She reached for the cab’s back door.
“Charlie, please.” Derek shot out his hand, pressing it against the door.
Charlotte flinched, the unexpected move startling her.
A low growl came from behind her. “You don't have to go back to him. You can stay with me. Or, I can take you someplace else. Anywhere else but back there, with him.”
She closed her eyes, a single tear escaping. Charlotte wished she could open them and find herself in another world. One where she'd never met Caleb Porter.
Lifting her damp lids, Charlotte shook off the futile dream. After discretely erasing the tear, she turned to face him.
“It's fine, Derek.” She lifted her chin and put on a brave smile. “Really. I'll be fine.”
Yeah, even she didn't believe that.
His blue eyes were troubled as he stared down at her. “I have contacts all over the country. I can make it where he won't be able to find you.”
Taking seconds she didn't have to spare, Charlotte reached up and placed the palm of her hand against his cheek. The tiny hairs of his five-o-clock shadow tickled the pads of her fingers.
“You always did try to look out for me.” Her bottom lip quivered as more moisture pooled in her eyes. “Thank you, Derek. For being such a good friend to me all those years. I've never forgotten that. Or you.”
Blinking away more tears, she ignored Derek's words of protest as she turned back around, got into the taxi, and rode away.
Once back at her hotel, she anxiously slid the key card into the thin slot and pulled it out. The second the light turned green, Charlotte shoved the door open and stepped inside.
Knowing she needed to hurry, she rushed over to where their suitcases were stacked. Dropping the top one on the bed, she tossed open the flap and went to the dresser.
Charlotte yanked open the top drawer and began grabbing the things inside. She’d just started to place it as neatly as she could in the suitcase when Caleb stepped out of the bathroom. The look on his face telling.
He knows.
With her heart in her throat, she swallowed her fear and smiled. “Goodness, Caleb,” she put a hand to her chest. “You scared me. I didn't know you were already here.”
“My driver knew a shortcut and was able to bypass most of the afternoon traffic.” He took a few steps closer to her. “Where have you been?”
“Oh, well, Mrs. Hamlin canceled our brunch. She woke up with a horrible migraine. So, I decided to go out for a quick bite and some coffee.”
He looked down at her skirt with a disapproving eye. “You get any in your mouth?”
Charlotte forced a chuckle. “I accidentally bumped into the table as I was leaving. My cup tipped over and spilled onto my skirt.”
“Yes, I see that.” Caleb then gave her a mocking smirk. “I'm surprised your boyfriend didn't offer to have it cleaned.”
Her heart pounded so hard inside her chest, she felt as though it would burst open at any second. Knowing lying would only make things worse, she said, “Derek's not my boyfriend, Caleb. He never was. I told you, we grew up together.”
He scowled. “I don't give a fuck who he was or what you were. What I do care about is the fact that my wife was seen having coffee with another man.”
“Seen? By who?”
“It doesn't matter!” he yelled loudly, making her jump. “I specifically said you were not to meet with him today. Yet, you went ahead and did it anyway.”
“Caleb, please,” her hands shook as she placed a folded shirt neatly inside the suitcase. “Don't do this.”
He stormed over to her. “I'mnot doing anything.You'rethe one running around the streets of Dallas with another man.”
“For God's sake, Caleb.” She tried to make him understand. “We weren't running around together. I went for coffee. We ran into each other and visited for a few minutes. End of story.”
“It is not the end of the goddamn story,” he hissed. “Do you honestly expect me to believe you just happened to run into each other again today after your chance meeting last night?” Caleb reached up and grabbed the hair on the back of her head. “Do I look that fucking stupid to you?”
