Charlotte
The paint color was perfect. Char swiped the brush across the blank wall again and stepped back with a satisfied grin. The cabins were comprised almost entirely of logs, but there were a few interior walls that Travis had put up in some of the bigger cabins to section off the bathrooms and bedrooms. She’d tried at least five colors, but none of them looked quite right. Until now.
“Perfect.” She couldn’t help but laugh at herself when she realized she still had two coats to do. The one swipe from her brush wasn’t even close to being done. Not that she minded. For the last week, she’d immersed herself in the design and planning of the Lynx Creek cabins, and she was loving every single minute of it.
It felt good to be doing what she loved again. Really good. And most importantly, Steph was happy with the early results, too.
She’d set up each cabin to be a little bit different than the last, each with their own theme to keep them unique but at the same time cozy and comfortable. But this cabin, the one tucked up farthest in the hills, was going to be her favorite. Because of its location, completely secluded and surrounded by tall pines, it was obviously going to be the Lumberjack cabin. She’d picked out a red and black plaid bedspread and had found various lumberjack paraphernalia to adorn the walls and the couch—when the furniture was finally delivered in the coming weeks. Including a really nice antique ax that would look fantastic on the wall by the door.
Char put down her paintbrush and picked up the ax, giving it a little swing. The ring on her left hand caught the sun as she lowered the tool safely back to the ground and once again, like so many other times since Nick had put it on her finger, just over a week ago, she stopped and stared at it.
It was a gorgeous ring, even if it wasn’t the ring and it had been given to her in the most messed-up situation. Still, she couldn’t help but think that maybe, under different circumstances, or even when all of this mess was sorted out…maybe…the situation wouldn’t be quite so messed up and the ring might actually represent more than a solution to keep Amelia safe and with her father. Maybe it could be more?
It wasn’t the first time Charlotte had let herself think that way. And it concerned her that it might not even be the last. But she couldn’t help it.
She hadn’t meant for it to happen, and she’d meant it when she’d said that she didn’t want anything serious, but still…playing house with Nick and Amelia was starting to feel more and more real as the days went on. Waking up to the smell of fresh coffee brewing and the happy sounds of a little girl who had very quickly worked her way into Charlotte’s heart, followed by a good morning kiss from Nick, had become a pretty amazing way to start her days.
But not as amazing as how she’d been ending her days. Wrapped in the arms of a strong, sexy, and smart man who challenged her mind with no end of ideas about her business and never seemed to tire of hearing about her latest design finds or what she was working on at the cabins before their conversations would inevitably dissolve into kisses and touches that made her body come alive over and over again.
Yes. It was a pretty easy life to get used to.
She took a breath and pulled her gaze away from her ring as her cell phone rang. Without glancing at the caller ID, she snatched it up.
“Hello?” She practically singsonged into the phone.
“Damn.”
Charlotte’s heart stopped for a split second.
“It’s good to hear that voice. Baby, where’ve you been?”
She punched the button to end the call and dropped the phone on the floor in front of her, staring at it as if it would explode at any second.
No.
Billy.
The anonymous calls with no one on the other end. They weren’t wrong numbers. But…
Billy didn’t know how to find her.
Not that it would take a genius to know she was back in Glacier Falls. But no one had her number. Only her close friends and family. And there’s no way he’d come for her. He wasn’t that kind of guy. He was a controlling, emotionally abusive asshole, but he was also a total coward. There’s no way he’d set foot in Glacier Falls. Not when he knew her brother would make sure it was the last time he ever used that foot.
She’d been so sure he’d leave her alone. He’d go off and lick his wounds and move onto someone else.
She’d been so sure.
Which was why she’d never said anything about the other calls.
She was such an idiot.
The phone rang again, and she fell to the floor and put her arms over her head. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t let this man come in and ruin what was going so well. He’d already taken so much from her. She couldn’t deal with it. She couldn’t—no!
What she couldn’t do was sit there and let herself be a victim again. The words of her therapist, Lauren, ran through her head. “You are strong and capable. You always were. He didn’t take that from you; he just made you forget for a little bit. It’s time to remember who you are.”
Remember who you are.
Char took a deep breath and picked up the still ringing phone. She stared at it for a moment before closing her eyes and pushing the button to answer it. “You need to leave me alone, Billy.”
“I miss you.”
“No.” She worked hard to keep her voice even and strong.
“I do. You left me.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak.
“You weren’t supposed to leave, Char. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“It was part of mine.” Right. Strong. “We’re done, Billy. You need to move on.”
“You shouldn’t have left.”
Was that a threat?
He’d never been violent with her. Not really. Well, not more than once or twice. At the time, she hadn’t considered his rough handling of her abuse. But it was. She knew that now.
“Good-bye, Billy.” She exhaled slowly, letting the tension fall from her shoulders. She was about to hang up when his words caught her attention.
“It’ll never be good-bye, Char. Never.”
She sucked in a breath and ended the call. She didn’t want to admit it, but he’d gotten to her. He’d—
“Who was on the phone?”
Nick
Nick stepped into the Lumberjack cabin, hoping to surprise Char with lunch, but he wasn’t prepared to find her sitting on the floor. And he definitely wasn’t prepared to see her looking so shaken.
“Who was on the phone?”
He hadn’t caught much of the conversation, but he was pretty sure he’d heard the name Billy. And if he’d heard what he thought he’d heard, he wasn’t happy about it.
Char’s head jerked up and he could see without her even saying anything that he was right.
“Dammit.” Nick fell to his knees on the floor in front of her. “It was Billy?” He pulled her into his arms and muttered under his breath, “Fuck.” A protective surge toward Charlotte washed over him. And why wouldn’t it? They were…friends. Good friends. He’d protect any of his friends the same way. Just because it was Charlotte didn’t mean anything.
“It’s fine. It’s—”
“Not fine. I’ll destroy him, Char. I—”
“You won’t and you know it.”
He pulled her tighter to him and stroked her silky hair. “I won’t. You’re right. But I swear, if he touches one hair on your head, I’ll—”
“He won’t.” She pulled back and looked him in the eye. “He’s not going to bother me. He’s just full of hot air and he’s feeling like a wounded little boy, that’s all. He’s harmless.”
Nick wasn’t so sure, but arguing with her about a situation he knew very little about wasn’t going to be productive. Instead, he sat flat on his ass, and spread his legs wide so he could pull her into him and wrap his arms around her. She relaxed into his arms and he could feel some of the tension escape her body as he held her.
He’d meant what he said, even if it had come out a little harsher than he’d intended it to. If that waste of space, excuse of a man tried to hurt Charlotte in any way, he would destroy him without even hesitating. No, he wouldn’t hurt him. He was too smart for that. But Nick had the means to make his life as unpleasant as possible. If he messed with Charlotte, he was messing with Nick. And if that was the case, that loser didn’t know what he was getting himself into. And he certainly wasn’t going to like it.
Nick forced himself to slow his breathing and he kissed the top of Char’s head. And then, because when it came to this woman, he simply couldn’t seem to keep his hands or his lips off her, he moved his kiss lower, to the sensitive skin behind her ear that always made her squirm when he kissed her there.
Sure enough, she wiggled her way back into him, pressing her peach-perfect ass against his growing desire and tipped her head back so it rested on his shoulder, and he could have easier access. But Nick wanted more than kisses on the neck. So much more. This woman made him want things that he had no business wanting. But he couldn’t help it. And anyway, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
He wrapped an arm around her and spun Char on the wood floor so she was facing him and he could gently lay her back onto the floor where he could kiss her properly. There was still no furniture in the cabin, but that wouldn’t stop him. It might even be extra fun.
The more of Charlotte that he experienced, the more he wanted. She was like a drug. Even though whatever was happening between them was meant to be an arrangement, it was starting to feel like a whole lot more than that, and very quickly. Maybe he should be worried about how close they were getting, but he wasn’t. Not even a little.
Nick lowered his body, so his mouth could close over hers, but moments before his lips found their target, she wiggled underneath him and slipped out from under him.
“I’m working,” she protested with a smile. “I have so much to do here and—I didn’t even ask…is everything okay? You don’t usually pop in unannounced.” She asked the question as she got to her feet and picked up a paintbrush.
She looked over to him as Nick flipped around so he was sitting and could watch her bend to dip the paint in the bucket. If he couldn’t kiss her, a close second would have to be watching her bend over. He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed.
“I just wanted to see you.” It was the truth. He’d been running a few errands and when he popped into the Hub, Katie’s adventure equipment store, she’d practically stolen Amelia right out of his arms and told him to take a Dad break. So he’d done just that. But faced with an hour or two without the baby, the only person he’d wanted to spend that time with was Charlotte. No contest. “And I brought snacks.” He got to his feet and fetched the coffee and bag of muffins he’d picked up at Sweetie Pies before coming. He’d ditched them at the front when he’d seen Char on the floor when he’d come in.
“I like snacks.”
He laughed. “I brought bubbly, too.” He held up the bottle of Prosecco he’d picked up last minute. “We never really toasted to your new job and now that you’re almost done…”
“That sounds awesome.” She winked over her shoulder and turned back to the wall she was painting. “Just let me finish this—” She squealed when Nick wrapped his arms around her and put a cheeky kiss on her neck. “Nick!” Charlotte spun around and swiped his cheek with the paintbrush.
He jumped back and his mouth dropped open. “You did not just do that?”
She wiggled her hips and grinned at him. “Oh, I think I just did.”
Nick curled his lips up in a wicked smile of his own. “It’s on, baby.” He moved quickly, grabbing the extra paintbrush and dipping it in the paint before she would have a chance to realize what was happening.
“Oh no.” Charlotte laughed. “Nick!”
Her protests fueled him as he returned the favor and dotted paint on her nose before she once again jabbed her brush in his direction.
“I don’t think so.” Nick used his longer legs and arms to his advantage and moved quickly to wrap her up in his arms, pinning hers down by her sides so he could not only prevent further attacks, but also take the opportunity to kiss her. Just as she always did, Charlotte melted against his lips and deepened the kiss with a small moan.
He’d kissed his share of women in his life, but never had it felt like it did with Charlotte. Perfect and totally meant to be.
Painting forgotten, Nick pressed Char up against the wall and slid one hand down her body, to the button on her jeans. It was becoming a problem, his total inability to keep his hands off her. But as far as problems went, it seemed like a good one to have.
“Nick…”
“Yes?” He kissed her neck and any protest she was about to make dissolved on her lips.
“Knock knock!” A sharp rap on the open cabin door startled Nick into jumping backward. “Oh, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
Charlotte
Charlotte’s face bloomed hot and red in an instant. She glared at Nick, who although still standing close, was far enough away that at least they could pull off some semblance of decency despite the fact that what they were about to do before being interrupted was anything but decent. Especially considering it was Susan Johnson, the caseworker—and the one person who had the power to make life-changing decisions for them—who’d done the interrupting.
“Hi, Susan.” Nick flashed her a genuine smile, easily pulling himself together as if nothing had just happened. He offered her his hand, but quickly pulled it back when he realized the paintbrush was still in it.
To her credit, Susan took it all in stride. She shook her head and smiled. “I really am sorry to interrupt,” she said. “But it’s nice to see that your affection hasn’t been affected by having a baby around.” As if she’d just remembered the reason for her visit, she glanced around the tiny cabin. “Where is Amelia?”
“She’s with friends in town,” Nick said. “Katie and Damon Banks. They insisted I come surprise Charlotte with a break from her work.”
Susan raised her eyebrows, and still standing in the corner, Charlotte wanted to completely self-combust from embarrassment.
“I brought her coffee and muffins,” Nick said, as if that explained what they’d been doing.
“Ah, yes.” Susan nodded. “That’s how I found you up here, actually.”
Charlotte put her paintbrush down, and adjusted her clothing as best she could while Susan spoke.
“I went up to your house,” Susan continued. “At ElkView. Beautiful property.”
“It really is,” Charlotte agreed, finally able to speak.
“But when I didn’t find you, I thought I might go down to that amazing bakery we met at the other day and get a little treat while I waited. Of course, a small-town coffee shop is the perfect place to collect information as well.”
Charlotte forced the smile to stay on her face despite the fear that ran through her. Had she heard any gossip about them? Surely no one would be stupid enough to say anything.
“Is that right?” Nick must have been freaking out as well, but to his credit, he kept his cool. “And what did you learn?”
“Well,” Susan said. “I learned that these cabins here are Stephanie Starz’s newest project and that you’re working on the designs.” She looked to Charlotte, who nodded her confirmation. “I also learned that you’d just been in, Nick, and were headed up here to see Charlotte, so I took a chance on catching you both up here. Oh, and…” Susan blushed. “And maybe Stephanie Starz is here, too?”
Charlotte shook her head. “Sorry. She’s actually in the city right now.”
“Oh, that’s fine.” Susan tried not to show her disappointment, and Char tried not to smile at just how star-struck the woman was and instead, changed the subject.
“I’m sorry we weren’t home today. Will you have to come back, or—”
“Well, it is quite a drive out here…” Susan sucked in a breath. “I hate to cut your dad break short,” she said to Nick. “But would it be okay if—”
“That sounds good.” He cut her off before she could finish. “I can go pick up Amelia and meet you both up at the house if that works?”
Of course it worked. The whole point of…well, everything, was to convince this woman that they were a loving couple and the best possible choice for Amelia. Which meant, as long as it worked for Susan, it worked for her. The painting could wait.
And so could the kissing.
It was hours later by the time they finished up with Susan and Charlotte was able to get back to her painting and even later when she was able to get back to the kissing and cuddling. It had been a long day but a good one, and she was very quickly getting used to finishing a long day in Nick’s arms.
“That went well today, don’t you think?” She was tucked into the crook of his arm, cuddled with her head on his chest.
“It really did. Thank you for leaving the cabins this afternoon. I know you have so much work to do and—”
“Hey.” She turned a little so she could look up at him. “That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” She felt a pang in her chest even as she spoke the words. It was very quickly becoming not what it was all about. Of course, Amelia was the number-one concern, obviously. But every day that passed, she couldn’t help that her feelings were growing for both of them. It was getting harder and harder to remember that it was all supposed to be temporary, and they’d agreed to easy, with no feelings. It was getting really hard.
Nick hesitated and stroked her hair off her face. “It is,” he finally agreed. “And I do think it went really well today. We answered all her questions, and Amelia was extra smiley and happy today.”
“She was,” Char agreed. “And do you think it helped when she walked in on us earlier? Like…maybe it gave her the feeling that we were a real couple with real feelings?”
He stiffened under her.
Did she go too far? Did he think she was searching or digging for more?
Dammit.
The last thing she wanted was for Nick to think that she was going back on her promise to keep things light and easy, with no expectations. She didn’t want to spook him now. Especially when things were so critical. Susan said she was going to put her recommendation in right away and then the whole case would have to go to the courts. Of course, Char didn’t hear all the details because Nick had asked her to put Amelia down for her nap while they finished up. Not that she minded, but she couldn’t help but feel like she missed some details about the case and what was going on.
“Char, about—”
“I thought we nailed it.” She interrupted him and put a bright smile on her face before he could say anything that might end their fake relationship prematurely—or worse, do anything to hurt Amelia’s chance of staying with her father. “And don’t worry about me,” she continued. “I’ll keep doing my part and playing the role of devoted and madly in love fiancée.” She pushed up enough to give him a quick kiss and then flipped over to turn off the bedside light. “I’m exhausted. Good night.”
She was exhausted. But it wasn’t playing the role of devoted and madly in love fiancée that was hard work; it was pretending that it wasn’t exactly how she felt that was taking its toll on her.