Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
He took a sip of his coffee, dark, no sugar, the way he’d told her he liked it, and the doorbell rang.
Obviously excited, she rushed out of the room to greet her sibling. He put his coffee cup on the counter and followed at a slower pace. She skidded to a stop in her socks and opened the door.
“Dan!” she exclaimed as she opened the door, and a gaunt-looking man walked in, taking Jared off guard. He wore ripped, old pants and a faded T-shirt and looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.
“Are you okay?” Charlotte asked him, pulling him into a hug.
He patted her briefly on the back and stepped away. “Fine.”
“Well, come in. Dan, this is Jared Sterling. Jared, my brother, Dan.”
Jared extended his hand and the other man gave him a limp-wrist tug. “Yeah, hi.”
“Come sit so we can catch up! Do you want coffee?”
Jared stepped up beside her. “I think he’s jittery enough,” he said, whispering in her ear.
She stiffened but gave him a curt nod. “How about water?” she offered her brother, who was looking around the expansive suite she’d booked so the twins had room when they stayed over.
He shook his head. “Nah. Nice digs, though.” He nodded as he checked out the view.
“Did you get my new address I texted you? I’ll be moving in soon.”
Dan nodded. “Swanky address. How many bedrooms?” he asked, his eyes lit with interest.
“F… Three,” she said, changing the truth.
Jared knew enough to go along. “But the girls use them and if they share one, the other is Charlotte’s office.” He didn’t want this strung-out man to get any ideas of moving in. In fact, he didn’t want him anywhere near Charlotte or the girls. Obviously, she’d decided the same thing and didn’t mention the extra bedroom if the girls shared theirs.
Dan ran a hand through his clearly unwashed hair. “Charlotte, huh? Are you fancy now, Charlie?” he asked, gesturing around the apartment.
She shook her head, her shoulders drooping. “Jared just likes my full name.”
She was deflating with every negative insinuation out of his mouth. “We were just getting ready for the day. What are you doing here so early?”
He shifted from foot to foot. “I need a couple of Benjamins and I figured you wouldn’t mind helping out your brother.”
“You need money,” she said, her voice suddenly dull. “Don’t you have a job?”
“I got laid off. You know how it is. Bosses who don’t understand I got other obligations.”
She shook her head. “You mean you don’t understand the idea of being punctual or someone relying on you.”
“No. Besides, I owe people.”
“Dammit!” Stomping into the bedroom, she quickly returned with her purse. She dug through the small bag and came up with her wallet, pulling out the bills inside. “Here. I went to the bank yesterday. This is all I have. Don’t come back for more.”
“You’re the best, Charlie.”
Jared glared at the man. “Read the room!” He turned her brother around to face him. “Your sister was excited to have you come visit but instead of talking or asking her how she is after not seeing her for God knows how long, you come to grub money.”
Dan turned and snatched the money out of her hand. “Who is this loser, Charlie? Never mind. I don’t care. Thanks, sis.” He started for the exit and Charlotte let him go.
The door slammed closed behind him.
Face flushed, she spun to face him. “Well, that was humiliating.”
He reached out a hand and touched her warm cheek. “You aren’t responsible for your brother’s behavior. But, Charlotte, you can’t keep bailing him out.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “He probably owes dangerous people money and I don’t want that blowback on you!”
Her eyes grew wide at his loud tone.
He’d raised his voice and caught himself immediately. “Sorry. It’s just, the last time someone lost their mind thanks to drugs, my mother was killed. And I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”
She met his gaze and extended her hand. He clasped his palm in hers. “Let’s sit and talk.”
He nodded and she led him to the couch where they settled side by side. He knew he was about to tell her the most painful part of his life. The one he pretended he’d gotten over but instead he’d just pushed to the back of his mind.
But if he could share with anyone, it was Charlotte.
Chapter Eleven
Charlie took Jared’s hand in hers. “I know your mom died. How old were you?”
“Thirteen. Dad was on a business trip. Aiden and I were at sleepaway camp. Dex was at football camp. Fallon was home sleeping, and Remy was supposed to have dinner with Mom. There was a girl he liked and he blew off hanging out with our mother.”
“So she was basically alone in the house?”