Page 29 of Heart in Waiting
Preston West and his fiancée, Jessica Sousa, stood in front of them. There was no denying the family resemblance. Both Olivia and Preston had dark blond hair but where Preston had golden brown eyes, Olivia’s were a cobalt blue. Jessica Sousa looked like the epitome of a blonde bombshell. She wore a floor-length, cotton candy pink gown with a low neckline.
“Hey, Pres,” she leaned in and hugged him. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I like to support a good cause when I can. I’m on call though and might have to leave if I’m needed at the hospital.”
“A doctor’s job is never done,” she replied. “I hope there’s no emergency. You don’t get much time for yourself these days.”
“I get plenty enough.” He grinned. “But I admit most of the time I’m happy enough staying home.”
Carter nodded at Preston. “Have you seen my partner?”
Preston shook his head. “No, but we arrived a few moments before you did. He might be in the silent auction room.”
Carter didn’t know why he would be, but then he recalled his mother being at the head table. Reese and Dane would have wanted to avoid her too. Great minds thought alike... “I wonder if there is anything interesting in there.”
Olivia shrugged. “You want to look? I wouldn’t mind a peek myself. Last one of these things I attended they had a vacation to a tropical island up for bid. I wouldn’t mind one of those.”
Carter couldn’t recall the last time he’d gone on a good vacation. He surveyed the room. There were so many people there. It made him glad Dane was with Reese. This would be the perfect place for Nolan to try to grab her. It was dark, and no one paid any mind to anything around them.
“We’ll come too,” Jessica said. “If there is a vacation of some kind, maybe we can use it for a honeymoon.”
Jessica and Preston seemed like such an odd couple, yet somehow they worked. People around him appeared to be finding love in the midst of chaos lately. He hoped all the newfound relationships worked after the drama settled down. So far, they all seemed to remain blissfully happy.
Carter wound his arm around Olivia’s waist. Instead of leading her toward the silent auction room, he pulled her into a dark corner and swung her around to face him. He didn’t want to follow her brother around all night. That wouldn’t give him much opportunity to kiss her, and he really wanted to taste her again.
“What are you doing?” Her mouth fell open and she licked her lips.
“I’ve been thinking about your sweet lips all day.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to the corner of her jaw. Then whispered in her ear, “I want to see if you are as delectable as I remember.”
“You think something’s changed in a few hours?” Her words came out a little breathless.
“Did I tell you that you look perfect tonight?” He trailed his fingers across the lace covering her back. “A pretty package that would be fun to unwrap.”
“What has gotten into you lately. You used to avoid me—I don’t understand. This is moving so fast.” She glanced at him with a bewildered expression on her lovely face.
“Darling...follow my lead.” Carter kissed her cheek and then trailed more down her neck. “I won’t steer you wrong.”
He might not get another opportunity to kiss her again. They’d both be busy once everything began in truth. He wanted to make sure they at least had this one moment. The kiss he wanted to give her would be a promise. One that said they’d have many more like it, and some that were even better than the last. They were one step closer to coming together, and he hoped to ensure they didn’t take any backward ones. He leaned down and slowly pressed his lips to hers.
Time stood still for several heartbeats, and nothing existed other than them. When Carter pulled back, her gaze had a dreamy quality to it. There—that was what he’d hungered for—her desire to equal his own. They could go about their night now that he’d given her something to think about, and maybe they’d be able to have something even better at its conclusion...
***
DANE LED REESE BACKto the ballroom. The meal portion of the evening would take place soon, and they’d have to face her mother at some point. He’d like to put it off as long as possible, but some things happened whether he wanted them to or not.
“Looks like Carter and Olivia finally arrived,” Reese said.
Dane glanced in the direction she’d been looking. Carter and Olivia had arrived all right, and it looked as if his friend was taking advantage of the situation to get a little closer to the lady. “They seemed to have stepped things up a bit.”
“Maybe he’s finding her irresistible.”
Dane snorted. “That’s a given.”
“Should we interrupt them?” Reese met Dane’s gaze. “Or should we follow their lead and find our own dark corner to play in?”
As much as he liked that idea, he had to say no to a little sexy time. He wanted to kiss her, but it would have to wait until later. He couldn’t believe Carter had lost his mind and decided he needed to make out with Olivia. It wasn’t the time or the place for it. He sighed. “Do you want to be the one to step in the middle of them, or should I?”
“Oh, please allow me,” she said. “He’s less likely to punch me.”
