“No, I just got here a moment ago.Do you want to order a coffee or anything?My treat.”“Thanks, but I can’t stay long.The plane is refueling, but I wanted to give you the intel you asked for.”Charlotte set a gift bag on the counter that he hadn’t seen her walk in with.
“Alright.”He looked at it questioningly and then looked inside the bag to see a manila folder.Clever girl.
“There’s a ship called the Intrepid that left Russia two days after the raid.It belongs to a relation of a known contact of Yurgio.”
Sounded promising.“Any idea where it’s headed?”
“According to the manifest, California.LA Harbor.It docks tomorrow.”
“That doesn’t leave us much time to plan a raid.”
“There’s a layout of the docks and a copy of the manifest inside, as well where the ship will dock.You should have everything you need.”
“Thank you for this, Charlotte.”
“You’re welcome.”Charlotte looked away a moment before taking a deep breath.“You know, I’d do anything for you, Carson.”
The way she said that set off warning bells in his head.“Charlotte, I...”He didn’t know what to say.He liked Charlotte, and they had a great rapport, but his feelings for her didn’t go beyond friendship.
“Ihave to get going.It was great seeing you again, Carson.”Charlotte slid out of the booth and darted outside.
Shit.He had royally messed that one up.
“Are you ready now, sir?”the waiter asked, returning.
“Sorry, change of plans.”Carson grabbed the gift bag and charged after Charlotte.He couldn’t leave things the way they were between them.
He ran outside andfollowed after her.He checked his phone when it rang, hoping it was Charlotte, but it was Allie.He couldn’t talk to her right now.Carson had to set things right with Charlotte.He ignored her call and slid the phone back into his pocket.
He saw Charlotte just up ahead.“Charlotte,” he called out.She stopped and turned, waiting for him.He ran up to her, but before he could try and explain himself, she grabbed the back of his head and kissed him.Carson was so stunned for a moment that he didn’t respond at first, then gently pushed her away.
“I knew there was something between us,” Charlotte said with a grin, but it slipped when she must have noticed his grim look.
“Charlotte, I have great respect for you, and I value our friendship, but that’s all I feel for you, friendship.I also have a girlfriend.”
“Oh, oh God, how embarrassing.I’m so sorry.”Charlotte straightened her blazer and readjusted her purse strap on her shoulder.“I totally misread you coming after me.”
“I wanted to explain why there couldn’t be anything between us and make sure we still had a good working relationship.”
“Of course.I won’t let this interfere with our liaison.You can still count on me to help you when I can.”
“Thank you.”He sighed in relief.Charlotte was his only real contact; if he lost her, he didn’t know what he’d do.
“Well, she’s a lucky girl.”Charlotte gave him a wan smile.
“I’m the lucky one.Allie is great.”She didn’t push him about his scars.They had fun together.The sex was incredible.
“Do you love her?”
Love Allie?He hadn’t thought about it before.The last woman he thought he’d loved had crushed his heart, and he said he’d never fall in love again.When he thought about his life before and after Allie, he realized that what he’d had with Jenny wasn’t love.With Allie, however, that was something different, but love?He didn’t know.“I care about her.”
“I see.”But Charlottle didn’t.She didn’t know how he felt or how he acted around Allie.He wasn’t going to explain it to her though.He didn’t owe Charlotte anything.He had never tried leading her on.He thought they had a good working relationship, and he hoped it continued even after this misunderstanding.“Well, Ihave to go.Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will.”He nodded, thankful for what she had done for him.For the whole team.They could finally catch Yurgio and put him behind bars where he belonged.
“Goodbye, Carson.”
“Bye.”Charlotte turned around and disappeared into the crowd.Carson turned the opposite way and headed back to the office.He called Allie on his way back to work, but it went straight to voicemail.He’d try her again later.
