His sigh was exaggerated. “I know, and that’s what worries me. I have enough appreciation for their malevolent capacities for both of us.”
Charlie grinned. “I love it when you talk like that. Malevolent capacities. It sounds dirty.”
He shook her slightly, but she could see the amusement in his eyes. “I’m serious here, Charlie.”
“Yeah, well, I’m seriously starting to wonder what’s taking them so long. Our apartment is pretty small. You could walk the whole thing in under two minutes.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Tell my father that.” Harry grew so solemn, she sighed. “All right, I’m sorry.”
He grabbed his head and weaved in the chair, almost toppling Charlie. “I must be delirious. Surely you didn’t just apologize? Not Charlie Jones, the toughest—”
“My elbow hasn’t gotten any softer you know.” She stifled a chuckle as she made the threat, drawing her arm back in warning.
Harry grabbed her close and kissed her mouth, laughing against her lips. It was a ticklish kiss—at least at first. Then his mouth softened, slowed with awareness. She was on his lap, feeling his heat, his strength. At first the closeness was a game, but now it struck her how cozy it could be.
She’d never sat in a man’s lap before meeting Harry.
They both remained motionless for a long moment, and Charlie could hear the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears. Her lips parted, and with a groan, Harry tilted her back over his arm. His mouth was suddenly hot, hungry, his tongue stroking past her lips, tasting—
“Maybe we should leave the lovebirds alone.”
Harry jerked back so fast he made Charlie lose her balance. She almost slid off his lap. He managed to catch her arms, saving her the disgrace of falling on her behind. To her disgust, she could feel her face heating.
“Ah, Jill, we were just…”
“I’m young, sis, not stupid.” Jill shook her head at Harry, then continued. “Father and I have decided to go to dinner. He said you two had a date, so we’ll just use the time to get better acquainted.”
Charlie felt her temper start to boil, but then Dalton stepped closer and said, “That’s if it’s okay with you. Harry drove here, but we can catch a cab. I thought after dinner, I could show Jill the jewelry store I own on the other side of town. I’d love for you to see it as well, but of course, I don’t want to interfere with your personal time.”
Momentarily stuck in her own deception, Charlie said, “Uhhh….”
Harry had no such problem. “That’s fine. I’m sure we’ll manage without you.”
Charlie stood and stared hard at Dalton in warning. “Where are you going to dinner?”
He didn’t look the least put off by her tone, or her question. “I thought we’d go to Maria’s. It’s a nice little Italian restaurant not too far from my store.”
It was a restaurant she’d never been to, a very ritzy, expensive place well above her budget. She glanced at her sister and saw that Jill had changed into a dress and looked very excited by the prospect of dining there. Charlie didn’t want to let her go. Old protective instincts clamored inside her, reminding her of all the years she’d spent looking out for her sister’s well-being. But Jill was eighteen now, a young woman, and it was time to give her some freedom.
It went against her instincts, but Charlie nodded. “All right.”
Jill stepped forward and gave Charlie a tight hug. “Thank you.”
She waved her off. “Don’t thank me. I’m not the one taking you.”
“But we both know I wouldn’t go if you asked me not to.”
Uncomfortable with Dalton and Harry listening in, Charlie made a face. “Yeah, well, I’m assuming Dalton will take good care of you.”
Dalton’s mouth twitched at the malice in her tone. “Absolutely.” Then he, too, stepped forward for a hug, taking Charlie by surprise. In a low voice meant only for her ears, he said, “I can’t tell you how pleased I am to finally meet you. Pleased, and so damn proud.”
Charlie was still mute after they’d walked out the door. Harry, with a twisted grin, waved a hand in front of her face.
“Are you all right or did Dalton put a trance on you?”
She shook her head as if to clear it, then looked at Harry, but she didn’t really see him. A jumbled mix of emotions made her shaky inside. Her father was proud? She swallowed hard and tried to digest that information, but every stubborn, fighting instinct she had rebelled against it. Accepting any accolades from him would make her weak, would detract from the foundation she’d built over the past months and alter her goals completely. It was too much to take in all at once, and so she did what came naturally instead.
With a determined look that made Harry draw back, she walked around him and started out of the bar.
He hustled after her. “Where are you off to, brat?”
“I’m going to follow them.”
“What?”
“He can visit with my sister all he likes, as long as I’m close enough to take care of her if anything goes wrong.” Using her key, she unlocked the bottom door and rushed through it. Harry caught it in time and went up the steps with her. “I’m going to change, then I’m leaving. If you want to come along, fine, but I don’t need you there.”
He tried to catch her arm, but she shook him off to unlock the door at the top of the stairs.
“Charlie, this is insane.”
“Think what you like. I’m still going to do it.” She went down the hall to her bedroom, aware of Harry right behind her, and of his shock to her decorating scheme. He’d been upstairs many times, but never in her bedroom.
He stood there with his mouth open, his face blank. “Good God. You have ruffles.”
Belligerent, she said, “Yeah, so? It’s my room and I can decorate it any way I want.” She pulled out a clean pair of newer jeans and a white button-down oxford-cloth shirt. It was the closest thing she had to “dressier.”
Harry touched the fluffy white quilt on her bed. “I like it, so don’t sound so defensive. It’s just that I pictured you with…”
“Barbed wire? A bare mattress?” She snorted. “The quilt is warm and the bed skirt hides all the stuff I stick under my bed.”
Harry bent and looked. “There’s nothing under your bed.”
“Go to hell, Harry.”
He laughed, but when she pulled off her T-shirt to change, his humor died a quick death. Sounding strangled, he asked, “What are you doing?”
“Changing. I can’t very well go unnoticed if I wear what they’ve already seen.”
“Charlie.” With his gaze glued to her upper body, bare except for her bra, he clasped her shoulders. “Don’t do this to yourself.”
She tried to shrug him off, but his large hands held firm. “I have to hurry.”
“You’re not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
Turmoil exploded inside her, making her hands shake and her stomach pitch. In a voice that was less than steady, she growled, “Don’t start with me now, Harry. I have to go.”
“Shh.” Despite her resistance he pulled her close and his big hot hands smoothed up and down her naked spine. “I know, babe, I really do. This is so damn hard. But you need to indulge in a little trust.”