Shattered Hearts

Chapter 15

"What are you doing here Louis?" Charlotte asked not even attempting to keep the exasperation out of her voice. Since she'd told him she wanted nothing to do with him he'd been turning up in the unlikeliest of places, even picking his niece up from kindergarten.

"You told me you had an appointment with your lawyer remember?" Louis said shooting a look at Dale. "When I was collecting Lucy? I thought you might want to go for coffee afterwards or get something to eat?"

She glared at him. "You're acting like a stalker! Don't laugh, it's not funny. I'm stood here with Dale, my lawyer, and he can very well see..."

Beside her, Dale cleared his throat. "I think I'd better leave you guys to it, I've got stuff to catch up in the office." He pulled the door open. "I'll call you later, Charlotte."

"He couldn't get away fast enough," Louis said once Dale was safely out of hearing. "I know we were never that close but still."

Charlotte was momentarily thrown before she saw the diversion tactic for what it was. "He's a busy man," she hissed. And Louis was also a friend of John's. "I don't have time for this either so stop harassing me."

Louis took a step back from her, his mouth dropping open. "I'm not. I asked you when I picked up Lucy if you wanted to get something to eat and you said you were busy." He gave her a crooked smile. "If I recall correctly you specifically told me when and where you were going so what was I supposed to think?"

"I wasn't hinting for you to come and meet me!" She refused to look at him since she probably had been testing just how interested he was on some level. She stood up straighter wishing she was wearing heels. "Look why are you here? You've been back in town for months and no one's seen much of you?"

"Well, come for a drink and I might tell you the story."

She pursed her lips, contemplating him. "I don't think that would be very appropriate under the circumstances. Not after what happened."

He frowned at her. "I don't know what you mean."

"We slept together," she said blushing as she quickly checked no one was passing by. "I'm still a married woman."

"Right, I forgot," he said and she could tell he was trying not to smile. "But fine, if you can't keep your hands to yourself then-"

"Are you kidding me? Don't be so ridiculous. I've got a lot at stake and I don't need you making juvenile comments." She folded her arms across her chest and gave him her best 'angry teacher' face.

Louis held his hands up. "Okay, I'm sorry, you're right. I'm being an asshole, again. But that's kinda why I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?" Her curiosity was piqued now.

"I owe you a big apology," he said shoving his hands in his pockets. "I was way out of line the other day. Why don't we go for a drink instead of standing talking in the street?"

"I guess we could," she said thinking they'd probably draw more attention to themselves hanging around on the sidewalk. "There's a diner just around the corner, we can go there."

                                                                            ~~~

"So your appointment didn't go well?" Louis asked sitting down opposite her as he placed two cups of coffee on the table.

Charlotte let out a sigh. "We're going round in circles. Dale writes to Nick's lawyer, he writes back, they argue over semantics, fire off a few more letters but I'm no further forward."