Page 17 of A Night To Remember

“Please don’t start that again, Jen. You know I don’t have time for a day off. Kiss the grandkids for me,” he said, remembering she babysat her daughter’s children every Monday night. Jake rushed out the office to avoid any more inquiries from Jennifer.

“Jake, you ought to slow down.” Jennifer’s voice trailed behind him.

“Goodnight, Mr. Fox,” the security guard called to Jake as he was leaving the building.

“Have a good one, Gary,” Jake called back as he walked toward the door to leave. Before he could fully turn toward the door, someone catapulted into his back, knocking his briefcase out of his hand and nearly plowing over him in the process.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” a panicked voice said from behind him.

Jake, who was not easily riled, would have laughed this off in any other circumstances, but he was already extremely tense because of his frustrating day. He turned to snap at his assailant.

“Watch where you’re going next—” He broke off abruptly. There before him bending down to pick up his briefcase was the woman who had occupied his thoughts all day, not to mention the past three years of his life.

“I’m really sorry. I was in a hurry because I have to pick up my daughter from daycare and I wasn’t watching where…” When she stood up to face him, she froze. “…Watching where I was going,” she finished automatically.

“You remember me.” Noting the recognition in her eyes, he was pleased by that knowledge. Charlie was obviously shocked to see him.

She was just as beautiful as he remembered. She wore her hair in a short, sophisticated do now, but pretty much looked the same. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyes wide with surprise. It took an enormous amount of self-control not to grab her and kiss her like he had wanted to for so long.

Charlie shook her head, almost as if she were coming out of catatonic shock. “What are you doing here?” Her voice was no more than a whispered squeak.

He smirked at her wickedly.

“I own this company.” His eyes probed hers for a reaction.

“Oh dear God,” she whispered.

Chapter Six

Charlie’s jaw dropped as she stared at Jake Fox as if he were an apparition.

“Is that a problem?” he asked with one sexy eyebrow cocked. He took her elbow, pulling her aside from the door. Charlie was speechless. She never thought she’d see him again, yet here he was as plain as day, and he was her boss. “Cat got your tongue?”

Charlie finally spoke. “No. I’m just surprised to see you.”

“Obviously. As I am you, but it’s a pleasant surprise, Charlie. I’ve been looking for you. Why the hell did you run off the way you did? You have no idea what torture you’ve put me through these past three years.” His voice was gruff with emotion.

Charlie heard the anguish in his voice and her stomach flipped. Why did she feel the need to throw herself in this man’s arms? Thoughts of her daughter flashed through her mind. She wasn’t prepared to just blurt out that he had a daughter after not seeing him for three years. “I have to go,” she stated, and would have walked away from him if he hadn’t grabbed her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going? You owe me an explanation.”

She was taken aback by his persistence. “What explanation do you think I owe you?”

Jake’s face grew red from apparent temper at her flippant words. “You can ask me that after what we shared?”

Charlie felt the blood drain from her face. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She couldn’t allow herself to give in to this man. “What we shared was just one a one-night stand. We’re both adults and these things happen, besides, I was missing my husband and you made an adequate substitute.” It wasn’t her intention to crush his ego, but she needed to say something to get him to let her go.

Jake stepped back as if he had been slapped. His jaw tightened as he grinded his teeth. “I see.” At the look in his eyes, Charlie almost wished she hadn’t said what she did. “Despite what you say this conversation is far from over.”

“It is over, Jake. Accept it.”

“I won’t accept anything from you except your total surrender.”

She gasped. “Stop talking like that.”

“Go pick up your daughter, Charlie—your daughter? Funny. You didn’t mention a kid when we were together.”

“Because it was none of your business,” she said storming off. By the time she reached her car, she didn’t think she would make it home. What was she going to do? There was no way she could continue working for this company. What if Jake found out about Kristy and tried to take her away? Worst yet, how was she going to combat her feelings for him when he was in such close proximity?

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