Free Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson Page B

from the wood stove. The curtains were open, revealing the steadily falling snow. The smell of burning wood lingered in the air, combining with the faint scent of Charlie’s aftershave and the mouthwatering aromas coming from the kitchen.
    “Here, let me take your coat.”
    “Thanks.” Kendra slipped her coat off and then leaned down to take off her boots as well. After she set them by the door, she turned and asked, “Do you need help with anything?”
    “I think everything is set. The chicken just needs to cook for a few more minutes.” Charlie draped her coat over the side of a chair to dry and looked over at her, a sudden look of concern crossing his face. “You aren’t a vegetarian, are you?”
    A giggle escaped her. “No, I’m not a vegetarian.”
    “Good.” Clearly relieved, he started toward the kitchen, glancing back as though making sure she was following him. “Can I get you something to drink?”
    “Just some water would be great. Thanks.” She slid onto a stool by the kitchen counter as Charlie walked behind it and retrieved a glass from a cabinet. After he filled it with ice and water, he set it in front of her. “You know, you really didn’t have to go to all of this trouble.”
    “It wasn’t any trouble.” Charlie lifted the lid off the pan on the stove and stirred. “Every time I feel like I need to get away from civilization, I forget one very important thing.”
    “What’s that?”
    “I like people.”
    Kendra grinned. “I know what you mean.”
    Charlie replaced the lid on the pan and looked up at her, his blue eyes direct. “So you said you’re planning on staying up here for a couple of weeks?”
    “Maybe longer.” Kendra shrugged. She imagined that between the incident at her concert and her sudden disappearance, her name was already being splashed all over the news. Charlie didn’t seem to know anything about her reasons for being here, so she kept her answer neutral. “I was actually thinking about hiding out here for a while so I can work on some songs for my next album. It seems like I never have any time to write anymore.”
    “Do you like to write your own songs?”
    Kendra’s smile was instant, a dimple flashing in her cheek. “I love it. It’s my favorite part of what I do.”
    Charlie smiled in response. “You must be good at it. I can hardly turn on the radio anymore without hearing you sing to me.”
    “Really?” Kendra studied the man across from her, amused by his choice of words. “Do you like it when I sing to you?”
    Charlie laughed. “I guess I do.”
    Before Kendra could respond, a phone rang. Charlie pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and glanced at the caller ID. He looked at Kendra apologetically. “Excuse me for a minute.”
    Kendra nodded, her eyes dropping to stare at her water glass.
    “Hey, Amy.” Charlie’s greeting was warm, and Kendra found herself envious of the woman on the other end. What would it be like to have a man like Charlie greet her with that same friendly, familiar tone on a regular basis?
    He was quiet for a minute and then spoke into the phone once more. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure I’m there, but I can’t really talk right now. Can I call you back later?” He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “Okay. Bye.”
    Charlie put his phone back in his pocket before looking back at Kendra. “Sorry about that.”
    “That’s okay,” Kendra said. Then she surprised herself by asking, “Was that your girlfriend checking up on you?”
    “No, I don’t have a girlfriend.” A look of vulnerability flashed in his eyes but quickly vanished. He busied himself at the stove for a minute, and then his eyes met hers once more. “That was actually my sister. She’s trying to plan a big anniversary party for my parents next year.”
    “Really?” Kendra felt her cheeks heating, and she told herself she didn’t have any reason to be embarrassed. After all, it was a normal curiosity for her to wonder if he was