoked salmon and dill cream.
Charlie cataloged each flavor while her stomach gratefully accepted the food she had been neglecting.
Isabella’s phone beeped, and she glanced at it with a sigh. “I have to go take the casserole out of the oven and continue preparing dinner for the inn.” She stood up, gathering her tray. “I’m glad we’re filling up with bookings, but boy, is it busy now.”
“Everything was delicious,” Charlie assured her. “The fig and prosciutto tartlets were my favorite, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of these.”
“Thank you,” Isabella said warmly. “And congratulations again. I’m so happy for you both.”
After Isabella left, the library fell quiet. Jane looked at Charlie expectantly.
“Did you manage to find out anything about Pamela?” Jane asked, her voice dropping to just above a whisper.
Charlie nodded, glancing at the door to make sure they were truly alone. “The doctor is legitimate. Dr. Raymond Chen. The nurses were all legitimate staff at St. Luke’s Medical Center.”
“But?” Jane prompted, hearing the hesitation in Charlie’s voice.
“But the doctor was there on a special visiting privileges pass, specifically to see you,” Charlie explained. “He’s a specialist in genetic diseases, based out of Miami. He doesn’t normally practice at St. Luke’s, but Pamela arranged for him to have temporary privileges there for your appointment.”
Jane’s expression darkened. “So Pamela set the whole thing up.”
“It appears so,” Charlie confirmed. “I was waiting for Logan to leave so I could call my PI friend back. He left me a message with more information about Pamela and her family.”
“Can I be here when you call?” Jane asked immediately.
“Of course,” Charlie said. “Lock the door.”
Jane got up and locked the library door, then returned to her seat. Charlie was reaching for her phone when Jane’s phone suddenly rang.
Jane pulled it out and looked at the screen. Her face went pale. “It’s the hospital.”
“Answer it,” Charlie said gently.
Jane accepted the call and put it on speaker so Charlie could hear. “Hello?”
“Ms. Evans? This is Nurse Martinez from St. Luke’s Medical Center. I’m calling with your test results.”
“Yes,” Jane said, her voice shaking slightly. “What did they find?”
“Your genetic screening came back negative,” the nurse said warmly. “There are no markers for the hereditary condition we were testing for. You’re completely clear.”
Jane’s face crumpled with relief, tears instantly forming in her eyes. “Negative? Are you sure?”
“Completely sure,” the nurse confirmed. “Dr. Chen wanted me to call you personally to let you know. You can schedule a follow-up appointment if you’d like to discuss the results in more detail, but there’s nothing to be concerned about.”
“Thank you,” Jane managed to say. “Thank you so much.”
After the call ended, Jane sat there for a moment, just breathing. Charlie saw the relief flood through her, the tension that had been holding her rigid for days finally releasing.
“Do you want to go tell your father before I call the PI?” Charlie asked gently.
“No,” Jane shook her head, wiping at her eyes. “I’ll go after. I want to hear what your PI found out first.”