Free Midnight (McKenna Chronicles Book 1) by Elizabeth Miller Page B

welcoming to
cold and detached, spiking my anger. “You need to figure your shit out Mr.
President. Don’t toy with me,” I say, full of sarcasm.  “Go play with
Raquel if that’s how you operate, but not with me. I don’t do drama, and
frankly that’s all this has been.”
    “I shouldn’t have
come in here, I know that. I was telling you the truth when I said I’m drawn to
you on a level I don’t understand.” His eyes confirm his sincerity. “I’m not
trying to hurt you, Charlie. I can’t stay away from you and I don’t understand
that. I’ve not encountered feelings like this before.”
    I pause, knowing
his thoughts are exactly my own. I can’t stay away from him; I know I should,
but for some unfathomable reason I can’t.
    “Well, you seem to
be doing a good job of reeling me in and casting me back out. That’s not okay
with me. How’s that for an understanding?” I rush through the words as the last
remnants of anger course through my blood. Staring into his eyes to make sure
I’m clear, I softly say, “Don’t do this again, Colin. If you don’t want to hurt
me, then you need to stop offering a glimpse of what it’s like to be with you
only to push away immediately.”
    He nods just at
the moment voices enter the room. I slip off his jacket, handing it to him. Our
fingers touch during the transition, and the sharp unexpected pang of lust,
desire, and whatever else the hell it is travels sharply up my arm, warming me
everywhere.
    “I feel it too,”
he whispers, finding my eyes. His are confused, bewildered almost, and for a
second I understand him. I’m the unknown factor. He had his life planned out, a
very specific path laid before him and not anywhere on his road to travel did
Charlie Carter exist. Yet here I am, and his struggle is one of diversion.
Should he divert from the path he meticulously planned or digress for an
unknown draw toward a stranger, someone so unlike anyone he’s met before? I’m
not anywhere near the social category of the women within his circle, further
complicating his struggle.
    “Colin, there you
are.” Raquel’s voice is smooth, high-society syrup. When I glance toward her I
notice Evan hovering at the outskirts of the room. He must have led her to
Colin. “Oh, I didn’t expect to find you with someone. Who is your little
friend?” she asks as she not-so-subtly checks me out, unable to hide the
belittling tone in her voice.
    I respond before
Colin does, “No one of your concern.” I lift the corner of my mouth in a small
smile as I take in her shocked expression. Turning to Colin, I note his mouth
is lifted in a similar smirk.
    “Thanks for the
history lesson.” And with that I head out the door to find Molly and her boys,
bypassing Evan without so much as a glance. He catches up to me clutching my
shoulder in the empty hallway.
    “Charlie, I’m
sorry . . .”
    “What is it with
everyone and their I’m sorrys ?” I ask him, exasperated. “And exactly why
are you sorry? For telling Colin where I was in the first place or
taking Raquel back in to save him from me?” Evan is another thing I don’t
understand. What is his role in the play I seem to be cast in?
    “I’m trying to
help him and you, Charlie. It may not seem that way, but I am. Colin’s my best
friend and I want to see him happy.”
    “And I’m the key
to his happiness? Is that what you’re saying?” He doesn’t respond so I keep
going. “Listen, Evan, I don’t have casual relationships with men and I’m not
interested in starting one now. Don’t push him to me because you think it might be good for him; try to think about me too as you map out Colin’s path. I won’t
let him play with me. I know for certain I deserve more than that.”
    Evan’s eyes widen
and without another word I slip back to the party, side-stepping Tim who’s
waiting near the entrance, hoping to get swallowed back up by the crowd to
become invisible.

 
     
FIVE
     
     
     
    FOR THE