Unchained Memories (8 page)

Chapter Seven

Rubbing her eyes, Charlotte glanced at the clock on her desk. Almost eight. Tired and hungry, she turned toward her computer and logged off, as she slipped her feet into the discarded heels under her desk. When she looked up, a more than welcome surprise stood in her doorway.

“Clay, what are you doing here?” A dizzying current raced through her, and she couldn’t help the smile igniting at the sight of the handsome figure holding a single yellow rose.

“I came to take you away from all this.” He gestured around her office before moving toward her and handing her the rose. “Mademoiselle.”

Charlotte gave him a questioning look.

“It’s an apology rose. We got a little off track last night.”

“Thank you.” She inhaled its sweet fragrance, as a rush of joy bubbled through her. Then she laid the rose over a pile of papers on her desk. “It’s beautiful.”

“Generally, you place a rose in a vase with water or it will die.”

The twinkle in his eye made her grin. Clearly, all coherent thought had deserted her. “I don’t have a vase. But I can put it in a coffee mug. I’ll be right back.”

As she passed him he pulled her back, his hand sending sparks to every pore in her body.

“That’s okay. Let’s go. I came to take you out of here. Are you hungry?”

“Starving. How did you know I’d still be here?”

“I took a chance. I tried to reach you at home, but the phone rang off the hook. Your cell went unanswered as well. So I walked over from the hospital on the chance you’d still be slaving away. I needed some fresh air anyway.”

All she heard was he’d been trying to reach her. Could that be a choir singing in her head? But voices from down the hall interrupted her concert.

Charlotte grabbed her purse and Clay’s hand. “Let’s go.” She pulled him out of her office, through the reception area and out the door, her adrenaline pumping. All she needed was to run into Brad with Clay in tow. It hadn’t been three hours since Brad had warned her about warm, fuzzy feelings for doctors from Nassau General.

As soon as they reached the sidewalk, she pushed the anxiety away and inhaled. It was a glorious night in April, with mild temperatures and no rain in the forecast. A perfect night for strolling down Nassau Street, with its upscale boutiques and eclectic mix of eateries. She loved the diversity of the small town made up of university students, business men and women, and the locals. It made for great people watching in addition to window shopping.

“What are you in the mood for?” Clay asked as he turned his gorgeous smile on her.

Him. She wanted him. And he was here. With her. But why? After last night, she worried about their chances of seeing each other socially.

When she didn’t immediately answer, Clay said, “We’ll just walk until you decide. Besides, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Instantly, her mood deflated and her feet dragged to a halt. So there was a reason for his visit. She nodded, not trusting her voice to hide her disappointment.

“We got off to a rocky start last night. After all these years of not seeing each other, I didn’t want to let it go like that. Perhaps we could call a moratorium on all things career related. Just talk about...other things.”

She allowed herself to breathe. This was good. “Okay. I’d like that.” Although, how in the world they’d accomplish that was beyond her. Their work was their life. But if they really tried, she was sure they could find something to chat about.

“Good.” He nodded and started walking again. “Since you’re starving, maybe we better get something quick. How about a burger at Kenny’s Grill?”

“Sounds wonderful.” She couldn’t help the smile exploding on her face. As if the thought of a hamburger made her insanely happy. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice, or at least acknowledge, the real cause.

They entered the brightly lit restaurant and grabbed a booth, ordering without needing to look at the menu. The diner-like atmosphere of clanging plates and shouted orders, while frenetic, did nothing to dampen Charlotte’s spirits. Doing something ordinary with Clay allowed her to hope for at least a casual friendship if it couldn’t be more.

Now, for something not work-related. “If I remember correctly,” Charlotte began, “you were close to your brothers and sisters. Are you still?”

This seemed a safe enough subject, one that wouldn’t take them to forbidden territory.

“Yes. John and Jim opened an accounting firm together here in town. John’s married and has two kids, and Jim’s living with his girlfriend, also an accountant. I think they’ll tie the knot soon.”

He took a long swallow of iced tea, then his eyes met hers and the world stopped. Charlotte’s breath hitched as his gaze brought her into his cocoon, noiseless, solitary, romantic, melting her insides.

“Two cheeseburgers,” said the waitress, slamming their plates onto the table.

Blinking at the intrusion, Charlotte sighed to herself, a precious moment in time, gone. It was probably for the best.

Clearing the cobwebs, she opened the ketchup bottle and poured on a healthy amount before passing it to Clay. “What about your sisters?”

“Colleen is in her fourth year of med school in New York, and Julie is almost finished with law school. She’s at Stanford.”

Charlotte caught the pride in their brother’s eyes. “My alma mater,” she nodded. “You have quite an accomplished family. Your parents must be thrilled, but broke.”

Clay chuckled. “Yes, they’re thrilled. I’m the one who’s broke. But just one more month to go, and all my kids will be on their own.”

“You’re putting them through school?” The shock over his selflessness punctuated her words.

He was quick to add, “Not just me. As each of us graduates, we help the next in line, since my parents don’t have the means.”

“That’s very generous of you.” More than generous. Amazing, considerate, noble. She could go on and on.

He shrugged. “They’re my family. They would have done it for me.”

A pang of regret pricked at Charlotte over the surface relationship she and her sister had developed. She missed the symbiotic connection she’d had with Renee, especially when faced with Clay’s bond with his siblings.

“All that financial responsibility must keep you working overtime.” There had to be a downside to his commitment.

“I do work long hours at the hospital, but I’m salaried. So long hours don’t mean higher pay. But I did take on an extra job at the community clinic.”

“What’s that?”

“Medical services for people in the area who either don’t have health insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover what they need. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s a little extra. And the gratitude of my patients is worth it.”

“Doesn’t sound like you have much time for a social life.”

“True. But I get out once in a while. Like tonight.” His smile went straight to her heart.

Dangerous.

And so was the subject.

Okay. What next? “Does Dr. Goodwin still work at the hospital?”

Charlotte remembered her as a beautiful, smart intern who was good friends with Clay and Matt. Pangs of jealously had always surfaced in her wake, since she’d thought Clay might have had a thing for her back then.

“Becky’s still there. She’s a fantastic trauma doctor, who works in the ER a few times a week.”

Charlotte tried to read something more on his face, but it was unreadable. He was certainly playing it close to the vest.

When they finished, Clay picked up the bill and laid some money on the table. “Let’s go,” he said, rising.

Disappointment washed through her. She didn’t want the evening to end so quickly. But she supposed they had accomplished what Clay had set out to do; put their strained friendship on a more even keel so they could look each other in the eye if they ever ran into one another again. After all, Princeton was a small town.

But when they got out on the street, it didn’t appear as if Clay was in any hurry to go home. Instead, they window shopped, kidded with each other and enjoyed small talk for the next hour, part of which time they spent in a CD and video store, reminiscing about artists they liked or disliked as they waded through the archives.

“Of course you like Bon Jovi,” Charlotte teased. “You’re much older than me. I wasn’t even born when they came out.”

Clay elbowed her playfully. “Yes, I keep forgetting you’re still a child. Hip hop, rap. That’s more your style, right?”

He guided her out of the store and they continued their walk up Nassau Street.

Charlotte shook her head. “No, it isn’t. I like Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion.”

“Celine Dion?” He stopped in his tracks and turned toward her. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Next thing you’ll be telling me, you have tickets to see Barbra Streisand in concert.”

“She’s good.” Charlotte stood with her hands on her hips.

He inched closer, and his smile faded. His sea green eyes found hers, and all traces of mirth deserted her. His fingers grazed her cheek, then he moved his index finger to trace her lips, and her eyes closed so she could just feel.

Her senses were on fire.

She lifted her heavy lids and connected with his eyes once again as he moved into her space and covered her mouth with his. A slow, sensual kiss sent her swirling, spiraling. Melting.

She moved her hands up to his shoulders and slid them around his neck, pulling him closer, her need for him fueled by his increasing pressure. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and entwined it with hers, sending waves of euphoria through her limbs, through her being.

But it was short-lived. His hands took hold of her upper arms and he pulled away. Her lips were hot, her eyes clouded, her senses dazed. Why was he stopping? She looked at him, confused
,
as images of their past encounter seared her brain.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice husky. “We’re in the middle of the sidewalk. I hope I didn’t embarrass you.”

Embarrass her? She looked around. People were milling about, parting to pass them, but no one seemed fazed. Yet, heat rose to her cheeks.

She shook her head and managed a hoarse, “No.” It wasn’t the public display of affection that troubled her. It was the replay of their kiss so long ago, the magical kiss he’d interrupted. Then. And now.

“I should get home,” she said. “It’s after ten and I have to be at the office early tomorrow morning.” She tried to keep the dejection from her voice.

“Did you drive to work or walk?”

“I walked.”

“You live on Maple Street, right? I’ll walk you home.”

“You’re in the other direction. I can get myself home from here. You don’t have to walk me.”

Why was she being so obstinate? He offered to walk with her. Let him. But she couldn’t seem to shrug off her gloom in light of the past, no matter how unreasonable she was being. “It’s only a few more blocks. I do it every day. Besides, you need to get up early.”

He frowned, probably trying to figure out whether he should overrule her or not. So she gave him one more push. “Thanks for rescuing me tonight. Dinner was fun. I hope we’ll see each other around town once in a while.” She kept her tone light, matter-of-fact. Friendly. She didn’t know how else to deal with the situation.

Nodding, he finally accepted her choice. “Okay. See you, Charley.” With that, he turned and walked away.

Charlotte’s heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to tell him to stop, to come back. But the words died on her lips and the image of their kiss ten years earlier burned across her memory.

Clay stood behind her, leaning over her shoulder, pointing to a problem in her calculus book. His soft breath tickled her ear as he spoke, sending sparks and fireworks flashing through her brain. His words merged together in a low, husky rumble. She closed her eyes, breathing in his pure, male scent. His Clay scent.

Turning, she gazed into his eyes. He had to see it, the love, the adoration, the desire. His eyes locked on hers. He didn’t back away. Nor did he laugh, giving her the courage to do what she longed to do. Lifting her mouth to his, she kissed him. A soulful, earth-shattering kiss that promised he could have her whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted.

And he kissed her back, returning her passion and sending her into orbit.

Until he stopped.

He stood, looking agitated, maybe angry with her, with himself, as he dragged his hand through his thick, dark hair.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re too young. I’m your doctor.”

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “I’m not too young. You’re no longer my doctor.” Frustration and desire collided.

Clay shook his head. “I have to go.”

“Please don’t,” she whispered, but he was already gone.

All those bewildering feelings had returned in the instant Clay had pulled away tonight. And she knew what was coming. She’d been there before. She couldn’t relive it. Wouldn’t. It had hurt too much.

Ten years ago he had apologized, too. Nothing she said could convince him he was wrong. He hadn’t let her.

Instead he had stayed away, letting her go off to college with no more than a brief hug and his best wishes. The end.

How could she be here again? Looking at a scenario that couldn’t work. This time it wasn’t age. It was philosophy. Yet, what difference did it make when the reason was just as insurmountable as the first time around?

Charlotte hiked the rest of the way home, castigating herself for allowing her feelings to get caught up with him. Again.

Ten years older should have meant ten years wiser.

When would she ever learn?

Chapter Eight

“I’m here,” yelled Charlotte through Renee’s empty living room strewn with building blocks, toy trucks and other assorted kid things.

“Be right there.” Her sister’s voice came from upstairs.

The creaking of floorboards and a minor ruckus of objects thudding against the hardwood echoed above. Charlotte tossed her briefcase on the desk and started folding the clean laundry thrown on the sofa. A heavy sigh escaped. She was going to have to front the money for Renee to hire a housekeeper if she had any expectation of working on her files on Saturdays while watching the kids.