"You Call It Madness But I Call It Love"

Hi everyone!

Still lovin' all your awesome support on this fic! Keep it up!

B2T - Haha glad you like the nickname! Heaps glad that you're loving this fic and all it's glorious CJ teasin'!

Tclick - Still lots more cheeky charm to come for this fic!

Skippy - Loved all your fantasic reviews of each of the chapters! Hope you stay hooked on this fic lol!

Chazny - Hahaha another Joey Braxton fan I see! Yes I'd love Joey to return but Charlie's such a different character now - I don't know if they'd still have that connection - unless Joey turned up hot as anything sporting a bunch of tatts lol!

JCLuv - Hope this chapter cures your boredom...for at least a few mins!

XTR - Glad you liked the new job for Joey! Of course Charlie could be a key factor in her staying if she does...! Hahaha - Charlie has it so bad you can't believe! And it's just gonna get worse!

Kim - Hahaha could Charlie be more obvious? Apparently not quite! Get set for more CJ hotness!

JSCO - Nobody could blame her! Joey is hot!

CJ4eva - Oh their flirtation sure is extreme and will keep in that direction!

And the CJ flirtation continues!

Chapter Seven

The next morning, Charlie felt surprisingly happy at the prospect of spending the morning with Joey. In the back of her mind, she was curious if spending more time with the tattooed woman would help her work out what it was about her that stopped her of thinking of anyone else.

Charlie had been embarrassed when she'd left Leah's place and her daughter had commented on how there seemed to be something different going on with her. Charlie hadn't been able to admit to Ruby that she was hoping to spend the morning with Joey as she was still trying to work out what her feelings were for the woman.

Charlie had only further embarrassed herself when Ruby had mentioned to her mother that she had been spending some time with Casey Braxton and she had warned her daughter not to spend time with the youngest Braxton brother.

Afterwards, Charlie had simply found herself feeling guilty for been too over protective of Ruby and wondered if she was simply projecting her fears of what people could think if they knew she was interested in being friends' with one of the Braxton's herself.

Charlie hoped when she returned home that evening that she could apologise to Ruby for being so judgmental over Casey without even meeting the boy and hoped that maybe Joey could help her to get to know a little bit about her little brother to see if her worry over the boy hanging around Ruby was warranted.

As Charlie reached the beach she looked around the place hoping that Joey would show up to join her on her run along the beach. She sighed disappointedly as the Braxton sibling was nowhere to be found, then shook her head as she noticed some of the 'River Boys' including Brax and Heath down at one end of the beach surfing and hanging out together.

Glancing down at her watch, wondering if she should wait to see if Joey turned up, Charlie's eyes fell to the other end of the beach. Pursing her lips together, Charlie then smiled slightly as she found Joey surfing the waves away from her brothers.

Unable to resist, Charlie jogged down the beach towards where Joey was surfing, glad that Brax didn't happen to notice her along the way because she once more sensed that Brax wouldn't be happy with her being around his younger sister.

Charlie slowed down when she reached the end of the beach, and looking out at Joey surfing the waves, she sat down in the sand to watch the tattooed beauty at work. She smiled at the way Joey owned the waves, knowing precisely how to navigate her way across the waves. She learned pretty quickly that there was a reason why Joey was a professional surfer and had no qualms accepting that Joey was a much better surfer than any of her brothers.

After about ten minutes, Joey finally noticed Charlie sitting on the beach watching her surf. Though she found it hard to leave the waves and the idea of having Charlie watching her eagerly was appealing to her, Joey eventually surfed back into shore and walked over to Charlie to meet the cop.

Joey couldn't help but appreciate the fact that Charlie looked amazingly beautiful in a black and blue sports crop top and short tight shorts. She sure thought that Charlie had a body to die for.

Charlie stood up to greet Joey, passing the woman her towel which Charlie had found next to her on the beach. Joey slammed her surfboard into the sand so it stood upright as she reached out for the towel Charlie offered her.

Wrapping the towel around her, Joey grinned up at the woman, "So I see you finally decided to grace me with your presence."

Charlie couldn't help but smile back, "And how long exactly have you been out here waiting for me?"

"An hour...or two," Joey admitted.

Charlie placed her hands on her hips, "I'll take it you mean that you're a little addicted to surfing rather than spending all that time...just waiting for me. So...what happened to you joining me for my run this morning?"

Joey tilted her head to the side, as she began using the towel to dry her hair, "I guess I didn't want to admit yesterday...I'm not much of a runner. I didn't want to come here this morning and have you beat me too easily at something like a run down the beach. I'm pretty competitive...didn't want to lose to you...this early."

Charlie breathed deeply, still desperately trying to work out what it was about Joey that kept her so intrigued, "Well if you don't want to go for a run...and have me beat you easily...or you know...gracefully let you win...you wanta go for a walk down towards the lighthouse...to talk and...get to know each other?"

Joey wrapped the towel around her waist, noticing the fact that Charlie's eyes gazed at her body as she did so. Then picking up her surf board she gestured for Charlie to follow her.

Charlie got in step with Joey, closing her eyes and sighing softly when her hand grazed Joey's accidentally. The spark between them at the touch was felt by both women and they smiled shyly at each other.

As they walked next to each other, Charlie bit her lip, "Do you mind if I ask you something? Um...your brother Casey...is he a good guy?"

Joey raised her eyebrow at Charlie's question, "I think he is...he's not gonna turn out like Heath or Brax if that's what you mean. He has it in him to be a better person and have a great future in front of him...he's just at that stage where this is the point that he has to decide that he can be that better person...and do so...regardless of Brax or Heath's interference."

Charlie shifted her hands behind her back, awkwardly gripping them together nervously, "Um...sorry I just...my...ah...daughter...Ruby...this morning she told me she'd been hanging out with Casey and I..."

Joey pursed her lips, "I still can't believe that you have a daughter the same age as my brother...I mean that's...not the point and not at all my business is it? I'm sorry."

Charlie smiled comfortingly, "It's okay...a lot of people...question that and want to know the story between us. And while I don't mean to be...it's not that it's not your business...I want to tell you about...I really do because I think I'd be able to trust you with it...I'm just..."

Joey took her free hand, gingerly placing it on Charlie's lower back for a moment in a small gesture of comfort, "You're not ready yet...I know and that's okay. I'd like to think that when you're ready you can trust me...with tales of your past. Whenever you want to talk about it...or anything else...no pressure okay?"

Charlie held her breath at the contact from Joey's hand. Her skin felt like it was on fire from Joey's touch unlike anything Charlie had ever experienced before from such a delicate gesture, "Thank you...it means a lot to me...that you don't need to know absolutely every detail about my past until I'm ready to tell you."

Joey nodded in understanding, "Okay so back to the Casey and Ruby deal...let me guess...you told Ruby not to spend time with him because he's a Braxton and you're feeling guilty about judging him because of who he's related to...and the fact we're hanging out together...means that when Ruby finds out about us...she's likely to point out that you're a hypocrite."

Charlie opened her mouth widely in surprise at Joey's presumption which was absolutely correct, "Um...yeah that's...it exactly. How did you...? It's like you know me...how is that when we haven't known each other for long?"

Joey shrugged, smiling shyly, "Maybe because it feels like I've known you for a lot longer than I really have...or...um...maybe because I...just read people well."

Charlie nodded boldly at the thought that Joey seemed to know her so well, "Ruby will get over it soon enough but that doesn't mean she won't be stubborn about me been critical of Casey when we're...ah...hanging out. I'm sorry...I am being a complete hypocrite about your brother when I don't even know him...do you hate me for being so critical of your family?"

Joey shook her head, "I couldn't hate you for that...it sucks but...it's the price I have to pay for been related to my brothers. This is the reputation that they've managed to build and what people expect of us...I'd like you to at least meet Casey before you judge him on the person he is and the effect he could have on Ruby because of who he's related to...I'm not upset with you...and you know why...'cause I am determined to change your opinion on our family...or at least change your opinion on me."

Charlie bit down on her lip anxiously, still struggling to work out exactly what her opinion was about Joey let alone the prospect of having that opinion changed, "Oh yeah...how do you plan on doing that?"

As they reached the end of the beach, Joey turned to Charlie standing in front of the older woman and grinned confidently, "Like I've told you several times now...I'm gonna teach you how to surf!"


Could these two be any cuter?

Oh wait - how about during Charlie's surf lesson?

Next time - We've got that surf lesson you guys have all been keen for! How's that gonna end up for CJ?

One thing's for sure next chapter - Charlie's gonna get a kiss from a Braxton!

Which one will it be? Joey or Brax?