Page 80 of Charlie
“But haven’t ye been able to open Charles’ eyes to the other side of Conor at all?”
“I thought he was starting to see, but it’s like the new pressure on Conor has enhanced how protective and loyal Charles is. Maybe because he’s been acting as his legal adviser. It’s weird because Charles was in the room when the police listed a whole number of legal problems from Conor’s past, and he still believes every excuse Conor gave for why he was really the victim in those cases.” Feeling restless and frustrated, I drew a doodle on the paper in front of me. “You would think that hearing of Conor’s criminal past would make Charles question things, but no.”
Kit snorted. “That’s bollocks.”
I brushed my hair back. “Yeah, it sucks, but even if Charles wanted to leave, I couldn’t abandon the children. They are innocent in all of this and after Conor’s stunt with the gun last week, I want to make sure he doesn’t do something awful to the children.”
“But are you and Charles still good?”
My face softened. “The more I get to know him, the more amazing I think he is. He’s so…” I smiled.
Damian and Kit exchanged a grin, and he whistled low again. “Geez, she’s a goner, that one.”
“I can’t help it. Charles has this way of looking at me across the room as if he doesn’t quite believe his luck. It melts me every time.”
Kit cleared her throat. “Excellent. It helps to have an undercover observer, and if everythin’ goes right, it won’t be for much longer. Mr. Robertson is throwin’ some serious cash into this investigation. We have put together a team of five private detectives in Liverpool to find Jim Maddox and the tape he was using to blackmail Conor. Several of the detectives have strong connections and their pressure on the Liverpool police is workin’.”
“Working how?” I asked.
“The Liverpool police have been in contact with our gardas, not to mention that Mr. Robertson has used his powerful connections from the US. Five days ago, the American ambassador made an inquiry to the Garda Commissioner, who is the highest ranking in the Garda Síochána. He discussed Mr. Robertson’s concerns and the old accusations made against Conor O’Brien. That’s why the garda came to question him. Conor is under their microscope right now,” Kit explained.
“That’s great news but tell them to work fast.” I looked at the clock. “Charles is done teaching in an hour. I told him I’d be working from a café and meet with him after he was done at four.”
“It’s fine.” Kit pushed her chair back and stood up at the same time as me. “Ye’re doing amazing, Liv. Just keep soaking up everything you see and report back to me. If Conor makes a mistake, I want you to be there to catch it. Ye have my number. Text or call me anytime, night or day.”
“Okay.”
I hugged Kit and Damian before making my way through the streets of Dublin in the pouring rain. When I got to Trinity College, I waited for Charles under the cover of one of the old historical buildings, which looked like a bell tower in the middle of the square. There was something amazing about the rain bouncing off the cobblestones and the tourists moving in packs with their umbrellas.
My head was full of thoughts about the investigation and what would happen when Charles realized that Conor was a fraud. Would he be relieved that I’d come to rescue him? Or would the shock of how wrong he’d been about Conor overwhelm him to the point where he’d get suspicious of my motives as well?
The thought of Charles pulling away from me left a chill up my spine. If only I had a way to tell him that our meeting hadn’t been a coincidence but that my feelings for him were one hundred percent real.
“Liv.”
Hearing my name, I turned around to see Charles jogging toward me with his bag above his head to shield him from the rain. The sight of him made me reach out my arms and as soon as he was close, I hugged him like I hadn’t seen him for a year.
“Mmm, I missed you,” I whispered in his ear.
Charles pulled back, giving me a wide smile that created soft crinkles at the edges of his eyes. “I missed you too, Saffron.”
Our deep kiss made someone whistle and when we looked over, Charles spotted some of his students.
“Do you think you’ll get in trouble for kissing me in front of them?”
He laughed. “I’m just a guest teacher. I don’t think they care and I doubt any of the students will make complaints. They’re just jealous that I get to kiss the prettiest woman in the world.”
We were nose to nose, with locked eyes. “You want to kiss me again? Just to make sure they know I’m yours.”
“Mmm…” With a hand behind my neck, he pulled me in again, giving me a long demanding kiss that left my panties as wet as my rain jacket.
“You want to get out of here?” Charles had such a playful gleam in his eyes that I knew he wanted to be alone with me and make love.
“I do!”
His eyes widened and he took my hand. “Standing under a bell tower and hearing you say the wordsI dojust gave me the craziest chills up and down my spine.” He lifted our intertwined hands to his mouth and pressed his lips against the back of my hand. “I hope that I get to hear you say it again in the future.”
I caught his reference to a future wedding between us and beamed at him before we ran together through the rain. We were like a couple in a romantic scene from a cheesy rom-com until we got into the streets and a car drove by, splashing a load of water on us.
