Page 227 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“Sure,” I said, and took him into the unused bedroom, my unofficial work station. I led him over to a combination dresser and TV stand. “Dad took the TV when he left. Now I use this to hold all my supplies.”

“Every drawer?” Carter asked, looking fascinated.

I nodded, blushing a little bit. “I’ve picked up a lot of discount fabric and stuff over the years.”

I pulled open one drawer, filled with nothing but spools of thread. I shut it, then opened the next, filled with an array of pins, organized needles, scissors, and other assorted necessities. I skipped a few more drawers and tugged open a larger bottom one, showing off my collection of thread and fabric.

“This is quite the collection.” Carter pointed at boxes on top of the dresser. “You keep your projects in these? Or are these from cleaning up?”

“They’re my projects.” I picked up one box and hefted it onto the bed. “Go ahead.”

Carter grasped the flaps of the box.

I waited, nibbling on my lower lip. I didn’t often show off what I worked on, not even to Maggie. I knew I was good at what I did, but would Carter think the same?

Could men appreciate sewing?

Carter opened the box and reached in. He brought out the first thing, a little smiling doll outfitted in a pink crochet dress and matching striped stockings. Her long yarn hair was styled into pigtails.

Carter turned the doll over in his hand. He gave a little tug on the crochet work. The knots stretched and pulled back into place, exactly as they were meant to. He turned the toy over again, skimming his fingers through the yarn hair.

I watched and waited, my heart in my throat. He showed no emotion at all. I knew that I must have failed him with this pathetic creation. He had to be just searching for the right thing to say so he wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

Carter lifted his head and broke out into a grin. “You made this?”

I nodded.

“The clothes too?”

I nodded again.

“Holy crap, Megyn!”

Carter set the doll aside and brought out another, this one in the same style, but with red yarn hair, sleepy eyes, and baggy overalls. He put her down, took out two more, a matching boy and girl pair with dark skin, curly hair, and huge smiles. He took out several more dolls and arranged them on the bed and stood staring at them with that same huge grin. “These are amazing! Show me more, Megyn. Please.”

I brought him another box, feeling dizzy, uncertain if I could trust the happiness rising up in my chest.

This one held felt food, soft toys resembling doughnuts, cookies, pie, pizza, strawberries, eggs over easy, broccoli, avocado, sushi, and anything else a person could possibly eat. Carter started laughing with pure delight as he pulled banana after banana after banana out of the box. “A whole bunch of bananas,” he joked.

His laughter made me smile.

I brought him another box and explained to him about quiet books, little sewn books for young children, with simple activities on each page. In the same box, I had sewn baby clothes and blankets and cute pillow covers.

Carter smoothed a dinosaur pillow case out on the bed, next to the assortment of other items. “Megyn, I don’t really swear much, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, butfuck, I am blown away by all this!” He spun and grabbed my hands, held them tight in his. “You are extremely talented!”

I blushed and ducked my head. “It’s nothing.”

“No, way, this is everything! Trust me, I know talent when I see it.”

I started to tell him he had to be mistaken, and then I stopped. This man had made his career upon recognizing talent.

Maybe he’s just humoring me? Because he likes me?

Carter grabbed my shoulders and brought his face close to mine, so close I smelled his cologne. My knees shook. “Megyn,” he whispered, looking right into my eyes. “I know talent when I see it.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, my nose brushing on his. “Thank you.”

“Thankyou,” he said, “for showing me all of this.” He suddenly seemed to realize the position we were in and released me, backing up. He looked at the bed again and touched a felt waffle, complete with a pat of butter and a little blob shape of syrup. “What will you do with all of this if you move?”

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