Well this one makes up for the last two chapters.

Enjoy

Chapter 10

Aaron really didn't know what tonight was going to hold, but realised that it was going to be interesting. He really hoped Miles managed to keep his cool and not lose it with Strausser / Connor, he was still unsure what to call him. He thought about waiting for Charlie and Nora; he could hear them laughing above him.

At the sametime Charlie knocked on Nora's door, Nora opened the door and gave a laugh as she twirled. She was wearing a long black dress, which had a split up right up the side to nearly the top of her thigh.

"Wow you look amazing Nora, you really need to keep that dress" exclaimed Charlie.

"I think I will, and WOW yourself Charlie that dress is absolutely gorgeous, it was made for you" Charlie smiled and done a twirl as well. She was wear a long flowing emerald green dress, it had a very low slung back. She had her hair down and with its natural curl she looked amazing.

"Well tonight is going to be REALLY interesting, how will the two men keep their hands off you." She winked at Charlie and laughed.

Charlie felt nervous, maybe I should go change she thought to herself.

"Don't you dare change" Nora could read Charlie's expression "You look amazing, and maybe this is just the kick in the ass Miles needs, if he doesn't do anything tonight, then he is a bigger fool than I gave him credit for!"

Nora noticed Charlie seemed apprehensive. "Don't worry Charlie I am right here and from what I have seen, Connor will support you. Just go down there and enjoy yourself. Just be yourself."

Nora took Charlie's arm and headed down the stairs...

Previously...

Miles looked at Strausser "Well why don't you. I don't feel that way about Charlie"

The both looked round as they heard the door open...

Miles breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Aaron walk through the door.

Aaron looked at Strausser, then at Miles "Will you ever learn?"

Aaron shook his head "Everyone knows you do, so stop being such an ass"

"Who is being an ass?" inquired Nora as she entered the room. By the looks going between the men, she could guess was something to do with Miles, but was not a conversation to continue especially tonight. Before anything could be said Charlie walked into the room. They had decided Nora would go first and Charlie would make an entrance by herself, with the desired effect Nora was looking for.

"Charlie.. You look even more beautiful than last night" Connor stepped forward and twirled Charlie, she smiled and laughed. "You have managed to take my breathe away again" he gave Charlie a wink and quick kiss on the lips. Connor turned to Nora, "and may I say that you look absolutely gorgeous as well." Connor stepped closer to Nora and twirled her "You need to keep that dress it was made for you. God both dresses were designed for each of you in mind" He gave Nora a peck on the cheek.

"Well gentlemen, I don't know about you, but I can not remember the last time I had two beautiful women in my company" he turned and faced Miles and Aaron.

"So ladies what would you like to drink?" Charlie spoke for the first time since entering the room, stepping forward slightly, trying to gauge Miles's reaction to her dress. "Could we have some of the wine we had last night? It was really nice" Connor nodded and went to pour some for Nora and Charlie.

Aaron stepped forward and told them both how beautiful they look, and gave Charlie and Nora a hug and a peck on the cheek.

Miles did not know what to say he just smiled and nodded. Charlie looked amazing, and he was glad that he was standing where he was, or everyone would know the reaction she had caused to his body. She looked absolutely gorgeous. He felt like an idiot. Everyone was right Charlie was no longer a kid, she was a beautiful woman. He had to control himself when Strausser kissed his Charlie. He also knew everyone was right, he had been kidding himself that he didn't feel anything for her, that she was only his niece, but she was only that in name only, he had to tell her the truth. When he looked over at Charlie he saw her looking at him he smiled at her, she gave a small smile back, not like the one that she had given to Strausser, he felt like he had been kicked in the guts. maybe he was too late?

Nora had been watching Miles's face since Charlie walked into the room. she knew it would have the desired effect, she thought someone was going to have to close his jaw when it fell open, she saw every emotion on his face from adoration, lust to anger when Connor kissed her. Then realisation on his true feelings. Finally she thought to herself and smiled. She noticed Charlie look over at Miles looking for some sign of how he felt, all he did was smile and showed no emotion. God he was infuriating. Charlie smiled wanly and turned to speak to Connor. Nora noticed the hurt on Miles's face. Well what did he expect.

Charlie, had missed all the emotions that Miles had shown on his face when she entered the room as Connor had blocked her view, when she could see his face it was his usual control and she did not know how he was feeling, if anything at all. He smiled at her. She was a little disheartened by this she smiled wanly back and turned and spoke to Connor. She was feeling slightly hurt that he never said anything or showed anything. Aaron had at least came over to her and said how beautiful she looked and gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek, and Miles couldn't even be bothered to move from the other side of the table. Well it just shows that she was right, he really does not feel anything for me.

Connor noticed Charlie was looking distant, she was not listening to him. God Miles was an idiot. He could not even tell her how amazing she looked. God he could throttle him for the hurt he could see on Charlie's face. He wished there was something he could do, he was really starting to have feelings for her. But unlike Miles, Connor really did believe in brotherly loyalty and until he knew 100% that Miles did not want Charlie he would not do anything. But that didn't mean that he wouldn't make things hard for Miles.

"Ok, if you follow me to the dining room" Connor announced to the room. He took Charlie's arm in his and escorted her to the dining room. "Thank you Connor."

Connor looked quizzically at Charlie "For escorting me out the room. I really needed to get out there. Please don't let Miles sit beside me I don't think i could handle that tonight"

Connor looked over at Charlie. "You know I am here for you, and I will do anything you want. Your wish is my command" and he bowed beside her. Charlie laughed as they continued towards the dining room.

Aaron turned towards Miles "Really?" Miles looked confused "What?"

"You could not even say how amazing she looked. Maybe what you said when I walked in on you and Strausser, i mean Connor was true" Aaron looked at Miles in disgust and walked out the room.

Miles watched him walk out and saw Nora watching him, he felt himself cringe he knew she was not going to hold back. "Well say it"

"Say what? I guessed you said something stupid when Aaron walked in regarding Charlie?" Miles Nodded "And after seeing Charlie walk in looking amazing I may add, you realised what an idiot you have been." Miles nodded again, scared at how well Nora was reading him

"And now you have blown a chance to tell her how you felt, or to show her, but no the Great Miles Matheson can not show emotion to Charlie, who now probably things that you really don't like her! You have really outdone yourself this time Miles"

Nora shook her head and headed towards the door she turned and looked at Miles with pity "You know, I would not blame Charlie if she did prefer Connor to you. He at least shows Charlie how he feels, and from what she told me earlier, he has shown her respect and trust. Something you have not been doing for a while." With that Nora walked out the room.

Miles stood still behind the table. He knew he should've done something, he was an idiot. but now did not know what to do to win Charlie back if he had lost her.

Miles grimaced to himself, I am not losing her to Connor.

He walked off after everyone with the determination to win Charlie back.