Page 5 of Heart in Waiting
CHAPTER TWO
The shit storm thathad landed in his lap was going to explode into something fucked up before the night ended. Carter stared at the red light in front of him and tapped on the steering wheel in a rapid pattern. Claire still wasn’t answering her phone, and Matt had apparently turned his off. He prayed the two of them were together. The alternative... He wouldn’t even consider it. That bastard Pratt had not found a way to hurt his sister. She was finally finding some peace in her life—happiness she deserved.
The light blinked green, and he hit the gas pedal. His car squealed as it accelerated. He wasn’t too far from the law firm where Matt and Claire worked. They both should be there—unless Matt had to be in court. He’d called the firm too, but it had gone to an answering service. The receptionist must be on her lunch break. His heart raced heavily inside his chest as the law firm came into sight. He slid the car into a parking spot and killed the engine. As much as he wanted to, he did not run into the building—he did a really fast walk instead and hoped people didn’t stare at him like he’d lost his mind. Because clearly he had...
Carter pushed the door open and ran straight into Olivia West. He had to reach out to keep her upright. “What the hell,” she shouted as she dropped the files she’d been carrying. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry...” He glanced around, searching for Claire or Matt. Normally he’d have taken the time to appreciate Olivia’s beauty. She caught his attention when he didn’t want her to. “Where’s my sister?”
“Busy.” Olivia stepped back and brushed down her shirt. “She won’t welcome the interruption either. What’s so important you think it’s all right to run someone over with your brawny muscles.”
Carter was irritated with her nonsense. She was always bitching at him about something. Maybe he was a little sadistic, but part of him usually enjoyed it too. If he wasn’t so freaking worried about Claire he might now; however, he didn’t have time for it. There were more important things than admiring a gorgeous smart-mouthed woman. “I don’t want to repeat myself again. Where is Claire?”
“She is in an—a...” She cleared her throat. “She and Matt are having a planning session in his office.”
“Was that so hard?” He spun on his heels to head toward Matt’s office.
Olivia cleared her throat. “Be sure to knock first.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”
“Not really.” She put her hand on her hip. “I was hoping you’d be a gentleman and offer to help me pick up the files you knocked out of my hand, but that’s my bad. I should’ve known better than to expect anything remotely courteous from you.”
Carter pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. God save him... “I’ll help you pick up your damn papers after I talk to Claire. Some things are more important than you and your needs. Do you ever think of anyone other than yourself?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Olivia West was the queen of glares that could strike a man down. The one she shot him at the moment would have felled him if he were a lesser person. “But by all means, take care of your needs first.”
“I will. Thank you very much.” He’d had about enough of her bullshit. Without another word he pounded on Matt’s door. “Claire!” Carter’s voice was so loud it reverberated through the room.
“Do you really need to shout?” Olivia asked sardonically. “The whole office can hear you at this rate.”
Carter ignored her as much as possible, which was difficult with her standing directly behind him... The sound of muffled voices echoed back at him. At least he could be reassured the two of them were indeed inside. He supposed it could be someone else, but what were the chances? Carter knocked again, hoping to speed up the process. He’d already jiggled the door handle and found it locked. Either he broke the door down or found some patience and waited for one of them to open it. So far, his patience held steady, but not by much. If one of them didn’t unlock it soon, he’d give in to his urge to kick it in.
“What’s the emergency?” Matt said after he opened the door. He stood in the doorway, glaring at Carter. “We were in the middle of something.”
Carter stared past him at Claire who stood near Matt’s desk on the other side of the office. The fact that she was buttoning up her blouse didn’t go unnoticed.Busy all right...Not with anything pertaining to work from the looks of it. He couldn’t blame them. If he had found the love of his life, he’d probably do the same thing as they were about to or had finished doing. It hurt his head to think too hard on it. He didn’t want to ponder overly long on his sister’s sex life. “I have to tell you both something.”
“Us first,” Claire said. Her lips tilted upward into a wide smile. She flipped her hand up and waved it in front of him. Her golden blonde curls were a disheveled mess, but she had never looked more radiant. “Look.”
He stared at the ring on her finger. It was a large square cut solitaire set on a yellow gold band. It sparkled in the light and was almost as brilliant as her smile. “You finally said yes?”
She bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically. “We’re getting married.” Claire nearly squealed the words out.
“Congratulations!” Olivia moved closer to them. “Let me look at that ring.” She lifted Claire’s hand to examine it. Happiness practically oozed from his sister as she allowed Olivia to ogle it. What was it with females and engagement rings?
He really hated that he would have to burst Claire’s bubble. It killed him deep inside. She was so damn happy, and there was only one thing that would diminish it. If he could avoid it he would, but her safety was at stake and he’d not risk her life for anything. “I’m glad you two are finally making it official.” He really was—damn Nolan Pratt and his timing.
“But you’re not smiling.” She stepped forward. “This must be serious. What is it?”
Matt glanced at him and frowned. “Claire’s right. You look like you swallowed something foul and are about to bring it back up. What happened?”
“It’s Nolan.”
Olivia and Claire gasped at the same time. Claire brought her hand up to her chest and held it there. “It’s not good, is it?” Olivia stepped forward and pulled Claire into a hug.
Carter shook his head slowly. “I’m afraid not.”
“Please tell me he’s dead. I realize that would be bad, but it would still be good in my book.” Matt’s mouth formed a thin white line. “He’s evil incarnate.”
