"She is a manipulative snake and she's after you.”I hiss Caleb's brow furrows.
I throw my hands up "Shes a fucking fake!And you keep falling for it!I bet her tears are bullshit too."Caleb runs a hand through his hair, looking conflicted.
"Cole, that's a cruel thing to say.I think you're misjudging her.Charlotte is-" I cut him off.
“If you say she is fucking harmless one more time I will fucking quit right now,” I growl.“Open your fucking eyes.Her behavior has been escalating since she made her office here.If you don't put a stop to it, she will have her tongue down your throat in no time.”I slam the door to the truck and pull away, fuming as I peel out of the parking lot.I'm so fucking done with this shit.
Thirty-One
Caleb
One Thing - Finger Eleven
C
ole's truck disappears with a squeal around the corner.Fucking hell, I rake my fingers through my hair.Have I missed something?What is Cole seeing in Charlotte that I am missing?She has been very clingy with me, yes but that's the way of grief, she's lonely and hurting right?
He’s clearly overreacting and I know he understands what it's like to lose someone tragically.Yet he has no compassion for Charlotte.And the crazy part is that's just not his character; he's a generous and deeply caring man.This is what has me so confused, which is why I wonder if I really am missing something with Charlotte?Or is Cole not who I thought he was?
When I walk into my office, I barely notice Charlotte seated in one of the chairs at my desk.She walks up to me and places her hand on my chest leaning in close.“Caleb, you look upset.What's wrong?”She asks.Her concern seems sincere.
“Cole is angry with me.Nothing to concern yourself with,” I say, patting her hand.
Charlotte's eyes narrow for a moment, then soften."Oh, that young man.He's a bit of a hot head isn't he?"She pushes in closer, her perfume a mix of flowers and musk suffocates me."You didn't do anything wrong.It was my fault for not getting an extra sandwich.Just seems strange that something like that would upset him."
“So Caleb, I just found out about you and Ally.”She says her hand on my chest.I look at her wide eyed.
“How did you…” I trail off, she's the mayor of course she knows.“Please don't say anything.”I whisper.
“Oh I won't but I was thinking…” She moves into my space slowly toying with my collar.“With George gone and Ally…” before she finishes her sentence her lips are on mine.The kiss is forceful and demanding entrance, a contrast to her demeanor right before it, and nothing like Cole's soft and needy kisses.I freeze, shocked by her boldness, my head spinning.
He warned me, he saw it coming.I am overcome with equal parts remorse and fury.I push her away, more roughly than I intend.Holding her at arm's length, “What the fuck are you doing!?”Anger boiling like a crackling fire.
She tries to step towards me, and I stiffen my arms.“I know you want me, Caleb.I can see it in your eyes.We don't have to deny ourselves,” her words are dripping with lust and seduction.God I’m such a fool and the more frightening part is what if he was right about everything else?What if her fainting spellwasfake?
She attempts to advance again and I shove her into the chair she vacated moments ago."Charlotte, stop!This is completely inappropriate," I say, my voice firm despite my racing heart."I'm not interested in you that way.I never have been.I see you as a friend."She stands attempting to come towards me, I hold up my hand to stop her.
“You don't know what you want, Caleb.Always so pure and naive.You can't even see that boy wants you.”My breath whooshes from my lungs as if I have been punched in the stomach.I turn my back to her in hopes she didn’t see me react.
“I don't know what you mean,” I say, trying to deflect.
Charlotte's laugh is cold and sharp."Oh, please.I've seen the way that boy looks at you.It's disturbing.Frankly you should fire him and drive him from the church.People like him shouldn’t be around a man like yourself."She steps closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"I can give you what you need.What you really want."She says, her small hands rubbing my upper arms, lips close to my ear over my shoulder.
My stomach churns, anger and disgust warring inside me.I whirl around stepping out of her grasp and fix her with a steely glare."That's enough, Charlotte.You will not speak of any member of this church so hatefully.You don’t know Cole and frankly you don't know me, if you think I would allow such things.Charlotte, I'm only going to say this once.Your behavior here is completely unacceptable.I want you to leave my office immediately."
She blinks at me and sways as if she is going to faint.I reach out to steady her, but keep her at arm's length.Charlotte's eyes fill with tears, her lower lip trembling."Oh Caleb, I-I don't know what's gotten into me.It's the grief, its made me out of my mind with loneliness.Please forgive me, I’ll do anything."She pleads, reaching for my hand.
I step back, maintaining the distance between us."Charlotte, I think it's best if you go home now.We can discuss this another time when we've both had a chance to calm down."She nods, wiping at her eyes.
"Of course, you're right.I'm so embarrassed.This will never happen again, I promise."She gathers her purse and heads for the door, pausing to look back at me."You won't...you won't tell anyone about this, will you?"I sigh, feeling a mixture of pity and exhaustion.
"No, Charlotte.But I expect you to respect my boundaries from now on."She nods again and slips out the door with a sorrowful look on her face.
I slump into my desk chair once she's gone, my head in my hands.God, what a mess.Cole was right, and I was too blind to see it.Cole…My heart clenches as I remember the anger in his voice and hurt in his eyes as he drove off.I need to make this right.I grab my keys and head for my car.
Driving the familiar route to Cole's house, my hands shake slightly on the steering wheel as I rehearse what I'll say.When I pull up to the quaint house with its white siding and brown accents, I see Cole’s truck in the driveway.A wave of relief washes over me.
