“Most definitely. I really needed this tonight. Thank you so much.”
He felt her relax against him as she rested her head on his shoulder. I think I needed this just as much. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.” He tightened his hold slightly and she snuggled closer. Charles had surprised himself tonight as well.
The fireworks were over and they sat quietly. He didn’t want to move. Rosslyn’s cell phone rang and, in a panic, she searched her purse and pulled it out quickly. “Dad, is everything okay?” Charles could feel as well as see her distress. He placed a hand on her back to let her know he was there. “Oh, that’s good. I was worried. But I promise I’ll call tomorrow morning. Maybe Mom will want to talk then. I love you, Dad.” Then she ended the call.
That wasn’t a normal response for a parent calling. Not at this age at least. “Is everything okay? Do you need to go?’
Rosslyn nodded. “I usually call my Dad every night. He was worried about me.” With a sigh she added, “That’s not entirely true. We speak every night because my mother is ill. All we have is each other to lean on when things are difficult.”
That explained the sadness he’s seen in her eyes. It had returned. “I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“Thanks. But you really don’t want to hear about my—”
“I do. If it will help, that is.” Charles meant it too.
“My mother has Parkinson’s and is having more and more complications. My Dad said she had a bad day today, and I . . . I wish I could be there to help him.”
“Do you want me to take you now?” Rosslyn looked at him as though he was joking. But he wasn’t. “I’m serious. If you want we can leave right now.”
“Thank you, Charles, but all he needed was to talk for a few minutes. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Besides, I can’t travel back and forth every weekend.”
“Too far?”
“Too expensive. That’s what I’m doing here in the city. I’m working to help pay my mother’s medical bills.”
God. And I thought you might be . . . Damn I’m such an asshole.“It sounds like it’s not only hard on your father.”
“I guess not. But I’d do just about anything to make it easier on them.”
Here they sat—Rosslyn driven by doing good and Charles driven by revenge. Could they be any different? Hell, this woman is too good for me. That didn’t mean he was cutting ties. If anything, with what he’d just learned, he needed to make sure she wasn’t hurt in the crossfire. He somehow had to keep her out of it all. That plan was going to take some time, and some help, to coordinate.
“It sounds like you’ve had a big day. Why don’t I take you home so you can get some rest?” He could tell she was mentally exhausted.
“I am kind of tired. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.” He got up and extended a hand to her. They were quiet as they walked back to his vehicle. He had no idea what she must be going through. Charles hated saying he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but in a way, it was the truth. He might have had a lot of challenges, but lack of money wasn’t one of them. He really didn’t know much about Parkinson’s. That was going to change. If he was going to be there for her, he needed to know what she was facing. From what Rosslyn said, it didn’t sound promising. There were only a few things money couldn’t buy. But maybe he could help ease her burden.
If she’ll even accept my help.Once she found out who he was, probably not.
When he pulled in front of her building he kept the engine running. Getting out and walking her inside was asking for this night to take a different direction. If it had been someone else, someone he wasn’t so fond of, he’d go for it. But Rosslyn was the most genuinely sweet person he’d met in a long time. She wasn’t chasing a grand dream wanting to live in the lap of luxury. What drove her came from the very core of everything that was good in this world. Damn. There should be more people like her.
Charles reached over and covered her hand with his. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
Rosslyn nodded. “Unfortunately there are things one can’t change. I’ll call my father first thing in the morning and hopefully my mother will be up to talk on the phone.”
“Would it be okay for me to call and check on you?” Charles couldn’t believe he asked that. Her eyes glistened, and he was afraid she’d burst out crying. He wasn’t good at dealing with tears. Hell, he avoided them like the plague. And now he felt like shit for upsetting her. Fuck. “I’m sorry. I was only trying to be—”
“Nice.” Rosslyn sniffed. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
Changing the subject, he said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m all cheesecaked-out. I know a place that has the best wieners around. Do you like wieners?”
Rosslyn laughed and didn’t let him off the hook. “Well Charlie, call me tomorrow, and I’ll let you know. Now I better get upstairs before you deliver another horrendous pick-up line.”
Charles laughed. “Oh, trust me, they get worse.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Before she got out of the car, he leaned over and kissed her tenderly. Looking into her eyes he said, “If you need to talk, I’m only a call away.”
“Same here.” Then she got out of the car, and he waited until she was inside the secured building.
As he pulled away he couldn’t help but laugh to himself. Do you like wieners? Really classy. But he loved the fact she picked up on the play on words and gave it right back. Maybe she wasn’t as fragile as he thought. Which in this city was a good thing. Hell, working for Maxwell, it was a requirement.
But that employment is short-lived.