Out of Time 01 - Out of Time

eavesdropping.
    Charlie laughed. It was a rich, wonderful sound. “You’re a pip.”
    “I hate to do it to ya, Charlie, but I gotta go. Thanks for everything,” she said sadly and went up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
    Charlie cleared his throat and blushed. “Go on. Go home.”
    “I’ll see ya around, Charlie,” she said, turned and walked down the street.
    Charlie watched her for a moment and shook his head. He turned to go back inside when he took another look at Elizabeth. He gave her the once-over and smiled. “Don’t suppose you’re lookin’ for a job, are ya? I got girls havin’ babies and...” He shook his head and waved his big, meaty hand in defeat. He turned and reached for the door.
    “Wait,” Elizabeth said. “I am.”
    “Are what, honey?”
    “Looking for a job.”
    He smiled and looked her over again. He walked toward her and sized her up quickly. “You’re pretty enough. Ever wait tables?”
    She hesitated and decided to lie. “Sure.”
    Charlie saw right through her. “I ain’t got time for nobody green.”
    “I’m a quick learner,” she said. This was their first job offer, and she wasn’t going to let it slip by. “If you give me a chance, you won’t be sorry.”
    Charlie cocked his head to the side. “Turn around.”
    Elizabeth knew she should have felt uneasy, but there was something gentle in his eyes. Some people just feel right, and Charlie was one of them. His face was big and round, with jowls like a hound dog that shook when he laughed. He seemed the sort of man you could lean on, good broad shoulders to cry on and big, brawny arms to hold you up. His shirt was wrinkled and she could see crude patch jobs at the cuffs. A bachelor if ever there was one. She trusted him instinctively and turned around as he asked.
    “What’s a doll like you doin’ hanging around here?”
    “I’m waiting for my... husband.”
    “Married, huh?” Charlie said with a shake of his head. “Well, best of luck to ya.”
    He moved to walk away, but Elizabeth grabbed his arm. “Wait.”
    “Husbands. Don’t go over so good. I got enough problems,” he said and gently lifted her hand from his arm.
    “It is just waiting tables, isn’t it?” she asked.
    “I run a clean joint,” he said obviously affronted. “No funny stuff in my place.” He looked her up and down again. “I don’t know.”
    “I really need a job. We’re new here, and well, we’re kind of running out of money. And don’t worry about my husband. He’s very forward thinking.”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Please?” She put on her best pout. Charlie frowned, but she could see she’d gotten to him.
    “I always did have a soft spot for dames in trouble. All right,” he groused. “We’ll give ya a try.”
    Elizabeth was so excited she stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you!”
    “And your husband. You sure he won’t mind?” Charlie asked.
    “Positive.”
    Charlie looked over her shoulder and his expression darkened. “Cause he looks like he minds.”
    Elizabeth didn’t understand until she stepped back and followed his gaze. Simon stood behind her and looked like a brewing storm.

Chapter Eight
    S imon glared at Charlie with a look that had made the first year students tremble. “Who are you?”
    “Simon, darling,” Elizabeth said sweetly, as she took his arm. The muscles under her fingers were corded. When Simon wanted to, he positively oozed danger. “I’ve got a job.”
    Simon narrowed his eyes at Charlie. “Doing what exactly?”
    Charlie shrugged and looked at Elizabeth. “I told ya, doll. Husbands.”
    “No, no. He’s just excited. Aren’t you, Simon?”
    Simon set his jaw, his piercing gaze never wavering from Charlie. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
    “Waitress. At Charlie’s place. Isn’t that good news?”
    “You own a restaurant?” Simon asked, skepticism dripping from every syllable.
    Charlie crossed his arms over his big chest proudly. “A club. We serve a lot of tea, if ya get my meaning?”
    Simon’s lip curled in distaste. “A bar.”
    It was Charlie’s turn to be suspicious. “You ain’t a G-man are ya?”
    Elizabeth laughed. The idea of Simon as Elliot Ness, pulling down the brim of his hat and shouldering his gat was... not so funny really, and pretty darn sexy. Regardless, Simon clearly failed to see the humor in the situation. His arm tensed under her hand.
    “Don’t worry. Nothing like that,” she said.
    Charlie eyed