Charlotte (Marked Heart #2) (7 page)

Thinking back to the first night he saw her at the bar, Auggie remembered full red lips that had a lacquer-like shine as he asked, "But you don't wear it?"

"It serves a purpose with Trace, but it doesn't feel natural, I prefer my chubby stick."

Raising and eyebrow at her, he blurted, "Your what?"

As Charlotte replied with a light smile, "That's just what it's called, it's like lip balm but it has a hint of color to it," Auggie couldn't take his eyes off of her mouth.

H
ow could any man in his right mind not want to kiss her? They looked so soft and so what if there was a scar, it was barely noticeable. If given the opportunity, he wouldn't think twice about it. Clearing his throat, Auggie realized he was out of his mind for thinking like that.

~

Surprised at how effortless it was to talk to Auggie, Charlotte wasn't really a sharer. There were things that she didn't find worth talking about and her scars were right at the top of that list. Deciding it had to be the bartender in him, when he wasn't being a judgmental ass, he was unbelievably easy to talk to.

The moment was getting a tad on the awkward side, when Charlotte remembered she had asked him a question.

"Hey," she seemed to blurt out of nowhere, before saying, "Now, what about that beanie of yours."

With a blank expression like she had startled him out of deep thought, he walked back to the table, saying, "A couple of years ago, I got into a fight outside The Dog House."

Joining him at the table, Charlotte
turned her chair to face him, interested in his story.

"This guy was runnin' his mouth about my sister. So we took it out to back. I was whoopin' his ass until he put my head through the passenger side window of Ailin's car."

Charlotte gasped, "Oh my gosh!" when Auggie pulled his beanie off, saying, "Twenty-two stitches," and held his hair back with his hand revealing a long thick scar that hooked around to the back of his head.

Without realizing what she was doing, Charlotte reached over and ran her middle finger across his scar.

"Sorry, go ahead," she quickly spit out when he jerked away and looked at her like she had electrocuted him.

It took him a few minutes before he continued, "It looked pretty nasty, so Jacks got me a couple of beanies to cover it while I was tending bar. I kinda got used to wearin' 'em and ya know it feels weird not to now."

Nodding
, she turned back to face the table. Charlotte actually felt pretty bad about touching his scar. Knowing she would have freaked out if he had touched her mouth while she was talking to him, she had an understanding of how sensitive something like that was.

In an effort to get back to the task at hand, Charlotte stared at the ledger and receipts.

"I have an idea."

She could feel Auggie looking at her but kept her eyes focused on the table.

"Let's try this," picking up a receipt, saying, "I'll read them off to you and see if that helps."

"Okay."

Aside from reading the totals, not much more was said. Charlotte's idea momentarily solved a problem
, but he still didn't quite have the hang of it.

9

Intruder

Another lo
ng and boring week had finally made its way to Thursday as Charlotte searched Auggie's front porch for his spare key. Grateful the street was empty at midnight, not only did she not want to be discovered at his house, she was sure she looked fairly suspicious out there. Finding his spare key, she unlocked the front door and let herself in.

Setting the information she found on dyscalculia, a form of dyslexia having to do with numbers, on his coffee table
, she waited for him to arrive. He would definitely fuss at her for breaking and entering. In addition to helping him get to where he could handle the books on his own, she needed to catch him off guard. She needed a favor and let's face it, Auggie wasn't a do a friend a favor type of guy.

Finally
, she heard the door knob turn before the front door opened. Leaning back in his chair, she watched as Auggie closed the door behind him with the back of his boot before walking right past her. Her initial amusement at him not realizing she was there was quickly replaced with a dull ache when he undid the first two buttons on his shirt before pulling it off over his head. Dropping his shirt on the floor, he kicked his work boots off on the way to the kitchen. Charlotte carefully memorizing the way the Celtic cross on his back started just below the nape of his neck, spread across his shoulder blades and ended just above his waistband.

The ledger, the information she brought, even the favor she was planning to ask all slipped away as he stretched his arms out to the side with a loud yawn.
It was a downright sin for him to cover something so glorious with those hideous plaid shirts. As he continued to the fridge, Charlotte wished she could simply sit and watch what she assumed was his after work routine. Grabbing a beer out of the fridge, Auggie slid the top against the edge of the counter before catching the cap as it popped up off of his beer, in his other hand. After taking a long swig from the bottle, he placed his beer and the cap on the counter.

Turning back toward the living room, Auggie made his way out of the kitchen before glancing at Charlotte then jumping about two feet back.

"What the..." Auggie blurted before shouting, "You broke into my house?"

"No, I used your spare key on the porch," she replied, watching his chest move up and down as his shock wore off.

"You almost gave me a damn heart attack!"

Making an absurd face at him, she calmly stated, "I think you're overreacting a bit."

"You scared the hell out of me!"

"Sure, any guy would be terrified to come home and find a beautiful woman waiting for him," Charlotte teased, rolling her eyes.

Reaching down to pick up his shirt, Auggie demanded, "Why are you here?" before pulling it back on.

"Glad you asked."

~

Still too stunned to be as angry with Charlotte as he should have been, Auggie watched her hop out of his chair, grab something off of his coffee table and walk up to him.

"First," she said with a hint of hidden motives, "You were right. You're not dyslexic. I think you have dyscalculia."

"That sounds horrible," he griped.

"I brought you some information if you'd like to read up on it."

"And?" he questioned, seeing the spark of something else in her eyes.

"I found a club twenty minutes from here."

"Good for you."

"And...I want you to take me Saturday night."

Thinking she was out of her mind, he stated, "Nope."

Waiting for her to pout or start whining, Auggie was surprised
when she whipped herself around and walked to the couch.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes at him and then smiled.

"Clearly, you have no idea how serious this is," she assured before adding, "I could literally die of boredom here."

"Now who's overreacting?"

Raising her eyebrows, she stated, "I have resorted to breaking into houses to keep myself entertained."

Trying not to smile, he said, "Really."

Nodding vigorously, she looked around saying, "If you don't say yes, I'll...I'll..." stopping to throw herself onto the couch, "I won't survive."

He couldn't help finding her amusing. Seeing Charlotte play dead on his couch, made it difficult to keep a straight face
when she opened one eye to see his response. Pursing her lips at him when he held strong to his unwavering demeanor, it appeared as though she wasn't ready to throw in the towel.

Charlotte sat up
, crossed her legs and sighed.

"Okay," she replied in a defeated tone.

Scowling at her
, he didn't believe her for a second.

"Just know if I go alone, I could end up kidnaped, chained up in somebodies basement."

"No one here has basements."

Shrugging her shoulders, Charlotte stated, "In a freezer then."

"A freezer?"

Sitting up tall with a serious expression on her face she shared, "I could be enjoying myself at the club, a little tipsy, and up walks a devastatingly handsome and charming man... you know, so I don't know he's a psychopath...stranger. He invites me back to his place and of course, I can't say no because he says all the right things." Then in an over exaggerated execution Charlotte finished with, "Next thing you know I'm chopped up in a freezer! How good are you gonna feel about yourself when on a hot sunny day some sick freak is sitting in his lawn chair enjoying a Charlotte-Sycle?"

Unable to stand it any longer, Auggie burst into laughter, saying, "Fine."

With a shocked expression, she jumped to her feet.

"Fine as in yes?"

Finding it hard to believe himself, after her display, he
couldn't say no.

"Yes but..."

Charlotte's excitement faded as she griped, "Ah... But what?"

With a heavy sigh, Auggie looked her over saying, "You owe me."

"Anything," she agreed with a smile.

Shaking his head at himself for his sudden attack of weakness, he walked to his kitchen and grabbed his beer off of the counter.

~

Charlo
tte's mind reeled with excitement and gratitude towards Auggie. She never expected him to actually say yes. Wanting him to know how much she appreciated his agreeing to go with her, Charlotte glanced in his direction. Before she decided exactly what to say, to thank him, it occurred to her, he probably had nothing to wear.

Meeting him next to the refrigerator, Charlotte asked, "What size pants do you wear?"

"Excuse me?"

Pursing her lips at him, she replied, "Your pants, what size are they?"

"Why?"

"I know you have this whole rugged, manly bartender thing going for you but it isn't exactly...You're going to have a hard time getting in, even with me on your arm, if you dress like that."

"What does that have to do with what size my pants are?"

Thinking, 'Boys are so dumb', Charlotte answered, "Clearly, you can't be trusted to dress yourself. Give me your sizes and I'll pick an outfit out for you."

Appearing to be offended, Auggie fussed, "I don't wear outfits and no way in hell I'm gonna let you dress me."

Giving him an irritated expression, she replied, "Don't get all excited, Augustus. I didn't offer to dress you. I am simply going to buy you something club appropriate to wear."

Narrowing his eyes at her, he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket
, pulled some money out and laid it on the counter.

Glancing down at the money, Charlotte shook her head at him.

"What exactly do you expect me to buy with that? A sock?" she fussed.

Scowling, he griped, "Your socks cost fifty dollars?"

Placing he
r hand across her forehead, Charlotte had to take a moment.

"Since you're doing me a favor, keep your money and consider whatever I buy you a gift."

"I can buy my own clothes."

Frustrated, she argued, "I wasn't saying that you couldn't."

Pulling five crisp one hundred dollar bills out of his wallet, Auggie slammed them against the counter saying, "Here! If it costs more, I don't want it."

"Fine," she blurted, scooping his money up in her hand.

"Goodnight, Charlotte," he snapped before walking to his room and slamming the door.

~

Auggie waited to hear his front door close before stepping back out of his bedroom. He wasn't ready for bed yet, but he was ready for her to leave. There seemed to be a give and take pattern with her. Give a compliment and then take it right back. She had called him rugged and manly but at the same time she seemed to insinuate that he was incapable of being either. As he thought to himself, she was a frustrating pain in the ass, he wondered what the hell he was thinking getting involved with Charlotte in the first place.

10

Chivalry

Grateful Jackson asked no questions when
Auggie requested the night off as he stood in his bedroom staring at the clothes Charlotte expected him to wear. When she called the bar right at closing Friday night, he had quickly given her his sizes after she threatened breaking into his house, again if he didn't tell her. The dark blue button down wasn't too bad, he guessed but maroon slacks? Who did she think he was? She was lucky he was still going after seeing what she bought him to wear. If she hadn't shown up in those high heels and tiny black shorts, he might have changed his mind. Shaking his head at himself as he pulled his pants off of the hanger, Auggie thought 'Oh lord, this is an outfit'.

Stepping out of
his bedroom Auggie noticed Charlotte sitting in his chair. The second she caught sight of him in his 'outfit' a satisfied smile spread across her face. Every muscle in his body tensed as she stood up and made her way to him. Stopping in front of him, Charlotte slid the top two buttons of his shirt open before reaching up and carefully adjusting his collar. She was too close for him to think clearly. Between the way she slowly smiled up at him and the way her sweet smell hovered around him, he felt his fingertips start to tingle. Everything about her appeared so soft, he wanted to touch her.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Thought you weren't going to dress me."

"It looks better this way and technically I think it would count as undressing you."

~

Charlotte could feel her heart beat faster as the words 'undressing you' left her mouth. He was too close. He hadn't backed away or fussed at her for touching him. His tone was low as he questioned her and when she replied, he stood there gazing at her until she took a step back. Feeling a rush of warmth to her cheeks, she had no choice but to turn away.

Quickly making light of the moment, Charlotte said, "I have to get a picture."

"What?" he snapped, back to his normal self.

Pulling her cellphone out of her back pocket, she shared, "This is a momentous occasion. Years from now I want to be able to look at it and remember the day I got Augustus Caffrey to wear something stylish."

Auggie cringed, saying, "I hate you right now."

"You should be thanking me. If you dressed like this more often you probably wouldn't be coming home by yourself every night."

With an amused expression, he replied, "I'm thinkin' that has less to do with what I wear and more that nine outta ten times a crazy blonde shows up."

Pretending to be offended, Charlotte huffed, "I am not crazy. I'm lighthearted and fun."

"Lighthearted?"

"Okay, maybe not but you have to admit, you like having me around."

With a low groan Auggie griped, "Let's go before I change my mind."

~

On the way to Club 76 Charlotte couldn't decide if twenty minutes was too long or not quite long enough to ride with Auggie in his truck. The smell of his grey leather interior mixed with his freshly showered scent affected her. Charlotte always enjoyed the smell of cologne but had no idea a man could smell so good without it. Auggie's soap and deodorant aroma suited him to a tee. No frills just him. And it was all him, all man like him.

The moment Auggie parked, Charlotte
didn't wait to see if he would open her door for her. She needed the fresh air to clear her head. It was an instant relief to feel the cool night air and hear the music pumping from inside the building.

Auggie made his way to the passenger side to meet her as she asked, "Can you hang onto my cell for me?" pulling it out of her back pocket.

With a confused expression, he answered, "Uh...Sure."

"Thanks, I don't like the way it looks with these shorts."

As she started to hand it over, her phone vibrated in her hand.

T: Hello lovely.

Glancing at Auggie, Charlotte informed, "Just a sec," before texting back.

C: Hi!

T: Are you enjoying yourself?

C: Not yet ;) just parked.

T: What are you wearing?

C: I'm naked.

T: O
_
O Did you wear the skirt and blouse I suggested?

C: No

T: :(

Gl
aring at the disappointed frowny face Trace sent, agitated her.

C: I can't dance in that skirt unless you want everyone to see my panties.

T: Why would I mind?

Just before she could text back, Auggie snatched her phone out of her hand, fussing, "Are we doing this or what?" before shutting her cellphone off and sliding it into his pocket.

A bit startled, Charlotte nodded at him and headed towards the entrance of the club.

~

Auggie
tried not to look at Charlotte's phone while she was texting the douche. When he noticed her scowling, he couldn't help but look at what was upsetting her. He'd known guys that caught a beat down just for hinting at possibly thinking of a girl's panties and this creep didn't care if a room full of strangers saw hers. How could she want to be with someone like him? Reminding himself Braden said her boyfriend was 'loaded', Auggie was not only disappointed in who she really is but angry that he had let her fool him into thinking otherwise.

The closer they g
ot to the entrance the slower Auggie walked until Charlotte turned around and stopped in front of him.

"What's your problem," she snapped.

"I didn't realize you were one of those, that's all," he shared in a gruff tone.

"One of what's?"

"A peacock," he blurted.

Taken aback by his comment
, she frowned.

"You strut around all proud but under all those pretty feathers you're just another scrawny ass bird so you get with whoever can give you what you think you deserve, no matter what worthless sorry excuse for a man he is. 'Cause he's got money. 'Cause it's all fake anyway."

Narrowing her eyes at him, Charlotte tugged at the bottom of her blouse, assuring, "I am as far from fake as you're ever gonna get, Augustus. And FYI my last name is Roberts, I have my own money and it's way more than he's got. So next time you decide to get your panties all in a bunch because you've snooped on my text message, try asking me why I'm with someone like Trace instead of assuming because of what you have heard about me." Stopping to relax slightly, she added, "And by the way, my feathers aren't pretty, they are stunning and underneath them is a sexy female wearing a lovely little pair of peacock blue satin panties."

Auggie was spee
chless.

Making their way through the crowded club, Auggie felt Charlotte slide her arm around his and quickly jerked away.
She seemed to have forgotten all about telling him off outside of the club, but he hadn't. He could admit he was wrong, never to her but to himself. However, he was still mad. Was it necessary for her to mention panties so many times? Now all he could think about was if hers really were peacock blue and satin like she said or if she was simply making a point.

As they reached the bar, Auggie noticed the bartender eyeing Charlotte with an interested expression.

"Charlotte?" the bartender exclaimed.

Stopping for a second to inspect the guy behind the bar wearing a white shirt, black vest and slicked back blonde hair, Charlotte replied, "Jeremy?"

Sucking air in through his teeth, Jeremy said, "Mmm girl, you grew up nice."

Turning away from the situation, Auggie though
t 'lame', trying not to be aggravated.

"I heard you moved off to...France was it?"

"Spain," she corrected before nudging Auggie and introducing, "Augustus, this is Jeremy."

Glancing back, Auggie gave an unimpressed nod before Jeremy said, "Hey I know you," catching his full attention.

"The Dog House right? My cousin and I hit that place up a few months ago. The band was tight."

"Yea," he confirmed, reaching into his pocket to grab his wallet as he said, "Guinness."

Jeremy gave him a blank look before saying, "Sorry man, only liquor here and it's on me. Charlotte and I go way back."

Watching him raise an eyebrow and smile at Charlotte, Auggie said, "Whiskey then."

"Whiskey Sour?"

"Whiskey in a glass."

"Can't do straight liquor man."

Auggie stared in disbelief wondering what circle of hell Charlotte had brought him into.

Charlotte stepped in, saying, "I'll have the strongest drink you've got and he'll have a water."

Jeremy filled their order while flirting with Charlotte.

Charlotte's drink was empty in no time at all before she headed out to the dance floor. Sipping his water, Auggie was glad she knew better than to ask him.

"You been with Charlotte long?"

Glaring at Jeremy, Auggie hadn't realized he came for social hour.

"Hey, I wasn't tryin' to pick her up or anything I'm engaged. Great girl too."

"Mmhmm," Auggie grumbled before Jeremy continued, "Besides, and don't get me wrong, Charlotte's a good time and all. Not really a keeper though." Before Auggie could lose his temper, Jeremy pointed to the dance floor, saying, "Know what I mean?"

Scanning the crowd of people dancing, Auggie spotted Charlotte letting some stranger put his hands all over her.

Instantly heading in Charlotte's direction, Auggie knew she wasn't his but they had come together and it was damn disrespectful of her to show up with him and then dance that way with someone else.

~

Charlotte didn't mind some physical contact on the dance floor it was expected in places like this. She had already warned him twice and this guy was a bit too grabby for her taste.

"Baby, don't go. We're just getting started."

With a smirk, Charlotte shared, "No we're about done," as she started to walk off.

"Come on..."

As she felt something barely brush against her backside, she turned around to slap him when she saw Auggie standing there holding her offender's wrist in his hand.

"You wanna lose that hand," Auggie growled, shoving him as he let go.

"She was all over me," he lied, falling onto his back.

Auggie wrapped an arm around Charlotte warning, "Take a walk."

Surprised at Auggie's chivalry towards her, she watched her former dance partner, scramble to his feet and stomp away.

As the song changed to a down beat, Charlotte placed her hands on Auggie's shoulders. His arm that was wrapped around her fell to his side as she leaned into him. It wasn't a slow song playing but it was slow enough for her to slide her arms around his neck and sway with the rhythm comfortably close to him. With her heels on she was just an inch or two short of eye level with him. He stood perfectly still staring at her. Unable to hide what being so close to him was doing to her, she moved one of her arms to his waist and leaned her forehead onto his shoulder. Breathing in and out slowly, she waited for him to end the dance while savoring the moment while it lasted. Closing her eyes, Charlotte felt his hands on the center of her back. He wasn't pushing away or pulling her closer, he was simply holding her in place.

The song ended
, forcing her to let go. When she did, he was still staring at her. Charlotte had no idea what to say. She started to slowly smile up at him when they were interrupted by a large bouncer and her touchy-feely dance partner.

Pointing at Auggie, the guy announced, "That's him. His girl was all up on me and he knocked me down."

Moving Charlotte away, as the bouncer reached to grab him, Auggie held his hands up, saying, "I didn't knock him down, he fell down."

"Sir, he says you knocked him down, now I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."

Taking a step towards the bouncer, Auggie replied, "I'll leave but just so ya' know, if I'd a knocked him down, it would looked like this," elbowing the bouncer in the chest so hard, he sat down on the floor as the wind was knocked right out of him.

Charlotte took a few steps back as Auggie swung and punched the
grabby guy in the face and laid him smooth out.

Unable to hold in a laugh, when Auggie leaned over him, saying, "Tattle-tale," Charlotte noticed the bouncer getting up.

"I think we better go," Charlotte urged.

Nodding at her, Auggie took hold of her hand as the
y both made a mad dash to the exit door.

~

When they made it to Auggie's house, Charlotte was still reeling from what happened at the club. It wasn't just Auggie fighting. It was putting him in his place before they walked in, slow dancing with him and then seeing him knock someone out that had Charlotte's adrenaline spiked to the point she felt she could have jogged home without getting tired.

"I still can't believe you did that," she laughed.

"You never heard the saying, 'snitches get stitches'?" he questioned with a smile.

Taking a moment before
following him through the doorway, she had never seen him smile like that before. One side of his face was scrunched up into a genuine smile that made his eye squint closed in the cutest way.