Free Resurrecting Charlie's Girl by Debra Kayn Page B

rolled her eyes.
    Tom
leaned over and wrapped his arms around her. The whispered words in her ear
made heat flood her cheeks.
    "Sassy
and sexy redheads fascinate the hell out of me." His blue eyes ate her up.
"I'll show you exactly how much as soon as we close the case."
    Garrett
cleared his throat, Joe coughed, and Pete turned red in the face and got up to
pace. Tom stood, but left a hand on Charlise's shoulder. She ducked her chin.
Pleased and slightly embarrassed, she'd finally done something Tom approved of.
    Garrett
sat back down. "Let's get down to securing the house. Pete, set up the
cameras along the road."
    Pete
gave him a thumbs' up sign and rose. Garrett waited for Pete to leave, and then
instructed Tom, "You two are going to have to draw him out."
    Tom
grimaced. "I suspected as much."
    She
thought the guys were gonna stick together. Alarmed, Charlise straightened in
her chair. "What's that mean?"
    "Garrett
thinks we need to be seen around town. A dinner out. A walk through the
park," Tom said. "I agree with his plan."
    She
swallowed. "I thought we were here because there's safety in
numbers."
    "We'll
have surveillance on you both continually." Garrett gathered the papers
and files, tossing them in his briefcase. He closed it and said,
"Charlise, Sally left you a bag up in the room at the top of the
stairs."
    "Thanks."
She squeezed Tom's hand, pushed away from the kitchen table and headed for the
stairs.
    Lately,
the good things in life didn't come so easily. She'd learned to accept the good
things the moment she got them. Clothes and shoes compared to a band-aid on a
paper cut. It made everything feel better for awhile—until you had to remove
the band-aid.

Chapter Ten
    To
Charlise's delight, Sally sent her fancy dresses, make up, high heels, clutch
purses, and some jewelry. The next night after their arrival to the safe house,
Charliese lost herself in the process of getting ready to go out on the town.
    The
woman in her bubbled with pleasure at the chance of dressing up. The woman in
her who was going out on a date with Tom nervously looked forward to being
alone with him. The woman who knew Jared was out there waiting for her trembled
in fear that the last night she might live would be spent with the man she fell
in love with.
    Charlise
slid the slinky black dress over her head. The material caressed her curves as
it slid down her shape. She ran her hands along her hips.
    Spritzing
the air with the scent of jasmine, she walked into the cloud and let it settle
on her. She sniffed and smiled. Perfect.
    She
strapped on the flirty heels and walked down the stairs one step at a time. She
hadn't worn a pair of high heels this high in a year and coupled with the
nerves about her first "pretend" date with Tom, she was a little
unsteady.
    She
paused on the last step as Tom greeted her with a wolf whistle from the
entryway.
    "My
God," he whispered.
    Tom's
gaze dropped to her shoes and began to slowly climb her body. Heat followed
wherever his gaze fell on her. She wanted to fan herself.
    Tom's
hot eyes lingered at her hips and breasts. The muscle along his jaw twitched.
"You look beautiful."
    "Thank
you. I wish…" She tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. "Oh Tom, you
have no idea the thoughts going through my head."
    A
sense of freedom flooded her. She grinned and twirled a finger in the air.
"Let me see you."
    He
chuckled, holding his arms out to his sides and turning around. Decked out in
navy blue slacks, matching blazer, white dress shirt, and a red patterned tie,
Tom was devastatingly sexy. Her whole body vibrated and her hands itched to
reach out and touch him all over. "Oh, yes, you'll do. You'll definitely
do, P.I. man."
    Tom's
smile softened and his gaze grew intent the way she was getting used to seeing
right before he kissed her. Her gaze ate him up as she approached him. A swish
of her hips gave off a sexy feel with the ultra-sheerness of the dress. The
knowledge that Tom enjoyed the way the dress hung on