Page 14 of Reckless Chances
She was inches away, and if he relaxed, his leg would touch hers. He shifted and crossed his ankle over his knee, “No need, you’ve thanked me enough.” His mind immediately went to other ways she could thank him, and he squeezed his eyes tightly, trying to get his brain to start working. Sitting this close to Emma had awoken other parts of him, the parts between his legs, that now seemed to be thinking for him.
They both stared into the fire, “It’s mesmerizing,” she said as the coals flickered and glowed. Charlie prodded the fire with a long, charred stick and sparks danced in the sky.
“Humans have always been drawn to water and fire,” Charlie mused. “It’s in our DNA.” It wasn’t lost on Charlie that pheromones also drew humans to each other, and whatever she was putting out, he was picking up. They sat silently, the crackle of the fire the only sound between them, the surrounding conversations, and music had faded into a din around them.
Freddie dragged a camp chair to the other side of Emma and sat down. “Now that’s a fire,” he smiled.
For once, Charlie was thankful for Freddie’s bad timing. “Did the drywaller finish yet?” He leaned on his elbows, his face aglow in the firelight.
“Tomorrow. There are a few patch jobs he has to come and finish up,” Emma said.
“I heard you helped her get the framing done,” Freddie said, looking at Emma. “I know that was a huge help.”
“It was,” she nodded in agreement.
Charlie wondered what local gossiper had fed Freddie this tidbit. Freddie looked at Charlie, “Especially when you still need to get your own framing done.”
Awkward.
Charlie cleared his throat. “It’s almost done. The electrician still has to finish stringing the pot lights.” If Freddie could get a dig in at him, he was going to sling one right back. So far, Emma had been the only person who had been able to get Freddie to work at night, on a weekend, no less.
Freddie laughed. “Soon, bud. Just as soon—”
“You stole my chair.” Ethan’s voice interrupted Freddie’s excuse.
“I didn’t realize this was yours.” Charlie looked under the armrest. “I don’t see your name on it.”
Ethan squeezed Charlie’s shoulder. One alpha male against the other. “It’s alright, bud. I’m just joking.” He handed Emma a beer.
“Thanks, Ethan,” she smiled. Charlie wondered if she was picking up on the silent standoff between the two men beside her. He glanced at Freddie, who raised his eyebrows, grinned, and then finished his beer. He was clearly enjoying himself.
Emma tried to turn the beer cap in her hand and winced. She squeezed her hand and then examined her palm, the ridges from the cap had left a jagged red welt across her hand. “I don’t think it’s a screw-top,” she said and shook her hand.
“Shit.” Ethan patted the pockets of his baggy jeans. “I’ll get an opener.”
“It’s alright.” Charlie took the beer from Emma’s hand, positioned the cap just below the armrest of the chair, and the cap popped off when he hit it with the heel of his hand. He handed the bottle back to Emma as the foam bubbled out of the top.
“Thanks, Charlie,” Emma raised her beer and Charlie met her bottle with his.
Ethan took a step back, like he was ceding defeat, but then stopped. “Hey, Emma, when is your husband getting here?”
Charlie’s lips drew into a tight line. His lie was about to bite him in the ass, he could feel it.
“My husband?” She looked at Ethan, her eyebrow knitted. “I don’t have a husband.”
“Oh, my mistake.” Ethan was drunk and speaking a little louder than normal. “I meant your boyfriend.”
Emma looked to her lap, her cheeks her pink, and Charlie didn’t have to be a genius to see that she was embarrassed. “Ethan,” he interrupted.
“What?” Ethan said. He swayed a little uneasily on his feet. Charlie wasn’t a fighter, but at that moment, he wanted to leap over the chairs and punch his friend in the face for embarrassing Emma.
Freddie saw what was going on too. “Hey, Ethan. Can you look at my chainsaw? The carburetor is acting up again.”
Ethan was like a golden retriever, easily distracted. “Yeah, man. I can help you with that.”
Charlie let out the breath he had been holding as quietly as possible, his whole body had been coiled tightly, ready to defend Emma – and stop Ethan from embarrassing her any further – and if he was being truthful, exposing the lie he told him earlier. Of course, Ethan was pissed at him. He had lied, Charlie would’ve reacted the same way.
What was he doing? Why was he acting like this?
