Page 68 of Further To Fall

Damn right, I was grumpy. I needed coffee and then a long shower where I could alleviate some of this pressure before I had an aneurysm. “I was worried.”

She bounded over, giving me a far too brief kiss and then was back at the stove, flipping some bacon. “Sorry I scared you. Your stylist left some basics for me on the doorstep and a note saying she’d bring the rest by later today. Thank you for arranging that so quickly.”

I froze. “You went outside? By yourself?”

Carter slowly turned around, looking just a little sheepish. “You have a security fence and a coded gate. I had to let Blue out to do his business.”

“From now on, you wake me up. Got it?”

She grinned and turned back to the stove. “Sir. Yes, sir!”

“Come here, you little smartass.”

“I’m cooking.”

I walked up behind her, slipping my hand beneath her shirt. I cupped her soft, warm breast. Her nipple beaded as I gently swiped my thumb across it. “You are such a troublemaker,” I whispered into her ear and then nipped the lobe.

Carter gave a small shriek but panted as she said, “You’re going to make me burn breakfast.”

I grinned into her neck. “Worth it.”

She lightly shoved me away, my hand falling from her breast. “Go put some clothes on, you’re distracting me.”

“Fine.” I smacked her ass before turning to head back to my bedroom. I quickly brushed my teeth and then went in search of clothes. As I entered the closet, I smelled something off. Flicking on the light, I didn’t see anything immediately out of place, but something definitely smelled bad. I pulled on track pants and a tee. Bending down to pick up my favorite sneakers, I froze with my hand inches away from the shoes. “CARTER!” I bellowed.

She came running into the bedroom, a frantic look in her eyes, and Blue hot on her heels. “What’s wrong?”

I felt bad for freaking her out, but then I noticed that Blue wouldn’t make eye contact with me and wasn’t following Carter into the closet. He looked guilty as hell. I narrowed my eyes at him and then turned my gaze to Carter. “Your dog shit on my favorite sneakers,” I said through gritted teeth.

Carter’s hands flew to her mouth as her eyes went to the shoes. Then she started laughing. “I’m so sorry, he’s never done anything like that before.”

“What the hell is wrong with him?”

She straightened. “Nothing iswrongwith him. He’s in a new place. He was probably nervous. Andyou, Mr. Meanie,”—she drilled a finger into my chest—“wouldn’t let him sleep in the bed with us.”

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me. “Even your dog is a troublemaker.” I said it with a grin and then kissed the tip of her nose.

“Come on, I’ll get a trash bag to pick up the poop shoes. Then we need to eat so I can get ready for work. Do you mind driving me?”

She had started to pull away, but I dragged her back. “Are you serious?”

Carter looked up at me with a furrowed brow. “You want to keep the poop shoes?”

“Not about the fucking poop shoes, about you going to work. You can’t go to work right now. There’s some nutcase after you!”

She sighed. “Austin, I have to go to work. I don’t want to lose my job. You can drop me off and pick me up. I won’t go anywhere alone, and I’ll have my phone with me at all times. Promise.”

I groaned as she shot me her please-understand eyes. “Fine, but on one condition. And if you don’t agree, I’ll call your parents and tell them about everything that’s going on.”

On the car ride back to my place last night, Carter had begged Liam not to tell his parents or hers about what was going on. She didn’t want to worry them when they were currently taking care of her grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s.

Her jaw dropped. “That’s not fair.”

“Take it or leave it.”

She huffed, crossing her arms under her chest. “Fine, what’s the condition?”

“One of my security guys sits in the hallway outside your classroom.”

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