Shattered Hearts

Chapter 21

"Sure I'll call if there are any problems," Louis told Charlotte's brother for the umpteenth time. He'd been kind enough to drop her off but his motives were obvious. Having invited himself in, Sam had made some not too subtle comments as he'd surveyed the place. Louis knew a warning when he heard it.

"Right," Sam said shoving his hands in his pockets. "I guess I'll leave you guys to it." Behind his back, Charlotte rolled her eyes and Louis stifled a grin.

"I'll look after her," he said. "I always did."

"Yeah, I guess that's true," Sam said visibly relaxing. "But you can't blame me for being concerned."

"No, of course not." Shame he hadn't shown the same concern when she was with her ex-husband. However, he opened the door, resisting the temptation to shove Sam through it. "And I'll make sure Lottie's home before Nick drops her son off."

Sam nodded. "Okay, I'll shut up now. See you, Charlotte."

"Goodbye brother," she said a smile playing on her lips as he closed the door behind him. "Sorry about the interrogation but he worries about me."

"I'm sure he has good cause to," Louis said pointedly and Charlotte scowled. "I just mean about Nick and everything."

Charlotte sighed as she threw her bag down. "I hope we're not going to spend the weekend dissecting my marriage?"

"Nah I think our time can be better spent."

She bit her lip, trying not to smile. "I'd ask you what you meant but I suspect I wouldn't get a straight answer."

"You suspect wrong."

"I see," she said flushing. She bent down to unzip her bag, taking out her nightclothes and toiletries. "Louis, as much as I enjoy spending time with you I can't make any promises."

"Yeah, I know that. How about we don't talk about it all this heavy stuff? I invited you here so you could relax and have a bit of space. I don't have an agenda."

She frowned, looking at him uncertainly. "Thanks, I appreciate it. I wouldn't want to lead you on though?"

"Let me get you a drink," he said moving into what passed as the kitchen and taking two glasses from the cupboard. Charlotte passed him a bottle of wine that she'd taken from her bag.

"I remember last time you only had spirits."

He opened the bottle filling both glasses. "I did get some wine in, white and red since I don't know which you prefer." He cringed thinking he sounded too eager to please.

"You shouldn't have, but thank you." She took her glass, smiling shyly. "If you don't mind, I'm going to get undressed now."

He swallowed, trying not to read too much into her words. "Undressed?"

"Into my nightclothes." She slowly rolled her eyes. "We are having a sleepover aren't we?"

He cleared his throat. "Lottie, the way you say sleepover, it's kinda de-masculating."

She laughed. "That's not a word, Louis!"

"That's kinda how I feel though."

She raised her glass to her lips. "Well if you don't want to be friends," she said sounding more serious.

"I do want to be friends," he said reaching out to her, his hand resting lightly on her waist. "I mean I spent years trying to convince myself I hated you but I never did."

"Why would you do that?" she asked her hurt clear.

"Because I'd lost the best thing that ever happened to me." She met his eyes before allowing him to pull her into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her thinking she had to realise they were more than friends. However he knew not to push it, she always was stubborn and it was best to let her come around in her own time.