Page 17 of Sweet Redemption
Chapter Eight
Charlie
Right after I got home, I took a better look at my ankle. It was slightly swollen but not as bad when I first twisted it. The ice Markus brought had helped a great deal.
Forget about that man.I scolded myself when my brain wandered at the memory of his kiss, his touch and the way he carried me off into the office to love me—no. Not love me, but to screw me.
AndMarkus was right. I wasn’t that kind of woman to just sleep with anyone. Though I would have done it with Markus.
I just had to get him out of my thoughts. After a hot bubble bath, I wrapped my ankle with an ace bandage and then cozied up by the fireplace in the family room, with a hot cup of tea. It had been a crazy day, and it wasn’t over yet.
The sound of a gruff muffler alerted me. The rattling noise reminded me of Mike’s tow truck. I hobbled over to the window and peered out. He pulled up into the driveway and abruptly stopped. “Now why is Mike here?”
However, it wasn’t Mike who got out of the truck. It was Markus. What the heck was he doing here? I slowly made my way to the front door and glanced at myself in the oval mirror. I was a plain mess. Hair snarled up into a ratty ball on top of my head, and my eyeliner and mascara was smeared under my eyes. I resembled a raccoon. Markus couldn’t see me this way.
The doorbell sounded.Merde!
I quickly pinched my cheeks for color, flipped my robe closed, knotted it at my waist and wiped the dark smudges from under my eyes. I undid my hair, running my fingers through the damp strands, and reached to open the double doors.
***
Markus
The second I pulled up to the large Victorian house, I went speechless. The home was beautiful. Dressed in a sea foam green color, with accents of white on the trim and dark sea foam on the textured shingles, this Victorian lady had a grand look to her. The house silently spoke ofthehistory in these parts.
The wraparound porch gave off warmth, and it lent an inviting sense of belonging as I stepped up onto it. The double doors were a welcome too.
I pressed the doorbell and waited. And waited and waited. I looked around and wondered if maybe I did have the wrong house. Yet, the address Mike had written down matched the numbers on the house plaque.
As I turned to head back down the six steps, the wooden door opened and Charlie stood there looking absolute flustered and maybe slightly muddled. Dark smears were under her eyes with a hint of pink staining her cheeks.
Her robe was partially opened and I noticed the swell of her full breasts. Damn, I had those in my hands and mouth four hours ago and I had let them go, and Charlie.
“What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Her questions pulled me out of my lusty revelry. She crossed her arms protectively.Was she flustered to see me?
“Mike told me where to find you. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I went to the library but it was closed, so I headed over there. He lent me his truck and gave me the directions to your place. By the way, your home is beautiful.”
“Well, thanks. Umm. I’m fine—my ankle, I mean…is fine.” Charlie stood stock still, as though she was afraid to say something else.
I wasn’t sure what to do next. Since she wasn’t opening the door for me, I figured I lost my chance to get to know Charlie better.
Better to just apologize and leave.
“I’m glad you are doing well. I a…guess I’ll head back to the bed and breakfast.” I gave her a single wave and headed back down the steps. The whole time, I wished she would tell me not to leave but it wasn’t going to happen.
However, the second I opened the truck door, Charlie stepped out of the house and called to me. “Since you came all this way, why don’t you come in for a cup of tea.” She turned and headed back inside. “You drink tea?”
I hated tea but I wasn’t going to deny this opportunity to be close to Charlie. With a big smile plastered on my face, I closed the driver’s side door, hurried up the steps and walked inside the house.
