Page 37 of The Winter Rogue
She picked up her card and perused it carefully.“It seems I have one dance left.You do waltz, don't you?”
He chuckled.“I do as you well know, my lady, since we took lessons together.”
“Ah, that's right.We danced together as children.I imagine this will be quite the call back to days long passed.Though I should warn you, I’m an excellent dancer now.”Charlie’s smile was brittle, as though masking pain.
Doubts began to cloud Drew’s mind.Had she not, in fact, been the one to invite him?Nothing she had said either confirmed or denied his hope.“Mostly pleasant memories, I hope.”His gut tightened.“I look forward to seeing how your skills have improved when we dance later.”He bowed once more then backed away from the ladies, who all closed on Charlie.
He escaped to the edges of the ballroom which was decked out in red and green bunting with bows of pine woven in to provide a fresh scent that still could not mask the odor of so many bodies in one space.As he sought the card room, a small hand tucked into his arm and pulled him down a darkened hall that was clearly not open to the guests.He looked down to find Charlie leading him into the library.
Charlie.
The room was all white-painted wood and books.In the daytime, he imagined it was a rather bright airy space that made reading a pleasant and cozy experience, with all the sofas strewn about.
“Drew.”She let go of his arm and stepped back from him.
“Charlie.”Drew followed her lead, curious about this clandestine meeting when they had a perfectly fine waltz later during which they could have spoken without risk.
“I-I sent you the invitation.I hope Mother and Father were polite.She…she was very distressed when she discovered you had been invited,” said Charlie with a shrug.
“Your parents were the very model of politeness.”No more and no less.“May I ask why I am here?”
Charlie looked at him archly.“I certainly can't answer that.Only you know why you came.”
“Oh, no, sweetheart, you invited me, you pulled me away from your parents’ guests and into a private assignation.I attended out of curiosity to find out what you wanted to say, since I assume that is why my presence was requested.”Drew crossed his arms.
Charlie’s face screwed up a bit, then she huffed out a breath.“Fine.I didn't like how things were left between us.”She took a step toward him, but he took a larger one back.
“And?”Goddamnit, but his curiosity would be the death of him.That, or Polly's advice.
Charlie looked luscious in her green gown with a shocking amount of cleavage bared.Or, Drew thought, it seemed shocking, but that may be because he had personally seen and touched all of that glorious flesh.Frankly, he wasn’t pleased to have every other cad and wastrel in attendance enjoying such a visage.Bloody hell!Was he jealous?
She licked her lips, drawing his unwilling focus there.“And…and, I wanted to tell you I…” She looked down at the floor.“Blast it.I seem to have developed feelings for you.”
Shock slammed into Drew.She had feelings for him?His head reeled as he tried to assimilate the news.That was not what he had expected.Not really.Perhaps an apology.Maybe even an attempt to meet again in secret.But a declaration of feeling?He cleared his throat.“Look, Charlie—”
“Don't!Do not patronize me,” she interrupted him.“I realize you likely do not feel the same but I felt I needed to tell you.Just in case.”
“In case?In case of what?”Drew was still trying to sort out how he felt while her father's threats continued to ring in the back of his head.The last thing he would do was ruin her reputation.
She looked so dejected.“In case…in case it changed anything.”
Regret and sadness overwhelmed Drew’s shock as reality set in.God, it wouldn’t work.Fuck.“Charlie, you heard your father.He threatened to ruin my business if I said a word, I cannot risk the livelihoods of the men I employ.There are too many families relying on Wentworth Shipping for survival.As…damn, as much as it thrills me to hear you say you have feelings, sadly, it changes nothing.”He held up his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
His helplessness did not appear to matter.Charlie launched herself at him with a cry and their lips met in a kiss of desperation and longing.Their bodies pressed together as their emotions got the best of them.Drew slipped his tongue past her lips and tasted her—one last time.He sought to memorize the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her on his lips, and the joy she had wrested free inside him.
After what felt like too long and yet not long enough, Charlie stepped back from him.Tears coursed down her cheeks.“Just once, I wish I could be enough for someone.”
The sadness in her words tore at his heart.“Charlie—”
“No.No more empty words.Just go.”She turned away.
Drew took one step toward her, but her shoulders stiffened at the sound of his footfall.
It was time for him to go.He couldn't give her what she wanted without risking everything, and he couldn't do that.He wouldn’t do that.
It was him who wasn’t enough for her.
Chapter Twenty
