Charlie's Angel by Aurora Rose Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

red, and back again.
    Charles was in a quandary. He had no doubt what Roxie had meant, but he took her words to mean “Is your cock inside me or not?”
    He chuckled. “I’m in.” He raised his hand and gently brushed a stray tendril from her cheek. Roxie leaned forward half an inch, and he realized they’d probably battle for control over the other. He was sure to win a good deal of the time, but once in a while, he could be the loser, too. He swiveled and, pulling her along with him, headed toward the diner. “You’ll definitely need my explanation as to why you’re late.”
    Roxie grunted in acknowledgement, and when they entered Woody’s, the boss waited with crossed arms.
    “So?” he growled, looking from one to the other.
    Charlie observed her face as she hesitated, frowned and finally came to a decision. “I was almost hit by a semi, and Charles took the time to push me out of its way.”
    She tugged her arm free without looking at him.
    His hand felt empty, despite her nearness. The diner was packed with patrons laughing, talking, and eating, but all that mattered was Roxie.
    The boss shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not willing to ask questions about semis and pulling you out of danger on your break.” To Charles, he said, “Thanks,” shook his hand firmly and ambled back into the kitchen.
    “I’ll pick you up at seven at your place,” Roxie told him with a knowing look and flashing him a triumphant smile.
    Quickly, he gave her his address in Malibu before she scooted back to work.
    Charlie didn’t know what to think as his gaze fell upon her delicious backside. He figured the best way to keep an eye on her was to seat himself at a booth, order a burger and fries and keep his cool without thinking too much about how he would rather be helping himself to something else. Someone else, he corrected.
    * * * *
    Somehow, she still managed to elude him. Charlie ate a fantastically juicy burger with cheese and bacon and the best fries he’d ever had. He must have licked his fingers five times before it occurred to him that he hadn’t seen Roxie in several minutes.
    Gerry yelled, “Eighty-nine up!”
    Uneasy, Charlie rose and asked the older man, “I haven’t seen Roxie in a few minutes. How is she?”
    The older man eyed him over the counter and smiled to himself. “She slipped out the back ‘bout five minutes ago, muttering she hated to be followed. Guess she needed time off to take care of something.”
    Charlie frowned and pressed his lips together. Roxie had given him the slip? Why? Her action confirmed his fear that she was hiding something.
    The kitchen doors opened, and Gerry came around and slapped him good-naturedly on the back. “I hired her a couple months ago, but she’s already doubled my business in that time.” Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial level, he said, “She’s got smarts, that woman. If she ran off on you, she’s got a damn good reason.” With one more hearty clap on Charlie’s back, he returned to the kitchen.
    Cursing under his breath, Charlie figured he had two options. He could call it quits for the night and return to his rented condo, or he could ask Gerry for Roxie’s address and pick her up for their date.
    “Roxie and I have a date,” he told the boss through the space over the counter. “Would you happen to know her address?”
    The man smiled again. “You’re new here, aren’t you? If folks run off, they mean to stay hidden, ‘sides which, I doubt the address she’s got on her application is the one she’s living at. Best not to ask too many questions in L.A.”
    “Thanks, that’s good advice.”
    Knowing he was probably much too late, he darted into the street, up a block, and into the dead-end alley behind the diner. He didn’t see Roxie. His heart was pounding madly, and the heat was still overwhelming.
    Why had Roxie made such an impression on him in her candy pink uniform? Charlie opted to return to his condo. Would Roxie show up