Calling Charlie Read online

  Calling Charlie

  Pamela M. Kelley

  Copyright © 2019 by Pamela M. Kelley

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Maggie Quinn loves her role as bartender and co-owner of Quinn’s. Calling Charlie Keane to place her weekly order is something she looks forward to. It’s no secret to her friends and family that Maggie has a crush on Charlie’s voice. She’s eager to meet him in-person—but Charlie keeps rescheduling their business lunch. He enjoys their weekly calls too, but is afraid that when they meet, Maggie will be disappointed. But he may have waited too long—Maggie has started dating someone new. Is it too late for Charlie?

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Excerpt—Six Months in Montana

  About the Author

  Recipe

  Introduction

  Next up is my new series, The Nantucket Inn.

  Click here to read the blurb and to preorder. It will be released on Friday, April 19th.

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  Chapter 1

  Maggie Quinn finished cutting the fruit she needed for the lunch shift and piled the oranges, lemons and limes into their containers. Mondays weren’t generally all that busy, but she liked to be prepared, just in case. As one of the co-owner’s of Quinn’s, she ran the bar, while her brother Ryder oversaw general operations for the restaurant.

  She glanced at the big, old wood clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven. They opened at eleven thirty and it was almost time for the call she looked forward to each week. She poured herself a fresh cup of coffee and grabbed her notebook with the information she’d need for the call. She slid into one of the bar chairs, took a sip of her hot, black coffee, and dialed his number.

  “Keane’s Liquors, this is Charlie.”

  As she always did, Maggie felt goosebumps at the first sound of his voice. It was mesmerizing and she could listen to him talk for hours if she had the chance.

  “Hi Charlie, it’s Maggie Quinn.”

  “Hey, Maggie. Did you have a good weekend?”

  She smiled at the warmth in his voice.

  “Yes, my weekend was good, busy and relaxing. How about you?” She’d had a date, first one in a long time, on Saturday night. But she wasn’t going to tell him about that. Not that the date hadn’t gone well. It was fine. It just wasn’t with Charlie.

  She hadn’t actually met Charlie in person, yet. But she’d invited him to come into Quinn’s for a lunch meeting. She claimed it was so he could see the bar and better advise her on ordering. He’d sounded enthusiastic, but had rescheduled their meeting twice already and put it off until April. But April was only a week away now, and there was no way he could cancel again.

  “I’m sure my weekend wasn’t as exciting as yours. But my twin nephews were in town. It was great to see Tommy and Tony and to visit with my sister.” Maggie knew that Charlie was close to his sister Caitlyn and that her husband Billy was an optometrist. They lived in Riston, the next town over, and he saw them often and loved spoiling his ten-year-old nephews.

  “That sounds nice. They’re lucky to have you,” she said warmly.

  “They’re great kids,” he said. They chatted for a few more minutes about nothing in particular. Ryder walked out at one point and headed her way with a dark look on his face. He clearly wanted to talk to her about something, but once he saw her on the phone, he stopped short, watched her for a moment and his expression softened. “Tell Charlie I said hello,” he said, before turning around and heading back into the kitchen.

  “Tell Ryder I said hello, too. I hope he’s not good at cards?”

  “Ryder? He is, actually. Why?”

  Charlie chuckled. He’s coming here with a few other guys Thursday night. My buddy Josh knows him from the gym. One of our usual players can’t come for a while. He and his wife just had their first baby. You know how it is.”

  Maggie laughed. “Well, not really. But I can imagine.”

  “So, the weekend was good?”

  Maggie hesitated, feeling oddly guilty about her date, which was ridiculous as she’d never actually even met Charlie in person. And they really just had a business relationship.

  “The restaurant was busy?” Charlie asked, and she realized he hadn’t been asking about her weekend, but rather the reason for his call.

  “Yes, very busy. I need to place a bigger order than usual.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing. I’m ready when you are.”

  Maggie opened her notebook and told him what she needed, all the alcohol that needed to be replaced. When she finished, he made a suggestion, as he usually did for something new that she might want to try. This week it was a chardonnay from Washington State and a winery that she wasn’t familiar with.

  “They are a small, family-owned winery in Woodinville. I think you’ll like it.” Charlie knew she had a weakness for chardonnay. She’d once mentioned that it was her drink of choice on the nights she went out instead of working.

  “Sure, we’ll take a few bottles. I’ll run it as a weekly special.”

  “Is there anything else you need? It’s always great to talk with you, as usual.”

  Maggie wanted so badly to tell him what she wanted. An actual date. A chance to meet in person. But she’d be meeting him in a week for their official lunch visit. It wasn’t a date, but it was probably as close as she could get. She got the sense that Charlie didn’t get out much. He seemed almost hermit-like.

  She knew that he ran his very successful liquor distributor company mostly from his home office. She knew this because she’d stopped by once, months ago, on the pretext of needing to pick up a case of vodka. The older woman at his front desk had been lovely and explained that Charlie mostly worked from home, but she could have one of the guys bring a case of vodka right out to her car.

  The next time he’d talked to her, he’d apologized for not being there when she came by. “Eloise told me and I’m sorry that I missed seeing you. I go in very early every morning, check the warehouse and outgoing deliveries, and then head home at lunch time and work from my home office the rest of the day.”

  “I think that’s everything I need, for now,” Maggie said. She was reluctant to end the call and go another week until she’d hear his voice again.

  “All right, we’ll get that right out to you this afternoon. Have a great day, Maggie.”

  “You too, Charlie.”

  Maggie set the phone down, looked up, and saw her grandmother and her posse of four friends looking at her with interest. She’d been so engrossed in her call and looking down at her notes that she hadn’t even heard them come in.

  She jumped up and gave her grandmother a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Grams.” She went and hugged all her friends in turn--Maude, Nellie, Betty, and Ruby. They came in at least once a week, usually later in the afternoon, though.

  “What brings you in so early today?” she asked as she led them to their favorite round table by the bay window that overlooked Main Street. They all loved to people-watch. Her grandmother didn’t miss much and she looked particularly pleased as she slid into her chair and took a menu from Maggie’s o
utstretched hand.

  “We signed up for a knitting class this that starts this afternoon. It’s shocking that none of us know how to knit at our advanced age. Was that your young man you were talking to?”

  Maggie smiled. “I don’t have a young man, Grams.”

  “Didn’t you tell me you had a date this weekend? With that lawyer, the one that owns the biggest law firm in town? I thought that sounded so promising.”

  Maggie laughed. “Yes, I did. And he was very nice. We might go out again sometime.”

  “That wasn’t him you were talking to?” Her grandmother looked puzzled.

  “No, that was just Charlie. I was putting in my weekly order for the bar.”

  “Charlie Keane? I haven’t seen him since he was a child. His father was a good man. Are you dating him?”

  It was Maggie’s turn to be surprised. “Dating Charlie? No. I’ve actually never even met him.”

  Her grandmother raised her eyebrows. “You don’t say? My eyes must be failing me. You looked as though you knew him quite well.”

  Maggie smiled. “Well, I feel like I do. I’ve talked to him almost every week for several years now.”

  “How interesting. And yet you’ve never met him?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “Fascinating.” She looked around the table at her friends who were hanging on every word. They all nodded in agreement.

  “It’s really not that interesting,” Maggie assured them. “So, let me tell you all the specials and get your drink order.”

  Chapter 2

  Charlie hung up the phone and smiled. Talking to Maggie Quinn was one of the highlights of an otherwise ordinary week. He followed her on Instagram, through his business account. Keane Liquors was active on social media, but there wasn’t a trace of Charlie Keane visible anywhere.

  He didn’t have a personal profile on Facebook or any social media. His office assistant, Emma, ran the social media accounts for the business. She did a great job generating buzz for them by posting pictures of all their newest wines and fun drinks.

  Charlie only went on social media to see if Maggie had posted something new. She’d told him that Bethany, Ryder’s wife, had suggested that Ryder film Maggie behind the bar, mixing one of her fancy drinks. She’d thought it was a silly idea, but it turned out that customers loved it and always ordered whatever she made in the videos.

  Charlie liked watching her work. She had a smile that lit up her whole face, huge friendly eyes, and long, chocolate brown hair that fell in a cascade of waves to the middle of her back. She was always laughing in the videos. He knew that she wasn’t entirely comfortable being filmed. She’d admitted it to him once, but she did it because it was good for the restaurant. He saw that she had a new video up and clicked on it.

  “This one is called a S’mores Martini. It will take you back to your childhood and satisfy your sweet tooth.” Maggie spread marshmallow fluff around the rim of a martini glass, dipped it in a dish of crushed graham crackers and then held a small baker’s blow torch to the marshmallow until it was lightly browned all over.

  “Then you mix ice with Twix flavored Vodka. We make that ourselves by soaking Twix candy bars in vodka, and adding Godiva white and chocolate liqueurs. Give it a good shake and pour into your martini glass, or enjoy your S’mores Martini on the rocks. If you don’t want to make it yourself, come on in to Quinn’s and I’ll be glad to make one for you.”

  Charlie turned off the computer and stood up. It was time to go meet Josh at Brennan’s dress shop in Lewiston, which was an hour away. It wasn’t where Charlie usually went, but Josh had insisted it was the best place for what he needed, which was a tuxedo suitable for a black-tie event. Charlie had one, but it was old and hung off him now that he’d lost nearly twenty pounds. Ever since Maggie had invited him in for their lunch meeting, he’d taken the initiative to try to lose a few pounds and get into shape.

  He’d started using the home gym that he had in a spare room. It had a full set of weights and a treadmill. And he was eating better and walking more. His doctor had also read him the riot act at his last physical and warned him that if he didn’t change his habits soon, he’d be on the same track as his father, dead of a heart attack in his early fifties. His father had lived large, enjoying rich foods, strong martinis and his only exercise had been an occasional game of golf.

  Sometimes Charlie imagined that he sensed interest from Maggie. Their conversations always went a little longer than necessary when she called in her weekly order. When he looked in the mirror, though, he was pretty sure that once they met, any interest would fade. His nickname in school had been Charlie Brown, because he had a round, bland face that most people didn’t look twice at. So, he’d canceled their meeting more than once, each time rescheduling to put off the disappointment that he was sure he’d see on her face.

  But still, he’d managed to find love. The kind of true love that people dream about. Meredith had been his high school sweetheart and soul-mate. They’d gone to college together and neither of them had ever dated anyone else. They’d married right after college and they’d had a wonderful life, although Meredith couldn’t get pregnant. That had disappointed both of them and they were beginning to look into adoption when the accident happened.

  He still felt guilt and confusion over it, though he knew deep down that there was nothing he could have done to save her. They’d been waiting to make a turn when a truck ran a red light and plowed right into Meredith’s side of the car. They said she died on impact. The car was totaled, yet Charlie escaped with only a stiff neck and a few scratches. Everyone said he’d been lucky. He hadn’t felt lucky at the time, though.

  That was three years ago and while it was true that it got a little easier each year, he still missed her. And he knew that it wasn’t likely that he’d find that kind of love again. Especially with someone as vibrant and beautiful as Maggie. Meredith had been beautiful, too, but hers had been a quiet, gentle beauty. Like Charlie, Meredith didn’t stand out in the crowd. But she’d been beautiful to him.

  Maggie’s beauty on the other hand, scared him. She had the kind of looks and energy that made people stop and stare. He was surprised that she was still single, because he imagined that she could have her pick of men. He pictured her with someone more like his best friend. Josh looked like a walking, talking Ken doll, with his perfect blonde hair, blue eyes and dimples. He was also 6’ 4” and his abs were insane. Charlie hadn’t seen evidence of his own abs in years. Though his belly was getting smaller now that he was more active.

  Charlie arrived at Brennan’s before Josh and started browsing the racks. He caught a glimpse of himself in one of the full-length mirrors and groaned. Maybe he should have dressed a bit better. He was wearing a pair of old jeans that had a paint splotch on one knee, but they were the only jeans that fit him now. Everything else was too loose.

  He still had on his Keane Liquors navy blue sweatshirt which was a bit dusty from helping the guys in the warehouse get the orders loaded onto the trucks that morning. They’d been short a guy, so Charlie had pitched in, like he usually did. Because he was in better shape now, the work had gone quickly.

  Josh texted that he was running a few minutes late so Charlie continued to roam around, looking at the various suits. He was surprised that no one had come over to greet him or offer to help. The shop wasn’t busy. There was only one other customer and they were paying at the register. He assumed when they finished, someone would come his way.

  But the customer paid and left, and when Charlie glanced over at the two salespeople in their expensive suits, he saw that they were both looking his way and muttering. The expression on their faces was of distaste, almost as if Charlie didn’t belong in their shop. He was sure he must be mistaken, though, and he was getting tired of doing nothing and just waiting for Josh, so he ambled over to them and smiled. He received two stony glares in return.

  “I’m waiting for a friend, but maybe we could get started looking at some
suits?” he suggested.

  The two men exchanged glances, and one of them looked Charlie up and down and clearly seemed to find him not worthy.

  “Are you sure this is the shop you’re supposed to be meeting him at? The men’s budget warehouse is a few doors down,” he said with a sniff.

  “Yes, they might have better options for you there,” the other agreed and then added. “This is a premium store, we don’t discount.”

  Charlie was equally amused and offended. “What makes you think I’m looking for a discount?” he snapped. He used his full business voice, the one he rarely used except for important negotiations. The two men looked at each other in confusion. And a moment later Josh came gliding in.

  “Perry and James, how are you? I hope you’ve been taking good care of my friend Charlie. He’s the business executive I told you I’d be bringing by today.”

  Charlie watched as their faces both lost color and they stammered to try to recover.

  “Of course. How wonderful to meet you. Josh is one of our favorite clients. Let’s get a room for you and we’ll show you our very best suits.”

  “No, thanks. We won’t be staying.” Charlie turned to Josh who quickly sensed that something was off. “Didn’t you mention that a new high end men’s shop opened a few blocks away?”

  “Yes, Jones Menswear. I haven’t checked it out because I’ve always had such great service here.”

  “Well, I’m finding the service a bit…lacking. I’d like to go see if Jones is more my style. It’s too bad, because I need to buy quite a few things, and I’m assuming you’d get a commission?” Perry and James nodded miserably.