Charlotte (Marked Heart #2) (17 page)

Loosening his grip on her, Auggie remained close, whispering, "I'm giving you fair warning."

He could see the indecision in her eyes as she moved her
hands to the sides of his face.

Guiding his face to hers Charlotte placed a soft kiss against his lips before saying, "See you tomorrow."

Auggie let her slip away from him.

Lifting her purse off of his porch, Charlotte quickly stepped out of view. Auggie pulled his beanie off and ran his fingers through his hair. Unable to think straight, he stood there on the porch, mentally reliving what had just taken place.

2
1

Secret
s

Smoot
hing her hand over the crisp fabric starched and ironed into a square, Charlotte smiled at the shirt Auggie gave her when they went to the peacock farm. Although the emotion was new to her, she knew what she felt every time she thought, saw, touched him was her falling for him. Lifting the shirt off of the ironing board, she pinned the four corners of it to her wall. After tacking it in a few more places, she placed a spray of peacock feathers in the pocket. Stepping back to look at the finished project, she thought that was a good day.

Continuing to admire her
sentimental work of art, Charlotte heard a knock on her bedroom door before Amila walked in.

Glancing around Charlotte's room, Amila asked, "Do you have plans today?"

Reluctantly focusing on Amila instead of the shirt and feathers, she replied, "I was planning on going out in a little while."

Sitting down on Charlotte's bed, Amila questioned, "Anywhere special?"

Charlotte shook her head.

"I was hoping we could spend the day together."

She started to say, "I already..." when Amila interrupted her, "It will just be you and me until later this evening. It's sports night."

"Amila, I really can't."

With a disappointed expression, she shared, "School is starting soon and I'm afraid you'll leave and we won't have spent any time together at all."

Nodding at Amila, Charlotte gave in, saying, "I'll change my plans," before adding, "Be down in a minute."

Standing up,
Amila gave Charlotte a little squeeze before stepping out of her room.

Charlotte looked at Auggie's shirt on her wall before grabbing her cellphone.

C: Can't stop by. Family thing.

A few seconds later, Auggie texted her back.

A: Do I get to break one of your rules then?

Nice try.

C: I'll be by when you get off.

A: After midnight...I won't get to see you today.

Charlotte thought
for a moment before smirking at her phone as she snapped a picture of herself and sent it to him.

C: There, now you've seen me.

A: Cheater!

C: No sir! That is what's known as a loophole.

A: Playing dirty now?

C: See you later ;)

A: Later.

The knowledge that Auggie wanted to see her caused Charlotte to smile
as she slid her phone in her back pocket.

Amila was sitting on the couch in the living room when Charlotte mad
e her way down the stairs. Rounding the side of the couch, Charlotte flopped down next to her.

"What do you want to do?" Charlotte asked.

Amila smiled softly at her as she replied, "I'd like to talk."

Instantly disappointed, Charlotte said, "Oh," as she leaned back against the arm of the couch.

"Did you settle things with Trace?"

"I guess," Charlotte mumbled as she shrugged a shoulder.

Appearing hesitant, Amila said, "You seem to be enjoying your time here." As Charlotte narrowed her eyes at Amila, she added, "You've made some friends."

Charlotte cleared her throat before assuring, "I really hate when you beat around the bush."

"Okay, I guess I thought you would be home more."

Thinking, 'So did I', Charlotte questioned, "If I had been home when y'all got back from vacation would we still be having this conversation?"

"I know you always felt closer to Ren and found her easier to talk to but I was hoping that would change."

"There's nothing to talk about."

With a loud sigh, Amila asked, "Are you seeing someone?" A blank expression covered Charlotte's face as Amila clarified, "And I don't mean Trace."

Sitting perfectly still, Charlotte stared at her.

"Is it serious?"

Charlotte couldn't respond.

"I see..."

Shaking her head at Amila, Charlotte replied, "There's nothing to see or talk about. I'm just having a good time which is what everyone wanted in the first place. Right?"

Amila nodded then looked away.

Shaking her head at herself this time, Charlotte felt bad for being that way with Amila. She loved her. Knowing that Amila was simply trying to bond with her, something that she had been trying to do since they brought her home from the foundation, she decided maybe she could share a little.

"It's a secret."

Amila turned back to Charlotte with an interested expression.

Cautious, Charlotte shared, "I don't want anyone to know anything about this. Not even Ren."

"Go on," Amila urged, literally on the edge of her seat.

"He's..." Charlotte started to say as excitement swelled in her chest just thinking of Auggie. "I like him."

A wide smile spread across Amila's face as she questioned, "Well, who is he?"

Ch
arlotte shook her head.

A disappointed scowl formed as Amila said, "I won't say anything."

"I know but we agreed not to tell anyone."

Appearing offended, Amila questioned, "Why wouldn't he want anyone to know he's seeing you?"

Smiling at Amila's protective nature, Charlotte assured, "It's not just him. I'm only here for a little while and you know how people here are. I just want to enjoy whatever it is that we have until I leave without everyone ruining it for us."

"So what's he like? Is he cute?"

Charlotte couldn't help but laugh as she wondered what Auggie would say to being called cute.

"He's a...different."

"Different?"

"Than what I'm used to. He's a little intense sometimes, but he can be sweet too. He has this way about him and he's got this smile that just, turns me inside out when..."

"Oh my gosh, you're in love!" Amila blurted.

"I don't think so."

"No? Then what's with that silly grin on your face?"

Shrugging her shoulder at Amila's question, Charlotte replied, "I like him, that's all."

Smiling as if she knew better, Amila said, "Unhuh."

Charlotte started to defend herself when the front door flew open.

Silvia pranced into the house with a tall blonde haired boy following close behind her.

"Home to change," she announced as she darted through the living room and up the stairs.

As the boy closed the front door, Amila smiled at him, offering, "Jonah, come in, have a seat."

Jonah gave a polite smile, greeting, "Hello, Mrs. Roberts."

Suspicious, Charlotte looked him over, thinking 'Huh, no neck tattoo'.

Charlotte gave a slight smile as Amila introduced, "This is Silvia's boyfriend," before asking Jonah, "Where are y'all off to?"

"I'm not sure ma'am. Wherever Silvia wants to go," he politely replied.

There was something not quite right about, Jonah. Continuing to observe him sitting there, Charlotte noticed he was
nice and well-mannered but he didn't seem excited at all about their plans.

Curious, Charlotte asked, "How long have you been seeing my sister?"

"A few months."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Jonah appeared nervous as he replied, "No, I'm an only child."

"What kind of car do you drive?"

Shifting in his seat, he answered, "My mom's Volvo."

As she started to ask another question, Amila broke in, "Stop, you're making him nervous."

Narrowing her eyes at Jonah, Charlotte questioned, "Am I?"

Jonah shook his head at her as Silvia came down the stairs.

Making her way to Amila, Silvia wore a sparkly pink sundress. Charlotte glanced at Jonah to see his reaction to her. She couldn't stand Silvia herself but she was pretty and any guy with the slightest interest in her would have taken notice. Instead, he quickly stood up focusing on the front door.

"I'll be home by curfew," Silvia assured before leaning down to hug Amila.

Charlotte planned on dropping her suspicions until Silvia gave her a, 'I'm better than you' dirty look as she made her way to Jonah.

"It was nice to meet you, Jonah," Charlotte smiled before adding, "If you ever decide to trade up on your mom's Volvo, I hear old school mustangs are the way to go."

All the color seemed to drain from Jonah's face. The boy looked like he had just been convicted of murder.

Noticeably swallowing back a guilty look of her own, Silvia eyes grew wide as Charlotte suggested, "Maybe a blue one."

Amila gave Charlotte a strange look before saying, "Okay, y'all have a nice time."

Jonah seemed unable to move as Silvia swung the front door open and practically shoved him out.

'Ah, sneaky, sneaky' Charlotte thought, wondering what Silvia had on Jonah to get him to be her fake boyfriend. Silvia was brave enough to mess around with a bad boy but not quite brave enough to bring him home to meet mommy and daddy. It wasn't so different than what Charlotte did growing up, but she was bold enough not to need a stand in for appearances. Either way, there was no judging on her end. Charlotte had her own secret relationship to tend to.

~

Everyone was asleep when Charlotte left for Auggie's house. She didn't consider it sneaking out, although that was exactly what she was doing. When she sent him a text letting him know she was on her way, he said he'd leave the door unlocked. She found that a little strange but shrugged it off in her excitement to go see him.

After letting herself in, Charlotte stood in Auggie's living room debating on whether to wait or look around for him.
Setting her purse down on the coffee table, she stepped into the kitchen just as Auggie was walking in from the back door.

"There you are," she smiled.

She could tell Auggie was freshly showered. Without his beanie
or shirt on, Charlotte had to concentrate on not going up and running her fingers through his damp hair.

"Dang your fast," he laughed before saying, "Have you been here long? Had to throw my clothes in the washer."

Leaning her back against the counter, Charlotte asked, "Rough night?"

"A group of girls came in, bachelorette party or somethin' and one of 'em spilled her drink all over me."

A strange feeling from deep inside caused Charlotte to narrow her eyes and snap, "Were you the main event?"

Auggie's expression was confused as he answered, "I was bringing a bottle to their table and the girl slipped. I caught her, but her long island went everywhere. I've been sticky all night."

Charlotte rolled her eyes and stepped to the refrigerator, griping, "How unpleasant."

"Yea, it was."

With a slight huff, Charlotte reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a beer, not knowing why that bothered her so much.

"You mad?"

Setting her beer on the counter, she fluffed, "Oh, please."

"You look mad," he said in a taunting tone.

How could she admit to anything when she didn't know what the feeling was
.

"I'm not."

She watched his eyes carefully as they softened, "Are you jealous?"

Yes, yes she was.

"Of what? Some tipsy trick that can't walk?"

Charlotte had no idea why that came out of her mouth.

Clearly holding back his amusement, Auggie replied, "That's what I'm thinkin'."

"Well, think something else."

As Auggie scowled making his way closer, Charlotte backed up.

"So you wouldn't care if I said she asked me back to her place?"

Glancing off to the side as she felt her stomach twist into a knot, Charlotte stated, "We agreed this was nothing serious, so I guess it really doesn't matter."

He stepped closer until her back was all the way against the wall.

"You said it wasn't, we never agreed."

Charlotte wanted him to clarify what he was saying
, but she couldn't get the question out of her mouth, she could barely breath.

Auggie seemed to read her mind as he shared, "I couldn't want anyone else if I tried."

An
involuntary shudder shook her from the inside out as Auggie placed one hand against the wall next to her and the other around her hip.

"I'll lose my damn mind if I have to share you."

Tugging her closer, his hand slid from the wall to the back of her head.

"And I want you to stay."

Charlotte's heart raced as Auggie leaned his forehead against hers.

"I'm serious."

Feeling the exact same way, Charlotte placed her hands on his bare sides. Tilting her
chin up, she brushed her lips against his before leaning the side of her head against his shoulder.