The Inheritance (Forever Bound #1) (23 page)

She looked up and smiled. “Finished?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes and perfect timing, too. My phone battery is about dead.” She got up from the chair in the kitchen nook and left the area, disappearing into her bedroom. A vision of Charity in her bikini popped in his head. He hadn’t anticipated seeing her in a bikini when he went into the room, but it was a sight he would gladly take a do-over on. She was gorgeous with her long legs and tanned skin, giving him just enough to peak his curiosity. He was sexually attracted to her, and it was becoming even more impossible to ignore. She exited the room, and he looked up. She shook her head. “I was in such a hurry to leave that I forgot my charger at home.”

“Oh…I’m sorry.”

Her gaze met his and she chuckled. “Some things may be your fault, but this isn’t one of them.” He laughed, even though she was slightly criticizing him. “It will do me good to be cut off from the outside world. Everyone’s appointments have been canceled for Tuesday, so who else do I need to communicate with?”

He was impressed with her attitude. He knew many people that would die if they lost access to their cellphones. “Maybe we could stop off somewhere and buy a charger.”

She smiled. “Thanks, but we don’t need to bother.”

He stood up from the couch. “We could use a night out, though,” he replied. “What do you say we go grab a bite to eat and get out of here for a bit?”

She nodded. “I’m famished. I’ll change and be ready in a half hour, will that work?”

He smiled. “Sounds good.”

She left the room, and he stood there for a moment. The sound of the shower sounded, and he pictured her briefly removing her clothes and getting into the steamy shower until he had to smack the vision out of his head and he disappeared into his own room. He rifled through his suitcase and pulled out a polo shirt and pair of jeans, along with a clean pair of boxers. He went into his own bathroom and got into the shower. He didn’t dilly dally around in the shower because he didn’t want to keep Charity waiting.

When he got out of the shower, he changed, brushed his teeth, did his hair, and put on some aftershave. It was a difference from his normal work attire, and he nodded at his reflection. He left the room at the same time Charity walked out of her room. He slowly stopped and stared at her. She was captivating in her jean mini skirt and a mid-rise shirt that barely covered her navel. Her hair was shiny from just being washed and it was hanging past her shoulders.

“You look…nice,” he replied softly.

She nodded. “So, do you Mayor Worthington. Thank you!” They laughed and headed to the door to leave the hotel room. They took the elevator to the lobby and once outside, she started to head to the parking lot. He reached out and grabbed her hand. She stared at him. “I thought we were going to the restaurant.”

He smiled. “We are, but I thought we could walk. It’s a nice night out.”

She shrugged. “Works for me.”

As they started walking towards the sidewalk, her hand remained clutched in his. He wasn’t sure if she even noticed, but he did. They walked two blocks, remaining silent until they arrived at the straight line of restaurants and bars. “What are you hungry for?” he asked.

She looked up at each of the buildings, and a smile crossed her lips. “They all are appealing. You choose.”

Derek noticed she stared a little longer at the Country and Western club, so he pointed. “What about The Ropin’ Cowboy?”

She laughed. “I don’t picture you as cowboy type of guy.”

“I can Boot Scoot Boogie with the best of them,” he replied with a laugh.

She nodded. “This I gotta see. “The Ropin’ Cowboy it is.” They walked into the club, with her hand still holding onto his. Once inside they were directed to a table to the right of a dance floor. The waitress handed each of them a menu and took their drink orders, then left for them to look through the food selections. Her hand fell from his when they sat down, but he knew it wasn’t the end of the evening, so he didn’t feel empty at that moment. “You do realize that before the night’s over, I’m getting you onto that dance floor, right?” she asked with a laugh.

He smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. How else can I show you my moves?”

She snickered. “True!” She looked down at the menu, and they decided what to order. When the waitress left to get their orders going, she looked back up at him. Things didn’t get awkward between them, as they covered every area of conversation they could. Including Jesse and Ana. “Did you tell Jesse we were going toCalifornia?” she asked.

He shook his head. The fact of the matter was, he didn’t think Jesse was the best person to talk to about Charity being in California with him. Jesse would surely think that meant they decided to run off and get married. It didn’t matter what Derek did to convince him otherwise. “Did you tell Ana?”

“No, but honestly I didn’t really have the chance. I mean last night happened so quickly, then today has been kind of a rollercoaster.”

“The phone call you had the airport…that wasn’t Ana?”

She looked down at her glass of white wine and shook her head. “No…that wasn’t Ana.” She didn’t divulge any more information, and he dropped it after seeing her ashen colored face. “I’ll tell Ana when we get back and maybe there won’t be so many questions.” She laughed, taking a sip of her drink.

“You think there will be questions?” he asked.

She lifted an eyebrow and laughed. “Um…we’re both single, and you’re a decent looking guy.”

“Decent? Gee thanks…you make a man blush.”

She laughed loudly. “You know what I mean. She’ll immediately read into it.”

“That’s probably why she and Jesse get along so well. They’re like two peas in a pod.” He chuckled. “I’m sure there would be questions on his end, too.” Derek grabbed a drink of his beer, and when his eyes went to Charity, she was shooting him an inquisitive look that nearly caused him to choke on his drink. “What’s that look for?” he asked, wiping his mouth.

“He’ll have questions?” she asked.

He laughed. “Well…after all, you are a decent looking woman and people talk.” He winked at her, and she blushed. He liked teasing her, and it was clear to see how easy she was to tease.”

The waitress brought them their food, and they ate, while laughing, talking and getting to know each other even more. By the end of the meal, he found himself beaming in her presence. The later it got, the more people that went onto the dance floor and when the waitress brought them their bill, and he paid for the meal, the dance floor was completely packed.

“You don’t need to pay for that, Derek,” Charity argued, reaching for her money tucked away in her skirt pocket.

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t even think about it. A gentleman always pays on a date.”

She crossed her arms in front of her, staring at him with her mouth agape. “Date?” she asked. “This is not a date.”

He pointed to the table. “Dinner…” He motioned to the dance floor. “Dancing…it’s a date.” He stood up from the table and reached for her hand.

She remained motionless. “Is that how you ask a woman to dance with you?” she teased.

“Oh…pardon me!” He laughed. “Madame…may I have this dance?”

She yawned. “I’m not really in the mood.” She looked up at him, and she grinned. He reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. She fell into him and their eyes connected. They kept the hold going as a slow song played over the speakers. She swayed back and forth in his arms and the hold deepened. His hand pressed into her back, and she relaxed in his arms. She snaked her arms around his neck, and he positioned his hands on her waist. Their eyes continued to stay locked into one another’s. The song played on, but slowly the music dimmed, and he forgot the rest of the people were even in the room. He leaned down and their lips started to touch, then the music stopped altogether, and a voice came across the speaker. They parted from the near kiss and disappointment settled inside of him and on her face.

“Alright ladies and gentleman, it’s time to get your boots a movin’ as we do the Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”

“Now’s your chance,” Charity said with a grin.

He wanted to run, but he couldn’t bail on the dance now. He had to show her he could hold up with the rest of them, just like he said he could. “After you!” He pointed to the middle of the floor, and they were immediately engulfed with several other people. An instructor was at the front of the dance floor, and as the song started, they slowly had to try to catch on. Eventually, they did, and even though there were several missteps along the way, they got in the groove. Brooks and Dunn sang in the background, and soon everyone was moving right along to a line dance to go along with the song.

Derek and Charity were laughing as the song came to an end, after picking up the pace. She heaved a sigh, and they left the dance floor. “I must admit, you’re not half bad,” she replied.

He laughed. “The same can be said about you, but I wasn’t nearly as with the music as you were.”

She shrugged. “I had a few years of dance lessons when I was a child, and I took a semester of line dance in college.”

His jaw dropped. “Was I being hustled then?” he asked.

“Hey…it was all in fun and we weren’t betting with money.”

“True!” he said with a laugh. Even though the place was still noisy, between the two of them it seemed like it was quiet. He contemplated going back in for the kiss that they lost, but he didn’t want to be too pushy.

She smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

He nodded. She read his mind. It was too noisy to think. They walked through the club and finally reached outside. Once they were out in the gentle night breeze, she turned to him. “I did have a good time in there, Derek.”

“Me too!”

She shocked him by reaching for his hand. She gently squeezed it but didn’t say a word. Instead, they started walking back to the hotel. Holding hands seemed so natural. He just enjoyed the peacefulness of LA, and they weren’t in a hurry to get back to the hotel because the moment would be lost once they stepped back into the building. He didn’t want that moment lost. When they did enter the hotel, her hand still remained in his, and they went to the elevator. The ride up to their floor seemed quicker than it had in the past and before he could catch his breath they were on the floor and heading to the room.

He took the key from his pocket and slid it into the door, having to break from her hand. He stepped back and allowed her to enter the room first. It was when they entered the room, he thought perhaps he was wrong. Maybe things didn’t have to end just because they were back in their hotel room. He turned to face her, and he wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her to him. His lips were about to touch hers when there was a knock on the door.

He groaned, pulling from the kiss. She stepped back, and he turned and opened the door. A bellboy was standing at the door. “Your champagne, sir!”

“Um…I didn’t order a bottle of champagne.”

The man smiled. “It’s compliments of the hotel for the happy couple. Have a great night, sir.” He walked away, and Derek slowly turned to Charity. He held the bottle up like a trophy.

She laughed. “I heard.” Her lips drew in a straight line. “I think the Universe is trying to tell us something.”

He frowned. “Meaning?” he asked.

She tilted her head. “We were interrupted twice.”

He shrugged. “That only means it’s bound to happen now.” He smiled and moved closer to her, but as he was about to kiss her, she pulled back.

She leaned up and brushed a kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight, Derek,” she whispered.

He felt a hole in the pit of his stomach as she entered her room and disappeared out of his sight and the only thing he wanted to do was go after her, but he couldn’t. He had to give her space.

Her body pressed against his, and a soft moan escaped her lips. “Derek…” she moaned. Her lips softly brushed against his ear lobe.

His hands lovingly caressed every inch of her body as he pounded his flesh into her. Their hips eagerly gyrated against one another as his erection throbbed inside of her. “I needed you so much,” he whispered, groaning as he frantically pushed in and out of her.

“Ugh…ugh…” she cried. “Harder…deeper…yes!” her pleasure-filled screams entered the hotel room as he grabbed onto her hips and desperately sought her out. Her head fell back on the pillow, and her mouth hung open. He trailed kisses around her chin, then landed his mouth back on hers. His tongue thrashed against hers, and while her femininity cradled his cock, he felt his cum gush inside of her.

Her orgasmic pleas rushed from her mouth, breaking the kiss. He collapsed on top of her, and they clung to one another like they were clinging on to their lives. “Wow…” he moaned, softly running his tongue along her shoulder, then leaving behind several kisses.

“Hmm…mmm…” she moaned. Her hands lingered on his back, and he lifted himself up so he could gaze into her beautiful eyes. “I love you, Charity.” She didn’t say anything in response to him, just smiled and closed her eyes. He didn’t need to hear her answer him back because nothing could come in between his happiness at the moment. He snuggled against her, already anxious to go again.

Derek sat up in his hotel bed. Beads of sweat trailed down his face. It was a dream. A hot dream, but only a dream. “Dammit,” he mumbled, taking a few breaths to cool him down. The clock on the nightstand read that it was six o’clock. He would never get back to sleep, so he pushed back his covers and got out of bed. “I need a cold shower…desperately!” He grabbed another pair of lounge pants and went into his bathroom. He turned the shower on and didn’t even test it as he took his pants off and stepped into the shower enclosure.

The water made him shiver, but it was just what he needed. He closed his eyes, and as Charity came back into his mind, he fell back against the cold tile of the shower. There was no use. He wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about her and now he was forced to figure out what he would do about it.

***

“Derek!” she cried out. She sat up on her bed and glanced around the darkness. He wasn’t there. It was only a dream, or fantasy was more like it. She could still smell the rosemary scented candles that filled the bedroom and she could still taste his lips on hers. “It was a dream!” she replied, cursing herself for getting caught up in something that wasn’t real. It felt real, but the reality was she would never know because she pushed him away when he was so affectionate the previous night. He tried, and she didn’t let him in.

The clock read just after six thirty, and she didn’t know if she would be able to get back to sleep. She pulled her knees up and rested her head on them. She closed her eyes, but couldn’t find the will to succumb to her tiredness. Her eyes shot open when she heard noise in the kitchen area. Questioning whether it was just her imagination, she tossed her covers back. Prodding to her bedroom door, she peeked her head out of the room. Derek stood at the coffee pot. His back was to her, but she could see the muscles of his back, and they looked tense.

She watched him for a moment until he turned around and leaned back against the counter. His eyes roamed the room and then eventually landed on her. He straightened up, and she walked out of the room. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

She shook her head and slowly smiled. “Couldn’t sleep anyway.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You and me both.” He motioned to the coffee pot with his head. “Want a cup?”

“Won’t that just keep us up?” she asked with a laugh.

He shrugged. “Does it matter now? It’s almost seven anyway.”

“True,” she quietly stated. The closer she got to him was when she noticed his hair was wet. “Did you already take a shower?”

A soft redness filled his cheeks, and he nodded. “I told you…I couldn’t sleep.”

“So you wanted to do something to wake yourself up even more?” she asked. She chuckled but didn’t pry for an actual answer. “I’ll take a cup.” She sat down at the small dinette in the kitchen. He grabbed another cup from the cabinet, then turned back to her. He looked at her, surveying her until she couldn’t take the attention. “What?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing,” he mumbled.

She wasn’t going to push, but she also wasn’t going to let him get away that easily. She tilted her head and stared at him. “What?” she asked again.

He stood there for a moment, and she would’ve asked the question once more if she needed to, but he finally gave her an answer. It was a confusing answer, but one she could ponder. “Us,” he finally replied.

“Us?” she asked, chuckling lightly.

He nodded. “You…me…us…” He turned back to the coffee pot, and she did ponder what he meant by that one statement. She was having enough issues dealing with the way she felt about him, she didn’t need an analytical problem to have to solve. When the coffee was made, he poured two cups.

He put the cup in front of her and then sat down in the spot in front of her. They quietly sat there, focusing attentively on their coffee, when she was overcome by the agony of the silence. “Okay…I’ll bite. What do you mean…us?”

He looked at his coffee cup, momentarily lost in the black contents, then his eyes drug up to hers. “I’ve spent years telling myself that I don’t need a woman in my life, and then you come along and bam…I start wondering if maybe I was wrong.”

Her mouth opened. When he started talking, she hadn’t expected to go this route. “Derek…” she whispered.

He held up his hand. “Let me finish. I would do anything to not have the feelings that I do, but they’re there and as much as I’d like to push them away, I can’t.”

Charity listened to him and in the perfect world it was everything she wanted to hear, but this wasn’t a perfect world, and she couldn’t just leap for joy, jump into his arms, and say
take me I’m yours.
“You know, we’re not all that different. I’ve spent the past year convincing myself that I don’t need a man in my life. I’ve made decisions that some might cringe over and yet I’ve been happy. I was jolted into believing that having true feelings for someone is a crock of shit because my fiancé ran off with his best friend. I might have these feelings, but acting on them would be foolish.”

He nodded. “Idiotic.”

She felt a weight weighing her down as she nodded and continued with the words she felt. “Crazy!”

“Asinine,” he continued.

“Reckless,” she quietly replied.

He took a sip of his coffee and looked away from her. “So, what are we going to do about it?” he asked.

“What we’ve been doing, I suppose,” she softly stated. She took a sip of her coffee, and emptiness filled the walls of her heart. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was what should happen.

He cleared his throat and put a smile on his lips. “You’re right. It may not be easy, but it’s what you want and…” his words trailed off as he took another drink. “It’s what I want,” he finished off his sentence.

“Great! It’s a relief we’re in agreement,” she stated.

He nodded. “Right!” He stood up from the table and walked his cup to a sink, where he placed it down and kept his back to her. She stood up from the table and walked her cup to the sink. She leisurely placed it next to his.

“I’m going to go take a shower and get dressed for the day.”

“Alright!” he quietly stated.

She turned away from him and had barely made it to the table when his voice halted her. “Charity…wait!”

She turned around and was greeted with his lips. His mouth was soft and inviting to hers. She sighed, lifting her hand up and grabbing the nape of his neck. The hotel room phone started ringing, and she felt a disappointment build up inside of her. They were surely calling for their wake-up call. She started to pull away, but his lips wouldn’t budge.

“The phone’s ringing,” she breathlessly stated. Before she could pull back, he deepened the kiss, and she fell against him, losing her footing. The phone rang for the fourth time, and he finally did step back from the kiss. Her eyes followed him, as he moved past her and grabbed the phone.

“Hello?” Her breathing turned raspy, and her knees were shaky from the earth-shattering kiss she just experienced. “What is it?” he asked. Her eyes narrowed, staring at him. “I see. Alright. I’ll be down. Thank you!”

He hung up the phone and slowly moved back toward her. “Wasn’t it the wake-up call?” she asked.

“It was, but they said there’s a package at the desk for me. I have to go down and check on it.” He brushed his hand against her cheek, and she closed his eyes to his touch. He surprised her by placing his lips back on hers. She sighed, falling back into his arms. She could’ve stayed there all day, but the reality was they had to get on with the morning. When they pulled away from the embrace, his head fell against hers. He laughed as he lovingly touched her face in his hands. “That can never happen again,” he replied with a smile.

“Never!” she whispered. She kissed him softly, proving that she didn’t mean her words. “You go downstairs and get your package, and I’ll get around and meet you downstairs for breakfast.”

He groaned, stepping further away from her. “If you insist.” He grabbed his hotel key from the table and moved towards the door. “Don’t keep me waiting!”

“Oh…I won’t.” She stepped into the room and sighed, with a smile spreading across her lips. Suddenly the weekend was looking up, and she couldn’t wait to see him again.

***

Derek approached the hotel desk. “I have a delivery waiting for me,” he told the hotel clerk.

The man pointed behind Derek. Derek started to turn around, but he heard her voice. “Hello, Derek.”

“Jenna?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

He noted the envelope in her clutched hand, and he sought that as a sign. She smiled and approached him. “I decided that you’re right…I don’t need a lawyer to look over this. I do trust you, and I’m here to tell you that.”

He sighed with relief. Finally, things were officially looking up for him and the project. “I didn’t bring my checkbook, but if you come up to the room, then I can write your mom a check.” He started to pass her, but she reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him. “Was there something else?” he asked, staring at her hand that had come in contact with his arm. His eyes lifted up to hers, and she held an easy grin on her lips.

“Seeing you has made me realize how much I’m missing in my life.”

He frowned, turning his body around to look at her. “What do you mean? You have a boyfriend, and you said you were happy.”

Her mouth turned downward, and she gave him puppy dog eyes. “I might not have been completely honest with you, Derek. The truth is, I’m not even dating anyone right now.”

“Oh…the text message?” he slowly replied.

She smiled, lifting her eyes to his. “It’s from a photoshoot I did with someone last year. I sent the text because I thought it would make you jealous. I’ve tried getting over you. I’ve made sure my life was erased from Maine, but you’re impossible to get over. You just are.” She lifted her hand to his arm and slowly rubbed. He stood there, motionless and still reeling from what she had told him. “I still love you, Derek,” she softly whispered.

His eyes rested on her hand, and he slowly pushed her hand off of him. “Jenna, I told you…I’ve found someone else.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes…I know, but you have to admit that there’s no love that can take the place of the love we shared. You and me…we were voted most likely to get married, remember?”

He nodded. “I remember, but Jenna that was eons ago.”

She moved closer to him. He could smell the scent of her strawberry shampoo, intermixed with a lavender perfume. One whiff and any guy would’ve found themselves caught up in lust. She always was a beautiful woman, and the change of her hair wouldn’t erase that, but he realized that she wasn’t the same woman he was in love with all those years ago. “You can’t just fall out of love with someone.”

He snickered and looked away from her. “After not seeing you for over ten years…you can!” He looked down into her eyes. “You walked out of our relationship. I didn’t. If you would’ve come back a year later…two years later…or even ten years later, then perhaps we’d have a different story to tell, but you didn’t.”

“I was stupid,” she quietly replied. She lifted her hand to his cheek and gently rubbed her thumb across his chin. “I was scared, but seeing you again has replenished myself into remembering what I want, and I don’t give up on what I want.” She moved in and her lips touched his, paralyzing him at the moment.

He reached up and grabbed her hand from his face. He parted from the kiss and stared at her. “What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

She grinned. “I thought that was obvious. You feel it, too, Derek. Admit it!”

He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the wrath that he had to lay on her. “What we had is over and has been for years. You need to move on, Jenna. Give me the papers and I’ll forget that that just happened because I love someone else.”