Unchained Memories (18 page)

When their heartbeats returned to normal, Charlotte laid her head on his shoulder and draped her long, sexy leg over his as she ran her fingers over his chest. Involuntary spasms trailed in their wake, a provocative pleasure he hadn’t experienced in quite some time.

“What time is it?” Her voice held contentment, peace.

“Ten-thirty. Why, do you have plans?” He stroked her shoulder with his hand, willing her to say no.

“I should go to the office today. I have a big week ahead of me.”

He closed his eyes and felt her weight against him. It felt so good. So right. “Why don’t you stay here for a while? I’ll make eggs, pancakes, whatever you want. Later, I’ll walk you to the office. You can work there or pick up what you need, and we can both work here. I have some reports to do.” He hoped he wasn’t pushing it. Would she back away and run?

She kissed his cheek. “You’d make breakfast for me?”

So this was the way to her heart. “Of course. I need you to be nourished for the next time.”

“Next time?” A smile colored her voice.

He looked into her shining eyes and felt an unfamiliar pull at his heart. “The next time I make love to you.”

Not able to stop himself, he moved his mouth over hers and gave her a slow, seductive kiss. She accepted it, at first. Then she pushed him away. “Hey, wait a minute. You promised me food first. Don’t think you can just seduce me with one of those hot kisses and I’m going to cave in.”

Her laughter was contagious, and they playfully sparred until she pushed him out of bed.

“Okay, okay. I’m going.” He grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on along with a gray tee shirt that had been flung over a chair.

“Mind if I take a shower?” she asked, standing wonderfully naked by the side of the bed.

He inhaled. “You better get in there quick before I attack you again.”

She scampered to the bathroom, her laughter floating behind her like a warm breeze. What was going on with him? If he didn’t know better, he’d think he had more than a little crush on a girl. No, a woman, who did something funny to his insides.
Is there a medical term for that, doctor?

For he needed something fast to cure it. This depth of emotion was not good. He didn’t have time for such a luxury. Yet, it was there, pulling at him to indulge. His head admonished his heart that he could not, should not, fall for Charley. Besides the time commitment, they’d inevitably start arguing over their philosophical differences. Nothing would change their core beliefs. Their relationship would suffer, they’d hurt each other, and eventually break up. Knowing this, why would either of them put themselves through it?

He drew his hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten out his brain, then shook his head and headed for the kitchen.

It was time to feed this woman.

****

Bacon sizzled on the back burner as Clay cracked the last of four eggs and beat them with a fork. Adding a dash of milk, salt and pepper, he hummed an incoherent melody, since he had no particular song in mind. Not one for keeping up with the latest pop, hip-hop or jazz, his music library, if you could call it that, contained classical CDs and a few old Springsteen discs. And Bon Jovi, of course.

The toast popped at the same time the phone rang, and Clay picked up the receiver before buttering the bread.

Matt’s line from the hospital filled the display screen on the caller ID. “What’s up?”

He listened to the response, losing the music in his head as well as in his step.

Clay moved back toward the stove, flipped the bacon, and grunted. “I’ll be there in a half hour.”

He turned to put the phone back in its cradle, and there stood Charlotte in the doorway, a disappointed angel in white.

“I guess you heard. I have to go to work.” The words felt heavy in his mouth as regret over the loss of their day together ballooned in his chest.

He turned the fire off under the bacon and eggs and went over to her. Sliding his hands over her hips, he pulled her to him, burying his face in her wet hair then kissing her neck. “I’m really sorry,” he whispered between kisses. “I wanted to do this all day.” The tightening in his jeans confirmed his words.

She inched back and sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.” Her voice was raw and racy, and Clay knew his traitorous desire was apparent.

“Damn Vic’s baby.”

“What?” Shock punctuated her question.

“Sorry,” he chuckled. “I didn’t really mean that. Vic’s supposed to be working today, and his wife’s in labor. That’s why I have to go in.”

“Oh. I didn’t think you were into damning babies, but you could have changed.”

He took her hand and led her over to the stove. The eggs were clumping in the pan and the bacon sat in its own grease, the appetizing smells of moments before gone with the ring of a phone.

“I have to hop in the shower and get dressed. Maybe you can rescue this.” He took a wooden spoon out of the caddy and tried to fluff the eggs. “I promised you breakfast.” He shrugged and tried to convey further apologies through his eyes.

“Get going.” Charlotte gave him a playful swat. “I’ll clean up.”

“Eat something before you throw it out. Unless it’s inedible.” He kissed the side of her head and disappeared into the bathroom.

In less than fifteen minutes he was dressed and ready to go. Grabbing his keys, he headed back to the kitchen and stopped in his tracks. “You’re fast.” Almost all evidence of his culinary masterpiece had been cleared away and Charlotte leaned against the counter, her hair pulled back into a pony tail, her feet still bare, sipping a cup of coffee. That sexy angel look set him off balance and he was back to damning Vic’s baby.

“I made you an egg sandwich to go.” She nodded toward the kitchen table and a foil wrapped square.

“Thanks.” Clay put his keys next to the sandwich, took the mug out of her hand and placed it on the counter. “You know how sorry I am about this.” He circled her waist with his hands and almost immediately removed them, recognizing the danger of physical contact with the woman who sent his desire into overdrive.

Her eyes questioned his quick release, but she responded to his statement. “Apology accepted. Don’t worry about it. I have tons of work to do today, anyway.”

He ran through his schedule in his head, searching for a time they might be able to get together again. “I have a crazy week. I’m at the hospital most nights, and at the clinic a few hours every day.” And one day this week, he couldn’t remember when, he had a meeting with the hospital CEO to discuss his request for two more doctors in the ER. Too bad he hadn’t pushed for it sooner.

Charlotte held up her hand to stop his litany. Or did she think he was making excuses and didn’t want to hear anymore? She looked down, avoiding his eyes. “I have a trial coming up, so I don’t have much free time, either. When I do, I have to help Renee with the kids.”

“Oh. Okay.” What did that mean? Was she trying to make this easy for him, or was she blowing him off?

He took her hand and brought it his lips. “I had a great time yesterday. And last night. And this morning.” He found her eyes and held them, trying to convey a fraction of the emotion running rampant through his being. “I’d like to see you again. Soon.”

She nodded, ever so slightly, as her azure eyes turned a shade lighter. Then she blinked and slipped sideways, out of his space. “Let me just grab my shoes and purse and I’ll walk out with you.”

The air felt empty around him, and he inhaled her trailing scent, hoping to keep it with him. But the magic of the past twenty-four hours receded ever so quickly, and in its place, reality, a reality that might be the ruination of their red-hot passion.

Chapter Seventeen

“Can we go to the park, Aunt Charlotte?” Eva pleaded with her entire body, starting with her huge brown eyes and ending at her tiptoes. As if making herself taller somehow strengthened her plea.

Charlotte caught Renee’s eye as Renee headed to the laundry room carrying a full basket. Jake skipped only a few steps behind, flying an airplane with attendant noises. “Charlotte, please take Jake, too. He’s going to make me break my neck. Jake, honey, could you give Mommy a little room?”

“Why don’t you come with us? It will do you good to get a little fresh air. And please hire a cleaning lady. I gave you three names a month ago. Now that you’re back to work, you really should consider it.”

“I know,” Renee called over her shoulder. “But I don’t have time to clean up before the cleaning lady comes. I can’t let her see the house looking like this. She’ll run for the hills.”

Charlotte followed Renee into the laundry room. “After you put that load in, you’re coming to the park with us.” She put enough authority into her tone to prove she meant business.

“Yes, ma’am.” Renee capitulated without the expected excuses.

Charlotte smiled in response to the newfound harmony she and her sister had formed over the past seven months. Unfortunately, it was Jason’s untimely death that had given the sisters an opportunity to reconnect. While not quite back to the close relationship they’d shared as teens, at least they were inching toward each other.

It took them longer than usual to walk the six blocks to the park, since they had to avoid the sidewalk cracks at all costs. Except for Jake, who might have thought the game entailed stepping on every crack. Now that they were out of the house, even Renee took on the carefree attitude of a playdate.

Renee directed their troupe to the swings first, then the slide. Jake ran circles around them when he wasn’t otherwise occupied climbing up the slide backwards or kicking sand out of the sandbox. He was such a boy, filled with troublemaking energy and impish charm.

“You’re going to sleep well tonight.” Charlotte grabbed Jake’s shirt on a pass by, sending him into squeals of laughter when he pulled away.

”So this is what you do on Saturdays when you’re not suing doctors. I didn’t picture you with a softer side.” A deep voice behind Charlotte had her stiffening her back before she spun around.

“Matt. Hi. I...I’m helping my sister.”

Charlotte’s face heated with irritation at the surprise visitor as well as her uncharacteristic stutter. When she finally managed to untie her tongue, she proceeded with introductions. “This is Renee. And these are her children. Jake and Eva. Renee, Matt Branson. Dr. Branson.” She punctuated the word doctor hoping to clue Renee into his identity as a former defendant in one of her cases. Had she even told Renee about him?

“Nice to meet you.” Renee held out her hand and smiled, evidently not understanding her clue.

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry to hear about your husband.”

A look of surprise crossed Renee’s face as she realized Charlotte must know him fairly well to have shared that information. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Charlotte jumped in to change the subject. “What brings you to the park?” Her tone carried an edge, but Matt seemingly ignored it. “A bunch of guys have a standing softball game at two on Saturdays. We’re trying to channel our youth.” He chuckled, a warm, friendly chuckle. For Renee’s benefit, no doubt. “We’re really bad, but it’s fun. Come on over for a few laughs if you want.”

Charlotte was ready to decline the invitation when Renee turned to the kids. “What do you think? Do you want to go watch a softball game?”

“Yeah!” they yelled in unison.

Although Jake didn’t know what softball was, he always followed his sister’s lead. He adored her, and she him.

While not keen on watching a softball game, Charlotte demurred to the majority. Besides, Matt seemed to be offering an olive branch. She should take it and not throw it back in his face. After all, he was Clay’s best friend.

“Where’s the field?” Charlotte held her hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun.

“Over by Green Street. Just walk diagonally from here, past the soccer field, and you’ll see it.”

Charlotte couldn’t help but notice Matt’s infectious smile trained specifically on Renee.

Was Matt flirting with her? If he was, Renee didn’t seem to mind.

Matt turned toward Charlotte, giving her a much less radiant look. “Have you seen Clay lately?”

“Last weekend,” Charlotte responded. “Since then we’ve both been busy.” Her defensive reply couldn’t be couched as rude, but it certainly didn’t rise to the level of friendly.

“Really?” His question implied he didn’t believe her.

“Yes, really. Why? Do you know of a different reason?”

“Could it be that you’re on opposite sides of the malpractice issue?”

Charlotte’s face reddened, and she spoke through clenched teeth. “No. He recognizes there are two sides to every case.”

“Yeah, the right side and the litigious, ungrateful-for-saving-lives side.”

“Perhaps you should go join your team. They probably understand you better.”

Matt turned to Renee, ignoring Charlotte. “Will I see you there?”

Renee frowned at the tension permeating the air from their heated exchange. “We’ll stop by for a little while,” she agreed. “But I’m not sure how long Eva and Jake will last. Their attention span is kind of short.”

“Mine’s even shorter,” muttered Charlotte under her breath.

“You don’t have to come.” Matt practically jumped at the chance to uninvite Charlotte.

Charlotte used her sweetest voice to respond. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Renee looked at both of them skeptically. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but I get the distinct impression the two of you don’t like each other much.” An understatement, but she didn’t know the circumstances.

“Your sister feels compelled to bring lawsuits against doctors and hospitals. She thinks any injury or illness someone contracts during their stay in the hospital is caused by the very people who have tried to help her clients. So she files complaints against us that are time-consuming, stressful, and very expensive. Not to mention the exorbitant premiums we have to pay to our insurance companies to cover us against suits like those filed by your sister.”

“Are you done?” demanded Charlotte. The ire she had originally kept under control peaked to outright anger.