Page 123 of Wine & Whiskey
“Yes.”
“You would really ruin my career for him?”
Nodding her head, she meets his glare. She can be just as protective as Nick.
“Fine! Hand me my phone.”
She waits while he makes the call, his angry voice vibrating through the small room. After he finishes, he tosses the phone to the end of the bed. “You’ve turned into a real bitch, you know that?”
“I’m sorry it had to be this way.”
“I hope you really know what you’re doing. You’re going to be alone and miserable, wishing you were with me.”
She lightly caresses her stomach. “I’m going to be just fine.”
Carter stands when she opens the door. “Well?”
She can’t help but smile as she puts on her hat and sunglasses. “It’s done. Let’s go pick them up.”
He lets out a low whistle and shakes his head as they walk out of the hospital. “Are you going to tell me how you did it?”
“Nope.”
“Look at you, turning all hard-ass. Nick will be proud.”
Surprised she could go through with her plan, her guilt starts to grow. Maybe she’s pushed it too far. “I hope so. Or he might be really mad.”
“I think you’re right. Will it be okay if I just drop you off when we get there?” He rubs his fingers across the bridge of his slightly swollen nose. “I don’t want him to go berserk on me again.”
She pretends a confidence she doesn’t feel. “I’ll protect you.”
He laughs all the way to the car. After they climb in, he calls Luther while she endures a text-lecture from Gail for both her earlier drama, as well as her lack of response for the last twenty minutes.
At police headquarters, she tosses her phone in her bag and watches for the guys to come out. Deep in conversation, Nick, Max, and Luther make it to the bottom of the steps before Max notices them and nudges Nick.
He stares at her with an unreadable expression. Butterflies swarm in her stomach as she waits for his reaction. Seconds pass, and she can’t decipher the result of the internal argument playing out on his face.
The corners of his lips turn up into a smile, the only encouragement she needs. She runs to him, wanting nothing else but him, and he scoops her up as she wraps her legs around his waist. His tight embrace steals her breath as he whispers in her ear, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I love you too much to let you go.”
Carter clears his throat. “Um, can we go now? Your foreplay is grossing us out.”
She lifts her head and laughs. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset my cohort in crime.”
Nick strokes her cheek before turning her face back to his. “Speaking of which, we need to talk about that when we get home.”
Her lips brush his before he sets on her feet. Nothing he can say or do will ruin her jubilance. She’s already home.
After snuggling against him during the ride to the house, she lifts her head from Nick’s shoulder as Carter turns into the driveway, a red convertible blocking the gate. A beautiful woman clutches an adorable blond, curly-haired toddler on her hip as she argues with the security guard.
All the color drains from Nick’s face before he releases her hand. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Both Max and Nick climb out. The woman’s rage turns to Nick as he walks up. Max puts his hand on her back and attempts to guide her to her car, but she pushes him away.
“Who is she, Carter?”
The answer doesn’t really matter. She already knows the relationship they fought so hard to resurrect is collapsing around them again.
