Page 28 of Practice Makes Perfect

“Well, that wasn’t at all obvious,” Cater mutters. “But now that we’re alone, I can do this.” When Carter’s soft lips brush against mine, all my thoughts melt away in favor of sinking into the bliss that is his kiss. For someone who proclaimed to need to practice dating, he sure as hell didn’t need to practice this, or anything really. He just needed a confidence boost, and I am happy to have provided it. Carter pulls back and opens his mouth to say something, but the shop bell rings out again. “Did you forget something?” he asks, but when his eyes move toward the door, they widen as an apologetic look crosses his face.

My gaze follows his to find a beautiful, red-headed woman coming inside. She breezes past the display cases on her way over to the counter, her eyes lighting up when she sees Carter. Her red bow of a mouth turns up into a smile for him as she ignores me almost entirely. “Hello again.” Her melodic voice rings out as she gives Carter an obvious once over. “I didn’t forget anything, but it’s been a while since I stopped in and thought I would see if you have anything I might be interested in. Remember me?”

Carter smiles politely and nods. “Um, it was Ms. Montgomery, right?” She nods and his eyes come together in thought. “Did you want to take a look around? Billie can guide you through the store if you’d like. She knows this place better than I do now.” My chest squeezes with happiness at his words as well as the look of absolute pride on his face.

The woman ignores me and his question in favor of batting her eyelashes at him, leaning over the counter in a suggestive manner that would make a lot of men stand up and take notice, but not Carter. He only has eyes for me which is both a relief and a bit of a problem since technically we aren’t even seeing each other and I’m supposed to be helping him get ready for the dating world, one that includes the woman that is practically throwing herself at him right now. “No. Today I’m just browsing, but I absolutely love the work you did on my stools. I can’t stop admiring the craftsmanship.” Her eyes flick to me dismissively for a moment before moving back to Carter. “Have you given any more thought to private lessons? I’m still very interested.”

Woodworking lessons aren’t what she’s interested in, that much is obvious. Jealousy and possession rocket through me, and while I would love to reach up on my toes and kiss Carter, staking my claim for this woman to see, I know I have no right to do that. For his part, if Carter is affected at all by her glaring attempts to flirt with him, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he moves closer to me and shakes his head at her. “Sorry, no. There are still too many safety issues involved.”

The disinterest in his tone speaks to another reason why he’s saying no, but the woman doesn’t seem to pick up on it. Undeterred, the redhead presses on. “Well, maybe you could just talk to me about it over a cup of coffee or something instead.” She ignores his brushing her off and leans further across the counter, her boobs practically spilling from her top, and I make a mental note to disinfect the surface the minute she leaves. “It could be fun.”

Carter smiles tightly at her. “Thanks, but the shop keeps me pretty busy.” He steps back toward the office. “Speaking of which, I should get back to work. Enjoy your browsing.”

“Thanks,” she calls. Her face is pinched as he walks into the small office and shuts the door. With one last glance at me, the redhead marches from the shop without looking at another item.

Glaring at her back as she walks out, the moment the store is empty again, I spin on my heel and open the office door. Carter is inside, sitting on the chair with his hands clasped. “Is she gone?”

“Yes,” I admit, though the jealousy I felt still lingers like a bad cough. “Why did you brush her off?” Even though it kills me to think so, he should be jumping at the chance to go out on dates now that he’s more confident.

Carter frowns and stands from his seat. “What are you talking about?”

“She asked you out.” I gesture towards the store and sigh. “What has all this practice been for if you don’t accept offers for coffee from beautiful women who are obviously interested in you?”

His frown deepens, but he says nothing as he steps closer, his woodsy scent wafting over me and making me momentarily light-headed. Closing my eyes, I relish the feel of it, wondering if it might be for the last time. Maybe my prodding will have him rethinking his rejection of the buxom redhead and I’ll be alone again. The thought makes me nauseated, but the feel of his calloused hands grabbing mine causes it to disappear. “Look at me, Billie.” One eye squints open and he shakes my hands until I open both entirely. “Hear me when I say this. What we have been doing has never been just practice for me. You have never been just practice.” He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly as his eyes bore into mine. “You’re so much more than that.” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod. It hasn’t really felt like just practice to me either, but I’m not sure I’m ready to admit that yet. Carter’s eyes narrow at me before he leans down and kisses my forehead. “I can see you still need some convincing.”

“Carter—” I start, but stop when I don’t know what to say.

He smiles and kisses my lips briefly before he walks toward the door. “I’m going back to work, but be prepared because I’m taking you out on a date tomorrow, Biliyana Kochev. A very real date.”

With those parting words, he’s out the door. As I’m left standing in the office like a dork with no idea what just occurred, two things happen. One, I have the feeling that things between the two of us just escalated and I’m going to need to figure my shit out sooner rather than later. And two, I can’t stop smiling.

Chapter Twenty-One

Carter

It’s been a couple of days since our talk in the shop, and while I was a little worried my confession might have scared Billie off, it hasn’t. Every night we still end up in the same bed and yesterday she even closed the store for ten minutes and sneaked over to the workshop for a quickie, something I very much enjoyed but that now has me getting hard almost every time I look over at the workbench she bent over as she pulled me into her from behind. The sex has been more mind-blowing than I thought it would be, and I know that it’s all because of Billie. Not only is she attentive to my needs and very responsive, but her being with me has given me the confidence to be more myself, in and out of the bedroom.

These days, I’m walking a little taller, laughing a lot more freely, and am generally a lot more pleasant to be around. Even some of the artisans we work with have remarked on it whenever they stop by, telling me that I look happier than they’ve ever seen me. It’s because I am, and while I wasn’t sure about telling Billie my feelings before, I’m sure about it now. Ever since my talk with Maya, I’ve thought about what she asked multiple times. Would I do a long distance relationship? Absofuckinglutely. It’s only a three hour drive, and even though I only get one day off a week, I would happily spend it driving back and forth to see Billie if she really wanted to stay in Denver. And, if things progressed the way I would like them to, I would move there.

As much as I love the shop and want to honor my family by keeping it open, the more I thought about it, the more I knew my parents would want me to honor them by living the life I deserve, by falling in love and starting a family of my own. I’m in love with Billie, and as soon as she’s ready, we can start a life together. Before it was easy to doubt whether or not she had feelings for me, too, but ever since our little talk in the shop, I know she does. I can feel it and I can see it in her eyes anytime we’re together. What started off as just something to help me gain confidence quickly evolved into much more than that, and I’m not going to wait any longer to tell her.

Billie surprised me a few weeks ago with scented candles, lingerie, and the most amazing first time together. Tonight, I’m going to give her a surprise of my own to help convince her to give us a chance. I wanted to show Billie that even though I may have been helpless when it came to dating before, I’m not helpless when I’m with her. If anything, she makes me stronger than I think I ever have been, and I want her to see how well I can fit into her world, if that’s what she wants from me. Dressed in my finest date night outfit of a dark green button down that Billie says brings out my eyes and a pair of brown slacks, I make my way into the shop carrying the dozen roses I purchased from the florist a few doors down.

Billie is in her usual late-summer uniform of a sleeveless jumpsuit, this one a light pink color that offsets her bronzed skin nicely. As much as I would like to skip to the end of the night where I can get my hands and mouth all over her, I want to treat her right and as she’s meant to be treated, like the absolute marvel of a woman she is. When she finally turns to see me, her eyes widen and her mouth gapes open. “Wow. You look really good.”

Stepping up to her, I hold the blooms to the side and lean down to brush a light kiss against her lips. “Thank you. You do, too.” Presenting her with the flowers, I smile as she accepts them with a wide, pleased grin. “For you.”

Billie dips her head near the rose buds and inhales. “They’re beautiful,” she tells me, hugging them to her chest. “You didn’t have to get me flowers. I already have my favorite one next to my bed.”

The wooden rose she’s talking about has been next to her bed since the day I gifted it to her, and while nothing makes me happier than seeing her enjoy something I made especially for her, I also need her to know that I can be more than just a woodworker. “I wanted to get them for you.” Leaning down to take a hit of the rose aroma, I sigh at the way they smell just like her. “They remind me of you. Besides, I was pretty sure that the wooden gifts would get old after a while, and I can’t have you getting bored with me.”

“I’ll never get bored with you,” she confesses instantly, smiling shyly as she walks over to the front door to lock up. When she’s done, she gestures at my outfit and then the flowers. “Between the roses and the fantastic way you look tonight, I take it we’re not just doing our usual Friday night pizza but are going on that date you promised me?”

Nodding my head, I lead her outside and to the passenger seat of my car. The small sedan isn’t nearly as impressive as her sporty red car, but it’s what I have and Billie has never minded it. In fact, she seems to prefer being the passenger to driving, even if it means being hauled around in my decade’s old car. “Yes. I’m taking you out tonight. Somewhere nice.”

Her eyes flick to her outfit and she gasps. “Am I dressed for it?” There are parts of her that seem so different than when I first met her, but her desire to always look her best and be dressed appropriately hasn’t changed.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her honestly. She’s the most beautiful person I have ever met, inside and out, and after tonight, she’ll know exactly how I feel about her. I lean down and give her a quick peck on the cheek before helping her into the car. Once I’m in the driver’s seat, I look over at Billie, watching her admire the flowers for another moment before resting them on her lap. “Buckle up. We’ve got a bit of a drive.”

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