Page 60 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
“Oh really?” She reached for him, dragged her hand down his pec, came to his tiny nipple standing at attention…
And pinched.
Carter yelped. Then fell back onto the bed, one hand over his mouth to try to keep the sound of his laughter muffled.
Taking advantage, Erin crawled over him to settle herself on his lower abdomen.
Carter stilled.
“Is this okay?” she asked.
“It’s more than okay.” His voice had gone back to that gravelly tone. “I don’t think I’ve seen much that comes close to how beautiful you look right there.”
His words sent warmth shooting through her. She was a simple country girl, she knew. She’d never been out of the South. Lived most of her life on a farm. She’d always thought about herself as sturdy, not beautiful. That this definitely beautiful, sophisticated man thought she was made her melt.
“And Erin?”
“Yeah?”
“I care about you too.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t have to give her that, but she was glad he had. She reached for the hem of her shirt. “Now what was that you said about getting laid?”
He definitely got laid. Twice. Once there in the bed, and then again in the shower, though that one had to be quick and as silent as they could make it, given the proximity to Thad’s room. Still, Erin was feeling satisfied and deeply refreshed despite her lack of sleep when she went downstairs to see about breakfast. She should have known Lincoln would already be on it. Watching the man put together a frittata and fresh biscuits was like watching a magician work magic.
“I think if you’re going to be part of the family, you need to give cooking lessons,” she told him.
Linc smirked. “If I can get my schedule under control and be here more often, you got it.”
“I’m sure Claire would love for you to be around more.”
“And not for the cooking lessons,” JD called as he walked into the kitchen.
Linc jerked his head toward the counter. “Fix the coffee?”
JD got to work, and in minutes they had breakfast on the table. Erin poured coffees and handed them over to be customized or not, as the recipient desired. Carter and Thad arrived, and Carter beelined for the coffee.
“Black, right?”
Carter hummed against the rim of his mug. “Like to keep it pure.”
She laughed. “I like a little coffee with my cream and sugar.”
Carter shuddered.
“That’s how I like my coffee too,” Thad said.
“Is that so?” Erin reached for another cup.
“Oh no you don’t,” Carter said. “That’s all we need is you bouncing all over the plane once we get aboard.”
Thad pouted, but the sight of biscuits a second later seemed to distract him and he hurried toward the table.
They ate and talked, all of them together except Claire, who’d had to be at the bakery early this morning. After breakfast, Erin and Lily cleaned up while JD helped Lincoln, Carter, and Thad get their luggage packed into the SUV. Lincoln was hitching a ride with Carter to get to Nashville, though his plane would be headed for California instead of New York City.
All too soon it was time for the guys to go.
Linc gave Erin a quick hug and moved on to JD and Lily. When she turned to Carter and Thad, whom she was beginning to think of asher guys,she was, thankfully, alone.
