The Best Friend's Sister Page 2
How was I so blind to what was going on?
“Yeah. I knew you’d understand. Thanks, mate. Just… look after her, yeah? She’s been through a lot.”
“Of course. You know I will. I better get going. Catch you later, man.”
“Cool, thanks, man.”
Hanging up, I down the rest of my coffee and head inside to get my truck keys.
Chapter 3
Charlotte
Things moved quickly after I accepted Ollie’s offer. Mum sorted out my ticket and visa as promised, and I handed in my notice at work. Now here I am, gripping the armrest of my plane seat like my life depends on it. And who knows, it actually might! Planes scare the crap out of me. It blows my mind how a metal box full of people can stay in the air. People who say you’re more likely to be in a car crash than a plane crash seem to forget one key fact. If your car crashes, you’re still on the ground. If your car crashes, you aren’t going to plummet to the earth and die in a fiery inferno. So excuse me if that little bit of information doesn’t reassure me in the slightest.
Jolting forward as the wheels hit the tarmac below, I let out a sigh of relief that I’m back on solid ground and release my desperate grip on the armrests. The seatbelt sign goes off, and I unbuckle mine and sit back to watch chaos ensue. It amazes me how people rush to grab their bags from the overhead lockers when we all have to get off the same way, and not until the doors are open.
What’s the rush?
Powering on my phone, I send Mum a quick text to let her know I arrived in one piece and swiftly turn it back off. There’s no one else I need to check in with, and seeing Mum’s reply will just make me more nervous and cause me to start second guessing this decision. Is travelling thousands of miles away from my family really the smartest decision right now? They’ve been the only thing keeping me going.
Inhaling deeply, I hold it for a moment before releasing it slowly and trying to steady myself. This will be good for me.
Once the door to the plane opens, I watch the mad dash of people to get off. It’s not like most of us need to stand and wait at the luggage carousel for ages anyway, right?
Thanking the crew, I step off the plane and stand tall, pulling my shoulders back and deciding that this is the new start I’ve been craving. The one I deserve.
Walking through arrivals, I look around for Ollie. Alex said he’d meet me here and showed me a recent photo of him so I’d know who I was looking for. Not that I’d forget him after all the time he spent at our house over the years. He’s changed since he was at university with Alex. He’s still sinfully attractive. Tall with dark black hair, but now he has a tattoo on his arm and a five o’clock shadow. He’s definitely grown up. He could easily be a cover model on one of the romance novels I love so much.
Lost in my thoughts, I keep walking through the terminal until I hear a smooth southern voice shout, “Charlotte!”
Looking over to my left, I spot him emerging from behind a small group of people. In a white vest with his intricate tattoo on full display, he gives me a wave and a smile. It takes an insane amount of willpower not to stop in my tracks at the sight of him and cause a people pile up. Holy moly, his picture did not do him justice. The man is better than a fantasy.
Smiling back, hoping my cheeks aren’t the colour of my luggage, I wheel my bright pink case over to him and he takes it from me.
“Hey, stranger,” he says, offering me a takeaway coffee. I gratefully accept the caffeinated gift with a beaming smile.
“Thanks! Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend was lying. Coffee is. Hands down.”
His deep throaty chuckle warms me more than the mouthful of coffee I take. “How was your flight?”
“It was alright. As good as flying through the air in a death trap can be.” Shrugging my shoulders, I run a hand through my unruly hair as I take in the busy terminal around us.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Right. Alex said you weren’t too keen on flying. Advised me to be waiting with a coffee offering.” He motions to the cup in my hand, and I nod.
“Not my favourite thing to do, no. But I made it in one piece, so happy days.” I brush my hair behind my ear and take a sip of the coffee. Milk, no sugar. Just how I like it.
Thank you, big brother.
“Welcome to North Carolina,” Ollie says with a picture perfect smile, leading me to the exit. He’s tall and athletic, so I have to speed up to keep pace with his long strides. Not that it’s such a hardship having to be behind him, the view is a sight for sore eyes.
“Thanks. And thanks so much for letting me stay with you for a while. The change of scenery is very welcome right now.”
I’m starting to get excited about this. No one knows me, I can just get on with my life, not worrying about the people gossiping behind me or sending me looks of pity.
“Don’t mention it. You’re doing me a favour.” He offers me a kind smile over his shoulder, the green in his eyes catching the sun and bewitching me. I need to pull myself together. I’ve just arrived and I’m already drooling over my housemate.
What is wrong with me?
Ollie pays for the parking, even though I offer, and we head to a blue truck, which he unlocks and throws my case in like it weighs nothing. Moving to the passenger’s side, I climb in, letting out a sigh of relief that I made it.
As we pull out of the car park, I glance over at the man behind the wheel. Wearing only a white vest over his torso, his impressive biceps are on full display. The ink working its way up one is intricate and detailed and I find my gaze following it up to his shoulders. Realising I’m gawking, I blush and turn to look out of the window. He’s doing me a favour, letting me stay with him for a while, and I’m over here ogling him like a hormonal teenager.
“So Alex said you’re opening a B&B?” I say, breaking the comfortable silence that has stretched between us as we make the drive back to his house.
“That’s the plan. My grandparents left their house to me when they passed. It’s sat gathering dust so I thought I could renovate it and rent it out, since moving in isn’t an option right now.”
“Did you spend a lot of time here growing up?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Yeah, my parents both worked a lot during the summer break, so they’d fly me over to stay with Gram and Pops. Some of the best memories I have were made with them.” A smile stretches across his face as he gets lost in his memories. Pulling a pair of Aviator sunglasses from the dash, he slips them on and focuses on the road ahead. Before he can catch me checking him out again, I turn to look out the window.
Silence stretches between us again and after I catch him looking over at me a couple of times, I decide to bite the bullet and ask the question weighing on my mind. “What did my brother tell you?”
If he’s surprised by my sudden question, he doesn’t show it. “Not much. Just said that your ex screwed you over big time and you needed to get away. A fresh start.”
Nodding, I internally thank my brother for not going into detail when airing my dirty laundry. I don’t want Ollie’s pity, that’s not why I’m here. I want to be Charlotte again. Not the poor woman who was humiliated and had her heart broken so publicly.
“That about sums it up.” A self-depreciating laugh slips past my lips and I play with the hem of my t-shirt.
“Men suck, right?” he jokes, looking over at me through the tinted lenses. The sun shines through the truck window, lighting up his face and making me take notice of his defined cheekbones and dark five o’clock shadow.
“You can say that again,” I admit, turning away and focusing on the world flying past outside of my window.
“Men suck.”
Unable to help myself, I laugh at his lame joke and shake my head in disbelief. He doesn’t push any further and I’m grateful for that. I’m sick of talking about it, of thinking about it, of living it. I need a break, and that’s exactly what I’m hoping for.
Chapter 4
Ollie
The ringing of my phone on the counter pulls me from my thoughts. Swiping it from the counter, I answer without checking the ID.
“Hello?”
“Hey, man, how’s it going?” my friend Scott’s voice asks over the line.
“Hey, man, good, thanks. Just picked Charlotte up from the airport, so letting her settle in.”
“She hot?” Yes.
“You’re married,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes at him. He’s always been the playboy out of the two of us. That was until he met his match in his wife. She tamed the beast.
“I wasn’t asking for me. You know what they say. The best way to get over one woman is to get under another.” I can practically hear his grin through the phone and I let out a chuckle.
“Yeah, well that doesn’t apply when it’s your best mate’s sister,” I reply, looking through the kitchen window, wanting to move away from where this conversation is heading. As attractive as Charlotte is, she’s off limits. End of.
“He won’t mind! You’re a stand-up guy, he knows that. Hell, I’d let you date my sister.”
“You don’t have a sister,” I point out, shaking my head. He’s something else, that’s for sure.
“So? If I did, I’d totally let you date her. Just saying.”
“You working?” I ask, changing the conversation in case the woman in question decides to walk in at any moment.
“Yeah, heading to Tennessee with a shipment. Thought I’d break up the boredom by calling you.”
“You say the nicest things,” I joke. “No wonder you convinced Melody to marry you.”
“I know, right? Speak of the devil, she’s trying to call. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yeah, stay safe, man.” Hanging up, I shoot Alex a quick text to let him know we’re back at the house and put my phone back on the counter.
With my coffee cup in hand, I head out onto the porch and watch the waves crashing on the beach, the sound so soothing. With the beautiful blue sky, ocean view, and the sun shining down, I can’t deny it. This place is something special. Always has been.
A dog barks in the distance and when I look up, I find Charlotte fussing over a Great Dane, chatting with their owner. She’s breath taking, and fuck if that isn’t unnerving. Gone is the reclusive bookworm from my uni days, and in her place is a gorgeous woman. She’s changed into a yellow floral skirt that reaches her knees and a white off the shoulder top that shows a slither of skin at her midriff. My eyes are drawn to the lightly tanned skin on display, wondering if it’s as soft as it looks, how it would feel to run my… abort. Abort!
Christ, she’s been here all of five minutes and I’m already crossing a fucking line. Best friend’s sister, the same best friend who’s called twice today already to make sure I remembered to pick her up. Who thanked me again and again for helping his little sister out. Who told me what a great mate I am.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t realise she’s caught me checking her out until it’s too late. She makes her way back to the house and I lean against the railing, sipping on my coffee.
“Hey,” she says, sitting in the wicker chair on the porch and glancing back out at the view in wonder. The way her blonde hair frames her face, hiding her soft skin, has me itching to lean over and move it with my fingers. But I restrain myself.
“I can’t believe this is your grandparents’ place,” she says, pulling me from my inner struggle. Her voice is filled with awe and her eyes never leave the view. The house may be a little dilapidated, in need of some work, but it is beautiful and the location is incredible. With a wraparound porch and huge windows, it’s impossible to forget you’re on the beach with the view of the ocean front and centre.
“Yep. Beautiful, right?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see her eyes leave the beach and find me. She checks me out, trying to be subtle, and it takes effort on my part not to smirk. Instead, I push off the railing and sit in the chair across from hers.
“It’s stunning. Why are you renting it out? Why not live here and find another way to make a living? I don’t think I could bear to part with it if it were mine,” she admits, taking it all in again. The beach, the house, the peacefulness. It’s heaven on earth.
“To be honest, I don’t know if I could live here without them. It may sound stupid, but all the memories I made in this place were with them. It would feel so empty without them.” I miss them terribly as it is. I can’t imagine living in the house without them. Not seeing Pops doing a jigsaw on the porch, or Gram baking up a storm in the kitchen. My chest feels hollow just thinking about it.
Her hand reaches across the table and settles on top of mine, startling me. The electricity her touch causes to race across my skin throws me off kilter. My gaze meets hers and I see the sympathy in them, but more than that. There’s something else, does she feel it too?
She squeezes my hand once more and then pulls it back, looking away.
“I get that.” She plays with the necklace she’s wearing, turning the pendant over in her hand, the motion drawing my gaze as I finish my last mouthful of coffee. “I can’t imagine living in my parent’s house if they weren’t around anymore. It wouldn’t feel like home anymore.”
“Coffee?” I ask, nodding to the house and watching the smile spread across her face. Her smile does something to me. It’s sweet yet sinful, demure yet enticing. My heart rate picks up, as if it’s being called with a siren song.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she teases, following me inside.
Leading her into the kitchen, I make us both a coffee. Putting the kettle on to boil, I grab her an old china mug from one of the dilapidated cupboards, setting it down next to mine, and add some instant coffee to each.
“It’ll be popular with tourists, it’s beautiful.” The sincerity in her voice makes me smile. She gets this place. Grabbing the milk from the refrigerator, I add a splash to both mugs and return it.
“It’s dated. It needs a lot of work, but I’m up for the challenge,” I say, handing her a mug of coffee and leaning against the island in the kitchen. I definitely saw the house through rose-coloured glasses when I was a kid. Or maybe it just got worn down over the years that have passed. Either way, I can’t rent out rooms in its current state.
“Thanks. So what is your plan?” she asks as she takes a sip. I don’t miss the slight grimace at the taste of her coffee and try to hold back my smile. Not an instant fan it seems.
“I want to redecorate. Turn the entryway into a reception. Add an en suite to the fifth bedroom and put a door in between the bathroom and the third bedroom. That way all rooms will be en suite. No one wants to go to a B&B and share a bathroom with strangers. It depends on how money goes. I may have to open up first using just the three bedrooms and close for further refurbishment when profits are in.”
“That makes sense. It’s a stunning location. I’m sure it won’t be hard to get business.” Her eyes drift to the view from the kitchen window. The beach is amazing. Having it right on your doorstep is a blessing. Nothing beats a morning run on the beach or having your morning coffee while watching the sunrise.
“I hope so. I love it here.” Looking out the window at the view, I smile into my mug.
“I can see why you made some wonderful memories here growing up.”
Smiling as I reminisce, I say, “Yeah. Gram loved to bake. I’d go out with Pops and when we came back, the house would smell like a bakery.”
“I wish I could bake. I’m awful in the kitchen. Alex jokes that I’m the only person he knows who can burn pasta.” She rolls her eyes at that and I chuckle. She’s nothing
like I remember, little Charlotte is all grown up. Her long blonde hair frames her pale face, the only splash of colour coming from her pink lipstick. She looks exhausted, beautiful, but exhausted. Alex said she’d been struggling with the aftermath of her breakup, but I didn’t realise just how much. A part of me wants to reach out and pull her to me, hold her close and protect her from the world. The other part wants to show her how a real man would appreciate her. Every inch.
“I can teach you to make something, if you like. Gram made sure I spent plenty of time learning all the basics.” The smile that graces her face makes me proud that I put it there. I vow to myself that while she’s here, I’ll do everything in my power to keep it there.
“We’re trying to do the place up, not burn it down.” She grins at me, and I enjoy watching her relax around me. It makes her seem younger, less jaded by the world. Her blue eyes are so pale, they’re striking. Combined with her golden hair and plump lips, she’s a knockout and she has no idea.
Laughing, I shake my head and take another sip of my coffee. She’s a breath of fresh air, that’s for sure.
“So how can I help?” she asks, cocking her head to the side and clasping her mug of coffee to her chest.
“How are you at painting?” I ask, smiling.
“I guess we’ll soon find out.” She laughs and I see a glimpse of carefree Charlotte. Her eyes light up and she shakes her head.
“Alex said you’re an interior design buff?” When I mentioned my plan to her brother, he was quick to say how she had a great eye for design and loved renovating.
“I love redecorating. Furnishing empty spaces. I watch more home improvement shows than you can imagine. Not sure ‘buff’ is the word I’d use, but I would love to help.” The enthusiasm in her voice is impossible to miss.
“Then let’s come up with a plan and head to The Home Depot.”