Bewitched (15 page)

Harry locked his jaw and struggled to think of a way to get her off-track. He understood her, knew exactly what she was doing, but he didn't like being used.

“Now Harry, he's such a smooth talker, he never runs out of compliments.” At Dalton's unblinking stare, she added, “You didn't think he only
worked
for me, did you? No, Harry and I have gotten real close.”

Harry cursed when Dalton looked at him, brows raised in question.

At a momentary loss, Dalton swallowed hard. Finally he shook his head. “I understand how difficult your life must have been, Charlotte, believe me. But I'm here now and—”

“And I've been doing as I please too long to start restricting myself at this late date.” Her tone was hard, uncompromising. “If you hoped to step in and play father by correcting all my faults, forget it. I happen to revel in my faults.”

Dalton directed a commanding look at Harry, then slowly stood. “I… Could you excuse me a moment?”

Charlie nodded, watching him with narrowed eyes. “Sure thing. Boy's room is in the back, down the hallway and to your left.”

Harry, having correctly interpreted that look, started to follow, but Charlie didn't let him go.

He turned on her, as furious with the situation as he was with her absurd theatrics. “What the hell are you doing, making him think you're…we're…”

“Lovers?” She made a face and sipped her coffee. “Why not? He obviously thinks I'm lacking and has some harebrained idea of reforming me. This way, he'll know right off it's a lost cause and not start meddling in my life.”

Harry sank back into his seat. Dalton could wait for the moment. He turned Charlie's hand so he could lace their fingers together. “He thinks no such thing. He's very proud of you, he just wants to help.”

“Ha!”

Harry grimaced. He was getting damn sick and tired of that expression.

“I heard what he said, Harry. He wants to help me get my life straightened out, but it's the truth, I enjoy my life. Other than wishing I could give more to Jill, I wouldn't change a thing.”

Harry knew that wasn't merely pride talking. The bar was
home to her, and she wouldn't give it up easily. He sighed. “All right, so tell him that, but don't start pretending there's something going on between us—”

“Isn't there? Well, okay, not as much as I suggested, but I was on your floor the other night, Harry, and I enjoyed what you did to me. I'd like us to do it again.”

“Damn it, Charlie….”

“You're working for me, right? So consider this a side assignment—with bonus pay.”

Harry narrowed his eyes. “You're pushing me.”

She leaned toward him with a wicked grin. “I like pushing you.” Then the grin was gone, replaced by a stubborn set to her mouth. “But this is important. And since you
are
working for me, I figured you wouldn't mind helping me dupe him just a little bit. I know it pushes the boundaries of reality to think of us actually involved in anything more than a quick fling, but Dalton can't know that. So what's the big deal?”

Harry groaned.

“If he really does care, which I have serious doubts about, it won't matter to him what I do or who I am. And if it does matter, well, then, he can give me the money for Jill's education and get lost for another eighteen years. The money is all I really care about anyway.”

Harry stared at her, knowing she lied. He could see it in her eyes, how much her father's apparent disapproval had hurt her, and he decided to give Dalton a piece of his mind.

“I'm going to check on him. Stay put, okay?”

“Did you think I'd run off and hide? Not likely.”

Harry found Dalton standing in the tiny gray bathroom. The walls were painted brick and cement, the ceiling light a bare bulb. Dalton looked at Harry with bleak eyes. “She can't really like this place.”

Harry crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the door. “You know, Dalton, I've gotten to know Charlie—and
yes,
she is Charlie whether you like it or not!”

Dalton subsided, biting back his complaint.

“I've gotten to know her beyond what she presents to most of the world.”

Dalton quirked a brow. “So she said.”

Harry waved that off. “That's just her way of getting even for your censure. She wanted to hurt you, the way you hurt her.”

“But I didn't mean to hurt her! I just wanted her to know she has choices now.”

“I know that, but she doesn't. She's a wonderful, caring, independent woman who prides herself on those qualities. I have the feeling she's never asked anyone for anything, and coming to you now for money really rubs her the wrong way.”

“It shouldn't. I'd gladly give her anything I have.”

“But don't you see? She's always been able to get by on her own through gumption and strength of will. She turned this run-down dive into a favored local saloon, and she's supported her sister and ailing mother by doing so. I've watched her working here. From the regulars to the occasional drop-in, Charlie deals with them all in her own special way, protecting herself, but not really offending, being friendly, but never letting any man get too close.”
Except for himself.
He shoved that thought aside and continued. “She's rightfully proud of this place and what she's accomplished. When you insult it, you insult her.”

Dalton rubbed his face. “It's just so—”

“Not what you'd expected? What you'd want for her? I never thought to say it, but you remind me of my own father, Dalton.”

That got his attention, his head snapping up and he frowned.

“She has to lead her own life, not the life you'd choose for her. All you can do now is be there for her. She's twenty-seven years old, a grown woman, and frankly I don't think she needs to change.”

Dalton drew back, both brows shooting high. “You sound like you care about her.”

Through his teeth, Harry said, “I like her as a friend.”

“Hmm.”

Harry decided it was time to change the subject. “Dalton, she has this crazy idea of making you think we're lovers. I have to tell her the truth.”

“No! I think this might be the perfect opportunity. I screwed up, I admit it, but maybe I can fix things.” He began pacing back and forth in front of the sink. “I never meant for her to hear me, it's just that I'm anxious to help. But now I can prove to her that I do care. As long as she's only acting with you, I'll know she's safe. I'll be able to show her that I accept her, that I…” He swallowed hard, his eyes misty. “That I love her no matter what.”

Harry's insides cramped. “That's an asinine plan.”

“No, don't you see? She's doing this to shock me because she thinks I'll walk away repulsed. But now I can show her I'll never leave her again, no matter what.”

Harry muttered a crude curse that had Dalton blinking in surprise.

“All right. But I'm telling you, I don't like it. You'd better prove yourself to her and fast because I can't take too much more.”

Harry stomped out of the bathroom without explaining what it was he couldn't take, and almost ran over Charlie, who'd come to see why it was taking them so long. He caught her to keep her from falling, and she landed against his chest with a thud. She saw Dalton behind Harry, and that was all the encouragement she needed. She threw her arms around his neck, plastered her body up against his, and kissed him so thoroughly he thought he was having his own heart attack.

“I just got off the phone,” she whispered against his mouth. “I found someone to cover for me so I could have the night off. I guess we've got a date after all.”

C
HARLIE ALMOST
laughed at the look on Harry's face. He went from heated response, to shock, to chagrin. Luckily her father was still behind him and didn't see that variety of reactions. She kissed him again for good measure, and as he removed her arms with a chastising frown and started around her, she patted his butt.

Harry jumped, looking like a man who'd just been stung, then took her hand and literally dragged her to the table. Dalton came along, smiling like a damn Cheshire cat, though what he had to grin about, Charlie had no idea.

When they reached the table, Harry pulled a chair out for her. She laughed, pushed him into his seat and dropped onto his lap. She was prepared to put on a real show, not only to prove to her father she was beyond redemption, but because this gave her the perfect opportunity to be close to Harry. Very soon now, their time would be over. He'd brought her father to her, and he planned to wrap things up that week with Floyd and Ralph. He wouldn't share his plans in that regard, but she'd come to know Harry very well and knew he was up to something. Just the fact that he'd been hanging out in the Lucky Goose all week told her he wanted to keep an eye on her, to make sure she didn't blunder into whatever plans he had in mind.

It didn't bother her. She was so at ease with Harry, she could enjoy his company while being herself.

To her surprise, Harry didn't try to push her away. He
sighed, then looped his arms around her waist. In her ear, he whispered, “There's always retribution to be paid, Charlie. Don't forget that.”

She ignored this threat, just as she ignored all his others. Harry wouldn't hurt her and she knew it. She turned to Dalton, to judge his reaction to the scene, and saw him staring toward the doorway. With an inkling of dread, she whipped about and there stood Jillian. She had a shopping bag clutched in her hands and a frozen expression on her face.

“Oh hell.” Charlie started to scramble off Harry's lap, but he tightened his hold.

“Ah, ah. Don't turn cowardly on me now.”

“Harry, I don't want Jill—”

“To meet her father?” He gave her a gentle hug. “Honey, relax. It'll be okay.”

“Not with me on your lap! What will she think?”

“That you're up to mischief again, no doubt.”

Dalton came to his feet like a sleepwalker. “Jillian?”

Jillian's smile trembled the tiniest bit, and then she walked forward cautiously. She glanced at Charlie, and her eyes widened when she saw how her sister was seated. Charlie groaned. “It's not what you—”

Laughing, Harry interjected, “I'd stand, but you can see I have a vexatious burden in my lap.”

Jill nodded politely. “Is there, ah, any reason why?”

With a smile that was pure wickedness, Harry said, “We're passionately involved, don't you know.”

Charlie's elbow came back hard enough to make him grunt, then she smiled at Jill. “I was going to tell you later, after…well, I wanted to make sure everything would be okay…”

Jill glanced at Dalton, then back to her sister. “I understand. Would you like to introduce me now?”

“I suppose I don't really have a choice, do I? Jill, this is our father, Dalton Jones.”

Jill caught her breath and dropped her bag. She blinked
hard, trying to fend off tears. “I thought…I mean, you look exactly as I imagined, but I just wasn't sure…”

Dalton, his own eyes wet, reached out to her. “I never gave up hope of finding you.”

Jill took his hands. “I have so many questions.”

“Me, too.”

They seemed to be in their own little world and Charlie, disgusted and a tad jealous, shook her head. Her sister was so much more accepting than she could ever be. She leaned back against Harry and whispered, “Don't start looking smug. If he does one thing to insult her or upset her, I'll toss him—and you—out.”

Frowning, Harry appeared to consider that. “I don't think you can just toss a lover out. No, a lover gets to stick around through thick and thin.”

“You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?”

“I'm beginning to.”

Charlie looked at his totally shameful grin and had to smile herself. He did enjoy matching wits with her, that had been apparent from the first. She enjoyed it too, along with a great many other things.

She forgot about provoking Dalton and leaned forward to kiss him. Jill cleared her throat.

“Oh.” Charlie straightened, flustered, while Harry looked sublimely unaffected.

“Don't mind us,” he said, “she just can't keep her hands off me.”

With a smothered laugh, Jill said, “I'm going to run upstairs and put my stuff away, then I'll be right back down.”

Dalton stepped forward. “You live upstairs, is that correct?”

“Yes. Would you like me to show you around?”

Charlie stiffened, ready to refuse despite Harry's gentle stroking on her back, when Jill added, a touch of warn
ing in her tone, “Charlie won't mind. She never lets men upstairs—well, except for Harry, but he's different.”

“So I understand.”

Jill laughed. “Charlie is rigidly uncompromising about how she handles having our home above the bar. She's never wanted any of the men here to get the wrong idea. She won't admit it, but she's something of a mother hen most of the time.”

Dalton glanced at Charlie with a smile. “I realize that. And it soothes me to know what a wonderful job she's done handling everything.”

Charlie's mouth fell open in surprise at the praise, and Harry started to laugh, tempting Charlie's elbow again. She gave in to temptation, and at the same time prompted her sister with, “I thought you were going to put your things away.”

Jill rolled one shoulder. “I don't know why you're so shy about being a good sister. It's not like it's a bad thing.”

Dalton took Jill's arm to start them on their way. “Maybe you can tell me more about…Charlie, during our tour?”

“I'd love to!”

As they disappeared through the doorway, Charlie dropped back against Harry with a groan. “Jill and her big mouth.”

Harry smiled against her temple. “If I laugh, will you poke me with that sharp elbow of yours again?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then I'll content myself with telling you how childish you're acting.” She started to pull away, but he locked his arms around her, just below her breasts, and held her secure. “Allow your lover just a little leeway, please. It's my right as such to point these things out.”

“Okay, so pretending we're involved was a bad idea on my part. You can quit punishing me for it.”

“Is that what I was doing?”

“Yes. You've made your point. I've acted like a total idiot.”

“I never said any such thing and I'll thank you not to put words in my mouth.”

She twisted to face him, bracing her hands on his shoulders. “All right, so what would you say?”

He smoothed her hair away from her face and his expression grew serious, his golden brown eyes intent. “That you're fighting yourself more than anyone else. Dalton's reaction wasn't one of disapproval, but guilt. He doesn't know you well enough yet to know you wouldn't be taken advantage of. He doesn't know how strong and capable you are.”

“But you do?”

His hand cupped her neck, caressing. “You're the strongest person I've ever met.”

“Too strong?”

His brows lifted in admission. “Sometimes. You plow your way through life assuming sheer determination will get you what you want.”

She wondered if he was talking about himself. True, she'd been coming on strong, but that was the only way she knew. Sheer determination
had
gotten her everything she wanted—with the exception of a responsible mother or an available father.

She looked down at his chest and toyed with a button on his shirt. “Today…well, this was just for show.”

“I wasn't talking about us, Charlie. I was talking about this unreasonable assumption you have that you can handle men like Carlyle, or even Floyd and Ralph.”

“Oh.” She waved that away. “I'm not worried about them, even though you're keeping secrets from me.” She slanted him a look. “I know something's going on, and I'll figure it out sooner or later. Now, don't look like that, Harry. You know I will! I'm not dumb, and despite all your warnings, they don't scare me.”

His sigh was exaggerated. “I know, and that's what worries
me. I have enough appreciation for their malevolent capacities for both of us.”

Charlie grinned. “I love it when you talk like that.
Malevolent capacities.
It sounds dirty.”

He shook her slightly, but she could see the amusement in his eyes. “I'm serious here, Charlie.”

“Yeah, well, I'm seriously starting to wonder what's taking them so long. Our apartment is pretty small. You could walk the whole thing in under two minutes.”

“You're incorrigible.”

“Tell my father that.” Harry grew so solemn, she sighed. “All right, I'm sorry.”

He grabbed his head and weaved in the chair, almost toppling Charlie. “I must be delirious. Surely you didn't just apologize? Not Charlie Jones, the toughest—”

“My elbow hasn't gotten any softer you know.” She stifled a chuckle as she made the threat, drawing her arm back in warning.

Harry grabbed her close and kissed her mouth, laughing against her lips. It was a ticklish kiss—at least at first. Then his mouth softened, slowed with awareness. She was on his lap, feeling his heat, his strength. At first the closeness was a game, but now it struck her how cozy it could be.

She'd never sat in a man's lap before meeting Harry.

They both remained motionless for a long moment, and Charlie could hear the thundering of her heartbeat in her ears. Her lips parted, and with a groan, Harry tilted her back over his arm. His mouth was suddenly hot, hungry, his tongue stroking past her lips, tasting—

“Maybe we should leave the lovebirds alone.”

Harry jerked back so fast he made Charlie lose her balance. She almost slid off his lap. He managed to catch her arms, saving her the disgrace of falling on her behind. To her disgust, she could feel her face heating.

“Ah, Jill, we were just…”

“I'm young, sis, not stupid.” Jill shook her head at Harry, then continued. “Father and I have decided to go to dinner. He said you two had a date, so we'll just use the time to get better acquainted.”

Charlie felt her temper start to boil, but then Dalton stepped closer and said, “That's if it's okay with you. Harry drove here, but we can catch a cab. I thought after dinner, I could show Jill the jewelry store I own on the other side of town. I'd love for you to see it as well, but of course, I don't want to interfere with your personal time.”

Momentarily stuck in her own deception, Charlie said, “Uhhh….”

Harry had no such problem. “That's fine. I'm sure we'll manage without you.”

Charlie stood and stared hard at Dalton in warning. “Where are you going to dinner?”

He didn't look the least put off by her tone, or her question. “I thought we'd go to Maria's. It's a nice little Italian restaurant not too far from my store.”

It was a restaurant she'd never been to, a very ritzy, expensive place well above her budget. She glanced at her sister and saw that Jill had changed into a dress and looked very excited by the prospect of dining there. Charlie didn't want to let her go. Old protective instincts clamored inside her, reminding her of all the years she'd spent looking out for her sister's well-being. But Jill was eighteen now, a young woman, and it was time to give her some freedom.

It went against her instincts, but Charlie nodded. “All right.”

Jill stepped forward and gave Charlie a tight hug. “Thank you.”

She waved her off. “Don't thank me. I'm not the one taking you.”

“But we both know I wouldn't go if you asked me not to.”

Uncomfortable with Dalton and Harry listening in, Charlie
made a face. “Yeah, well, I'm assuming Dalton will take good care of you.”

Dalton's mouth twitched at the malice in her tone. “Absolutely.” Then he, too, stepped forward for a hug, taking Charlie by surprise. In a low voice meant only for her ears, he said, “I can't tell you how pleased I am to finally meet you. Pleased, and so damn proud.”

Charlie was still mute after they'd walked out the door. Harry, with a twisted grin, waved a hand in front of her face.

“Are you all right or did Dalton put a trance on you?”

She shook her head as if to clear it, then looked at Harry, but she didn't really see him. A jumbled mix of emotions made her shaky inside.
Her father was proud?
She swallowed hard and tried to digest that information, but every stubborn, fighting instinct she had rebelled against it. Accepting any accolades from him would make her weak, would detract from the foundation she'd built over the past months and alter her goals completely. It was too much to take in all at once, and so she did what came naturally instead.

With a determined look that made Harry draw back, she walked around him and started out of the bar.

He hustled after her. “Where are you off to, brat?”

“I'm going to follow them.”

“What?”

“He can visit with my sister all he likes, as long as I'm close enough to take care of her if anything goes wrong.” Using her key, she unlocked the bottom door and rushed through it. Harry caught it in time and went up the steps with her. “I'm going to change, then I'm leaving. If you want to come along, fine, but I don't need you there.”

He tried to catch her arm, but she shook him off to unlock the door at the top of the stairs.

“Charlie, this is insane.”