“I should call Eric.” Derek started to pull his phone from his pocket. “See if he can meet us here. The three of us could go grab a bite to eat before you have to leave.”
Charlotte looked down at her watch. “I'd love to, but I don't know if I have time.”
His gorgeous eyes practically pleaded with hers. “Sure you do. Caleb said he’d be in meetings all day, right?” He reached for her hands again. “Come on, Charlie. It’s been forever. Who knows when we’ll get to see each other again?”
God, it would be so easy to say yes. The three of them used to be so close, and Charlotte had no idea when or if she’d ever see Derek again.
She opened her mouth to say yes when her phone dinged with Caleb’s personalized messaging tone.
Hiding a cringe, she said, “Excuse me a minute. I need to check that.”
Derek nodded, waiting quietly as Charlotte grabbed her phone from her purse and opened the message. Panic shot through her veins when she read it.
Afternoon meetings got canceled. Headed back to the hotel. Hamlin told me his wife was sick and had to cancel. Hope things are packed as they should be by the time I get there.
An instant, intense fear left Charlotte breathless. A million tiny pins began pricking her body from the inside out, and nausea hit her gut as she broke out into a cold sweat.
“Hey.” Derek reached for her, the concern in his voice clear. “Are you okay?”
No. Not even close.“Y-yeah. I'm sorry, but I...I have to go.”
She grabbed her purse and shot up from her seat. Her hip bumped the edge of the table making it wobble. Her half-drank coffee toppled over and warm liquid spilled onto her skirt.
“Damn it.” She quickly sat the cup upright and grabbed for the napkin holder like a madwoman. “Shit.”
“Still got a potty-mouth, I see,” Derek teased, though his expression held no humor.
Only when I know it's going to be bad.And this was going to be worse than bad if she didn't make it back to the hotel before Caleb.
Unwilling to waste any more time on a lost cause, Charlotte threw the damp napkins down onto the table.
In a rush, she said, “It really was good to see you again.”
She turned to leave, but his hand snaked out and grabbed her forearm. The same one Caleb's fingers had marked the night before.
Hiding a wince, she jerked free from his grasp.
“Charlie.” He looked back at her, his eyes filled with confusion. “Darlin’, talk to me. Please.”
She wanted to. God, did she want to. Charlotte wanted to open her mouth and tell him everything.
Instead, she whispered, “I have to go. I’m sorry.”
A muscle in his strong jaw bulged. “Then, at least let me drive you.”
Her eyes widened. “No!” she blurted much too loudly. Two women at a nearby table stopped their conversation and looked her way. “Goodbye, Derek.”
Charlotte spun on her heels and hurried to the door. Spotting a parked cab on the next block with its engine running, she walked as fast as her heels would allow.
She was half-way there when Derek shouted her name from behind.
“Charlie!”
She ignored him and kept going.
“Damn it, Charlie. Hold on a minute.”
“I can't,” she hollered over her shoulder. “I don't have time.”
