Chapter Ten
Getting up and leaving Charlie in his hotel bed had been the hardest thing he’d ever done. She'd fallen asleep quickly in his arms and he decided not to wake her. It was hard enough leaving as it was. Instead, he scribbled a note and left it on the pillow.
Charlie. I had an amazing time with you. You are perfect. If I didn’t have to leave, I wouldn’t. I will call you as soon as I can. Donnie xx
Now he was second guessing his decision.
Perhaps he should have woken her. Talked to her.
Made sure she was OK. When he hadn't heard from her before he’d boarded his plane, he presumed she was probably still sleeping.
From the airport, he’d gone home to get a couple hours sleep himself, but he’d sent a quick text, so she would wake up to it.
But he’d heard nothing and now he was getting worried she was regretting what they’d done.
Not that they had full on sex. He had wanted to.
His dick had complained all the way home.
But no way in hell was he taking advantage of her.
She might have sounded confident and determined, but her whole future had just been upended.
Who knew what she would be thinking this morning when reality set in. That worried him.
“Good to have you back, Donnie.” Dex slapped him on the back as the team got settled around Bertha, their affectionately named table that was also a state-of-the-art computer.
“What time did you get in?”
“Early hours. So where are we at?” Donnie silenced his phone and put it in his pocket. It was time to focus.
“We’ve drilled down Plan A and B, but we still need some more contingencies. Let me grab a coffee and we’ll bring you up to speed.”
The next two hours flew by while the teams went over the plans they had put together. Donnie gave his thoughts, and they made a few adjustments.
“Alright, let’s take a break. Back here in twenty,” Sam said. Donnie immediately took out his phone, smiling when he saw Charlie’s text.
Charlie: Good morning. Sorry, was running late after waking up in a strange bed with a phone that had no battery.
Grinning, he texted back, happy she was still talking to him.
Donnie: Just wanted to wish you luck on your first day.
Charlie: Thank you but no luck needed. Not my first rodeo!
Donnie: Lol. Fair enough. Did you get my note?
Charlie: I did, thank you. You should have woken me.
Donnie: You looked so relaxed and peaceful. I didn’t want to.
Charlie: I slept right through till morning. I’m surprised housekeeping didn’t kick me out when you checked out.
Donnie: I paid for the extra night.
Charlie: You did? That’s crazy. I could have gone back to my room.
Donnie: Like I said, you looked so peaceful.
Charlie: You’re nuts. Thank you. For everything.
Donnie: My pleasure. Can I call you later, when I’m done here?
Charlie: You don't have to.
Donnie frowned. Did she think he was just going to go back to his life and never talk to her again?
Donnie: I want to.
The three little dots appeared, then disappeared. He was about to text when they finally reappeared again.
Charlie: OK. Yes. I’d like that. I gotta go, I have a meeting.
Donnie: Have a great day, babe.
Charlie: You too.
Donnie was still smiling when he put away his phone.
Relief flowed through him. He hadn't completely screwed things up. Charlie had been even better than his fantasies, of which he’d had plenty.
Seeing her body come alive under his touch had been so fucking erotic.
Just thinking about it set his heart racing.
He could only imagine what it would feel like to be buried inside her.
Charlie might have been looking for a quick lay to make herself feel better, but he wanted more. Much more.
“What’s got you so happy? Or should I say who?” Steve sat beside him.
“Nothing. Just happy to be back here with my boys.” He gave Steve a light punch on the shoulder.
“I take it you sorted out your business in Toronto?”
“Yep. All good.”
“How was it driving a real car?” Ryan asked with a smile sitting opposite.
“The Mustang was cool. I’m not denying it. It was a sweet ride but not giving up my Bronco anytime soon.” Donnie stood to get more coffee.
“I cannot believe you prefer that to a Mustang. There’s something wrong with you.” Ryan shook his head.
“Not all of us need to drive a muscle car to prove we’re a man.” It was a joke and, as he’d hoped, the room erupted into laughter.
Ryan threw the baseball that had become an Onyx fixture, at him, which he caught easily.
“Ooh, did I touch a nerve?” He grinned and threw it back. Ryan caught it, then gave him the finger.
“Hey, you got a minute?” Mackie said quietly, coming up beside him.
“Yeah.” He followed Mackie out into the locker room where they could talk privately.
“What’s up?” Donnie asked as soon as the door closed.
“I found something else.”
“Simon?”
“Yeah.”
The way Mackie said the word made Donnie frown. Charlie had ended it, nothing really mattered now, but he still wanted to know just what skeletons that fucker had been hiding.
“I found some emails between him and his lawyer. He had a prenup prepared.”
“OK. I don’t like it, but it’s not unheard of. The guy is worth millions.”
“It’s not the prenup itself that’s a concern. The whole marriage is fake, only Charlie doesn't know it.”
Donnie tensed. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll forward you the emails so you can see for yourself.
Looks like Daddy Radwell was not going to hand over the company without some conditions.
Daddy seems like a stand-up guy. Does a lot for charity and is well known in the New York elite circles.
He has had to bail his son out of some drug-related situations and pay money to avoid embarrassing pictures getting out.
He was not handing over his company unless Simon put his partying ways behind him, settled down, married and gave him a grandchild. ”
“Simon was using Charlie? To get his dad’s company?”
“Simon doesn't hold back in the emails with his lawyer. Read them. He plans to buy a house in Albany, get her knocked up as soon as possible. He’ll keep his apartment in Manhattan, and I imagine continue his partying without Daddy or Charlie knowing. Once he has the business, they’ll divorce, he’ll pay alimony for the child, and she’ll get a one-time payment and the house. It’s all been carefully planned out.”
“Donnie, Mackie, let’s get back at it.” Dex’s voice came through the door.
Donnie shook his head. “I swear to God I want to kill that fucking shithead. Thankfully Charlie ended it with him before I left Toronto.”
“She did? You told her about the girls?”
“No. Simon turned up and was a complete asshole. Long story for another day. Thanks for this, though. If he tries to come crawling back, he and I will have a chat.”
Now Donnie knew Simon’s intentions, he had a feeling the bastard might try and win Charlie back. There was a lot at stake for him. He didn't want to tell Charlie about this. It would only hurt her more, but he would intervene if he had to. No way was Simon getting close to her again.
“You care about this woman. It’s written all over your face,” Mackie said as they walked back toward the war room.
Yeah, he did but he wasn’t about to share how much.
“I do care. Her brother was my best friend. He died in a car accident ten years ago and I left Albany and Charlie. Left her to deal with his death alone. I regret that. I can't go back and change what I did, but I intend to be there for Charlie as the friend I should have been all these years.”
Mackie grinned at him. “Yeah. I’m sure that’s all it is.”
***
CHARLIE SAT AT HER desk having just finished a meeting with the US Consul General and other embassy staff where she had been briefed on their current projects.
It had been much harder than usual keeping her attention on what was being said as thoughts of Donnie kept distracting her.
She had replayed every second of what happened from the moment he’d kissed her.
Multiple times. His mouth, his hands, his tongue.
Her pussy throbbed at the memories. She’d always believed sex would be good with Donnie, but the reality had far exceeded her imagination.
She had no idea her body could feel the way he had made it feel.
And she loved it. Could get addicted to it.
To him. Her high school crush had wanted her.
Had been aroused by her. Had spent all his time pleasuring her.
She didn’t even get to see his cock! She actually felt guilty he’d done all the work, but he hadn’t seemed to care.
The man sure wasn’t selfish, and he had opened her eyes to what she’d been missing.
Damn, she wanted to do it again. And again.
Waking up to his note had sent a wave of disappointment over her, but she’d known he had to leave.
It’s not like they were suddenly boyfriend and girlfriend.
Hell, she'd asked him for sex. Again. She didn’t regret it, but what happened now?
The brief texts earlier had eased her worry a little, but she was nervous about talking to him when he called.
Did they just go back to friends after all the things he’d done to her?
She shivered at the memory, clamping her thighs together as her body begged for more.
It was almost one. Lunchtime. Grabbing her purse, she decided to get some fresh air. As she walked along University Avenue she called Maddie.
“Hey, I was going to call you later. How’s your first day?” Maddie answered.
“Going well. How are you? Dave said you were sick?”
“Just exhausted, I think. I’m always worn out with two kids, but it was nice to get some rest. Sorry I missed your call. Everything OK?”
“Um. There’s been a few developments.”
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense.”
“I ended it with Simon, and I slept with Donnie.”
The shriek at the other end of the phone had Charlie holding the phone away from her ear.
“Oh, my God. Tell me everything.”
Charlie filled her best friend in on all the details. Well, almost all.