WIRED

           “Wow!  Look at those buns.”  Charlene paused on the stairs as she peered over the railing.  “What a hunk.”  Knowing her friend Jennifer would be shocked, she put her fingers to her mouth in a pretense of whistling at the attractive man walking a small dog in the courtyard below.  Jen was a stickler for “proper” behavior and whistling at a man was definitely not proper behavior.

           True to form, Jen grabbed her arm.  “Charlie, you wouldn’t dare.”

Charlie laughed.  “Wouldn’t I?”  She again raised her fingers to her lips.

           With a cry of apparent exasperation, Jen pulled her into the apartment.  “Try to keep your mind on why you’re here.  You’re here to apartment sit and take care of Tiny for me.  Nothing else.  Especially chasing my neighbor.  Who, by the way, is immune to any of the females in this apartment complex.”

           “Really?  Why?  He doesn’t look gay.”  Charlie watched in amusement as Jen’s mouth screwed up into a frown. 

           “Charlene, you do delight in tormenting me, don’t you?”  Jen stuck her tongue out at Charlie.

“Yes, but I’ll cut you some slack since you’re going out of town on business, and you’re stressed to the max.  So give me my instructions on apartment-sitting, when to water your plants and what kind of dog food Tiny eats.”

           “All right.  I’ve already written everything out.  Follow the directions to the letter.  If I know you, you’ll try to be innovative and feed Tiny tacos or something.”

           “Of course.  He told me he loved Mexican food.”  At Jen’s frown, she continued.  “Relax, girl friend, I’m just kidding.  I’ll take care of everything, including your neighbor.”

           Jen shook her head.  “Well, from what I hear, you may as well save your energy.  The girls have done some checking, and he’s only here on a month-to-month lease while his swanky apartment downtown overlooking Central Park is being renovated.  The word is out that he thinks he’s too good to hobnob with us common folk.  He’s supposed to be engaged to some rich high society dame.”

           “Well, I guess I’m definitely out of the running, me being a circus performer.  A carney.  Not exactly a Wall Street profession.”

           “But an honorable profession, Charlie.  Circus performers have been entertaining kings of old for ages.”  She pointed at a picture of three performs on the high trapeze.  “And the job fits you.  You’re a dare devil on the high wire, and a dare devil in life.  You’d wilt and die behind a desk.”

           “Sometimes I wish I had a normal life, Jen.  You know, like a home that doesn’t have wheels and a 9 to 5 job, things like that.”

           “But that wouldn’t be you, and I like you the way you are.”

           “Well, thank you, darling,” Charlie retorted in her exaggerated high class drawl, “And you know I’m definitely the high society type so me and the hunk should get along marvelously.”  She did her best impression of Billy Crystal’s ‘marvelous.’  She grabbed two handfuls of hair and held them up in a cascade atop her head, then made a face.  “Yuk!  Looks like a sad, red waterfall, doesn’t it?”

           “You have beautiful red hair, Charlie.  It just seems to match you and your personality.  Vibrant and alive.”

           “You really mean wild and freaky, but it’s kind of you to say that.”  She pushed her friend to the door.                  “Get going or you’re going to miss your plane.”

           “All right.  Bye.  I’ll call you.”

           “Don’t.  I’ll be out with Mr. High Society.  I’ll captivate him with my charming wit.”  She blew a kiss to Jen as her friend hurried out the door and down the stairs to the waiting taxi.  Closing the door behind her, she studied the list of instructions and knew what she’d be doing most of her time here.  Take dog out, bring dog in, take dog out, bring dog in, take…

           Well, no sense putting it off.  After unpacking, she found Tiny’s leash and retrieved the Great Dane from the porch.  Whoever had named this pooch “Tiny” had a weird sense of humor.  Oops, I think I named him.  As she opened the door, the huge dog bounded out the door, pulling Charlie behind him.  “Whoa, Tiny, whoa.”

But Tiny didn’t whoa.  Instead, he sped up, Charlie on his heels.  But she couldn’t keep up with him and dropped the leash.  As she neared the bottom of the steps, she heard a loud commotion from around the corner, followed by loud cursing.  Fighting a momentary urge to retreat back up the stairs and disavow all knowledge, she rounded the corner, then stopped abruptly in her tracks.

           A man sat on the sidewalk trying to rescue a ball of fluff from Tiny who appeared to want to lick the poor animal to death.  It was Mr. High Society.  And he was wearing a dark scowl.

           He glanced up at her.  “Is that your dog?”

           “No, it’s not my dog.”  Just as the words left her mouth, Tiny stopped licking the small dog and scampered over to her, turning his drooling lips on her.  She caught the look of disbelief on the man’s face.  “No, really, it’s not my dog.  It’s my friend’s dog.  I’m just taking care of him for her.  I know…”

           “Then I suggest you control the beast.  The animal tried to hurt poor Fluffy here.”  He stood up, towering over her, the scrap of canine in his arms. 

           “Well, if he was trying to intimidate her, he was barking up the wrong tree.  “That beast, as you call him, is a pussycat.  He wouldn’t hurt a flea.  He just wanted to be friendly with,” she paused and raised her eyebrows, “dear Fluffy.”

           “Well, I don’t care whether he’s a pussycat or not.  He ran us over.”

           As he studied the small dog, Charlie studied him.  He wasn’t what she’d call a really handsome man, but he was incredibly sexy.  He had curly black hair which now fell over his forehead.  And his eyes were green—the green of a verdant pasture.  Verdant?  She had to quit reading so many romance novels.  The green eyes, with their incredibly long black eyelashes, eyelashes most women would die for, were angry.  His hawkish nose was slightly crooked as if it had been broke in the past.  His mouth was full, almost like a woman’s, and kind of lopsided.  Suddenly, Charlie found herself wondering what it would fee like to kiss those pouting lips.  A shiver coursed down her spine.  Back off, Charlie.  He’s not for you.  You come from different worlds.  You’re not exactly high society material.

           Finally, he appeared convinced that the dog was not harmed.  He turned to her.  “Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you.  Fluffy’s my fiancee’s dog.  Why, she’d never forgive me if he got hurt.”

           Fiancee?  So it was true—he was engaged.  But at least he’d apologized.  “So is Fluffy okay?”

           “Yeah.”

           “Good.”  She grabbed Tiny’s leash.  “I’ll just take the beast for his walk.”  She tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice but failed.

           “Look, I said I’m sorry.”

           “It’s all right.  No harm, no foul.  I’m just glad that Fluffy’s okay so you don’t get in trouble with your fiancee.”  Without waiting for a response, Charlie turned and walked down the sidewalk, Tiny pacing sedately at her side.  As she rounded the corner of the building, she glanced over her shoulder.  Her heart did a flip flop for Mr. High Society stood there staring at her.  Probably thinking how stupid you are, she told herself, or how out of his league you are.  He’d definitely looked down his nose at her cutoff jeans and halter top.  Fluffy’s owner probably didn’t even own a pair of cutoffs.  “Oh, well, I’ll get over it,” she said to Tiny.  “Come on, you beast, I’ll race you to the park.”

           An hour later on the way home from the park, a black Ferrari whizzed out of the apartment complex, passing close to her.  Mr. High Society was in the driver’s seat.  Dressed in a black tuxedo, his curly hair combed in a semblance of order, he looked good enough to eat.  “I’ve never even known a man who owned a tuxedo, except Bonzo the Clown, but he only wears the front, so that doesn’t count,” she told Tiny.  “I bet he has a date with Miss High Society.”

           As they crossed the parking lot and climbed the stairs to Jen’s apartment, a spark of jealousy threatened to ignite, but she quickly doused it.  After sharing supper with Tiny, Charlie made her way to Jen’s guest bedroom.  Feeling a little bit lonely, she picked up the phone to call Alberto.  He’d been a member of her act for a year now and thought he was in love with her.  He’d even asked her to marry him.  Her father approved, saying a circus performer should marry another circus performer because they’d understand each other, the danger, the nerves, the constant training, and the traveling. She’d not yet given Alberto an answer.  She wasn’t even sure she wanted to continue on the high trapeze.  Yet that had been her life for so long, and her parents before her.  Until one day her mother had slipped and fallen to her death.  And her father had refused to ever go up again.  It was all she knew. She dialed his number. 

           He answered immediately.  “Hola.”

           “Alberto, hello.  It’s Charlie.”

           “Ah, mi Corazon, I’m so glad you called.  I miss you already.  Do you miss me?”

           “Of course.  I just wanted to let you know I arrived safely.”

           “Bueno.  Are you going to practice with us on Tuesday?”

           “Yes, of course.  Tomorrow, I’m going to church and then on Monday I’ve got to take Jen’s dog to the vet.  So I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

           “Good.”

           “All right.  Good night, Alberto.”

           “Buenos noches.”  He made his usual smacking sound, sending her a kiss over the phone.  She usually said “to you too” but today she didn’t.  And she didn’t know why.

           Hanging up, Charlie crawled into bed and dreamed.  Of a dark-haired man with green eyes.  What an idiot she was!

           The next morning as she dressed for church Charlie mulled the dream over in her mind.  Dream?  She should call it a nightmare.  Mr. High Society had laughed at her, telling her she was not good enough for him, that he couldn’t be seen with someone who worked in a circus.  He’d said all his friends would laugh at him.  It’s just a dream, she told herself.  Quit putting yourself down.

           Charlie donned the one and only dress she’d brought with her, then pulled her wild hair back into a demure chignon.  Convinced she looked proper, she walked to the church down the street.  She’d been there with Jen before, and everyone made her feel welcome.  After the service and feeling much better about herself, Charlie strolled leisurely through the park to the apartment, stopping only long enough to buy a newspaper.

And there he was—on the front page of the society section.  Looking extraordinarily handsome, he stood next to a tall blond, manicured from head to toe.  Not a sprig of hair was out of place.  But somehow the smile on the blond’s face didn’t seem genuine.  It sat on her lips but didn’t reach her eyes.

I’m being petty.  I’ve got to get over this.  She tossed the paper aside, then changed into short and a shirt.  Fetching Tiny, she headed for the park.  A mile run should take her mind off everything.  Running down the stairs, she and Tiny rounded the corner.

           And almost ran into him—again.  He backed up to the wall and held up his hands as if in mock surrender.  “After you and the beast,” he said with a grin.

Feeling charitable? she asked him silently.  But, out loud, she merely said, “Thanks.”

           “You’re welcome.  My name’s Jeremy Whitman.”

“Yeah, I know.”  As soon as the words left her mouth, Charlie regretted them.  It was one thing to lust after a man; it was another for him to know it.  And he certainly looked good today.  His jeans fit him like a glove.  She fought to keep her gaze focused over his broad shoulders.

           He arched a black eyebrow at her.  “Do we know each other?  I mean, other than you running me over yesterday?”

           Charlie felt her face flush.  Not knowing what to say, she told the truth.  “No.  I saw your picture in the newspaper this morning.”

           “Oh, that.”

           “I guess that was your fiancée, Fluffy’s owner?”

           “Yeah.  Melissa Van Horne is her name.”“So I read.”

           “Oh, right.”  He looked embarrassed.  “So what do I call you?”

           “Your majesty, your royal highness, goddess, pick one.”

           After an initial gasp of disbelief, Jeremy let out a hearty laugh.  “All right, your majesty, you look like you’re going jogging.  Mind if I tag along?”

           Totally unprepared for that remark, Charlie could only shake her head.         

           “Good.  I’ll go change and catch up with you.  If that’s all right with your royal highness?”     

           “Yes, yes.  Carry on.”  Charlie waved her version of a royal wave.  “You’re dismissed.”

           With a grin, he vaulted up the stairs and disappeared into his apartment.  Turning to Tiny, she squealed in delight.  “I don’t believe it, Tiny.  He’s going to jog with us.”

           Making her way to the jogging path, she did her warm up exercises as she waited for Jeremy.  Soon she saw him coming toward her, looking like a million dollars in a fancy jogging outfit.  With a twinge of embarrassment, she glanced down at her shorts and dirty sneakers.  Definitely nothing fancy there.

           “Ready?”

           “Yeah,” she answered.  She tried not to notice his lopsided smile or how the shirt stretched across his broad shoulders or how the pants hugged his rear end.  But she failed miserably.  He took off down the path in front of her, and she followed—enjoying the view.  He looked good coming and going.

           After about a half mile, he slowed down and waited for her to come even with him.  “You must run a lot, your highness, you’re not even winded.  Barely sweating.”

           She smiled in return.  “I try to run three or four times a week.”

           “You said you don’t live at the apartment complex?”

           “No.  My friend Jennifer lives there.  She had to go on a business trip, so I volunteered to take care of Tiny.”

           Jeremy laughed heartily.  “If there ever was a misnomer, that’s it.”

           “Definitely.”

           They jogged further in comfortable silence, Tiny leading the way.  When they stopped to rest, he turned to her with a quizzical glance.  “So where do you live?”

           Why are you asking me?  To see if it’s a swanky address?  “I travel a lot.”  Trying to change the subject, she asked, “So, Jeremy what do you do for a living?”

           “I’m a stockbroker on Wall Street.”

           “Wall Street, huh?  Ritzy address.”  She glanced at him and saw pride written on his handsome features.

           “It took a long time to get there,” he said softly, almost to himself, as he patted Tiny’s ears, “but—“

           “But you’re there now,” Charlie finished the sentence for him.  “My father always said if you work hard enough for what you want, you’ll get it.”

           “I like that,” he answered.  “And I agree with that.”  He stretched back on the grass, putting his hands behind his head and staring up at the sky.  “I usually jog at my club, but I think I like this better.  Being outdoors and all.”

           Club?  Definitely out of my league.  Charlie rose to her feet.  “So, let’s get going.  We’ve got another mile to do.”

           He groaned loudly but climbed to his feet.  Together they followed Tiny who had enough energy for both of them.  Tongue hanging out, he led them down the trail, frequently looking to see if they were following.

           As they arrived back at the apartment complex, Jeremy uttered a low curse.  “Dammit, dammit, dammit.”

           “What’s the matter?”

           He nodded his head toward a limousine parked in front of his apartment.  Charlie glanced in that direction and saw a blond haired woman standing by the limo.  Dressed in a chic black dress Charlie knew cost more than her whole wardrobe, Melissa Van Horne wore a scowl and tapped her foot impatiently.

            “I forgot Melissa was picking me up to go to her parents’ home to plan our engagement party.  Boy, am I in hot water.  Mr. Van Horne has a penchant for punctuality.”

         “A penchant for punctuality.  What a mouthful,” Charlie teased him.  “Oh, surely, she’ll forgive you.  For goodness sake, you were only out jogging.”  Glancing at him, she saw her words hadn’t convinced him.

         He jogged past her.  Running up to Melissa, he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  To Charlie’s surprise, the blond never smiled or returned his kiss.  Evidently, Miss Van Horne wasn’t used to being kept waiting.

         “Hi, sweetheart,” Jeremy said.  “Sorry I’m late.  I was just taking a morning run.”

         “So I see.  And who’s your friend?”

         Melissa’s voice was ice cold, as were the blue frosty eyes she turned on Charlie.  Whoa!  The ice man cometh.

         Jeremy turned to her.  “I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.  Your real name.”

         “Charlie.  I mean Charlene.  My friends call me Charlie.”  Charlie extended her hand toward the sleek blond who totally ignored it.  She merely gave Charlie an assessing gaze, looking her up and down, taking in the cutoff, dirty sneakers and sweaty face, then dismissed her.  She probably doesn’t even sweat, Charlie thought.  The Dior dress didn’t have a crease.  Probably too scared to wrinkle.

         “Jeremy, you know my father hates to be kept waiting.”  Her words were full of censure.

         “I know, Missy, and I’m sorry.  I just couldn’t let Charlie outrun me, you know.  Male ego and all.”  He smiled at Charlie.  To her, it was a bit of an apology for his fiancee’s rude behavior.  At least that’s the way I’m taking it.

         Tiny suddenly saw fit to get into the conversation.  He surged toward Melissa, tongue lolling, and she screamed and darted behind Jeremy.  “Keep that monster away from me.”

         Charlie sawed on the leash, bringing Tiny to a halt inches away from the Dior.  “Tiny, behave yourself.”

         “Take it easy, Melissa,” Jeremy said as he leaned over and patted the Great Dane’s head.  “He just wants to say hello.” 

         “Keep him away from me,” the ice goddess said as she sent Charlie a warning stare.

         “Come on, Tiny.  Let’s go home.”  Charlie wanted to punch the blond in the nose but curtailed the impulse.  Punching a Van Horne would probably have serious consequences.  She turned and led Tiny up the stairs to the apartment.  At the top, she glanced over the railing.  The ice goddess was shaking her finger in Jeremy’s face.  You don’t have to take that, she wanted to yell at him, but that was his choice.  Mind your own business, Charlie.

· * * * *

         “Melissa, you needn’t be so rude,” Jeremy said as Charlie walked away.

         “And when did you meet her?”

         Missy’s voice was cold with barely-concealed contempt.  She could be such a pompous pain in the ass at times.  He’d seen the hurt look on Charlie’s face before she’d hid it.  And, strangely enough, it bothered him.  “Yesterday.  She’s apartment-sitting for a friend.”

         “How nice.” 

         Somehow, to Jeremy, the two words were a definite putdown of the red-haired Charlie.

         “And now do you think you could get ready?  I hate to keep my father waiting.”

         Anger surged through Jeremy, and he fought to keep his cool.  He’d worked hard to get where he was on Wall Street, a far cry from the impoverished dirt farm where he’d been raised, and soon he was to be a member of the Van Horne family, one of New York’s most influential and wealthiest families.  He didn’t want to blow everything now.

         But, sometimes, he wondered if it was worth it.  He’d felt emasculated in front of Charlie.  How long would he be able to put up with that?  With a curt nod, he headed for his apartment, Melissa on his heels.  Probably to make sure he wore the right clothes, he thought sourly.

* * * * *

         The next day Charlie bathed Tiny—no small feat—in preparation for this visit to the veterinarian.  When all was said and done, she was wetter than he was and had to change clothes.

         As she was preparing to leave, the doorbell rang.  Charlie jumped in surprise.  Must be someone looking for Jen because no one but her father and Alberto knew she was here.  Walking to the door, Tiny barking at her side, she looked through the peephole.  All she could see was a shirtfront and belt.

         Mutt and Jeff!

         Charlie squealed in delight and jerked the door open.  She glanced upward at the nine foot giant that stood before her, then down at the three foot man who stood beside him.  Both wore a wide grin.

         Chelsea hugged Mutt around the middle, then knelt down and kissed Jeff on his cheek.  Tiny slobbered on both of them.  “I’m so glad to see you.  I’ve missed you terribly.”

         Jeff scratched Tiny’s ears.  “I could use this guy for a horse.  You got a saddle?”

         Laughing, Charlie grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, motioning for Mutt to follow.  “What are you guys doing here?  How’d you find me?  When did you get into town?”

         Ducking down and folding himself almost in half, Mutt entered the room.  “One question at a time.  We left Florida on Thursday and got here Saturday.  And your father told us where to find you.  In fact, he sent this to you.”  He pointed at the suitcase in his hand.

         “What is it?”

         “Some of your gear.  He said you’d need it for practice on Tuesday,” Jeff answered for him.

         “Oh, that’s right.  I’d forgotten.  Are you two going out to the camp?”

         “Yeah.  Headed there now.  We just brought these by,” Mutt said.

         “Oh, but can’t you stay for a while and visit?”

         “Nope, but we’ll catch up with you on Tuesday, and we can gossip as much as you like.”

         Charlie laughed.  “You mean you’ll gossip and I’ll listen.”

         “And you’ll love every minute of it,” Jeff reminded her.

         “You’re absolutely right.”  She kissed the two men, and they took their leave.  Standing at the top of the landing, she watched her dear friends make their way to the truck and trailer which had been designed for their specific needs.  They’d almost raised her, watching over her when her parents, The Flying Maguires, had been performing and training. 

         Shouts jerked her out of her reverie.  Several teenage boys suddenly appeared, shouting taunts at the two men.  “Hey, you freaks, why don’t you go join the circus?  We don’t want you around here.”

         Mutt and Jeff ignored the boys and kept walking.  They’ve been ridiculed all their life, Charlie thought sadly.  No one ever took the time to get to know the person inside.  One of the boys picked up a rock and threw it.  It missed Jeff’s head by inches.  Anger engulfed Charlie.  She opened her mouth to yell at the boys, but before the words could leave her mouth, another voice cried out.

         “Hey, you punks, stop that.  What do you think you’re doing?”

         Jeremy appeared in her line of sight.  At the deep masculine voice, the youths suddenly lost their courage and bolted through the parked cars and across the parking lot, all the while screaming obscenities over their shoulders.  Charlie clenched her hands into fists.  She’d list to bust them in the kissers.

         Returning her attention to the men below, Charlie saw them shaking hands, then Mutt and Jeff climbed in their vehicle and drove away.  Charlie decided to thank Jeremy, but by the time she got downstairs he was driving out of the parking lot.  With a disappointed shrug of her shoulders, she went to get Tiny.

         Standing before her old Volkswagen Beetle, Charlie laughed.  There was one contingency she hadn’t thought about.  How was she going to get Tiny in the “tiny” car?

         Somehow she managed.  By taking the top down, she pushed, shoved, pulled, thrust and wiggled the huge Great Dane into the back seat.  Ears perked, tongue lolling, he looked as happy as could be from his back seat driver position.  Charlie crawled behind the steering wheel.  As she drove down the crowded freeway, all eyes turned her way.  People pointed and laughed and Tiny barked in return.

         Pulling into the vet’s parking lot, she noticed a black Ferrari.  Parking next to it, she peered curiously at it.  Could it be his?  No, probably belonged to the vet.  Tiny leading the way, dragging her across the pavement, Charlie entered the vet’s office.  A great cacophony of sound erupted at Tiny’s overpowering presence.  A gray Persian hissed at him, its hackles standing straight up.  A parrot squawked as it tried to flap a broken wing.  Several dogs added their barking to Tiny’s deep wuffs, all straining at their leashes.

         Somehow she managed to maneuver herself into an empty chair, pulling Tiny between her legs and clamping her knees around him before he attacked the Persian.

         She heard a soft chuckle.  Glancing in that direction, she stared into a pair of green eyes full of laughter.  Verdant green eyes. 

         “I see the beast is full of energy today,” Jeremy said.

         “Yeah.  Next time I’ll hire three armed guards to assist me.”  She pointed at the ball of fluff in his arms.  “I see we have the same vet.”

         “Melissa always brings Fluffy here to Dr. DiArmano.  Says he’s the only one she trusts with dear Fluffy.”  He glanced at his watch.  “I should have told her I didn’t have the time.  I really need to get to work.”

         “It was nice of you to do this for her.”

         “Well, she had several appointments, planning our engagement party and all, so I couldn’t say no.”

         “I’m sure she’s very busy,” Charlie said, all the while thinking how manipulative Miss Van Horne must be.  She saw Jeremy glance at his watch again, then he muttered something under his breath.  “Look, Jeremy, why don’t you just leave Fluffy with me?  I’ve got to be here with Tiny and I don’t have any appointments or meetings or anything.”

         “You’d do that for me?”

         “Well, it’s my way of saying thank you.”

         “Thank you?  For what?”

         “For helping those two guys this morning when those kids threw rocks at them.  That was wonderful.”  Charlie touched his hand.  Her flesh seemed burned by the contact.  He must have felt something too for his eyes seemed to burn brighter.

         “Oh, it was nothing.  I hate to see someone picked on like that.  Those two guys were sure weird though.  Wonder what they were doing at the complex.”

         Charlie’s spirits sank.  Her mouth turned down into a frown.  He was like all the rest.  Her parents were right.  She should stay with her own kind.  “Those two weirdoes are my friends.  They were visiting me.”  She turned and gazed out the window.

         He must have felt her disapproval because he leaned over and with his index finger turned her face to his.  “Hey, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean anything.  But you have to admit you don’t see a nine foot man and a three foot man just any ole day, especially not together.”

         When she didn’t answer, he prodded, “Come on, you have to admit that.”

         As was her nature, Charlie answered him honestly.  “All right.  I will admit that.  But that doesn’t make them weird.”

         “No, it doesn’t.  In fact, they seemed real nice guys.  Said they were with the circus.”  His gaze was full of curiosity.

“Yes, and so am I.”  Charlie held her breath as she waited for his reaction. 

His dark eyebrows arched in surprise.  “You are?”

Now here it comes, Charlie thought.  Here’s where he says he can’t be seen with me.  But, to her surprise, he didn’t. 

“When I was growing up,” he said, a far-away look in his eyes, “I dreamed of being in the circus.  I wanted to be a lion tamer.  I used to walk around the house with a belt for a whip and a chair.  My father told me I was crazy, but my mom told me to follow my dreams.”  He looked up at her and smiled.  “I’ve never told that to anyone before.”

Charlie returned his smile.  “Your secret is safe with me.  I promise I won’t tell Melissa.”

He laughed.  “Good.  She definitely wouldn’t understand.”  He fixed a stare on her.  “And what do you do at the circus?”

“The high trapeze.  I’m one of The Flying Maguires.”

He whistled softly.  “Then I’ve seen you perform.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  It was about a year ago in Florida.”

“And what did you think?”  Charlie held her breath waiting for his answer.

“I thought you were beautiful, graceful, and absolutely fearless.  Like a flying ballerina.  It was totally awesome.”

Charlie felt her cheeks grow warm.  Her heart pounded a little harder.  “Thanks.”

“I mean that.”

Silence settled over them.  Then Jeremy cleared his throat.  “Well, if you still don’t mind,” he held the little dog out to her, “I’ll pick Fluffy up tonight.  After work.”

Charlie took Fluffy while at the same time trying to keep Tiny still.  “No problem.”

Jeremy stood and took a hesitant step toward the door.  “You’re sure it’s not too much?”

“I’ll just put it on your tab.”

A look of relief washed over his handsome face.  “Deal.  In fact, I’ll pick up something to eat.  You like Chinese?”

“Love it.”  She watched as he walked out the door, noting his broad shoulders and lean good looks, the way the sun glinted blue-black on his hair, the way he walked, the fit of his tailored suit—

“Miss Maguire, Miss Maguire….”

Charlie jumped at the voice behind her.  Her face red, she stared up at the receptionist.  “Yes, that’s me.  I’m sorry, I was just—“

“So was every other female in here,” the white-haired woman said with a chuckle, “including me.  That’s a real work of art.  Now bring Tiny and Fluffy on back.”

* * * * *

 Jeremy drove away, his thoughts were still back at the vet’s office and centered on the beautiful high-flying Maguire.  She continued to amaze him.  Not many people would have offered to take care of Fluffy, especially not Melissa Van Horne.  Rather, it would’ve been the other way around.  Melissa would have expected someone to do it for her—or paid them.  Money could buy an awful lot of things.  Even you, an inner voice cried.  Not liking that thought, he quickly dismissed it.

He rubbed his jaw.  What was happening to him?  Just a couple of days ago, Melissa and their engagement and marriage had been foremost on his mind.  Her snootiness and selfishness had not bothered him then.  So why now?  Could it be because he liked, really liked, the high-flying Maguire?  Confused, he drove the Ferrari up on the interstate, windows down, letting the cool breeze sort out his feelings.

* * * * *

Charlie ran a brush through her unruly hair.  Again.  The third time in the last fifteen minutes.  She glanced out the window.  Again.  5:15 p.m.  No black Ferrari.  6:00 p.m.  No black Ferrari.

Suddenly there it was.  Pulling into the parking space.  Not wanting to be caught gawking, drooling was a more apt description, Charlie ducked behind the curtain.  From her hiding spot, she watched as Jeremy unfolded his long legs from behind the wheel, leaned back in and extracted several paper containers.  Then he marched toward her apartment.

Her pulse racing, Charlie ran to the door and waited.  How stupid she was acting—like a teenager.  She put one eye to the peephole.  A shadow appeared on the steps.  It loomed larger and larger until he stood in front of the door trying to ring the doorbell while juggling six white cardboard containers.

Even though she knew the doorbell was going to ring, Charlie jumped as it gonged in her ear.  On the patio, Tiny and Fluffy immediately set up a howl, jumping excitedly on the glass sliding door.  Another slobbery door to clean.  Exhaling slowly, she forced herself to wait a whole minute before she answered the door.  She’d never felt this excited waiting for Alberto.

“Hi, hope you’re hungry.”  Jeremy strode through the room into the kitchen.  “I bought one of everything.”

“I’m famished.”  Charlie took a couple of the containers from him and placed them on the table.  “And if we don’t eat it all, we have two canine garbage cans to take care of any leftovers.  Just don’t tell my girlfriend Jennifer.”

“Or Melissa.  Fluffy only eats gourmet dog food.”  He plopped down in a chair at the table.  “I’m bushed.  Listen, I want to thank you again for taking care of Fluffy.  If I’d have waited, Id’ have missed my appointment.  And,” he paused, “I closed on a very lucrative deal today.”

“Jeremy, that’s wonderful.  I’m glad I could help.  By the way, what exactly do you do?  I don’t know a thing about stocks and bonds and that kind of thing.”

As he told her about his job, she got the definite impression that he didn’t really like his job.  But maybe she was reading something that wasn’t there.  After all, she’d only known him for a couple of days.  As she set out plates and silverware and pulled two frosty mugs from the freezer, she noted the frown at the corners of his mouth.  “You said you made a great deal today, yet you seem kind of disappointed.”

         The gaze he sent her seemed full of confusion.  “I guess I am, and I don’t know why.  I thought I’d feel…well, different, more excited.”

         Charlie had trouble concentrating on what he was saying because he was so near.  So near she could touch him.  Suddenly she felt a twinge of guilt.  After all, he was engaged.  But this had been his idea.  She squelched the nagging in her ear.  “How did you meet Melissa?”  As soon as she asked the question, she regretted it.  She didn’t really want to know anything about Miss High Society.

         “My firm does a lot of work for her father.  We hosted a reception for Mr. Van Horne.  Careers can be made or broken at those things, you know.  Anyway, Melissa came with him, and we--, as they say, the rest is history.”

         They sat there talking for over an hour until Tiny’s and Fluffy’s obvious hunger forced them to let the canines in the apartment.  As they walked to the patio door, Jeremy stopped abruptly.  Charlie walked into him.  “Oops, sorry.  Following too closely.”  She backed up only to discover him staring at her picture on the wall.

         “That’s you, isn’t it?”  His voice full of awe, he continued to study the painting. 

         “Yeah, when I was younger.  The other two are my parents.”  She reached out and lightly touched the canvas.  “My mother had a fatal fall a few days after that, and my father never went back up on the wire.  I have two new partners now.”

         “Sorry.  I didn’t know.”

         “That’s okay.”  She tugged open the patio door, and the two dogs bolted inside, almost tripping each other in their haste to get to their food bowls.  Tiny bumped into Charlie, and she fell into Jeremy.  They crashed to the floor.  Charlie ended up on top of Jeremy.

         Excitement swept over her.  The touch of him, the feel of him, his strong arms encircling her sparking feelings she’d never felt before.  Desire washed over her.  His eyes seemed to hold an open invitation.  He put his hand behind her neck and pulled her head down until his lips met hers.  At first, his kiss was feather-light, barely skimming her lips.  Then he deepened his kiss, his tongue thrusting into her mouth.  She met it eagerly, hungry for more, hungry to be closer to him.  Charlie felt like a surge of electricity had shocked her.  As their lips parted, she saw a note of something like—wonder?—appear in his eyes.

         “Charlie?”

         “Yes?”

         “What’s happening here?”  He brushed back a lock of her hair.

         “I don’t know.”

         “I think we need to do that again so we can figure it out.”

         “Okay.”

         At that moment, the door burst open, and Melissa Van Horne charged into the room like a wild animal.  The ice princess was boiling.  When she saw them on the floor, she screamed.  “Jeremy, what’s the meaning of this?”

         Charlie rolled off Jeremy and stood up.  He scrambled to his feet.

         “I’m waiting, Jeremy.” 

         “It’s not what it looks like, Melissa.”

         Oh, yes it is, Charlie wanted to scream.  To me anyway.

         “It’s just that the dogs knocked us over and—“

         “Hah!”  She turned her fury on Charlie.  “How dare you come on to my fiancée.”  Whirling back toward Jeremy, she shook her finger at him.  “That’s why I didn’t want you to say in this place.  Oh, and my darling Fluffy is even here.”  She scooped the dog up, but he wriggled to get free.  Tiny bounded toward the woman and his new friend, but Charlie was able to cut him off before he jumped on Miss High Society.

         “Melissa, calm down,” Jeremy ordered in a stern voice.

         “Don’t tell me to calm down.  I’m furious.”

         “Listen, Charlie didn’t come on to me.  I merely bought dinner because she helped me out today.”  He sent Charlie an encouraging smile.

         That smile seemed to send Melissa to a higher level of anger.  “Yes, I can see how she was helping you out.  They have words for women like her.  Is she one of those carnival people you told me about?”

         “Yes, I am,” Charlie shouted at her as she tilted her head back and stiffened her backbone.  “And proud of it.”

         “Melissa, you’re going too far.  Drop it.”

         “I will not.”

         Jeremy grabbed her arm and dragged her to the door.  “Yes, you will.”

“Just you wait until I tell my father.”

“This is between us, and stays between us.”

Charlie felt like her heart had been torn from her body.  He was ashamed of her.  He didn’t want Melissa’s father to know anything about her.  As the door shut behind them, he sent her another apologetic smile.  To Charlie, it was a goodbye smile.

         With tears in her eyes, she dropped to her knees and hugged Tiny.  The big animal seemed to sense something was wrong because he crowded next to her, sticking his nose under her crossed arms until he could lick her face.

         She didn’t see Jeremy for the rest of the day.  Even the next morning, the black Ferrari was gone.  Probably making up with Melissa.  She’d been an idiot to think she could compete with the socialite.

         Forcing thoughts of Jeremy out of her mind, Charlie fed Tiny his usual six course dinner.  Then, donning her tights, she headed her VW northward to where practice was being held.  The sun beaming down on her lifted her spirits.  People who cared for her waited up ahead.  So they were carnies, they were her people.  Turning the radio on, she hummed with the music as the miles flew by.

         Finally she saw it.  The big top.  She sight of it never ceased to send a thrill chasing down her spine.  She pulled into the parking lot and was instantly mobbed by her friends.  Mutt and Jeff hugged her, as did Maudie the Bearded Lady, and Bonzo the Clown.  The roustabouts whistled at her and waved as she walked toward the tent.  Emil walked by with two of his lions and called out a greeting.

         Charlie smiled to herself.  God’s in His Heaven, and all’s right with the world.  She was home.  A tall, lean figure broke through the crowd and ran toward her.  Alberto!  With a sad smile, she welcomed him.  Her brief encounter with Jeremy had proved one thing to her.  She wasn’t in love with Alberto, and she couldn’t marry him.  As he kissed her cheek, she promised herself she’d tell him.  Later.

         Together they walked hand in hand into the big tent.  Alberto behind her, Charlie climbed the ladder up to the trapeze platform.  Below, the roustabouts, Pete and Ernie, were pulling the net into place.  Good idea since her head wasn’t exactly on straight.

         But as soon as she grasped the bar, her concentration returned.  She focused completely, seeing nothing but the trapeze, Alberto’s outstretched hands and executing the complicated maneuvers they were rehearsing for Saturday’s benefit performance.  As she flew through the air, she felt incredibly alive and knew she could never give this life up.  It was inborn—passing to her through her parents’ genes—and their parents before them.  She could no more give this up than she could give up breathing.  Two hours flew by as they perfected each move, each routine, all three knowing their lives depended on exact timing—and each other.

         Several hours later after visiting with everyone and having a heart-to-heart with Alberto, Charlie was back on her way home.  As she neared Jen’s apartment, her spirits sank.  The thought of never seeing Jeremy again stabbed at her heart.  Despite her intention not to look, she found herself searching for the black Ferrari.  The empty parking spot stood out like a sore thumb.  But Tiny made up for everyone.  He licked her face and slobbered on her until she was rolling on the floor in laughter.

         That night, she packed her bag.  Jen would be home tomorrow, and Charlie would return to the circus—never to see Jeremy again.  She paused in packing and sauntered over to the window.  His parking space held a black Ferrari.  He’d come back.

         A dark figure suddenly appeared out of the shadows.  Jeremy.  And he carried two suitcases.  As she watched, he stowed them in the trunk of the Ferrari, then drove off. 

         Sleep wouldn’t come that night.  Charlie tossed and turned until the bedcovers were twisted all around her.  Every time she looked at the clock, only ten or fifteen minutes had passed.  The night seemed to be interminable.  Finally, toward dawn, sleep claimed her.

         Tiny’s barking woke her up.  Feeling bleary-eyed, she struggled from bed and walked into the living room.  To her surprise, Jen stood before her.  With a squeal of delight, Charlie rushed to give her friend a hug.  “Jen, you’re back.  It’s good to see you.  How was your trip?”

         “It was great, Charlie.”  Jen dashed over to the patio door and opened it.  Stooping down, she hugged Tiny.  “And were you a good boy while I was gone?”

         “He certainly was,” Charlie answered.  “No trouble whatsoever.  Oh, except we ran Mr. High Society over.”

         “You didn’t?  You mean you met him?  Tell me all about it.”

         “Well, he was flat on his backside when I first met him, compliments of Tiny.  He’s even,” Charlie tried to keep her voice light, “more good looking up close.  I even met his fiancée, Melissa Van Horne, who didn’t like me at all.”

         Jen must have heard something in Charlie’s voice because her mouth puckered in concern.  “Charlie, are you all right?  Did something happen?”

         “Yeah.”

         “What?”

         “I fell for him, Jen.  Hook, line and sinker.  But he wasn’t interested.”

         “Oh, Charlie, I’m sorry.  If I’d known—“

         “Don’t go blaming yourself.  You even warned me.  It’s my fault for thinking someone like him could fall for the likes of me.  As the old cliché goes, we’re from different worlds.”

         “Charlie, I’m so sorry.”

         Charlie held up her hand.  “No more.  Come on.  To celebrate your return, I’m taking you out for breakfast.”

* * * * *

            On Saturday, Charlie headed off early for the big top.  Jen would follow later.  The benefit performance started at two o’clock.  As she entered her dressing room, she saw that her favorite outfit, a gossamy creation of lace, glitter and sequins, had been laid out for her with a note that read:  Break a leg.  She smiled to herself.  Mutt and Jeff strikes again.

         After dressing, she went in search of Alberto.  She found him in the center ring.

         “Charlie, there you are,” Alberto rushed to kiss her.  “You look marvelous.”

         “Thanks, and you look fantastic as always.”

         “We’re going up to final check the riggings,” he said with a smile, “then we’ll practice a few maneuvers.  Okay with you?”

         “Yes.”

         The performance went as planned.  Amidst the thunderous applause, the performers took their bows.  Charlie searched for Jen’s face among the crowd.  Espying her, Charlie sent her a special smile.  Jen grinned, then pointed at a man next to her.

         Jeremy!

         Dressed casually in jeans and a pullover, he looked incredible.  But what was he doing here?  There was no Melissa Van Horne in sight.  He smiled and waved at her.  She waved back, then pointed to the back of the tent.  He nodded, then stood up and the two made their way toward the exit.  Charlie cut across the ring and met them.

         “What are you doing here?”

         “Well, I went to your apartment, or rather Jen’s apartment, and she told me about the show.  So I persuaded her to bring me alone.  You were incredible up there.”

         “Thanks, but what about--?”

         “Melissa?”

         “Yeah.”

         “I took a long, hard look at myself and I didn’t like what I saw.  I was marrying Melissa for all the wrong reasons.  None of them had anything to do with love.”

         “I hope I didn’t—“

         “No.  I did this on my own.  I knew even if you never wanted to see me again, I had to do the right thing for me.”

         “Why would you think I’d never want to see you again?”  Charlie held her breath.  She had a hunch his next few words might change her life.

         “Because I was deceitful, stuck up, a stick in the mud, a—“

         She put her fingers to his lips.  “Well, yeah, there is that, but I think I can overlook it.”

         “I think I’ll take a walk,” Jen broke in, “and go see Alberto.  I’d love to learn Spanish from him.”

         As she left, Jeremy pulled Charlie into his arms.  “I’ve quit my job.  You think the lion tamer needs any help?”

 

 

The End