She shivered as she walked. The new skirt showcased her long, toned legs, and the blouse she'd bought to go with it helped to spotlight her perky breasts. However, neither was a match for the crisp, fall weather.
As Charlie pulled out of her drive and headed the few blocks to where Derek and his brother grew up, those dang butterflies began swarming around in full-force. She couldn't wait to see his expression when she walked through the front door.
Singing to the radio, Charlie pulled her car up next to the curb and put it in park. She was about to pull the key from the ignition when she caught a glimpse of him through the large, picture window at the front of the house.
Her heart stuttered in her chest. God, he was cute. Not in a typical, Hollywood way, but in his own, Derek West way. He had no idea she was there, and she guessed the reason was the loud music his mother always played when she was busy cooking in the kitchen.
Taking advantage of the moment, Charlie used the opportunity to stare at the man she’d been imagining herself with...in all the best, most amazing ways.
His sandy blond hair had grown out a bit—apparently, being a Navy SEAL meant Derek didn't have to keep their hair buzzed like when he'd gone through boot camp. Charlie was glad. She’d always liked it on the longer side.Long enough to run my fingers through it.
The thought had her praying for time alone with him after dinner. She was finally ready to face her fears and tell him how she really felt.
Charlie freed her key and opened her door. She'd only gotten one leg out of the car before she saw it. Or more accurately,her.
Through the window, Charlie watched as a beautiful girl walked up to Derek's side. He smiled down at her, his face filling with affection as he put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
While the girl inside with Derek leaned into his embrace, Charlie sat there, frozen in time. The two smiled and laughed together as they talked to someone else in the room.
It didn't matter who the other person was. The look on Derek's face and the smile on the other girl's told Charlie everything she needed to.Oh, God.
The friend he'd brought home wasn't one of the guys. It was another girl. A young woman, actually. And from what Charlie could see, she was absolutely gorgeous.
With her heart in her throat and a ball of lead in her stomach, Charlie closed her door as quickly and quietly as she could. The last thing she wanted was for Derek to see her.
Feeling like she was going to throw up, she did her best not to squeal the tires as she sped off.
Five minutes later, she got another text from Derek. Through her tears, she picked up the phone and read it.
You okay? Where are you?
Crap. She couldn't tell him the truth, but she sure as heck wasn't going back to his house.
Charlie's mind raced to come up with a plausible excuse as to why she suddenly had to cancel her plans to come over.
An idea formed. It wasn't the best, but it was all she could think of.
Praying Derek would buy her story, she drove with one hand and texted with the other.
Dad called. He forgot to take food with him to work. Have to pick something up and take it to him.
The factory where her father worked was an hour away from home. The time it would normally take for her to get food, drive it to him, walk it in, and drive back home would be enough to excuse her from tonight's dinner at the West's.
Derek wrote back...
Seriously? Can't he just have something delivered?
Damn it. She should have known it wouldn't be easy.
You know Dad.
Charlie sent the text and kept driving aimlessly. She couldn't go back to Derek's, and the last thing she wanted to do was sit at home, alone.
When her phone dinged again, she was tempted to throw the damn thing out her window.
As usual, Derek didn’t hide what he was feeling.
Yeah. I do. He can find his own damn food.
