“Thanks.” Derek played into the asshole’s smug comment. “Nice to see you can appreciate quality humor.”
Letting go of his hand, Caleb’s dismissive tone grated on him.
“Charlie,” he thought intensely. “Now, there’s a name I haven’t heard in ages.Charlotte hasonly gone by her formal name for”—he paused for effect—“well, ever since I’ve known her. Isn’t that right, honey?”
She nodded obediently. “That’s right.” Beautiful, haunted eyes found Derek’s again. “No one’s called me that since I left Parish Port.”
Ignoring the asshole’s condescending tone, Derek gave her a crooked grin. “Converted into a city girl, huh?”
Her gaze skittered nervously about as she pressed her perfect lips into a tight smile. “Something like that.”
The conversation was getting more awkward by the minute, and Derek made a quick, mental note to dig into Porter’s background the second he got home.
Breaking up the tense pause, the hoity-toity lawyer said, “Well, it was very nice meeting you, Derek, but our car is waiting out front. So, if you’ll excuse us.”
“Right.” He gave Caleb a fake smile of his own. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he added a sarcastic, “Wouldn’t want to keep your driver waitin’.”
Without really looking him in the eye, Charlie straightened her shoulders and held out her hand. “Goodbye, Derek.”
After all these years, she was going to leave him with nothing more than a handshake?I don’t think so.
To her husband’s obvious dismay—which of course, meant Derek’s delight—he pulled his hands from his pockets and grabbed hold of Charlie, giving her an extra-long hug.
“It was great seein’ you again, darlin’,” he whispered, discretely sliding his business card into her jacket pocket.
Her muscles stiffened beneath his touch, the movement contradicting the tiny hitch of a breath that had escaped from her lips.
Wriggling out of his hold much sooner than he’d have liked, she looked up at her husband then back to him.
“Y-you, too,” she stuttered, giving him another half-smile.
With his hand on her elbow, Caleb started to pull Charlie away. “Come on. It’s time to go.”
Derek stood there a few seconds, fighting the urge to rip the fucker’s hand away from her. Instead, he hollered out, “Charlie, wait!”
The couple stopped and turned back to face him. Though Caleb tried to hide it, Derek could sense the frustration rolling off him.
What a prick.
“Listen.” Derek went to her. “If you’re gonna be in town a few days, we should meet for lunch or somethin’. Spend a little more time catchin’ up. I have to go into the office in the morning to run a systems check. Should be done by noon.”
A tiny spark of light shone in her eyes at the suggestion. Wearing the first real smile he’d seen since bumping into her, Charlie nodded. “We’re leaving the day after tomorrow, but maybe we could—”
“Unfortunately, Charlotte’s schedule is quite booked for the next two days.”
Caleb had completely dismissed whatever she was trying to say. Just like that, the light went out, and her smile vanished. Derek didn’t know what this guy’s problem was, but he didn’t like him. Not one fuckin’ bit.
“I’m booked?” Charlie looked at Caleb. “I thought you were in meetings all day tomorrow.”
A muscle in the other man’s clean-shaven jaw twitched. This was not a man who enjoyed being questioned.
“You’re scheduled to have brunch with Mr. Hamlin’s wife.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “At eleven. But after that, I could—”
“Afterthat”—the bastard cut her off again—“you’re needed back at the hotel.”
“It won’t take long to pack, Caleb.”
