Part 7 (2/2)

Letting out a sigh, his eyes roamed over her face, memorizing every detail. The little crease above her brow as she tried to puzzle something out. Her rich brunette hair spilling over her shoulders, the silky strands still begging for his hands. Her hazel eyes held his as the green flecks seemed to wink at him. Her smooth complexion, with a slight blush on her cheeks, and her lips were plump and pink from her biting nervously on them.

Swallowing hard, he said, ”Charlie, you need to stay here because that is the easiest way for me to keep you safe. Tomorrow, you're going to tell me how you broke in. In fact, at some point, Jack will probably want you to look over everyone's security.” With a wry grin, he added, ”Gotta admit, I'm good at what I do, but there's obviously things you can teach me. I've wanted to meet you ever since you first contacted me months ago.”

”Why do I feel that there's a but coming?” she asked, steeling herself for disappointment.

”There's no way I can take advantage of you,” he answered, his voice rough with anguish. Lifting one hand from her shoulder, he cupped her cheek. ”I can't do casual, Charlie. And I can't play on your fears or need. I'm just not wired that way.”

”I...I don't do casual either,” she confessed. ”But, you...you don't seem casual to me. I already feel...I don't know...somehow connected.” She leaned her face into his warm hand, closing her eyes for a moment, afraid to watch his reaction to her words.

”Charlie...” he moaned, barely hanging on to his restraint. Sucking in a huge breath, he let it out slowly. ”You need to rest...in a real bed...safe and warm.” Bending her head forward with his hand, he placed his lips on her forehead, holding them there for a long kiss. Watching as she opened her eyes, seeing them full of doubt, he added, ”This isn't no. This is just me wanting to take care of you. You're right, we're already connected, but I want to do this right.”

The sting of rejection gone, she smiled as she nodded. ”Okay,” her soft voice agreed, as she allowed him to pull her up. Glancing down at their hands as he linked fingers with hers, she smiled.

Stopping at one of the open doors in the hall, he turned and said, ”This is my guest room. I know it's small, but-”

”Oh, please,” she interrupted. ”I've been in my tiny camper for a long time. This seems huge.” She viewed the double bed with an inviting red comforter, matching dresser and comfy rocking chair in the corner.

Chuckling, he watched as she peered into the room, her eyes bright as she looked around. ”The rocker was my mom's. Even when she was buried deep in her studies, she would rock while telling me stories of long ago heroes as I went to sleep.”

”It's lovely,” she admitted, warmed by his personal admission.

”There's a bathroom at the end of the hall,” he indicated, ”and I'll be across the hall.” Startling, he dropped her hand and moved quickly back toward the kitchen. Returning a moment later, he had the large duffle bag in his hand. Setting it down on the floor, he said, ”Is there anything else you need?”

She wanted to scream that the only thing missing was him holding her tight all during the night, but a quick shake of her head was the only answer she gave.

”Okay, then. I'll say goodnight.” With another kiss on her forehead, he turned and headed into his room, then hesitated at the door. Twisting back, he gazed deeply into her eyes. ”Charlie?”

Mesmerized, she c.o.c.ked her head to the side, waiting.

”I...well, just know that I'm glad you're here. I'm glad you came to me. I promise we'll discover what we need to keep you safe.”

Her tongue darted out to wet her dry lips as they curved into a gentle smile. ”Me too, Luke. There's nowhere else I'd rather be.”

With that, they each moved into their separate rooms.

Two hours later, Luke lay awake, mentally kicking himself. I had a gorgeous woman, obviously into me and one that interests me as well, practically begging to be kissed. And I let a sense of honor keep me from going with the flow.

The faint illumination from the security light in the hall grew larger as his door swung open, Charlie's body outlined in the darkness.

”Charlie? Everything all right?” he asked, sitting up quickly, ready to jump from the bed.

”I...”

Without waiting, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and quickly stalked to the doorway, his hands automatically going to her shoulders as he peered into her face. c.o.c.king his head to the side, he waited to see what she needed.

”I'm sorry,” she whispered. ”I know...I know what you said earlier, and I agree,” she rushed. ”There's a lot going on and I...I do appreciate you're...um...hesitant to jump into...um...something physical, but it's just that...” Her voice trailed off as her eyes cast downward.

Lifting her chin with his fingers, he said, ”What? What do you need? I'll give you anything I can.”

Slipping her arms around his waist, she slowly moved into his body, hugging him tightly. Resting her face on his chest, she heard his steady heartbeat against her ear. ”I've been alone for a really long time,” she confessed. ”I wanted to feel someone hold me.”

Closing his eyes as he rested his chin on the top of her head, he pulled her in tighter. Without a word, he moved them backward until the backs of his knees. .h.i.t his bed. Twisting, he gently pushed her down and, as her eyes widened, he said, ”Sleep with me in here. Just sleep.”

Seeing her smile, he crawled over her body, trying to ignore the way her curves felt underneath him as he settled on the other side. Slipping under the covers, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight. With her back pressed into his front, he tucked her in. Neither spoke for a few minutes as he felt his heartbeat synchronize with hers.

Finally, in the dark, he heard her whisper, ”Thank you, Luke,” before her breathing deepened in slumber.

Lying with the enigmatic woman at his side, he smiled. That night as he dreamed, the woman from the bar and from the diner and his cyber-friend, all melded into one...the beauty in his arms.

Chapter 12.

The early morning light gave little comfort to the two teenagers huddled together underneath the overhang of a thick grove of trees in the park across from the World Bank. Penny Owens blinked a few times before nudging closer to David, hoping to give him some of her meager warmth. His cough had gotten worse during the night and Penny was worried about him.

A thin blanket was draped over their bodies and she pulled it up tighter to their chins while making sure to tuck it closer around their feet. The air was not cold...not yet, but the hint of the coming winter gave her pause. What then? How will we survive then? She glanced over to David, still sleeping, his chest rattling with each breath. They had been together through the spring and summer, since meeting at a soup kitchen. A lifetime for a homeless person who lives day by day. And with every painful rasping, her heart hurt a little more.

Pus.h.i.+ng his dark hair back away from his forehead, she noticed how long it had become. Maybe I can find some scissors and give him a haircut. At that thought, she grimaced, thinking of her own overly long, dirty braid.

The sound of footsteps nearby had her instantly on alert and she shook David awake. ”Someone's coming,” she whispered, glad that he woke quickly, attempting to move in front of her. The two looked up as a woman walked by before stopping to smile down at the two huddled under the tree.

”h.e.l.lo,” she said, her voice warm and friendly. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out packs of peanut b.u.t.ter crackers and water bottles. ”Please don't be afraid, but I'm in the area offering some snacks and water to some of the homeless in the area.”

They eyed the proffered treats suspiciously, but both of their bellies growled at the same time. David doubled over with his fierce cough and the woman's eyes immediately grew concerned. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a card. Setting it on the ground next to the water bottles, she said, ”I am leaving the name of a clinic where I work. It's not too far from here and they would be glad to see you about your cough.”

”Thank you, but we have no money,” Penny said, eyeing the pretty Asian woman with a mixture of suspicion and overpowering need.

The genuine smile did not leave the woman's face as she said, ”Part of the clinic is for a.s.sisting those who are unable to pay.” Her gaze dropped to David's pale face. ”Please come in today. Be sure to bring the card with you and they'll make sure you are taken care of.”

”They can make me well?” he asked, hope in his voice as his chest racked with another cough.

”They will certainly make sure you are no longer in pain,” she said gently. With that, she stood and continued down the path.

As soon as she was gone, Penny jumped up and grabbed the snacks along with the woman's card. ”Dr. Cheung's Medical Clinic,” she read, handing one of the water bottles to David. He took a long drink, the refres.h.i.+ng liquid cooling his dry throat. They both tore into the crackers, relis.h.i.+ng the early morning treat.

”What do you think?” he asked.

”We might as well go check out the clinic. You're getting sicker and we've got nothing to lose.”

As the two teens finished their snack while the early morning mist slowly rose over the park, both smiled at the possibility that luck had finally come their way.

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