Page 66 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
He nearly rolled his eyes but refrained. Barely.
“I don’t know, man,” Carter said, squirming to get just the right fit in his deep leather armchair. “I just… I don’t know exactly what it is about Erin, or maybe the more accurate description is that I can’t limit it to just one thing. But I do know this: I don’t want to be away from her. This month has been hell.”
Gavin frowned at the tip of his cigar. “So what’s the problem?”
What wasn’t? Their chemistry, that was for certain. They didn’t struggle with chemistry. And she was phenomenal with Thad.
Speaking of…
“Thad’s the primary issue, I guess. If it weren’t for my son, I’d simply pick up my business and move to Tennessee.”
“That serious?”
“That serious,” he confirmed. “And it’s not like I can’t do what I do anywhere I desire. My family is here, but I can fly up and see them anytime I want. But I can’t move Thad away from his mother.” Nor did he want to miss any of his son’s precious childhood.
“And Erin’s job isn’t as easy to ‘pick up and move’ as yours?”
“She’s a general contractor with her own construction company. Sure, she could probably do that up here, but she has commitments down there, including elderly family that she won’t leave.”
Gavin made a low sound in the back of his throat as he puffed on his cigar. “That is a head scratcher. But if ya can fly to see your family anytime, isn’t the opposite true?”
Carter focused on his cigar but lifted a brow in inquiry.
“Look”—Gavin crossed one leg over the other knee—“I get it; ya want a full-time relationship with the lass. But ya also want to do what’s right for your son.”
“Absolutely. Thad has to come first.” And Erin would totally agree with that, he knew.
“Sometimes bein’ a mature adult means ya have to accept a little less in order to make everyone happy. Ya want to do what’s right for your son, so be here when he needs ya. The weeks he’s with ya, you’re in New York. The times that he’s with Rachel, you’re in Tennessee. Fly back and forth. Maybe talk about summer vacation with Erin. Fly her up here when she can get away from her job.” He gestured with his whisky glass as if to say,Voila!“If the two of ya want to be together, ya make it work.”
Of that he had no doubt; they wanted to be together. They might not have said the words yet, but he knew in his gut they were there. But was this the right plan? It wasn’t ideal, but… He let out a sigh of relief.
Gavin whistled under his breath. “Now there is one sexy lass. And bonus, she’s not twenty.”
Carter instinctively turned to look over his shoulder and froze. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Gavin sounded downright grumpy. “Ya’ve already got a female; ya can’t call dibs.”
“I most certainly can. That’smyfemale.”
Erin was standing in the doorway of the club, outlined by the weak November sunshine outside and the floor-to-ceiling windows stretching the entire expanse of the bar on either side of her. But this wasn’t his Erin—this was a New York City version of Erin. Her dark hair fell in gentle waves around her shoulders instead of braids or a ponytail. A red silk sheath highlighted the curves of her body, the athletic slenderness, and it fell only to midthigh, emphasizing the long, long length of her legs. His gut clenched when he got to the end of those legs: she was wearing heels. He’d only ever seen her in heels once, at the Carousel, and even then he hadn’t gotten a good look.
“Excuse me.” He stood.
Erin’s gaze swept the room, but his movement drew her attention and she zeroed in on him. Then she smiled, the look shy, tentative. He smiled too.
“Erin.” God, she was actually here. He hurried across the room toward her.
“I hope this is okay with yo—”
He took her mouth, cutting off her words. She tasted tart, like cranberries and lemon and sugar. He couldn’t get enough of that taste, ofher.
Erin pulled back, the sweetest giggle leaving her lips. “I’m happy to see you too.”
“You can’t imagine…” His words were nearly a growl as his hands eased down her hips and dragged her closer to the part of him that was hard and waiting.
“Oh, I can definitely imagine.” She tipped her head, gaze moving over his shoulder.
“Want to introduce us?” his partner asked behind him.
