Charlie's Last Stand Read Online Free PDF

makes you ask that?”
    “The comment about my dress today. The way you've been
acting around me. Things aren't usually so uncomfortable or is it just me?”
    “I shouldn't have said anything about your dress, Charlie.
It was wrong of me. You look...nice.”
    She bit her bottom lip. “And everything else? What is going
on?”
    “Nothing.” He almost laughed at her little harrumph. “Okay,
maybe there is something going on. I'm just trying to figure out what's the
best for us, the office.”
    “What do you mean?”
    He took a deep breath. Maybe this would give her an
opportunity to talk about what was eating at her. “Celeste has asked me to
consider merging our practices together.”
    Charlie's jaw dropped. She snapped it shut and he could see
her review what he'd just said, as if little puffs of steam trailed out of her
ears. “And you were going to tell me this when?”
    He raised his hands. “It's just something she's been
alluding to for a few months and today she came out with it.”
    She pushed her chair back and stood. “And you told her no,
right? That you wanted your own practice because you wanted control over the
policies and decisions made.”
    “It's not like I'd be joining an established practice as an
associate, Charlie. It would be a merger. Taking two busy practices and
bringing them together so that we can have each other's backs.”
    She turned her head but he could hear her say, “I think
there's more than backs involved.”
    He walked further into her office and shut the door behind
him. “What are you implying?”
    She swung back to him and the high color of her cheeks, the
brightness of her eyes stole his breath. She walked around her desk. “I'm not
implying anything. I think there's more to this merging than the practice. I
think Dr. High Heels has been after you for months and I think she finally
found a way to merge with you.”
    “Whoa, Charlie. Relax. I don't see why you'd even care if
Celeste was interested in more than just the practice. Wasn't it just an hour
ago that I found you cavorting with the pharm rep? It's okay for you to blur
the line of professional and personal relationships but it's not okay for me
and Celeste?” He had walked toward her, a brief space separated them, but he
was feeling a deep chasm opening between them.
    “I don't see what Rob has to do with this conversation.” Her
eyes focused on his button down shirt. Finally she pushed her shoulders back
and looked up at him. “The practice is yours to do with as you please. If you
think it's best for you and it to merge with Dr. Harris's, you should do it.”
    “But...there's a but there. I can hear it.”
    “No, it's okay. You're right. Ultimately I have no say in
the practice or your personal life.”
    “Charlie...” he reached out and grabbed her elbow before she
could spin around back to her desk.
    She froze and he grabbed her other arm to face her towards
him. “Of course, you have a say. I would never make a decision like this
without you. You have to know that I value your opinion. As my right hand here
at work and as my friend.”
    She nodded but her eyes stayed fixed on his hands on her
arms. He slid them up and looked down on her pink lips. He wanted to taste
them. He wanted to know she was seeing him, really seeing him as more than just
her brother's friend.
    ****
    Oh. My. God. He was going to kiss her. She couldn't turn
away, eager to get the feel of his lips on her, and yet she couldn't bring
herself to touch him either, afraid the slightest move would ruin the moment.
They stared at each other for what seemed like minutes. His blue eyes warmed
and his fingers tightened on her arms. She took slow, deep breaths, waiting
while her heart pounded heavily in her chest.
    She tilted her head and imagined how that first touch of
lips would feel. Would his lips be soft or firm against hers? Would his long
fingers slip into her hair or would he keep them on her arms, giving her room
to return the