Hiding Catherine Read online

  Catherine touched her lips remembering kissing Charlie. It shouldn’t make her stomach flutter. It had been all too brief. Another prime example of her impulsiveness. He hadn’t seemed upset she kissed him, but he hadn’t looked too happy either. She would apologize the next time she saw him. If she saw him again. The man liked to be left alone. He would most likely avoid her now. And with good reason. Catherine was not the best judge of character. She tended to date bad boys, and in her previous relationship, a horrible guy. Martin had seemed such a great guy when they first dated. Military like Charlie. But after two years of dating, he turned into a monster. Where he used to praise her for her beauty and frame, turned to criticism. She didn’t dress up enough for him or had gained too much weight. He didn’t want to be seen in public with her. If that hadn’t been bad enough, he had helped a delusional soldier kidnap a woman and child, then later a teenager. What kind of person did that?

  Catherine thought she had learned her lesson about trusting men, but one look at Charlie and all her good intentions flew out the window. There was something different about him that didn’t make her think of Martin. She should keep her distance from him though. What if he was all sweet at the beginning like Martin had been and then turned? She couldn’t go through that again. She had best forget about him. She and men equaled trouble, or in her case, someone would get hurt. Never again.

  Catherine couldn’t say how happy she was that Charlie had pulled over though. She had heard a lot about this serial killer picking up women, and she was scared about being on an almost deserted road late at night with a flat tire. The rain hadn’t bothered her as much as the fact it was dark and pouring rain. Had she walked home, no one would have seen her, and she could have been hit by a car.

  Catherine wasn’t a worrier by nature, but she had been taught common sense as a child. Walking home in the dark and ran didn’t seem smart, so she had waited in her car for someone to drive by. That way she could either call a tow company or get a ride home. Thankfully, it had all worked out. For once, luck had been on her side.

  Instead of leaning against the door like a love-struck teenager, she should get dry clothes on and try to find her charger. She still had to make it to work tomorrow. First, shower then the charger. Her dead phone wasn’t going anywhere. Catherine pushed off the door and headed upstairs, throwing her wet clothes in the washer, and took a hot shower to warm up. She hadn't realized how wet and cold she had been until now. Charlie had kept the heater on for her in his jeep, and she had waited in her car until another vehicle came upon her. She thought she had stayed dry but apparently, she had been wrong.

  Against her better judgment, Catherine thought back on Charlie and his help. He was a take charge of a situation, kind of guy but silent any other. She didn't mind. She could talk enough for them both. His piercing green eyes captivated her, and she wondered what color his hair was. His facial hair was almost jet black, so she imagined it was dark. Did he have chest hair? She liked a man with chest hair. A nest of downy soft short hairs to run her fingers through. Catherine's hand slid down her front imagining it was Charlie's chest she was feeling, instead of her own. She could imagine all the muscles he kept hidden under his shirt. His shirts were always loose around his frame, but they were pulled tight over his biceps. Her nipples puckered, and her fingers slid over them to tweak them. She set her head back on the cool tile and let the water beat down on her.

  Catherine summoned an image of Charlie walking into her bathroom, and stripping off his clothes to join her. He never took his eyes off her. They devoured her as he stripped himself and joined her. He brushed her fingers out of the way and took over tweaking her nipples. She caressed the chest she had been imagining. It was perfection. Puckered skin and nicks marred him but it in no way diminished his beauty. They served as reminders of what he had done to protect his country. While one hand fondled her breast, the other glided down her side to her thigh. His knee wedged between her thighs forcing them open for him. A sigh escaped her as she rocked over Charlie’s leg. His short, crisp hairs slid along her folds heightening her pleasure. Charlie kissed a path up the side of her neck to the sensitive spot behind her ear.

  Catherine tilted her head back to give him better access. “Please,” she begged though she didn’t know what for. More kisses. More pleasure. All the above.

  Charlie ignored her plea and continued his assault on her senses and body. The hand on her thigh reach down behind her knee, and he brought her leg up on his hip. His hand caressed the underside of her thigh, then skimmed her folds.

  “Yes,” Catherine screeched, grabbing onto his biceps, and pulling him closer. Charlie raised her other leg onto his hip, and his engorged cock slid between them. He rocked into her slowly, his length hitting her clit just right. “Charlie,” she husked, squinting up at him through the water spray. The water pelted off his shoulder before hitting her in the face. She had to squint, so she didn’t get water in her eyes, but damn he was worth going blind for. She reached up and stroked his cheek where the worst of the scarring was. His growing beard was prickly against her palm. He looked momentarily shocked that she would touch his scarred face, but after a moment, he leaned into her touch. Catherine felt like she had accomplished the unattainable at that moment. She didn’t think life could get any better until Charlie lowered his head, and his lips swiped over hers. She felt a spark from the contact all the way to her toes, and liquid heat pooled between her legs. He brushed his lips over again, giving her a taste. “Please, Charlie.” She didn’t care if she had to beg. She had been dreaming about this moment since she met him, and she needed his lips on her more than her next breath.

  “Say it,” he whispered against her lips.

  Say what? She had already said please.

  “Say my name,” he answered her silent question.

  “Charlie,” she sighed his name as his erection hit her clit again just right. Catherine tightened her legs around his waist and held onto his shoulders. “Kiss me, Charlie.”

  Charlie groaned deep in the back of his throat, making her shiver, before swooping down and capturing her lips again. Had Catherine been standing her knees would have buckled by now. His kiss was as take charge as he was. He commanded her mouth. His tongue stroked hers, and he fisted a hand in her hair and ground more insistently against her. Catherine clung to him and clenched her thighs around him as she came calling his name.

  She flopped back against the tile wall feeling the water cool against her heated flesh. Her knees trembled, and her eyes fluttered open to see she was alone in her shower. Her fingers were still buried between her legs. Catherine sighed in disappointment. It had all been a figment of her imagination. It had felt so real though.

  Catherine turned off the water and dried off. Who was she kidding? Charlie didn’t want her. He had made that abundantly clear. He would only ever be a fantasy for her. She always said the first thing that popped into her mind and it was usually the wrong thing to say. Charlie had shown little interest in her since picking her up and dropping her off at home. She doubted he would be in the PX anytime soon.

  She climbed into her cold, lonely bed, and dreamed of a scowling face with hypnotic green eyes.

  * * *

  It had been three days since Charlie gave Catherine a ride home. Three days of her telling herself to get over him, and three days of her watching the entrance of the PX to see if he would come in. She must be a glutton for punishment. Why else would she be looking for a man who wanted nothing to do with her? If he liked her, he would have come see her. And yet here she stood looking for a man she shouldn’t want. She told herself repeatedly to forget about him, but she couldn’t. Something about him drew her in. A moth to a flame. She wanted to know more about him. She told herself he could be worse than Martin. That looks could be deceiving but her heart and body wouldn’t listen.

  She thought she was being sneaky about looking for him, but her coworkers looked at her funny every time someone walked past her. She would
look up to see who it was with a smile on her face. When it wasn’t Charlie her smile slipped, but she still greeted everyone.

  “Catherine, you okay?” Nadine, the girl working the register next to her, asked.

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly, pretending to clean up around her register.

  “Are you sure? You’re acting funny.”

  “I want to make sure I greet every customer that walks through the door.” Her excuse sounded lame even to her.

  “Hmm,” was all she said, then she gasped. “Oh my god, Catherine, look at that guy that just walked in.” Her voice sounded more horrified than intrigued.

  Catherine looked up not knowing what to expect. Her breath caught when Charlie walked through the doors with a guy on either side of him. It took her a moment to realize he wasn’t wearing his normal ball cap pulled low over his face. She didn’t know who Nadine feared at seeing. All she saw was Charlie and the fact she could see all of him. And what a sight he was. His hair was short on the sides and longer on top. His jet black curly hair was swept over to one side. She hadn’t gotten a full look at him when he came to her aid due to the darkness and the dome light wasn’t bright. But now she had a clear look at him, and there was so much to see. Her eyes ate him up; she was sure her tongue was hanging out.

  The men he was with were laughing about something and nudging each other. Charlie looked his normal stoic self and stared straight ahead, but she knew he was aware of everything happening around him. He probably knew she was there but was ignoring her. That stung.

  “Do you see him?” Nadine whispered loudly. “The deep scars on his face pull on the skin making him look like a bulldog or something. It’s terrifying. Why wouldn’t he cover that up or something? That face could scare children. It scares me.” She gave a dramatic shiver to emphasize her point.

  Catherine didn’t think so. She hated that Nadine could say something so mean about someone she didn’t know. Charlie couldn’t help it he was wounded. In the light, it looked much harsher than when she rode with him, but it still didn’t change her opinion of him. She watched him as he walked past her, still staring straight ahead. She told herself that it was for the best. That he had already forgotten about her as she was supposed to do about him. What if he was purposely ignoring her? That was probably what he was doing. He was here to get a few things because he needed them. He wasn’t here to see her. He didn’t care about her. Nobody did.

  “Catherine, you’ve gone pale. Was it because of that guy?”

  Catherine shook her head no. He was the reason she went pale, but not for the reason Nadine was probably guessing. “Can you cover me for a minute? I need to use the bathroom.” She needed to collect herself for a moment and remind her why she needed to keep her distance from Charlie.

  Nadine nodded, and Catherine walked briskly towards the bathroom. She rounded the corner and collided with a wall of muscle. She fell back, but a hand reached out and steadied her. “Sorry about that, Catherine. I didn’t see you there.”

  Chapter 3

  Catherine looked up into piercing green eyes. It had to be Charlie she ran into. “It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Catherine stepped away. She could still feel the heat on her arm from where he had grabbed her to steady her.

  “Are you alright?”

  Why was everyone asking her that?

  “I’m great. Well, enjoy the rest of your shopping, and maybe I’ll see you around.” Catherine walked around him making sure they didn’t touch and rushed to the bathroom. She was proud of herself when she didn’t turn around to see if he watched her. She poured water over her face and used the paper towels to pat herself dry. She looked herself over in the mirror and was glad the color had returned to her cheeks. She had no doubt Charlie would be gone when she left the bathroom. It was for the best. The man probably thought she was mental. It didn’t help that she masturbated to a fantasy of him almost every night. Nope, she wasn’t going to think about that. She would go back out there, finish her shift and go home. Simple. No more thinking about Charlie. No more looking for him. She needed to stay away from men period.

  Catherine walked out of the bathroom and almost tripped over her own feet when she saw Charlie leaning against a shelf in front of her with his arms crossed. Had he been waiting for her? Surely not. “Hi,” she said quickly and started past him.

  “Catherine,” he said when she started past him.

  Catherine stopped in mid-step and turned back around. “You remembered my name?” she asked puzzled. “I mean yes?”

  Charlie looked at her confused. “Of course, I remembered your name. I did give you a ride only three days ago, when you got stranded on the side of the road, during a rainstorm.” He said it like she didn’t seem to remember them meeting.

  “I only meant I was shocked you remembered since our meeting was so brief.”

  “It’s my job to pay attention to details,” he said matter of fact.

  “Did you need help with something?” she asked, changing the subject before she allowed herself to be swayed towards him again.

  “No.”

  Short, simple answer. She was realizing that about him. “Alright, well if you need something let me know.” She turned back around, but he called out to her again. “Yes?”

  “There is actually something I need. Well, more want.”

  Catherine stepped towards him. “Yes?”

  He opened his mouth then clamped it shut when the guys he had come in with appeared around the corner.

  “There you are Bulldog. We thought you ditched us,” one of them said.

  “I’d say he did,” another said eyeing Catherine up and down. She felt self-conscious about the way he was looking at her. She crossed her arms in front of her and sucked in her stomach.

  “Viper, Oreo, back off. I’ll meet ya’ll back at the truck in a minute.” Charlie said, never taking his eyes off Catherine.

  The guys walked off leaving them alone again. “Sorry about them. They’re harmless.”

  Catherine doubted that very much. They looked as lethal as Charlie. “They call you Bulldog?” She asked confused. “That’s terrible.”

  “It’s a nickname, don’t read too much into it.”

  “Nickname or not they shouldn’t make fun of you.”

  “They don’t. They are two of the most loyal people I know. I had that nickname long before I had this.” He pointed at his scarred face.

  Catherine lost some of her bluster. Who was she to defend him against his own friends? He was a big boy who knew how to take care of himself. “Sure, well I won’t keep you from your friends. Take care.” She stressed the word friends because she still didn’t think it was right they called him that ridiculous name. Nadine had even compared him to a bulldog. It was disgraceful.

  “Catherine, I’m trying to ask you something, and you’re making that really hard when you keep trying to walk away.”

  “I’m sorry. What did you want to ask me?” She needed to get back to work, but it went against her nature to be rude to people. She could tell Charlie was uncomfortable, so she waited patiently for him to continue.

  “I wanted to ask if you needed a ride home. I didn’t know if you got your tire fixed yet. I assume since you’re here that you either did or you’ve been getting rides.”

  Catherine was so stunned by his question she just stared at him. He wanted to give her a ride home? He wanted to see her again? He hadn’t come to the PX for something but to actually see her.

  “Catherine?” He asked, and looked around uncomfortably when she continued to stand there staring at him.

  “Sorry,” she shook her head. “I did get my tire fixed, so I don’t need a ride. I appreciate it though. That’s very sweet of you to ask.”

  “Sweet,” he chuckled to himself. “Can’t say I’ve ever been accused of that before.”

  “And what have you been accused of?” She asked before she could stop herself.

  “Things not fit for a l
ady’s ears.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I’m no lady.”

  “Woman then.”

  “Now you’ve piqued my interest even more.” Catherine felt an invisible rope pulling her closer to Charlie. Moth to a flame. She was so in trouble.

  “They say I’m headstrong, silent, broody, and complaintive.”

  “How can you be silent and complaintive at the same time?”

  “I don’t know; you’ll have to ask my teammates.”

  “Are they those guys that left?”

  “A few of them.” He looked away from her towards the exit.

  “I’m sorry if I’m keeping you from them.” She wasn’t. She was glad to have these stolen moments with him. He didn’t seem as guarded with her as he was the rest of the time. Even around his teammates as he called them he seemed more reserved.

  “You’re not. They can wait.” The twinkle in his eye and the smirk on his face told her he knew the truth.

  “Did you really come here to ask if I needed a ride home?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question, but now that she had, she needed to know the answer.