CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

 

Charlie’s heart was galloping in her chest as she walked on light feet past Jake’s flat door. She’d left it as late as she could to get home, giving her just enough time to get in, have a quick shower, and get back out again to meet Jas and Selena downstairs. Her further attempts to get out of going, including the boxed slice of red velvet cake she’d picked up to bribe Cara with from the canteen when she’d left, hadn’t worked. Luckily, with all the water she’d put away throughout the day, Charlie felt more like herself by the time she left uni.

All she needed now was to get to her flat without Jake seeing her, and she was halfway there.

Her ears sharpened as she went past his door. Not a sound from inside.

When she was safely past, she noticed there was something on the floor outside her flat door and quickened her steps. There was a small brown paper bag folded over at the top. Next to it was the folded poster from The Crow that she’d carefully put back under Jake’s door that morning after she’d waited for him to leave for work. She picked them both up, too curious about the package to care about being seen anymore. Opening the bag, She peeked inside first, and then reached in and pulled out a small bottle of Pepto Bismal. Smiling, she opened the poster out and looked on the back where there was more writing underneath where she’d written: You should think about it some more.

She read his words:

Thought the pink stuff might help today.

Oh, and the answer is still no.

Relief washed over Charlie as she put the stuff under her arm so she could open the door. She glanced back down the hall before going inside, grinning from ear to ear. He hadn’t been scared off after all, which was a miracle in itself. He’d even thought about her wellbeing. Shame he hadn’t dropped it off this morning when she really needed it, she thought as she huffed out a little noise of excitement.

Bloody hell, woman.

What was happening?

She’d never felt so giddy in her life before. Why though? It wasn’t like he’d shown any real interest in her. And let’s be honest, the gift was a joke—something to remind her how much she’d embarrassed herself.

That being said, Jake didn’t have to put those things outside for her.

Charlie was taking it as a positive anyway.

Even so, the thought of running into him was still a problem she couldn’t bare thinking about.

After all, could a guy really fancy someone who almost threw up on him?

Mortifying!

 

 

* * *

 

 

The Gifted Crow was a funny kind of place. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, it was more like your local cosy pub that served light meals and had a whole side behind the bar that was dedicated to gin.

Thursdays, however, were the complete opposite end of the scale.

Bursting with students, drinks were served in plastic glasses, most of the tables got removed or repositioned in the more snug areas of the place, and the management hired in security and a loud speaker system for the bands and artists who gave their time for free just for the fun of it.

Charlie had managed to persuade the gang to sit somewhere out of the way again. Although she felt much better, her head was still not quite right and she didn’t want to sit in the main room and risk it getting worse.

Which was how she’d bribed Cara: If her head got worse she was going home. No arguments.

So they were tucked in a cosy corner with an assortment of drinks on the table; absolutely no alcohol for Charlie. Instead, she had a couple of J2Os that would probably last her the night if she sipped them.

“So how’s your head, Char?” Jas asked, having to raise his voice above the female singer that was currently doing her bit on stage.

“Better. Thanks.”

“That’s good.” He had a strange expression as he looked at her across the table. “So there’s no danger of you throwing up on anyone tonight then?”

Of course she did!

“Cara!” Charlie kicked her friend’s leg under the table.

“Ouch,” she groaned through a laugh.

“I can’t believe you blabbed straight away.”

“As soon as she got in the car,” Selena said as she rejoined them from having a cigarette outside. It really shouldn’t be a surprise. Cara had always been a gossip. Selena gave her a sympathetic look as she sat down. “Have you seen him since?”

Charlie’s shoulders slumped. “No.” She didn’t want to mention the gift he’d left, so she joked. “He’s probably moved out. Left the area. Maybe the country. I wouldn’t blame him. I’d want to get as far away from me as possible after that.”

“‘You kidding me?” Jas said. “You hugged the guy. He’s probably thinking you’re fair game. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you out already.”

“Jas!” Selena shoved him in the arm and said something else that Charlie couldn’t hear due to the applause that erupted at the end of the woman’s set.

“Joking.” He looked across at her. Then when he looked at Cara his eyes went wide and he gave a subtle shake of the head.

This might have been a worse humiliation. “Piss off, Jas. As if I don’t feel bad enough.”

Selena went to say something then paused as the MC announced the next act.

“Please welcome to the stage for the first time, Jack.”

She tried again when the clapping died down and an acoustic guitar began to play. “He’s not meeting you here tonight then?” Selena asked, her brow creasing.

“Definitely no. Probably won’t ever speak to me again.”

“Oh.” Selena got a quizzical look on her face. “I thought I saw his motorbike outside just now.”

Charlie’s stomach knotted. “What?”

“I might have got it wrong. . .”

In an instant Selena’s voice drifted into the background along with everything else when all Charlie heard was the warm husk of the voice singing a familiar song through the speakers. Was that. . . Jake? She froze, time standing still as she listened to the soft, jagged tone of his voice accompanying the familiar guitar riffs. She’d listened enough to know who was on the stage right now, and before she even had to think about it, her body shot up from the chair.

“Charlie? What the hell’s wrong. . .”

Her friend’s voice drifted away. Nothing else mattered in that moment, and when she pushed and squeezed through enough people to get a view of the stage. . .

Her lungs expelled all of her breath.

There he was.

Jake. Not Jack, as the MC had introduced him.

Strumming and plucking away on his blonde acoustic guitar, singing in that sensual tone into the microphone. Charlie could barely see his face under the camouflaged, trucker-style cap he wore, but even without a full visual she absolutely knew it was him. His blue and white plaid shirt was bunched up as he hunched over a little on the stool he was sitting on. One of his bike boots tapping to the beat.

Without realising, Charlie had moved closer and was now standing on the top of the three stairs that led to where most of the crowd were standing in a semicircle in front of the stage. Now she could see him uninhibited and she watched, eyes fixated, heart racing, as Jake performed his song beautifully. His eyes closed sometimes as he appeared to get lost in the words he sang. Like they meant a lot to him. Charlie could feel that they did through the emotion he poured into his performance.

Suddenly, when Jake’s eyes opened again they found hers and his head lifted ever so slightly. Charlie smiled nervously as she tried to breathe, warmth filling her chest. His eyes stayed fixed on her, and right then it was as if he was singing those beautiful words directly to her. Heat spread through her cheeks, and she was instantly caught up in him; locked in his gaze. So overcome in the moment that part of her wanted to look away just to catch her breath. But she didn’t. Couldn’t.

As the song continued into the chorus, they could have been anywhere. Right then there was no bar, no people.

Only the two of them.

Quietness surrounded her. Then Charlie realised it wasn’t only because she’d zoned the crowd out, so focused on Jake that she couldn’t possibly hear or feel anything else, but also because everyone in the place was listening.

Using it as an excuse to look away, her eyes moved around the crowd to see people smiling as they watched, listening to the same stunning song, the same voice that was melting her into a puddle.

A hand went on her arm, pulling her out of the spell.

“Charlie?” She turned at the low sound of Cara’s voice. Her friend leaned in. “You didn’t tell me he could sing.”

No. She hadn’t. And she didn’t quite know why. Maybe it was because she wanted it to be something only she knew about him.

The crowd went crazy. Charlie clapped too, grinning widely when she realised it was all for him. He’d finished the song and had stood up.

“Thanks,” Jake said into the mic as he adjusted the stand higher, but she barely heard him for the noise, especially with Cara wolf whistling down her ear.

It was the best response she’d heard anyone get at The Crow, and it made her chest fill with pride, which was weird because she barely knew him really. Charlie knew Jake had something special though. It was why she’d dropped enough hints for him to perform here. When he caught her eye again, he gave her a hint of a smile and she inhaled deeply, a glow spreading right through her. You could see he wasn’t used to the response by the way he held himself as the crowd called for more. His shoulders were hunched a little, and he reached up to brush his hand on the back of his neck.

“Yeah, okay. If you’re sure.” His voice was louder this time, sounding more confident.

A collective “YEAH” rang out through the room.

“You can play all night if you want to,” someone called from behind her, and people laughed.

Jake gave a soft laugh with a smile that lit up his face like she’d never seen before “Uh, thanks. I probably won’t, but I can do another one.” The crowd noise died down and Jake sat on the stool again, adjusting the stand and putting his guitar in position. He leaned forward to the mic. “This one is a song I did from a poem I wrote a couple of years back for my mum.”

There was some whooping. And then Jake started to play a soft, ambient tune, the fingers of his left hand picking the notes in an almost classical way while his other hand softly plucked at the strings.

Then his voice filled the room, the soft husk sailing out of the speakers and singing more beautiful words:

 

“And when the colours of your rainbow dripped into each other,

I still saw your colours as they were. . .”

 

A prickling sensation travelled over her skin, goosebumps washing over her and causing her to shiver as her eyes began to sting at his beautiful words. She listened for what felt like hours when it was merely minutes, until the music slowed and Jake struck his last chord.

If possible, the response from the crowd was even louder this time. But as Jake said his thank yous, unplugging the lead from his guitar and nodding his head in acknowledgment while the MC eagerly made a fuss of him, his expression had changed as he backed away slowly to the edge of the stage. Charlie caught a pained look on his face right before he disappeared from view. It was like he wanted to get off there quickly.

“Shit, Charlie. . .” She’d forgotten Cara was standing there. “He’s brilliant.”

Nodding, her smile was wide as she almost giggled like a teenager. “He is, isn’t he.”

Selena and Jason joined them with their drinks. Selena passed Charlie her handbag. “Thanks.”

“You kept that quiet,” Jas said before he took a sip from his stupidly undersized bottle of coke that you could barely see in his big hand. He must have seen the way Charlie looked at it. “What? They’ve run out of post mix.”

Selena said, “I knew that was his bike outside. He has a great voice. I really enjoyed it.”

“Omg, I could listen to him for hours,” Cara said something else too, but Charlie was only half listening as her friends continued to compliment Jake. Glancing back towards the stage, she zoned everything out when she saw that he’d gone. She looked around, her eyes scanning the room frantically as the MC introduced another singer, but she couldn’t see Jake anywhere.

“Um. . . Earth to Charlie.” Cara pulled on her arm. “I said do you think he’ll come back next week? If he does we should definitely come. Maybe we can go for some food somewhere first. Charlie?”

Still no sign of him. “Yeah. Sounds good. Listen. I’ll be back in a minute, okay?”

Not that she gave her friend chance to answer. Making her way through the crowd, she kept looking around for Jake as she headed towards the door, but in her gut, Charlie knew he’d gone before she even got outside, and wondered why he hadn’t come over to her, at least to say hi.

Why, though? Surely it wouldn’t be because of last night? Had that one stupid moment really messed up the chances of his friendship? And why would he have performed tonight if that was the case? Charlie couldn’t think of a reason, especially after the way he’d looked at her during his performance, the way he’d sang to her. . . God, she was so confused.

There was no sign of his bike outside. Even though he would have parked it close for Selena to have spotted it, Charlie went to the edge of the pavement and glanced both ways down the street anyway, on the off chance he’d moved it further down for some reason. Nope. It didn’t matter how much she looked for it, Jake had gone.

Disappointment had her lowering her head and the moment she did she saw something catch the light by the drain. She bent down to pick it up. It was a brown leather wallet. It had only caught her notice because of the small, rectangular, metal label which was stuck to the outside that had reflected the light back at her. Charlie contemplated taking it inside and handing it in to a member of staff, but something stopped her. It wouldn’t hurt to have a look inside. Maybe she knew whose it was and could just give it back to them herself. She never trusted the lost and found in places like this.

When she unfolded it, she took one of the cards out, a bank card, tilting it in the light so she could read the name. She gasped when she read Jake Andrew Sure in the embossed silver letters. What were the chances that he’d drop his wallet outside the busy pub and she would be the one to find it? Perhaps she shouldn’t have, but she nosied at a few more of the cards: a gym membership, she knew he worked out; another debit card this time from a different bank. In the last slot was a piece of cardboard. As she slid it out, a piece of paper fell to the floor. When she picked it up and unfolded it her heart stopped for a minute.

No. It couldn’t be. Suddenly the memory of the man in the hallway who’d almost knocked her over came into her head. Charlie had seen more of his face than she’d remembered because right then, she was looking at a newspaper clipping with that man’s face on it—knew it one hundred percent. She read the headline above:

Hunt for suspected murderer still underway.

But if Jake knew him, why wouldn’t he have known the man was in their apartment building? Was this who’d been in his apartment without him knowing?

Her heart began to race as she got her phone out of her bag and opened up the Uber app. There was a car two minutes away. She booked it, sent a quick text to Cara telling her she’d had to go home, and went back to staring at the clipping while she waited. It was the one word that caused her stomach to knot tightly:

Murderer.

Bloody hell.

What was Jake involved in?

A bad feeling went through her. She was so thrown by it that she didn’t realise the Uber guy had pulled up in front of her and was talking to her through his open window.

“Charlie?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.” When she got in the taxi, she put the newspaper clipping back in Jake’s wallet exactly where she found it, and then stared out of the side window thinking of that man in her building over and over again for the whole journey home.

When she realised they’d pulled up outside, she gave the driver a couple of quid tip and got out, looking at the empty space where Jake’s bike should be.

Shit. He wasn’t home yet.

Charlie wished she had his phone number.

Frustrated, she went inside.

When she got to her flat, she left the door wide open. She was on the opposite side of the building to the car park, but she was sure she’d hear Jake’s bike when he came back. It was loud as hell. Placing his wallet on the side, she went and made herself a cuppa, then paced the floor while she drank it. There was no way she could settle. Not until she’d spoken to him.

Twenty minutes later, while she was perched on the arm of her sofa looking through all the Jake Sure’s on Facebook, just in case she could leave him a message that way, her ears picked up on a distant rumble. Charlie stood up, closing her phone, listening to the roar of a motorbike getting louder until it was abruptly cut.

Heart racing, she grabbed the wallet and headed towards her flat door. Then she paused. Best not to jump at him the moment he came up the stairs or anything, even though that’s what her body was urging her to do. She didn’t want him to know she’d been anxiously waiting.

So she hung around in her hallway for a few minutes. Jake would have to secure his bike before coming in, so she tried to time it right to make it look like she was just coming out of her flat to try his door again, like it was purely coincidental.

After what felt like forever, Charlie’s keen ears heard the door to their floor open. Preparing herself, she tried to look casual as she left her flat, closing the door behind her. He looked up just as she started to walk down the hall towards him. When he gave her a smile like he actually was pleased to see her it caused a warm feeling in her chest.

“I was just coming to see if you were back yet,” she said, trying to mask her nerves. “I knocked when I got home.” Charlie noticed he didn’t have his guitar.

Jake had his keys in his hand as he waited for her. “I noticed my wallet was missing when I got back. I’ve obviously dropped it somewhere. Been out looking for it, but no luck.”

“Well,” she said with a smile, “you’re going to love me.”

As his eyes narrowed, she realised what she’d said and felt her cheeks heat, wishing she could take it back. Moving on, she held up the wallet to divert his attention from yet another embarrassing moment. “I found it. That’s why I knocked.”

“Shit.” He reached for it. “Where was it?”

“Outside The Crow. In the gutter.”

“Must have fallen out my pocket when I got on the bike.” When he looked at her his face was serious, eyes intense. He was tall anyway, but he looked so much bigger with the motorbike jacket and the black and red face cowl he had around his neck. “Thank you. You’ve no idea how much you’ve saved my arse.”

“It’s okay. I’m just glad I saw it before anyone else.” How to approach it? She figured she might as well just say it. “Jake, I, uh. . . I looked inside, obviously to see whose it was. And a newspaper clipping fell out. I honestly didn’t mean to pry, but I saw it and. . .”

Charlie saw his nostrils flare a little and his jaw had gone tense. Warily, she continued. After all, he had to know. “That man, the one in the picture—”

“What about him?”

She was surprised at his sharp tone and for a second she hesitated. “I saw him.”

“Yeah, well. You said that.” He turned and unlocked his door, turning halfway back to face her. “Listen, thanks for bringing my wallet—”

“No Jake, I mean I saw him here.”

He visibly froze, eyes widening with what she could only describe as horror. “What the hell do you mean?”

“The day I stopped outside your wide-open door. The man who almost ploughed me down? It was him.”

Without another word, Jake went inside, but he left the door open so she followed him in. He threw his keys on the side table and put his helmet on the shelf underneath. “You must be mistaken.”

“I’m not. It was him, Jake.”

He spun around. “You told me you didn’t see the guy properly.”

Charlie gestured to the wallet he was still holding. “As soon as I saw that picture I remembered his face. I don’t know how, but I just did. It’s like the picture triggered the memory.” He was staring at her with that same expression. “It was him. Definitely.”

“Fuck!” he said, running his hand down his face. He turned away. “Fuck!”

“What is it, Jake? Do you know him?” Stupid question really. Surely he wouldn’t have a newspaper clipping of the guy in his wallet if he didn’t.

“What?” He turned back around, but kept his eyes lowered. “Yeah. I mean, I did. He’s someone from my past, that’s all. Haven’t seen him for a long time.”

“So what was he doing in your apartment?”

Now when he looked at her he had a strange expression she couldn’t make out. “I don’t know. Coincidence. Maybe?”

What? How was that possible? Charlie knew it had to be a lie. Now she knew he was hiding something from her. “But, Jake. . . That newspaper clipping says he is a murder suspect.” Then she remembered. “Shit. You said whoever had been in here had taken a knife—”

“Charlie, just stop.” Jake closed his eyes. “I’d just rather not get into it right now.” She was taken aback a little by his tone and he must have seen it. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”

He turned away, walking to the breakfast counter that separated the two rooms. Feeling awkward in the following silence, and also a little annoyed, she decided she wasn’t doing this hot and cold with him anymore. Whatever the issue was it was nothing to do with her and he obviously didn’t want her there. She turned away from him and walked back towards the door. “I’ve done my bit,” she said under her breath. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m glad you got your wallet back. Oh, and I also wanted to say you were brilliant tonight.” Lowering her voice again she mumbled as she got to the door, “Which I would have said earlier if you hadn’t run out like you did.”

Then she left before he could say anything to her.

Why the hell did she even bother?

Slamming her door closed, she paced up the hall and into the kitchen, swallowing down her annoyance. If Jake didn’t like her she wished he’d just say it. It was infuriating that one minute he acted like he didn’t want to know her, and then the next—a vision of him looking at her from the stage popped into her mind—he looked at her like that.

Five minutes later there was a knock at her door.

Charlie closed her eyes and took a moment to breathe before she went to open it. Jake was standing there. He’d taken his jacket off and she absolutely did not notice how tight his T-shirt was. That was a lie. Ignoring the bumps of his pecks, looking at his face not his muscled arms, she went to say hi, but he spoke first.

“So I’m going to apologise again.” One of his eyebrows went up. “I shouldn’t have got all pissy just now.”

This man, Charlie thought as all the indignation seeped out of her. He confused her so much she should just forget him. Yet as he stood in front of her looking the way he did with his dark brown hair all dishevelled from his helmet, and his blue eyes looking at her as he eagerly awaited a response, Charlie’s ire melted away. She couldn’t seem to fight the pull he had.

“Do you want to come in?” Her breath paused as she waited for his knock back. Stupid really, to expect he wouldn’t be done with her again now he’d said his peace. It hadn’t escaped Charlie’s notice that he didn’t seem to care at the time he was snapping at her, and then all was well again as long as he apologised. Still, that was something she could put him straight on if there was a reason to later on.

A quick glance down the hall, and the way his body had already turned as if he was going to leave, pretty much confirmed his answer. Charlie was preparing to accept it when he surprised her.

“Yeah, sure.”

Quietly, after Jake had closed the door behind him, they walked into her small living room and she saw Jake take a quick look around as if trying not to look nosy.

“Can I get you a drink?” Why the hell was she so nervous all of a sudden? Because Jake Sure was in her flat, that’s why. It felt different to when she’d been in his. For some reason, more personal. Stupid really.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Tea or coffee? Or a beer?”

“Beer would be good.”

He stood by her breakfast bar as she opened the fridge, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. Charlie tried not to notice how wide his shoulders were when she glanced at him on the way to get the bottle opener from the drawer next to him. The whiff of aftershave didn’t help her nerves. It was so manly, did things to her insides, and she absolutely wasn’t quietly inhaling it deeply as she pulled the top off the bottle.

Glancing up at him as she passed him the beer, she was so glad Jake couldn’t read her mind.

“Thanks,” he said, thankfully unaware of the mental torture she was giving her own self right then. If he only knew how crazy she actually was. They wouldn’t have this hot and cold problem at all. He’d have run a mile ages ago.

Getting a glass from the drainer, Charlie got some water, then turned back to him, leaning against the counter. “I was surprised to see you there tonight. You seemed pretty adamant you weren’t going to play there.” While he looked down at his bottle, she smiled to herself briefly, remembering how great he was, and feeling a little smug that she’d coaxed him there.

“Yeah.” He looked up at her and leaned his hip against the breakfast counter. I don’t know why I did to be honest.” His brows lowered harshly. “I shouldn’t have.”

“I’m glad you did.”

He glanced up at her, his face softening a little. “Thanks. I was a little rusty. I haven’t played properly for a long time.”

“It sounded perfect to me.” And everyone else in the pub.

“Well, the owner seemed to like it. He asked me to play a gig there tomorrow night. The duo who was meant to be there had cancelled on him.”

Joy lit up inside her, and she was aware that her smile spread right across her face. “That’s fantastic. I’ll have to tell the gang you’re playing. They’ll definitely come.” Charlie guessed by his wary eyes that he wasn’t as enthusiastic about it as she was. “Wait. You did say yes, right?”

“I did.”

“You’ll be brilliant. I just know it.”

His attempt at a smile wasn’t fooling her. Ever since meeting him for the first time Charlie had noticed that Jake always seemed to have something gnawing at him. Whatever it was gave him that permanent frown, and she suspected the mood swings were connected also. She wondered what he was dealing with. What kept that sorrow in his eyes?

“It’s thanks to your annoying persistence. So you can be pleased with yourself.” Taking another drink of beer his eyes narrowed on her.

Charlie smiled, only slightly though; she didn’t want to gloat too much. “I am. But I know you’re pleased too.”

Another drink. “I guess so.”

Jake looked at her, his nostrils flaring a little, his eyes so intense that she held her breath for a moment. The silence grew louder as they stood in her kitchen. Should she say something else? Why was he looking at her like that?

Then his face straightened. “I should go actually.” He closed his eyes and shook his head like he was clearing away what had captured his mind just then. He put his half empty bottle on the counter, and when he walked away, she followed him. “Thanks for the drink,” he said as he went down her hall. Recognising the tone he always seemed to have when he was annoyed with her, Charlie wondered what she could have possibly done now.

“Jake? Is there something wrong?”

He slowed as he got to the door.

“You can be honest with me. I know we’re not exactly friends, but if you want to tell me to stay out of your life, you should just say it.”

“You’re right. I should say that to you.”

Charlie huffed out a laugh. “Then say it. Most of the time you act like you don’t like me very much, and then sometimes you do. I can’t keep up with you. What’s the problem?”

“You.” He turned around swiftly. “You’re my problem, Charlie.”

God. If she could fall through the floor right now it would be great. Her heart dropped into her stomach at his directness. So it was worse than she’d even thought.

“It’s because of what happened last night isn’t it? I’m mortified, Jake. I was out of line pushing myself on you when I,” she was so embarrassed to say it her cheeks burned, “hugged you like that. I don’t get drunk very often. It’s not me. Cara had had some bad news and I wanted to take her mind off it and. . . Shit. I should have made the effort to say it before now. I’m sorry—”

“Don’t.”

Pausing, Charlie watched his head drop, his shoulders rise then fall. When he looked at her again she was surprised to see his expression had softened. “You don’t need to apologise for that. Like you said, you were drunk. I helped you home. That was it. You didn’t do anything to offend me. In fact, you made me smile and I haven’t done that all that much lately.”

“Oh,” was all she could say. It was a far cry from what she’d expected him to say. She’d been convinced it had caused a problem. Maybe she had got it all wrong. But why was he being weird again? Whatever it was, Charlie couldn’t get past what he’d said. If none of this was about last night, what did he mean?

She didn’t want to ask. How could she? It wasn’t like he was easy to talk to. Still, she couldn’t let it go.

Looking at him with narrowed eyes, Charlie spoke in a quiet voice. “You said I’m your problem. I thought the drunk thing was why.”

She watched him as he seemed to struggle with words. His lips tightened and as he stepped closer to her, she inhaled deeply.

“I like you, Charlie, and I guess I’m worried that you’ll get caught up in. . .”

“In what? What’s going on? Jake, you can tell me.”

His eyes scanned her face and she saw desperation in them. “I wish I could, but it’s my problem.” Then he surprised her when he put his hand on her arm. The crease had gone from between his brows. “Look, I don’t want you to worry about that guy. I’ll go to the police in the morning and tell them what’s happened. It’s an old grudge from college. Nothing serious. He’s probably messing with me. It’s something you don’t have to worry about okay? I promise.”

So that wasn’t the reason the police were at his apartment. Charlie looked at him for a moment, trying to see some sign that he was lying to her and she hated that she felt that way. She guessed she had no choice right now than to take his word for it. Besides, there was a chance that it was true.

If so, why could she not shake the doubt that was suddenly eager for her to push away from him?