Twisted Fire (31 page)

She looked absolutely miserable and completely vulnerable, and he yearned to take it all away. He silently crouched down beside her and fought with himself not to touch her. He knew this would not be the way to reassure her.

“
Charlotte, are you hurt?”

She turned to glance at him and he saw the doubt and agony in her eyes. His heart broke, damn Emma. She turned away again.

“
Not physically, no,” she said dejectedly. “What do you want?”

“
Besides you?” He mentally smiled at the memory.

“
That’s not going to work this time, Jared,” she said still not looking at him.

“
Charlotte, please look at me.”

She turned her head to him again. He yearned to kiss away her uncertainty.

“
Why would you believe her without hearing me out?”

“
Because I don’t know how she heard about us unless it was from you, and I don’t want to hear it if it’s the truth.”

“
I haven’t seen her since the day I caught her with Rick, until today, that is.”

“
You went to see her?” she whispered in disbelief, “and now you are here trying to smooth it over with poor little Charlotte. I don’t need your pity. I’ll be just fine without you, thanks.”

“
I went to see her to find out who told her about us, so I had all the facts to pass on to you.”

“
Well don’t keep me in suspense,” she said sarcastically. “Tell me who else it could possibly be and we’ll see if I believe it.”

“
Sam.”

“
Yeah, OK, your best friend told your ex-girlfriend about your new girlfriend to enable her to make up stories to tell me,” she said with a sneer.

“
He didn’t tell her, he told Rick. He’s been calling Sam since it happened and Sam is too nice to tell me. He told Rick because he was happy for us, knowing Rick would be too and to appease his guilt as well.”

“
How do I know you aren’t making this up?”

“
Why would I? If I just felt sorry for you, this would be my way out.”

“
Yes, but who knows, maybe you have been playing me all along, just waiting for the beautiful Emma to return and now you want to have both of us in your bed.”

“
Knowing what you do about me, do you really believe that?”

“
I don’t want to, but she was so convincing.”

“
She’s the best liar I’ve ever met.”

“
She wants you back, though. How do I know you won’t leave me for her? She’s so beautiful and I’m ….. not.”

“
Charlotte, honey, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. You’re also kind, amazing and exciting whereas she’s vindictive and deceitful and could never hold a candle to you.” She stared at him and sought out the truth in his eyes.

“
I love you, sweetheart and now I know what it really feels like, I realise I never loved her.”

“
Oh, Jared,” she sighed before reaching over and placing a hand on his face. “I was so scared when I thought you were in the house when it exploded. Then, when I knew you were OK, all the hurt came back and those horrible words were spinning around in my head.” He cupped her face and kissed her lightly on the lips before pulling her into his lap and deepening the kiss.

“
I don’t want to find out ever again what it would be like to lose you,” he whispered to her.

“
Me neither,” she whispered back. She started to cry. “Jared, I’m so sorry about Max and your house.”

“
Honey, I’m sad about Max and I’ll miss him, but if I lost you … ”

“
I know. We’re just going to have to live here then until your house has been rebuilt.”

“
You mean our house. We can have it built the way we both want.”

“
Yes, our house,” she smiled. “Now take me to bed and show me how much you love me.”

“
With pleasure.”

He carried her to her bed and to their new life.

Epilogue

“
The sunset is beautiful tonight,” Charlotte whispered as they watched it, standing together on their new and improved back deck.

“
I keep telling you it never compares to you.”

“
You’re such a romantic.”

Buster, the puppy whom Charlotte had brought home for Jared the weekend they’d moved in, was running madly around the yard chasing shadows. He’d been brought to the clinic as his mother’s owner was unable to keep the puppies and Charlotte decided straight away to take one home for Jared. She’d kept him at the clinic until their house was finished.

Charlotte had completed her final year at a new clinic with an excellent vet whom she’d recently formed a partnership with.

Heather Jones was in her late forties and longed to work less and travel more. Charlotte bought into the surgery with her and had taken the bulk of the patient load, giving Heather more time to enjoy some well-earned leisure time.

Dr Martin Shaw was found guilty of his crimes and would be spending the rest of his life in prison.

Jared was nibbling at Charlotte’s neck as she thought over the past year they’d spent together. It had been exciting rebuilding the house and choosing the
décor
together, their life couldn’t get any better.

“
Charlotte,” he whispered in her ear while continuing to nibble at her neck. “Did you know that it was one year ago today that I met you at the clinic.”

“
Oh, it is too. I knew we were getting close to a year.”

He spun her around to face him and kissed her gently, before getting down on one knee.

“
Oh, Jared,” she cried.

“
Charlotte, I have loved you from the moment I saw you and I was wondering if you’d do me the honour of becoming Mrs Jared Montgomery.”

“
Yes,” she said jumping up and down. “I can’t believe you’re on one knee.”

He stood up and slid an exquisite ring on her finger before kissing her passionately. They were pulling off each other’s clothes when the phone rang.

“
Ignore it,” he said, not removing his mouth away from hers.

“
It might be important,” she said reluctantly dragging herself away from him and pulling down her shirt as she ran to answer the phone.

“
Hello.”

“
I have the best news!” Chelsea exclaimed.

“
Me, too,” replied Charlotte.

“
You first.”

“
Jared and I are getting married.”

“
Oh yah, a wedding! I’m so happy for you. It will have to wait for a while though if you want me as your bridesmaid.”

“
Why?”

“
Because we’re having a baby!”

“
Chelsea, that’s fantastic.” She turned to Jared and yelled out to him. “I’m going to be an aunty.”

After Charlotte finished on the phone, she raced out to Jared.

“
It’s so exciting. We’re getting married and Chelsea and Lucas are having a baby.”

“
Yes, babe, it’s wonderful” he said, pulling her in close. “Now where were we?”

“
About here, I think.” She kissed him and removed his shirt.

“
I love you, Charlotte.”

“
I love you too, Monty.”

They smiled at each other full of anticipation and joy for their life ahead.

The End