Page 14 of Hooked On The One That Got Away
‘No!’ Willow wrestled it loose and threw it down. ‘It’s a swim buoy. And I officially hate it.’
Charlie was right in front of her now. He was wearing his fishing gear, a faded green T-shirt and waterproof cargo pants. He hadn’t shaved that morning, Willow saw, and there were dark hollows under his eyes. He looked weary and defeated, and instinctively, unconsciously, she reached out and stroked his face.
‘Are you okay? What are youdoinghere?’
Charlie grabbed hold of Willow’s hand and buried a kiss in her palm. Willow snatched her hand away – her skin felt like it’d been scorched – and Charlie briefly shut his eyes, as if in pain, then turned away.
‘Fuck …’ he breathed out.
‘Charlie–’ Willow’s chest tightened. ‘What’s going on?Tellme!’
He stared away from her, out over the water, and Willow was filled with an urge to both thump him and pull him into her arms. Her legs were trembling, from fear now as well as the sudden exertion of the run, and she put a hand on the railing to steady herself.
‘I’ve been a champion fucking idiot,’ he said, distantly. ‘Olympic gold medal level. Best in show.’
Willow wanted to find the sarcasm reassuring, but Charlie lookedsoutterly and completely desolate.
‘Are you in some sort of trouble?’ Willow asked. ‘Can I help?’
He turned and gazed at her, expression shifting between hope and what looked like anger.
‘You owe me nothing, Willow,’ he said, roughly. ‘Icringeto think about how stupid and arrogant I was to hurt you like that. I had this mad idea that when I told you, you’d understand. But I abused your trust and your good, loving nature, and if I were you, I’dneverforgive me.’
‘Told me?’ The words had lit up like beacons for Willow. ‘Told mewhat?’
Charlie blew out a long, shaky breath. ‘I can’t,’ he said. ‘I want tosobadly, but I can’t. Not yet.’
Willow’s brain told her she should rightly be angry, but all she could feel was bewilderment. And the unsettling sense that the ground she thought was solid was now shifting under her feet. What washappening?
Before she could form a sensible response, Charlie pulled her still damp body into his and kissed her. Hard and urgently, his mouth hot, his tongue seeking. Any resistance Willow had melted, and she gave herself up to the moment. Slid one hand into his hair and other around his tight rear end to close any gap between her and him, her whole body aflame as she pressed herself against his swelling erection. How badly she’d missed this, Charlie’s kiss, his touch. She wanted his hardness inside her right now, on this bridge, in full view of–
‘Shit …’
Charlie broke the kiss. His breathing was ragged, his pupils dark.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I–’
Willow, desperate with desire and longing, tried to kiss him again, but he pushed her gently away.
‘Bad idea,’ he murmured. ‘I meangood, but also very, very bad …’
‘Charlie, this isn’t fair.’ Willow’s frustration and bewilderment were fusing into fury. ‘Youcannotkeep treating me like this. Either tell me what thehellis going on or get out of my life once and for all. Stopplayingwith me! I’m notstrongenough–’
Her voice cracked, but sherefusedto cry. She’d had all the humiliation she could bear for one morning.
‘A week,’ said Charlie. ‘Give me a week.’
Willow searched his face, wanting to trust him but not quite yet ready to.
‘A week forwhat?’ she demanded.
‘For an answer,’ he replied. ‘It’s beenwaytoo long in coming, I know. So much longer than I anticipated. But I should have it by then. No,’ he corrected himself. ‘Iwillhave it. I promise.’
‘And then?’ Willow said, softly.
Charlie’s face was a picture of bleakness. ‘And then – you decide. And whatever decision you make, I’ll accept it.’
The sun was shining down on them. The water glittered and sparkled. It was a beautiful day. Willow’s whole life hung in the balance.
