Chapter 9

 

Charlotte ate her ice cream cone and tried to ignore what felt suspiciously like jealousy growing in the pit of her stomach. Jade, after accepting her ice cream cone from Mel, had gone back to sitting next to Ren on a small stone bench near the pool. The young girl was giggling and flirting with him, patting his leg and resting her slender body against his arm.

She had been like this all night. Charlotte couldn’t blame her. Ren was hot. There was no point in denying it and if she had been Jade’s age, she would have been all over him as well and damn the age difference.

Ren was subtly edging away from the young woman, and she could see his look of gratitude when Mel brought him an ice cream cone and then squeezed in between him and Jade on the bench. Jade frowned at her and Mel gave her a broad grin and lightly hip checked her further down the bench.

“Charlotte?”

She looked up, her face reddening. “Hey, Vince.”

“Hi, sweetie.”

He sat down in the lawn chair beside her, stretching his legs out and folding his hands nervously in his lap. “Can we talk about what happened earlier?”

She looked around anxiously. Daniel was floating in the pool and eating his ice cream cone, and Michael and the others were gathered around the barbeque. Michael looked her way and waved, and she waved back.

“It wasn’t what it looked like, Vince.”

He didn’t reply and she sighed. “Aww shit. It was exactly what it looked like.”

Vince snorted and she glanced at him. She was shocked to see that he was trying to hide his laughter.

“This isn’t funny, Vince.”

“I know. I’m sorry. So do you like him?” He asked curiously.

“God, I don’t know. I don’t even know him. I find him attractive but I don’t know if that’s because I’m lonely or if it’s because he’s so different from Rick, or – “

She had almost said “because I’m really horny” and she groaned inwardly and took another lick of her ice cream cone. She was close to Vince but she wasn’t that goddamn close.

“He’s a good man, Charlotte.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Vince hesitated. “Did you ask him to forgive me?”

“I asked him to try. I told him that you did what you thought was right, and that he had to see it from your point of view.”

“Thanks for that, honey. I really appreciate it.”

He reached his hand out and she squeezed it briefly.

“I meant it when I said he was a good guy. I know he looks a little rough around the edges but we’ve been spending a lot of time together in the last two days, getting caught up, and he’s the same Ren he was before.” Vince said earnestly.

He rolled his eyes. “Jade seems to be quite taken with him.”

She laughed. “It has been rather amusing watching him try and avoid her all night.”

“That girl of mine always did love the bad boys.” He heaved a long-suffering sigh that made Charlotte laugh again.

“I thought you said Ren wasn’t a bad boy?”

He grinned. “No, I said he was a good guy. There’s a difference.”

“Right.” A drip of ice cream was sliding down her hand and she licked it away before taking another quick look at Ren.

Jade was leaning over her mother, chatting happily at him, but he was staring across the pool at her. Even from here she recognized the look in his eyes and her lower body throbbed in silent response.

“So, are you two going to - uh – date?” Vince asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. There’s already enough rumours going around about me, I don’t need to add to them.”

“Who cares what they say.” Vince said stubbornly. “People will gossip no matter what.”

He stared moodily across the yard. “You deserve to be happy, Charlotte.”

“He says he loves me.” She hadn’t meant to say that.

Vince just nodded. “Yeah, I’m not surprised.”

“What do you mean you’re not surprised?” Charlotte blinked at him.

“He’s been spending a lot of time at our place over the last two days and all he talks about is you, Charlotte. He hasn’t come right out and said it but I’m pretty sure he left the undercover division because of you.”

She sighed and tossed her empty cone into the small garbage can beside her before staring at Vince. “He’s crazy, right?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

He glanced at Mel. “I won’t lie to you, Charlotte. Mel is pushing for something to happen with you and Michael. She thinks Ren is a great guy and she cares about him like he’s one of our own, but her overall feeling is that Michael would be better for you.”

He gave her an appraising look. “Me on the other hand? I’m rooting for Ren.”

“Vince, he can’t possibly be in love with me. He knows nothing about me. What he’s feeling is lust and nothing more.”

“Don’t be so sure about that, Charlotte.”

She rubbed her forehead wearily. “I’m so tired, Vince. I don’t even know what to think anymore. Rick’s only been dead for a little over a year and now I have both Michael and Ren interested in me and I’m not even sure that I’m ready to date someone, let alone be in love again.”

He squeezed her arm sympathetically. “You should take a vacation, Charlotte. Get away from here for a while.”

“Yeah, maybe I will.”

She watched, her whole body tensing, as Ren stood and walked towards them. He stopped in front of them and smiled at Vince.

“Hey, Vince. Great barbeque – thank you for inviting me.”

“I’m glad you could make it.” Vince stood. “Here, take my seat. I’m going to go sit with Mel for a bit.”

He left them, winking at Charlotte as he did, and Ren dropped into his seat.

“Hi, Charlotte.”

“Hi, Ren.”

“Are you okay?”

“Do you ever get tired of asking me if I’m okay?” She asked irritably.

He grinned. “Nope.”

“I’m fine. I’m tired and will probably leave soon.”

“Do you need a ride home? I’ve got my bike here and I’d be happy to give you a lift.”

“You drive a motorcycle?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Of course you drive a motorcycle.”

“So do you need a lift home?”

She didn’t reply. She had never been on a motorcycle in her life. She could imagine how it would feel though. How it would feel to be pressed up against Ren’s back, her thighs around his hips and her arms around his waist. He’d have a leather jacket of course and she could lay her cheek against its sun-kissed warmth, close her eyes, and just let him drive. She was surprised at how appealing that thought was to her. Until she had met Ren, she had never even thought about riding a motorcycle. Now the thought was sending little tingles of excitement through her.

“Charlotte?”

“I drove my car here but thank you.”

“Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

She sighed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ren.”

“But if Michael asks you, you’ll accept.” He gave his own sigh.

“No.” She said honestly. “I won’t.”

He gave her a searching look. “I didn’t mean to scare you earlier.”

“I know. It’s just – it’s a lot to take in.”

He stared down at his lap and she patted his knee a bit timidly. “I just need some time, you know? To figure out things.”

“I get it.” He stared at her, his grey eyes filled with kindness and warmth. “I’ll wait for you, Charlotte. I’ve waited ten months. I can wait longer.”