“Only one,” she replied softly.
If he thought her grinding on him was torture, this was even worse. Sitting there alone in the apartment was going to be hell. They needed to do something, anything, but what was coming to mind.
“It’s getting late. Why don’t we turn in, and tomorrow I will take you out like I had promised.” Seth needed to distance himself before he pulled her back onto his lap.
“Really?” she asked. Her eyes shined and her smile returned. “What are we going to do?”
“How about a carriage ride in the park?” It was something which wouldn’t require her walking much.
“It’s snowing right now. And I know for a fact, they give them almost all night long.”
“You’re saying you want to go now?” he asked.
“Are you really that tired?” He shook his head. Charlene said, “If you’d rather go back and finish the movie, we can do that instead.”
Seth laughed. “Carriage ride it is.” He turned and called out to Connor. “Looks like we’re going out. You know what to do.”
“Yes sir,” Connor replied and left the room again.
“You mean he’s coming with us?” Charlene asked.
“Until Sal says all clear, Connor goes anywhere you go.”
Charlene flopped back against the couch. He noticed her bottom lip stuck out slightly. “Actually, I am tired. Maybe we can do the carriage ride another time.”
Although he could easily convince her to change her mind, it was for the best. The snow was coming down, it was cold and the last thing she needed was to slip on ice and reinjure herself.
“I promise, we’ll do it soon.”
Charlene got up and hobbled off towards the spare room. He heard her say softly, “I’ll add it to the list.”
He didn’t follow her, because he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kissing her goodnight. What came after, was what he needed to stay clear of. Seth needed to keep focused and he was anything but when he was around Charlene.
One sweet distraction after another.
Connor came back into the room and looked around. “Change of plans?”
Seth nodded. “I’m going to my room, but if you hear anything from Sal, wake me,” he ordered.
“Sal is supposed to meet with Sheen tomorrow.”
Seth cocked a brow. “And I’m just learning of this?”
“I thought it best not to discuss it in front of Miss Kittredge.”
Wise choice. Seth didn’t need her to be stressed over something she had no control over. “Good. Why don’t we go to the kitchen, get some coffee and you can tell me everything.”
They spent the next half hour reviewing Sheen. Most of it Seth could tell himself, but others not. “Married eight times?”
“Yes. And each wife said the same thing. He was a violent man.”
His gut twisted in a knot. If he could hurt women that he supposedly loved, Seth knew Sheen’s threat wasn’t something just to scare Charlene. The bastard would act on it. Unless we stop him first.
“I want to be at that meeting,” Seth stated.
“I thought you had plans with Miss Kittredge?” Connor asked.
“They’re off.” It wasn’t like he hadn’t changed plans on her before. Not that this was a habit he wanted to start, but surely she’d understand. I’m doing this for her.