Read Online Scottish Werebear: A Second Chance: A BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Scottish Werebears Book 6) by Lorelei Moone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lorelei Moone
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on. Meanwhile, I'll call Jamie and Eric."
James nodded. Time was of the essence.
Chapter Ten
It was almost noon when Charlie's phone rang again.
Her chat with Ella had helped somewhat to calm her down, as had the cup of Chamomile tea she'd ordered to counter her anxiety. But the sound of her phone had startled her all over again.
This time, it
was
James.
Relief washed over her as she answered.
"Hey, James!" she said.
"Charlie," he sounded curt, putting her on edge again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?" he said.
Charlie's heart started to beat faster. "I don't know. You sound... Anyway, what's up?" she stammered.
"I need to see you," James said.
That was exactly what she wanted as well, but now she was certain. Something was definitely wrong. She could hear it in his voice, and she'd already felt it all morning. If this was just paranoia, she was about to lose her mind.
"Okay... Where?" she asked.
"Marble Arch. Half an hour?"
"Sure. I'll be th-" the line had gone dead before Charlie had had the chance to finish her sentence. Had he just hung up on her? What the hell was going on?
Charlie packed up her things, paid for the tea and headed straight for the tube station down the road from her hotel. Half an hour to get to Marble Arch should be more than enough time. Still, she caught herself impatiently tapping her fingers on her shoulder bag as she waited for the next train to arrive. Time moved at a crawl, and the otherwise reasonable four-minute wait for her train felt endless.
Finally, it arrived, and she got on. It was overcrowded, and she found herself stuck in the entrance area with no hope of getting a seat.
Still, she was glad to finally be making progress towards her destination. She had to get there on time and figure out what had happened with James to make him sound so tense. And of course, she had to clear the air between them. If she wanted a chance to move forward, there should be no more secrets.
A change and another crowded train later, she finally arrived at Marble Arch. Once Charlie made her way up to street level, she took a moment to find her bearings. It was impossible to miss the famous white landmark across the street.
There was no sign of James yet, so she waited. It was a clear winter's day, but the sun didn't do much to warm her. It had to be below freezing, and the coat that had kept her comfortable at the cafe had lost its efficacy. She hadn't even thought to keep a pair of gloves out.
"Charlie," a voice made her jump.
She turned, and there he was. James.
"Hi," she mumbled while rubbing her hands together and blowing into them in an attempt to warm up.
From one day to the next, his whole demeanor had changed. He'd gone from hot to icy cold.
"Tell me about your work at the Edinburgh Herald," he began.
Her heart sank, and her lower lip started to shake. So that's what this was. Just when she'd planned to tell him everything, he'd found out first. No wonder he was angry.
"That's exactly what I had wanted to talk to you about," she whispered.
His dark expression barely changed, and why would it? If she were in his position, any explanation she could offer now wouldn't convince her either.
"I should have told you yesterday," Charlie said while keeping her eyes fixed on the ground between them.
"I just need to know one thing," James began.
Charlie looked up but immediately averted her gaze again after making eye contact. As cold and angry as he sounded, he didn't look it. His eyes were filled with emotion, but there was no anger in them. He looked hurt more than anything else.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Did you submit anything yet?"
"What?" Charlie blurted out. "I would never! Sure, I used certain perks of the job to get out of the office and come here to see you. But I haven't reported back. In fact, after sabotaging my colleague's chances at a story by guiding you out the side entrance yesterday, I'm not even sure I still
have
a job."
Tears filled
James nodded. Time was of the essence.
Chapter Ten
It was almost noon when Charlie's phone rang again.
Her chat with Ella had helped somewhat to calm her down, as had the cup of Chamomile tea she'd ordered to counter her anxiety. But the sound of her phone had startled her all over again.
This time, it
was
James.
Relief washed over her as she answered.
"Hey, James!" she said.
"Charlie," he sounded curt, putting her on edge again.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?" he said.
Charlie's heart started to beat faster. "I don't know. You sound... Anyway, what's up?" she stammered.
"I need to see you," James said.
That was exactly what she wanted as well, but now she was certain. Something was definitely wrong. She could hear it in his voice, and she'd already felt it all morning. If this was just paranoia, she was about to lose her mind.
"Okay... Where?" she asked.
"Marble Arch. Half an hour?"
"Sure. I'll be th-" the line had gone dead before Charlie had had the chance to finish her sentence. Had he just hung up on her? What the hell was going on?
Charlie packed up her things, paid for the tea and headed straight for the tube station down the road from her hotel. Half an hour to get to Marble Arch should be more than enough time. Still, she caught herself impatiently tapping her fingers on her shoulder bag as she waited for the next train to arrive. Time moved at a crawl, and the otherwise reasonable four-minute wait for her train felt endless.
Finally, it arrived, and she got on. It was overcrowded, and she found herself stuck in the entrance area with no hope of getting a seat.
Still, she was glad to finally be making progress towards her destination. She had to get there on time and figure out what had happened with James to make him sound so tense. And of course, she had to clear the air between them. If she wanted a chance to move forward, there should be no more secrets.
A change and another crowded train later, she finally arrived at Marble Arch. Once Charlie made her way up to street level, she took a moment to find her bearings. It was impossible to miss the famous white landmark across the street.
There was no sign of James yet, so she waited. It was a clear winter's day, but the sun didn't do much to warm her. It had to be below freezing, and the coat that had kept her comfortable at the cafe had lost its efficacy. She hadn't even thought to keep a pair of gloves out.
"Charlie," a voice made her jump.
She turned, and there he was. James.
"Hi," she mumbled while rubbing her hands together and blowing into them in an attempt to warm up.
From one day to the next, his whole demeanor had changed. He'd gone from hot to icy cold.
"Tell me about your work at the Edinburgh Herald," he began.
Her heart sank, and her lower lip started to shake. So that's what this was. Just when she'd planned to tell him everything, he'd found out first. No wonder he was angry.
"That's exactly what I had wanted to talk to you about," she whispered.
His dark expression barely changed, and why would it? If she were in his position, any explanation she could offer now wouldn't convince her either.
"I should have told you yesterday," Charlie said while keeping her eyes fixed on the ground between them.
"I just need to know one thing," James began.
Charlie looked up but immediately averted her gaze again after making eye contact. As cold and angry as he sounded, he didn't look it. His eyes were filled with emotion, but there was no anger in them. He looked hurt more than anything else.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Did you submit anything yet?"
"What?" Charlie blurted out. "I would never! Sure, I used certain perks of the job to get out of the office and come here to see you. But I haven't reported back. In fact, after sabotaging my colleague's chances at a story by guiding you out the side entrance yesterday, I'm not even sure I still
have
a job."
Tears filled
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