Page 131 of Debts and Desires
“No, not that. Not him. This is happy. I’m happy,” I clarified, pulling away and sniffling. The last thing I needed was Carter going after his father for nothing, because I was certain he’d goto jail then. Was Jed even recovered? My eyes met his, that whiskey inferno only barely simmering down. I took a deep breath. “I got a call a few minutes ago. From Zac Belmont, the judge for the Star in the Sky Competition.”
“Okay? What did he say?”
My lip quivered, a fresh set of tears spilling over as I cried, “I made it into the top three!” Carter’s eyes widened, a huge grin enveloping his features.
“You serious?!” he gasped, excitement pouring over him, too. I nodded. He picked me up and spun us around. “I knew you would, baby. You’re gonna win the whole damn thing!” he exclaimed, gently lowering me to my feet before leaning in and planting a long kiss on me, but I pulled away.
“Did you send a video in?”
“I did.”
“When? Where?”
“That night you, me, and Ty played.”
I leaned up and gave him another kiss.
Ever so slowly, like a wildfire, the kiss developed from sweet and warm to possessive and all-consuming heat. He walked us until my back met the passenger side door of my Jaguar.
Carter pulled away, his mouth finding my jawline, his lips and tongue teasing every part of me as his hands moved across my body. He had me squirming, needing more within seconds. How he always managed to do that, I’d never know. It was like my bodyknewwho it belonged to.
“Unless you want to give the town a show, we should probably go inside,” I gasped.
“Fuck ‘em, let ‘em watch.” He dove back in, kissing my neck and my jaw. Every little touch of his set my skin on fire.
“No, Carter. MaybeIdon’t want them to.”
“No? You sure?” His hand dragged down my body until I was breathless. If he told me to bend over then, I would have and not thought twice orcaredif anyone watched. But the sane part of me reminded me of the food in the front seat.
“I-I brought lunch. We should eat it before it goes bad.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, finally pulling away and walking into the garage before I really understood what had happened. The asshole. He knew what he was doing. I shook my head and bit my lip before opening the passenger side and grabbing the takeout bag.
That moment with Carter had almost been enough for me to forget my conversation with Cassie. Almost. And with every step inside and to the office, it ate at me, until I could no longer keep my face devoid of anything.
“Now what’s wrong, Em?” he asked as soon as I sat the bag on the desk. I looked away and crossed my arms.
“I went to Wrightsville today.” I paused, chancing a glance up at him. “To the pharmacy.” He clenched his jaw. “You didn’t tell me Cassie worked there.”
“Didn’t want you to be more upset.” He shrugged.
“About what? You lying about my birth control?” His eyes darted to mine. “Yeah, Cassie told me you already picked them up. Not cool, making it seem like there was a problem, knowing I’d suspect her.”
“Didn’t think you’d go there at all, so that’s not true.”
“Well, whatever. Explain because I’m furious with you. The phone call only postponed it.” I stared at him until he finally sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Look. I didn’t know how to tell you. I’d gotten some treats for Mac, too, and put them in the same bag. You and I both know how that dog is with treats. And ever since you came ‘round, givin’ into him every time—and don’t tell me you don’t, you’ve never told that dog no—he’s gotten worse with it, more attitude.”
“Have you seen him? It’s not exactly easy to say no to that face.”
“My point exactly. So when I came home, I sat the bag on the couch without thinking.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yeah. You know the rest then. He was fine, checked everything with Doc Nelson.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
