Page 3 of Air Of Mystery
Charlie put my garment bag and suitcase neatly inside for me. After he closed the trunk, I found myself standing very close to him. I was tall at five foot ten, but still I had to tip my head back to meet his eyes.
“Appreciate the help,” I said.
“I’m off duty this afternoon,” he said, his eyes on mine. “Maybe you and I could go and get some dinner.”
The invitation totally surprised me. I hadn’t known that was coming...and usually my intuition was impeccable.
Stepping back, I ran my gaze over him as I considered his request. His dark blonde hair was cut short on the sides with more length over his crown. His mustache and beard were trimmed neat and close. The short sleeves of hisMarquette Mansion Hotelpolo strained against his biceps and the khaki slacks he wore were impeccably pressed, making me wonder if that was a holdover from his military days. After dancing with him the year before, I knew for a fact the man was solid muscle...
I felt that shimmer of attraction once more, and my stomach tied itself in knots from sheer longing.
“Like what you see?” he asked.
Caught, my eyes returned to his. “I was only wondering how tall you actually were.”
One side of his lips curved up in the smallest of smiles. “I’m six foot three.”
My phone chimed, alerting me to a text message. I pulled it from my back pocket and checked the screen. It was from my father, telling me they were headed down to the lobby.
“That’s my folks,” I said. “They’re on their way down.”
He stepped back with a polite nod.
“Charlie,” I said before he could walk away and disappear—again. “What time did you want to do dinner?”
His smile returned. “Six o’clock work for you?”
“It could.” I tipped my head to one side. “Want to meet atThe Bloody Barrel?”
“Sure,” he said.
I smiled. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”
“Yes, you will.” He inclined his head, turned smartly on his heel, and walked away.
I found myself watching him as he marched across the lot and back toward the garden entrance of the hotel. “That is one fine looking man,” I said under my breath.
This turn of events was unexpected, but I was truly looking forward to the opportunity tofinallyget to know Charlie Smythe better.
CHAPTER ONE
Charlie and I managed all of four dates before there’d been another incident—a magickal incident—involving another one of my sisters. It was at the end of June, and things had been progressing beautifully.
He was handsome, smart, brave, subtly funny, good company…I was crazy about that man. In fact, things had progressed so well with us that tonight Charlie and I planned to take our relationship to the next level—to the bedroom. First, we had planned for a nice romantic dinner, and then we would go back to his place afterward.
Glancing over at the gorgeous man in the car beside me, I felt a shimmer of expectation. I had dressed and groomed appropriately for the evening. Figuring the contrast would make Charlie sweat a little, I’d done a smoky eye and a soft mauve lip. My pale blonde hair was cut in a choppy chin length style that I’d moussed, making it look tousled and sexy.
The dress I’d chosen for tonight was a flowing, black cottage-core midi, and with that I’d worn a pair of pretty leather sandals. The only thing I had on underneath the dress was perfume and a handful of black lace.
And I fully expected that black lace to be ripped right off me in a few hours.
My stomach tightened in longing, but I sat back and reminded myself to be patient. We had all night...but the man looked fabulous. Seeing his button-down shirt and dark slacks draped over that muscular frame was makingmeall hot and bothered.
We were enroute, driving to a quiet romantic restaurant in downtown Alton for the first part of our evening, when I slidmy hand over his and leaned a bit closer so our shoulders were brushing. Then my damn phone rang.
Although my phone was set to silent, I still felt the vibration in my purse. At first, I ignored it, letting it go to voice mail, but then my intuition kicked in.
Check the message.I thought.Something is horribly wrong.
