Amy Andrews - Hot Single Docs - Blinded By The Boss

But there were elements to this equation that intellect, even one as all-consuming as Edward’s, couldn’t grasp. Twisting her mouth, and in defiance of all that was logical, Charlotte slipped through the open French windows and walked across the grass towards him.

He was lost in his thoughts, seeming not to notice her. ‘Given up, then?’ She might as well start with a challenge, if that was the way she meant to go on.

‘The kite’s finished.’

‘Yes, I saw that.’

He turned to her, giving her a speculative look, as if he was trying to weigh the situation up. ‘He didn’t like the kite. That’s okay. Isaac’s free to have his own likes and dislikes...’

‘Edward, did you ever go to school?’

He blinked at her, struggling to make the connection. ‘As it happens, no. By the time I was five I’d already got a handle on calculus and my parents had me tutored at home.’

There was a note of sadness in his voice.

‘That must have been lonely.’

He shrugged. ‘I don’t have anything to compare it with.’

‘When everything’s fine, you don’t need anything to compare it with.’

There was something dull in his eyes as he focussed on her. ‘You’re saying I don’t play well with others.’ One hand clenched into a fist. ‘That’s not exactly an original thought.’

He just wasn’t listening to her. It was as if it had been drilled into Edward that being clever meant that you didn’t have a heart. ‘Maybe it’s just a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe it’s true, then ultimately it is.’

He glared at her. ‘And you have a better idea?’

He turned, as if the conversation was now at an end. He was used to having the last word. Used to being right.

‘Don’t be so arrogant...’ Even before he turned back she knew that she’d missed the mark by about a mile. Edward might look and sound arrogant, but somewhere beneath that there was a lonely child.

‘I am what I am, Charlotte. If you want to think that’s arrogant, then go right ahead.’

All of his defences were up now. The aloof, unsmiling man, whom no one seemed to be able to get close to, was turning away from her again.

She did the unthinkable. Marched straight up to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him around to face her. ‘You don’t fool me, Edward. I’ve seen you with Isaac. I saw you with Mercy the other day.’

Something behind his eyes ignited. Dark blue ice turning to sparkling heat. There was more than enough emotion here. It was just a matter of whether she could deal with it. Whether Edward could deal with it, without ducking back into the comfort of his books.

‘Mercy opened up to you, not me.’

‘Edward! Sometimes I want to shake some sense into you...!’

The provocative twitch of his lips told her that she could go right ahead, if that was her inclination, and she resisted the urge.

‘What on earth happened to you when you were a child?’

‘You think I was a poor little bright boy, with his nose in a book and no friends? It wasn’t like that.’ He pursed his lips. ‘Not quite like that, anyway.’

‘What was it like, then?’

‘I was different. By the time I was ten I could keep up with a university undergraduate on an intellectual level. On a social level, I wasn’t quite ready for women, all-night parties and beer-drinking contests. It was difficult to find my own space.’

‘You felt out of step, you mean? Your emotions and theirs?’

He looked at her gravely. Then suddenly he smiled. ‘Most people assume I don’t have any emotions.’

His look taunted her. Dared her to tell him different.

‘That’s not true, though, is it?’ She dared him back.

‘I don’t think so.’

The dare turned dangerous all of a sudden. He was waiting for her to kiss him. Charlotte baulked at that one.

‘Look, Edward, I know that you’re used to being better and faster at everything than everyone else, and that it’s a lot easier to do things by yourself. But if you want Isaac to be interested in what you’re doing then you have to slow down a bit and do things at his pace.’

He hesitated. ‘I’m...not very good at that. As you can see.’

‘No one’s born good at things like that—you have to learn. You’re supposed to be a genius. Can’t you learn? Or don’t you want to learn?’

‘I want to.’ The admission was a little stiff, and left Edward nonplussed for a moment. ‘Why don’t you go and tell Isaac...?’

She glared at him and he grinned.

‘Why don’t I go and tell him myself?’

‘Good idea.’

‘Right.’ He clapped his hands together, as if he was about to embark on one of the most complex experiments of his life. ‘Do you think he’d like his own kite? One that’s more his size, perhaps?’

Charlotte almost told him no, that Isaac didn’t need a kite. But she knew he’d want one, and Edward needed this.

‘I think he’d love that. Go and ask him.’

* * *

Edward didn’t deal in half-measures. The shop he took them to sold nothing but kites, and on a bright late summer’s morning, was full of people. He led Isaac straight to a selection of different coloured children’s kites, and the two of them became immediately absorbed in sorting through them. Charlotte decided to leave them to it.

‘I’m just going to pop to the chemist, to buy some soap. I won’t be long. Stay here with Edward, won’t you, Isaac?’ She nudged his shoulder with her hand.

Isaac ignored her in favour of the kites, and Edward looked up at her. He seemed to know how hard it always was for her to leave Isaac, even for a few minutes, and he took hold of the boy’s hand as a gesture of intent.

‘I won’t let him out of my sight. Go and do your shopping.’

She decided to take her time, to give Edward and Isaac a chance to buy the kite by themselves. There were some nice apples on display outside the greengrocer’s and she stopped to buy three, to go with the packed lunch in the boot of the car.

In the chemist’s she ran her finger along the lines of jars and bottles which were beyond her purchasing power, now.

Her old soap, the one she’d used to buy before she’d begun to make all her decisions on the basis of price, was there. Something from her old life, when she hadn’t needed to question every word, every action, every penny that she spent. She so wanted that back.

Charlotte picked it up, hesitated, put it back on the shelf, then picked it up again.

It wouldn’t matter if she had something that she wanted for once. The soap smelled nice and felt creamy on her skin, and it wasn’t so very much more expensive than the more economical brands. As luxuries went, this wasn’t so very ostentatious.

‘Come on, Mum...’ Isaac broke into the debate, tugging at her arm.

She looked round to see Edward, with a firm hold on Isaac’s other hand to prevent any possible escape.

‘Okay, just a minute. Did you get your kite?’ It was clear that he had, Edward was holding a large plastic bag.

‘Yes, do you want to see?’

‘Mmm. Yes, please.’

Isaac grinned up at Edward, who delivered the bag into his grasp. Inside was a small blue kite with a blue and silver tail.

‘Oh, that’s so pretty!’ She drew the kite out to examine its tail. ‘Those sparkly bits are going to shine in the sun when you fly it.’

Isaac nodded, carefully showing her everything. There was a ball of twine, mounted on a reel, to protect Isaac’s hands from any friction. ‘You tie it on there—see?’ Isaac indicated the reinforced eyelets on the kite. ‘With a special knot.’

Charlotte nodded, impressed. ‘A special knot, eh?’

‘Yes. Edward’s going to show me how,’ Isaac responded proudly.