Read Online The Charlton Affair by MJ Doherty - Free Book Online Page B

seduce your clients’ wives. 
    Phoebe beat her to it.
    She was clearly trying to sound casual, but it didn’t come out that way when she said “Roman talks about you sometimes. He’d love to set you up with some of the girls he knows.”
    “I don’t like being set up. I prefer to choose the women I spend time with.” Charlie replied, trying not to sound as annoyed as she felt about the issue.
    “Do you choose…many?” Phoebe asked, clearly embarrassed but with a determined look on her face.
    Charlie let out a small self-deprecating laugh before replying, “No. Too busy I guess. I don’t seem to have much luck with women anyway. They never stay around for very long.”
    Charlie couldn’t believe she was revealing the most personal details of her life to a woman she barely knew. Despite knowing she was in dangerous waters, she couldn’t stop herself.
    “What about you?” Charlie asked softly.
    Phoebe blushed deeply, admitting, “Um, actually…I’m…married.” Phoebe looked down.
    “Your husband isn’t here tonight?” Charlie probed, already knowing the answer.
    “He’s gone to Timor for work for a week.” Phoebe mumbled.
    “You must be lonely without him?” Charlie pressed, the question in her soft voice betraying her interest.
    Looking up, Phoebe stared into Charlie’s blue-grey eyes again, “No. Not really,” she said firmly, her hands clenched in nervous tension.
    Returning Phoebe’s stare, Charlie’s heart beat rapidly as she leaned a little closer and responded almost inaudibly, “I see.”
    And she did see. Phoebe’s passionate interest was very plain. Charlie had no idea how Phoebe had come to be so interested in her, a person she had only met twice. She was even more puzzled by the intensity of her reciprocity. In fact, nothing at all about the situation made any sense. The only thing she knew was that it was wrong and she needed to walk away as soon as possible. The problem was she didn’t feel she could.
    A partygoer attempting to access the cheeses jostled Phoebe and she spilled her half-full glass of champagne on Charlie’s little black dress.
    “Shit!” Charlie exclaimed, shocked at the sudden cold splash against her upper thigh. She quickly grabbed a serviette from the table and stopped the splash from running any further down her leg.
    Phoebe apologized profusely.
    “Don’t worry, it wasn’t your fault. Besides, I don’t think it’ll stain.” Charlie replied, trying to make Phoebe feel better.
    “It might not stain, but you’ll smell like stale champagne if you don’t rinse it out soon.” Phoebe said.
    Repulsed by the thought of smelling like someone else’s stale drink for the rest of the evening, Charlie replied, “You’re right. I can’t remember where Roman’s laundry is. Do you know?”
    Grabbing Charlie’s hand, Phoebe smiled and said, “It’s this way.”
    Phoebe led her through the group of guests toward the kitchen.
    Charlie’s hand felt perfectly natural within Phoebe’s grasp. Alive to the smoothness of Phoebe’s skin and the sensation of her gentle but firm grip, her feelings gave rise to all sorts of thoughts. Too soon, they arrived in the laundry and Charlie reluctantly let go.
    Charlie watched as Phoebe found clean washcloths in a cupboard. She was graceful even when performing mundane tasks. After soaking a cloth, Phoebe knelt without hesitation and tended to Charlie’s dress and stockings. Charlie desperately tried to keep her eyes on the top of Phoebe’s head to avoid staring down her dress at her now obvious cleavage. She was not very successful.
    Gently, Phoebe dampened the material and used a dry cloth to soak up the residue, her hand brushing against Charlie’s leg as she worked. The action was extremely personal and at the same time business-like in its efficiency. Charlie’s body was electrified by the touch. She struggled not to tremble. Phoebe didn’t look up. If she had, she would have seen the desire in Charlie’s