Chapter Two
Donnie stood in front of his rental car and grinned. Taking out his phone, he snapped a picture of the black Mustang convertible and sent it to Ryan, knowing his teammate would appreciate the beauty of the car.
He dropped his duffel on the back seat and started the engine, unable to resist revving it to bring the powerful beast to life.
Yeah, it was a sweet car. Not practical like his Bronco, but he would have some fun in it while he was here.
Adjusting his shades, he drove out of the parking lot for the short twenty-minute drive to home.
He had a love-hate relationship with home now.
He loved his family and had some great memories of his childhood, but they often got overshadowed by memories of Nate.
Refusing to go down that road, he pulled off the highway into town. Parking on the street, he walked into the florist and froze.
“James Donaldson, is that you? Oh my. It is you.”
“Hello Mrs. Weston. How are you? You’re looking as beautiful as ever.”
Donnie smiled, trying to cover the guilt of barely having spoken to his best friend's parents in ten years. The odd times he came home to visit, he tried his best to avoid them.
“It’s so lovely to see you. It’s been too long. Are you here for your mom’s birthday? She didn’t mention you were coming home.” Mrs. Weston smiled at him warmly.
“Yes, ma’am, I am. It’s a surprise. I’m just picking up some flowers on the way.”
“Oh, how lovely! She’s going to be so happy. Your parents are so proud of you, you know. They always talk about you.” She paused and Donnie thought he saw her eyes moisten. “Nate would have been proud, too.”
Donnie swallowed. “Thank you. How is Mr. Weston?”
“Oh, he’s doing just fine. He had a little problem with his heart last year, but it’s all good now. Had to give up work and is taking it easy.”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea. I know I haven’t been good at staying in touch. It’s just...” He felt like shit. He’d turned his back on Albany and everyone in it, but he cared about these people.
Mrs. Weston rested her hand on his arm. “I understand, Donnie. You don’t need to apologize.”
He nodded. “And Charlie? Is she here, in Albany?” His heart squeezed just saying her name. She was never too far from his mind, even if they hadn’t spoken in a decade.
“Oh, no, sweetheart. She’s a city girl now. The Big Apple. Although her job takes her all over the world.”
“It does? I know she was going to study political science. What does she do?” He concealed his relief that she wasn’t in town. He wasn't ready to face that conversation yet. Yep, he was a coward.
“Charlie works for the US government. Supports embassy officials. You know, foreign service officers, ambassadors.” She waved her hand in the air. “She gets sent to all sorts of places. Considering you travel with the Navy, I’m surprised you haven't run into each other.” She gave a small laugh.
“The world’s a big place. It’s great to hear she is doing so well. I’m glad she’s happy.”
“Yes, us, too.” Mrs. Weston patted his arm. “I won’t hold you up any longer. How long are you in town for?”
“A couple of days.”
“If you have time, please stop by. Al would love to see you.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Please give Mr. Weston my best.”
“I will. It was good to see you, Donnie. We miss you around here.”
With a heavy heart, Donnie watched her leave. They were good people. Practically family since he and Nate had been like brothers.
With a dozen pink roses in hand, Donnie headed back to his Mustang.
As he drove toward his childhood home, memories he’d been trying to avoid came flooding back.
He hadn't seen Charlie since Nate’s funeral.
Just nineteen, he and Nate had been in their first year at University at Albany.
He had been studying criminology, intending to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the police force.
Nate was studying business. They had been living their best lives, enjoying university life, football, and girls.
Charlie was his best friend’s little sister and that meant off limits, even if he did think she was fucking hot.
The three of them hung out sometimes through school, but it was always just friends.
He hated Charlie had a hard time at school because she carried a little more weight than some of the other girls and was short, only about five feet. Kids could be cruel.
The first time he witnessed her being bullied, he hadn't hesitated to intervene.
Charlie had been at her locker, minding her own business when a group of kids had surrounded her saying ugly things: “Was there a debate on fat versus thin?” “What’s it like to be a fat virgin?
” She kept her back to them as she sorted her stuff in her locker.
He’d been furious and walked right up to her, deliberately pushing through the group.
“Hey, Charlie, you ready for lunch? Nate’s waiting for us.”
She turned to face him with so much pain and tears in her eyes his anger doubled. He’d shielded her with his body so the others wouldn't see, then faced them.
“I suggest you guys walk away now, while you still can. If I ever see you even look at my friend Charlie, you’ll be dealing with me. Understood?”
The group had split. Yeah, getting on the wrong side of a six feet tall member of the football team was not a good idea and they knew it.
“Are you OK?” He was still shielding her. She nodded.
“Thank you.” She looked up at him with those gorgeous blue eyes, the same shade as her brother’s.
“You’re welcome. They’re assholes. Don't let them get to you. But if they bother you again, you let me or Nate know.”
The smile she’d given him had made him feel like a king.
Everything changed after the accident. He was drowning in guilt. The first opportunity he got, he’d left. Charlie didn’t just lose Nate that day; she’d lost Donnie, too.
***
STEPPING OUT OF THE chauffeured black stretch Mercedes Simon sent to pick her up, Charlie entered the upscale restaurant. She would have been quite happy to get a taxi, but Simon wouldn't hear of it and, of course, he could more than afford the personal car service.
As Simon had requested, she was wearing a dress.
This was a business lunch, and she understood Simon wanted to make a good impression.
It was a hot summer day in the city, so she’d chosen a simple blue empire sundress that flared out over her hips and accented her fuller figure.
She wore a short white wrap over her upper arms and white sandals to match.
She’d been happy with her reflection in the mirror.
As the host showed her to the table, Simon stood, and his eyes bored into her with a frown. Her stomach dropped. When she reached him, the frown turned into that expert forced smile he did so well, and he leaned in and kissed her cheek. He was sweating. Nervous? Or was he sick?
“Darling. Let me introduce you to Frank Denver and his wife Aileen.”
Charlie shook hands with them, said the appropriate niceties, and then sat.
Tension radiated off Simon in waves. Doing her best to ignore it, she tuned into the conversation.
Frank and Simon were working together on a project and were in the process of securing four properties around the world.
This lunch was likely the first of many lunches, dinners, and other events with the Denvers.
Frank and Aileen seemed nice. Owners of The Denver, a national hotel chain; they were probably in their late forties.
She tried her best to join in the conversation, but in truth she had little interest in real estate development for the rich.
Now, if they wanted to build schools in third world countries, she would talk about that all day.
When Frank excused himself to take a call, Aileen took the opportunity to use the washroom.
“Are you alright, Simon? You don’t look so good,” Charlie asked in genuine concern.
Simon turned to her and said in a low voice, “What are you wearing?”
She was so shocked she couldn’t think of an answer.
“You look like you are going on a picnic in the country. This is New York City, not...” He didn’t finish. Instead, taking a deep breath, he picked up his drink.
Finding her voice, Charlie said, “I am not a New York City woman. I don’t work in your world. I don’t wear designer dresses. I never have. You know that. If all you needed today was arm candy, I believe you can hire one by the hour.”
His words had hurt, and the old Charlie would have shrunk back and hidden. She’d worked hard at being comfortable with herself, but she never dreamed she would have to defend herself against Simon.
They were interrupted when a tall, thin brunette placed a perfectly manicured hand on his shoulder.
“Simon!” she exclaimed, “I thought it was you. It’s been too long.”
The woman was the epitome of Simon’s idea of a New York woman. Designer dress, designer shades, designer purse. Perfect hair. Perfect make-up. Perfect slender figure.
Charlie looked on as Simon stood, giving the woman a warm smile. “Dominique, what a lovely surprise. Are you back in New York?” He kissed her cheek, lingering a little too long.
“Just a visit for business. I leave for London next week.”
Dominique did not so much as glance Charlie’s way and Simon didn’t make any move to introduce her. Simon said, “I am in the middle of a meeting, but we should catch up before you leave.”
Charlie might as well have been invisible. She kind of wished she was.
“That would be lovely,” Dominique said through glossy lips just as the Denvers returned. “I’ll let you get back to your lunch. Call me. You have my number.” She leaned in and kissed Simon on the lips, giving him a wink Charlie could plainly see. What the fuck?
Simon smiled and sat down, jumping back into conversation with the Denvers, with no explanation of who Dominique was. Charlie made it through lunch, eating the salad Simon ordered for her. After Simon took care of the bill, the four of them left the restaurant.