Loving David (4 page)

“Well, I can think of worse people to be compared to.” David smiled.

As they arrived at the widow’s cabin, Emma gave David a hug and Charlotte a kiss on the cheek.

“Good night children,” she said as she gave them a wink and disappeared behind the door.

To escape the chilly air, David and Charlotte ran back to their cabin. Charlotte continued to rub her arms as she threw on her gray sweater from earlier.

“Easy to forget how cold it gets in Southern California, eh?” David asked as he buttoned up his flannel.

“No kidding,” Charlotte said, her teeth chattering. She flicked on the lamp in the living room and noticed David had a huge smile on his face.

“I take it you enjoyed yourself?”

David reclined against the green suede couch and chuckled. “I have to say, that was one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve had in quite some time.” David turned to Charlotte, his face shining with wonder. “Your friends are amazing…the stories…the foul language…the wisdom.” He shook his head. “I had a great time. I can see why you love this place.”

Charlotte smiled as she headed to the old wooden trunk in front of the large picture window next to the door. “They’re great gals,” Charlotte said as she pulled out a set of sheets and a blanket. “Like I told you earlier, they’re like family to me.”

“Thank you for this. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

Charlotte nodded. “I’m glad you had a good time. Of course, after I show you where you’ll be sleeping, you may be cursing me.”

Charlotte waited for David to grab his backpack before she led him down a small, narrow hallway. She opened the door to a bedroom and turned the light on.

“This is your room. It’s pretty small, but it’ll do the job.” Charlotte handed David the bedding from the trunk, which he accepted. “Sorry it’s not the Waldorf.”

David looked around the small bedroom, the only décor a full-sized bed and a tiny wooden nightstand with a wind-up face clock.

“After cramping around in the back seat of your car, this feels like the Waldorf. “ He sat the linens down on the bed. “Thanks again. For everything.”

“Sure.” Charlotte turned to go, but then glanced back. “Do you need some help making the bed?”

“You’ve done more than enough. I can manage.”

Charlotte crossed back and began to unfurl the sheets. “Come on. Two sets of hands will go faster than one.” David complied, and they had the bed made in a matter of seconds. Charlotte stood awkwardly in front of David, not sure what to say next.

“Good night then.” she blushed and left him alone.

“Good night.” He said as Charlotte closed the door.

Charlotte went back into the front room and retrieved her bags. She could hear David moving around in his room next to hers as she rummaged around for some pajamas. She extracted an oversized flannel night shirt and her toiletries bag. Charlotte clamped her hair back into an oversized barrette and brushed her teeth. She was about to turn out the light when she turned to stare at herself in the mirror. She ran a finger over the minute lines around her eyes and mouth, giving them a critical examination before she stepped back and looked down at her flannel shirt.

“Sexy,” she muttered sarcastically before she tiptoed toward her bedroom door. She eased the door open and walked toward the kitchen. Though it had been a long day and night, Charlotte was still wound up. She didn’t feel quite like going to bed just yet, so she decided to have one more little glass of wine to settle her down. She grabbed a glass out of the cabinet and went in search of the bottle of red she knew was hanging out somewhere. She opened a few doors and then spotted it on the top shelf of the pantry. She stood on her tip-toes to reach it, but the bottle was just out of her grasp.

“Damn,” she whispered in frustration. She went to pull one of the kitchen chairs over when she was startled by the sound of David’s voice.

“Let me,” he offered. “What is it you need?”

“You like scaring me, don’t you?” she teased. “The wine on the top shelf.”

He grinned at her and retrieved the bottle. “Nightcap?” he winked.

“Yeah. I’m not tired enough yet. Can I get you one?”

“Sure; why not?” he replied.

She poured two glasses, and they moved to the small living room. David sat in an overstuffed black leather chair across from the couch, while Charlotte went back into the trunk for a blanket to throw over her legs.

“Still chilly, huh?” David asked as he sipped his wine.

Charlotte nodded. “I get cold really easy. There’s a reason I live in California.”

As Charlotte settled onto the couch and adjusted the blanket, she stole another look at David. She was still in awe over how beautiful he was. He wore a pair of gray sweat pants and a worn black tee-shirt. Looking at his chiseled features in the dim light was almost too much for Charlotte. She could barely watch him without imagining what it would be like to be swept up inside those sculpted arms, bulging now against his shirt. To press up against his massive chest and to get lost in those captivating green eyes. For what seemed like the millionth time that day, Charlotte had to stop herself.
Thirty
she kept saying over and over in her mind. She didn’t remember thirty-year-old men looking like him when she was that age. She swirled her wine in her glass and then realized how quiet it was. She looked up and caught him staring at her and blushed.

“What?” she asked. “Is something hanging out of my nose?”

“Yes,” he deadpanned.

Charlotte’s hand flew to her nose and David laughed. In spite of herself, she joined him.

“You’re terrible,” she said as she took another sip of wine.

David shrugged and smiled. “I like seeing you laugh.”

Charlotte looked down, embarrassed, and then noticed him gazing at her yet again. “What?” she asked, now a touch exasperated.

He plopped his chin down into one palm. “I noticed at dinner you didn’t say a whole lot about yourself.”

“Oh, well; as I mentioned, I joined the group three years ago and well, I make a decent living writing steamy romance novels with action that I have never actually
participated
in, just heard about from these very experienced ladies ---”

David cut her off. “Still vague. I want to know more about the real Charlotte. Will you tell me more?”

“What, the widow/divorcee saga?” she asked.

“If you don’t mind… I’m curious,” he replied.

Charlotte drained her wine glass and poured a bit more. “Well, let’s see. Ben and I had been married for almost five years when I found out he was having an affair with one of his co-workers.”

“Wow. How’d you find out?”

“He’d called me to say he was going to be working late at the office. He was always working late, and I felt bad, so I picked up some dinner; thought I’d surprise him and take it to him.” Charlotte took a sip of wine. “He was working alright. All over his desk.”

David winced. “Ouch.”

“Yeah. I had the locks changed the next morning, and he moved in with her.”

“So you initiated divorce proceedings?”

“I did. But Ben just kept putting it off. Claimed he was too busy with work to concentrate on it. Even though he was living with this girl, he still seemed reluctant to move forward with the divorce. Kept saying he’d get around to it eventually.”

“Maybe he was hoping you two would work things out.”

“Yeah, well, that was never going to happen.” Charlotte shifted her weight on the couch. “Then one day I get this call from the hospital that Ben had been in a car accident. T-boned by a semi. Died on impact.”

David covered his mouth with his hands. “My God. How awful.”

“Turns out; his girlfriend was in the car with him, and she was in critical condition. After I identified Ben… I don’t know- I couldn’t help myself. I went to see the girlfriend.” Charlotte struggled to hold back tears. “She was in terrible shape---- dying, her face was unrecognizable. Neither I nor the hospital could track down this girl’s family.” Charlotte shook her head. “She was so alone. I stayed with her and held her hand until she died.” Charlotte cleared her throat to keep from crying. “As it turned out, her parents were dead; she was an only child, and she had no other relatives – no aunts, no uncles, no cousins. So I decided to bury her and Ben next to each other.”

“Wait,” David interrupted. “You stayed with your husband’s mistress and held her hand until she died? And then you paid for her burial, and you buried her next to your husband?” David shook his head. “That’s bollocks. She broke up your marriage!”

“
They
broke up my marriage,” Charlotte clarified. “He had an affair, which meant something was broken long before. I know it sounds crazy, but if you would’ve been in my shoes, would you have just left them there? I was still
legally
his wife ---- so should I have taken care of his business and left her there alone?” She held her head down and lowered her voice, surprised at the sympathy she still felt for the young woman. “She was younger than you are, and she had
no
one.” She reflected for a moment. “Besides, I needed the closure.” Charlotte finished the last of her wine. “And I got it.”

David was silent for a moment as the gravity of Charlotte’s word sank in. He set his wine glass down on the table and looked at her. “Amazing,” he said.

Charlotte snorted. “Amazing…maybe. Some might say pathetic. Either way, the whole situation wasn’t a high point for me. I try not to think about it too much. It’s just a sad ending followed by yet another sad ending, you know?” she gave him a faint smile. He kept those penetrating green eyes focused on her like a laser beam, never saying a word.

She began to fidget. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s just…you’re probably one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.” He downed the rest of his drink and set his glass on the table.

Charlotte smiled in spite of herself, her cheeks warming at his compliments. She took a deep breath in an attempt to steady her racing heart.

“That’s very flattering,” she murmured. “Thank you.” The moment hung in the air between them before Charlotte made a big show of stretching her legs and rearranging the frayed, itchy blanket.

“I’m tired of talking about myself,” she said to raise the atmosphere. “I want you to tell me more about you. You’ve lived quite the life for a thirty-year- old.” She leaned the side of her head against her hand. “It must be extremely exciting at times.” She looked at him and waited for his smile.

She didn’t get one.

“What is it?” she asked.

David leaned back against the chair and propped his feet upon the table. Charlotte couldn’t help but notice he had nice feet ----much better than what you usually saw strolling up and down Venice Beach on any given day. “I feel older than thirty sometimes,” he sighed. “That probably sounds silly to you, but I get tired of running around all over the planet. I long for the day that I can just put down roots and be.” He stroked his chin, retreating further into thought. “I know I’m quite lucky to have the career and all the perks that come with it --- especially the income. It does come with a price, as you witnessed in town. Sometimes I feel selfish for complaining; other times I want to just disappear.” He sat up in his chair like a five-year-old who just spotted a bicycle under the Christmas tree, his expression animated. “Like now… I love the fact that I’ve He snapped his fingers and popped out of his chair. He ran back in the direction of his room. “Which reminds me. I need to text William to and let him know where I am. After that, I’m turning the phone off.”
disappeared.
”

“Who’s William?”

“My manager, who had the idea for me to come up here in the first place. When I saw that mob scene earlier, I was cursing him. Now I owe him. Be right back.”

Charlotte waited in the living room while David sent his text. Charlotte could tell he was sincere just by listening to the fatigue in his voice and the excitement he expressed when talking about the experience of meeting the ladies; he really did need a break from his life.

David bounded back into the room and poured the last of the wine into their glasses.

“I’m going to take it as a good sign that William didn’t text back right away; he must’ve made his flight.” David sat down and picked up his glass. “So how long are you ladies here for?” He winked. “I guess I’m wondering how long I’ll get to crash the party.”

Charlotte ran her finger around the rim of her wine glass. “Well, we’re here for another four weeks. And of course; you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I have a feeling you may die of boredom before that, though. I give you a week before you send up a flare to your manager to airlift you out of here.” She chuckled. “Week and a half at most.”

“Four weeks? That seems like a long time,” David said as he stood up. “Is there another blanket in that magic trunk?”

“Yes, but let me---”

David held out his hand to halt her movement. “I’ve got it,” he said as he walked over to pull out a fuzzy blue blanket. He settled back into the chair and draped the blanket across the lower half of his body. “Now, you were telling me why you’re all up here for a month.”

“Well, since the women are older and don’t have husbands to rush home to, or little kids to look after, they love being here for an extended time. Gives them something to look forward to. Those who still have jobs, like Samantha, have so much vacation time that they can get away with taking a month off. Besides- when you’re a writer, you can do your job anywhere.”

“I have to say; I can’t imagine being bored around such an outspoken group.” David snuggled down into the chair a bit and looked at Charlotte. “Plus it’s nice to be around women who don’t want to pull my hair or rip my clothes off.”

Charlotte let out a huge laugh. “I think Emma may have wanted rip your clothes off!”

David chuckled. “God bless, Emma.”

CHAPTER 3

Early morning sunlight poked through the gauzy sheers of the cabin’s living room and straight onto Charlotte’s face. The strong scent of coffee fluttered beneath her nostrils. She blinked her eyes several times and uncurled herself down the length of couch. She sat up, confused. Why was she on the couch? Charlotte got her answer when she saw the empty wine bottle on the coffee table.