*Unedited* 

Chapter 7

Standing there in the middle of the parking lot I stared in disbelief at Rio’s retreating back.  I couldn’t believe what happened, or more accurately what didn’t happen.   

I’d seen the look of hunger that simmering in his eyes.  It was a look I was beginning to become intimately familiar with. He was about to kiss me. I know for a fact that he wanted to do it.  But this time, he’d held back and restrained himself. 

He was fighting it.  Fighting the attraction that burned like an inferno between the two of us. 

A hint of a smile curled up at the corner of my lips.  This was proof.  Proof that Rio really does like me more than just a friend.  He wanted me in the way that a man wants a woman.  I could see that so clearly. 

Now, I just have to figure out a way to get him to stop fighting his feelings and admit to himself that he wants me just as much as I want him. 

Turning around I made my way back to the rest of the volunteers and with an extra pep in my step, I continued to help wash cars for the rest of the afternoon.  At the end of the afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the satisfaction I felt from volunteering my time and effort for charity.  I’d never done anything like this before and all in all I really had a good time. 

“Hey there.”

Hearing a new voice, I spun around and came face to face with a petite red head.   

“Howdy,” I replied. 

She came in behind me with the hose and rinsed the area on the can that I’d just scrubbed.  She was quite a bit smaller than myself.  Around five foot two compared to my five foot eight.  Her fire engine red hair was cut short in a stylish sort way.  The front was longer than the back framing her face and really highlighting her emerald green eyes. 

“I’m Ella,” she provided sweetly.  “I haven’t seen you at any of the events before.  Are you new in town?” she asked. 

I chuckled lightly. “Oh, no.  My name is Bailey and this has always been my home, born and raised.  However, this is the first time that I’ve volunteered though.” 

“Ah, that makes sense,” she said.  

 For the next few minutes neither of us said a word, both seemingly deep in our own thoughts. 

After we finished with the car we started to pack up the supplies. We both dropped sponges in the same bucket.  That was when Ella spoke again. “I noticed that you were talking to Rio earlier. You know, he’s a total hottie.”   

The widening grin on my face was inevitable.  “Oh yeah, I know.  Rio is a regular stud in these parts.” That was one way of putting it.

We moved around in unison to back side of the van, picking up brushes and wash cloths.  Over the last half hour we’d managed to develop a good partnership while washing the van.   

“You know that he’s like the county’s most wanted bachelor, don’t you?” 

I only lifted my shoulders, giving her a nonchalant shrug.  I wasn’t surprised to hear that little tidbit of information. First of all, I knew that he was single and secondly, as she’d pointed out earlier, Rio was quite the manly specimen. A total hottie. 

Reaching down, she picked up the bucket filled with all the cleaning supplies.  “Did you know that he offered himself up as one of the bachelors to be auctioned off at the society ball next week?” 

Now that got my undivided attention.  “Really?” 

“Yup.  And all the proceeds are going to Families of Fallen Soldiers.” 

Rio, auctioning himself for a date.  I should have been surprised.  It was so not like him to do something that would cause so much feminine attention.  But the money was for charity.  A charity that obviously meant a lot to him with as much time that he dedicated to it.   

It got me to thinking though.  Rio wouldn’t necessarily like the attention of just any woman bidding on a date, begging for his his attentions.  As his good friend, I could help him out.  I could take away that awkwardness so he could spend an evening enjoying himself..  I could be the one to bid on Rio for a date, purely platonic of course.  

“Ah, I know that look,” Ella said knowingly.  “I’ve wore that same look a few times myself.”  She playfully poked me in the chest and sang, “you have a thing for Rio, don’t you?” 

I shook my head from side to side, denying her accusation.  “No. No.” I said more firmly.  “We’re just friends and that’s it.  We’ll never be more than friends either because I’ve known Rio forever.  He just so happens to be best friends with my brother, Charlie. And”, I laughed at the thought running through my head.  “I remember him being this high,” I held my hand just above my waist and continued.  “He would proudly wear his super man undies with a blue blanket tied around his neck and run through my back yard screaming "up, up and away" burned in my memory.  Hardly anything that would lead to a romance.”   

She laughed and I laughed with her as I fondly recalled that memory.  The last thing I wanted to do was admit my true feelings to a woman that I barely knew, no matter how sincere she seemed.   

Based on my own personal experiences, I found that it was best not to divulge that type of information to other women anyway.  Women were catty and they tended to talk too much.  At this point I couldn’t afford for anything to get back to Rio, namely that I still hoped we would eventually be more than friends.  If he found out then I would bet my best Jimmy Choo pair of shoes that he’d completely cut all ties with me from his life.  

And that could not happen.  Not now.  Our friendship was fragile to say the least.  I only wanted to strengthen it. 

“I can see how that would be hard to build a fling on,” Ella agreed.  After dropping off the supplies at the main table she rounded on me and cocked her hand on hip.  “But seriously, Charlie is your brother?” she asked out of nowhere. 

That stopped me in my tracks.  No one has ever asked me about y brother.  Could she really be interested in Charlie? 

“Well, last time I checked he was my brother,” I told her, taking a stab at my own personal brand of humor.   

She twisted nervously from side to side.  “Why?” I asked her. 

“I’ve never done this before.  I mean asked for help like this.  Okay, this is kind of awkward so I’m just going to have to be blunt with you.” She stopped twisting and started to wring her hands together in front of her.  “Do you think that maybe you hook us up?” she finally asked. 

I could understand her hesitancy. Especially when I think of someone trying to approach Charlie.  He was not the most approachable of people. Downright intimidating was more like it. I was his sister though and used to his burly nature. 

She might be on to something though.  I could really see this working to my advantage.  If I could manage to sidetrack Charlie with someone like Ella, he would be less interested into who and what I was up to. 

Standing there, I eyed the redhead more carefully.  This idea was becoming more appealing by the second.  She was a pretty in a good girl way, not all slutty like most of the women that try to attach themselves to his hip.  She also seemed to have her sensibilities in order which was another plus.  In truth, I could see Ella being really good for Charlie. 

That was it.  I’d made my decision.  “I think I can do that for you.  Are you busy now?”  I asked her.  Thinking the sooner, the better. 

Her face brightened at the possibility.  “No, not at all,” she said excitedly.  You could tell that the woman was about to burst out of her skin.  It struck me then that she must have it as bad for Charlie as I do for Rio.  I could definitely sympathize with the girl. 

I nodded my head to her.  “I like you Ella.  I know he is home now and I think it is high time that my big bro meet someone like you.  So what do you say? Would you like a personal meet and greet with him,” I asked, secretly hopeful for her agreement. 

At first she didn’t say anything.  I thought she might be second guessing herself and I held my breath as I waited for her to say something. 

Thank God I didn’t have to wait long.  She stared me straight in the eyes and had a look of utter determination written all over her pretty face. 

“You know Bailey, I think I’ll take you up on that offer.  Too many times I’ve sat on the sidelines, watching all the gorgeous girls take what they want.  For once, I want to to take the initiative and go after something that I want on my own.  My car is parked over there. I can follow you, right?” 

I wrapped my free hand around her shoulder. “Of course you can.” We started for the parking lot. “Ella, I gotta feeling that you and I are going to be great friends.” 

It wasn’t long before I was pulling into the driveway in front of my house.  Charlie’s Toyota pickup truck  was still sitting by the mailbox at the street so I knew for a fact that he was there.  Ella pulled in behind me and I had to wait a second for her to get out of the car.  As she approached me I noticed the earlier confidence that she’d found was no longer visible.  I sent her a smile trying to reassure her that it was all cool. 

We walked side by side up the walkway to my house.  At the bottom of the steps I started digging around my purse for my keys.  By the time we reached the door I had them in hand and unlocked it.  The second we walked in Charlie’s voice greeted us. 

“Bailes, Is that you?”   

I smiled at the childhood nickname.  He hasn’t called me that in years. 

“Yeah, Charlie.  It’s me.”  I answered.  I turned back to Ella ushering in the house.  She looked as skittish as a newborn foal.   

Charlie came around the corner and came to a sudden stop when he spotted my new friend.  He stood there still bare chested, wearing nothing but his old worn basketball shorts.  Oh, the look on his face.  I would have killed to have a camera to catch the moment. 

But since I’d been so careless with my phone earlier today, I didn’t.  Damn. 

“Charlie, this is Ella?” I said, trying desperately to stifle the laughter building in my chest.  He was dumb struck and he was not being the least bit shy about it. 

Ignoring him, I turned to Ella and continued with the introductions. “And Ella, this is my older brother Charlie.”   

I could see her smiling but the smile was not for me.  No, she was staring Charlie straight in the eye when she stepped in front of me and held out her hand to him.   

“Hi ya’, Charlie,” she spoke, and it was then I knew her confidence was back. This was working out better that I’d planned.   

Charlie swallowed and then took her hand, shaking it.  The deer in headlights look was now gone and he clearly had his game face on. Without letting go of her hand, he charmingly lifted it to his mouth and placed a kiss on her knuckle. 

“Where have you been all my life?“ he asked her, his voice deepening and chest puffing out like a cocky rooster.  The player has arrived. 

And then, of all things Ella started to giggle like a schoolgirl and batted her eyelashes. 

I shook my head in disbelief.  It was just plain weird watching my brother put moves on a girl.  Even weirder to see said girl falling for it.  But in this case it worked to my advantage. If Charlie was busy then he wouldn’t be able to ask me questions about Rio.  No more big brother butting in my business.  Another part of 0peration attain Rio satisfyingly taken care of.   

Now it was time to start planning my next move.

I needed to get ready to bid on a date.  A date with the man of my fantasies, the hunk of my dreams.  It was all too perfect really.  I would be doing him a great service, sparing him the humiliation of having to deal with an annoying woman pawing all over him.   

And it was all in the name of friendship.  Hell, what else are friends for? 

I watched the two in front of me.  They heads close together, flirting and talking barely above whisper. By the looks of it, my job here was done.  Time to make myself scarce. 

“Guys,” I broke in, hating that I was interrupting them.  I pointed upstairs.  “I’m just going to up to my room to make a few calls and take a shower.  I take it the two of you are okay down here? Alone?” 

All I got in return was a medial sounding grunt from Charlie and a quipped “sure” from Ella.

That was good enough for me.  Grinning like the town idiot I ran up the the stairs. I was this much closer to getting my man.  All I needed was a little confidence and a lot of patience and soon, he would be mine.