FOREVER MINE by MICHELLE LEE Page B

it easy for him to work on them both.  All he needs now is patients.
     

CHAPTER 19
     
     
     
    Charlie wakes up to the blaring alarm.  Her head feels like there is a drummer boy in it playing “wipeout”.  Moaning she rolls out of bed and drags her sorry ass to the shower.  She washes her body and starts on her hair noticing Brody has stocked the bathroom with her strawberry shampoo and conditioner.  Smiling, she starts to feel better and better as she showers.  By the time she exits the bathroom she feels right as rain. 
     
     
     
    She decides on a white skirt suit.  The light weight jacket has black trim on the lapels and around the edge of the ¾ sleeves that house two black buttons.  The white pencil skirt is straight to her knees with a slit up the back that could almost be inappropriate.  She finished it off with a pair of 3 inch black heels.
     
     
     
    Pulling her curly hair up on her head in a nice twist, letting a few tendrils fall around her face, she is ready for her makeup.  Appling some liner and mascara to her lids and lashes and some gloss to her lips she heads out the door.  Careful at the top of the stairs she heads down to the mouth watering aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
     
     
     
    Once in the kitchen she stops dead in her tracks when she sees Brody in his work suit.  She stops staring long enough to make sure her tongue isn’t literally hanging out of her mouth.  She takes in his tailored dark blue shirt. It hugs his wide shoulders, stretches across his impressive chest, and disappears into his slim washboard waist.  His grey pants drape his long lean legs in absolute perfection, accentuating his ass.  The tie he is wearing is just a tie, nothing that can compete with the rest of the outfit.  Except that it seems to be an arrow pointing to the secrets Brody hides in his pants. 
     
     
     
    Blushing, because she has been caught looking at Brody’s crotch, Charlie finally looks up and says, “Wow, you clean up nice.”
     
     
     
    “Thanks.  You look beautiful.” He sounds a little breathless.
     
     
     
    “This old thing” she waves the complement away.  Absently, she runs her hands down her hips, over her thighs and back smoothing the material.
     
     
     
    “Coffee?”
     
     
     
    “Yes, please.”
     
     
     
    Brody hands her a cup of mocha café cappuccino.  “Mmmm, this is a very nice surprise.”  She takes another sip.
     
     
     
    “Yeah well, I am full of surprises.”  He turns his back to make a plain cup for himself.  “I was thinking I should take you to work and pick you up when you’re done.” Turning around he looks at her waiting for an answer.
     
     
     
    “No, I appreciate the thought, but you cannot be with me 24/7.  I need to remember all the training I’ve had, I can’t be helpless anymore.  I promised myself when this day came, and I knew it would, that I wouldn’t let Michael take from me anymore.” 
     
     
     
    “I’m not suggesting you hide, just be extra cautious.  I’m just talking about riding in together.”
     
     
     
    I don’t know how to explain to Brody how important it is for me to not change my life too much.  “He has taken so much already, I have worked really hard getting to this point in my life.  Being independent does not translate into stupid.  I will still be careful.  I will take in my surroundings and listen to my instincts.  I won’t go anywhere unnecessary, alone.”
     
     
     
    He walks over and takes my cup, and wraps me up in his arms, “Ok, I get it.  I’m sorry.  I’m just so scared I won’t be there when you need me.”  Breathing into the side of my neck, he says, “You have to stay safe.  I have big plans for you.”  Sighing he steps away from me.    Alright, I’m leaving; you call if you need me.  I will be home around 7pm.  I have to fix that virus in accounting; the one that was downloaded from the porn site.”  Shaking his head he kisses my forehead and