Page 10 of Just One Touch (The Carter Brothers 2)

Summer was protecting me and that thought brought tears to my eyes, “Summer, you’re the best thing that could have walked into my world, and at the worst time too. Thank you,” I said in a hushed tone into the phone trying to keep the tears at bay.

“The feeling is entirely mutual. How about Sawyer and I meet at the store in about thirty minutes? We could use an outing, and maybe it’ll tire him out. I’m not sure he knows the meaning of nap time these days,” Summer says, and it’s then that I hear the tiredness in her voice.

“I’d love that, but Summer if you’re tired, I can come watch Sawyer while you take a nap?” I offer.

“I love you for even asking, but I need to get out of the house for a while. Can I take a raincheck?” I hear Sawyer in the background, and I know what I’m going to offer. I just hope Mason is okay with it.

“Absolutely, the option is always open.” We finish making plans and then hang up. I high tail it around my own condo, picking things up and going through the mail. The stack is so huge, I haven’t even looked at it lately. Thank goodness someone invented automatic bill pay. I just look at it to make sure everything goes through and check my mail when it stacks up.

The stack is so huge and I’m running out of time until I have to meet Summer. I throw it in my bag, rushing to lock my front door, and head to my car.

The trip is short to the grocery store, and the moment I see Summer, I can tell she’s exhausted. I take Sawyer out of her hands and give her arms a break.

“Thank you, you never realize how tiring having a baby is. I love Sawyer with every ounce of my being, but I’m exhausted. Between his teething and nursing, it’s been a rough couple of weeks,” she says as she lets out a breath.

“How about you push the cart, I’ll hold Sawyer and grab the groceries. This shouldn’t take long seeing how Mason has zero food in the house,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

“Don’t tell Momma Tina that, she’d have his hide,” she laughs.

“I know, he had enough to cook us breakfast, but other than that there was nothing, so this is my surprise to him. Well, that and a home cooked meal,” I respond.

“Let’s get this show on the road then, and thank you for getting me out of the house,” she says honestly.

“Anytime, I’m sorry it’s just to grocery shop. We’ll have to do a girls day and soon,” I tell her as she pushes the shopping cart while she and I toss everything in the cart.

By the time we’re done, the cart is overflowing and we’re both laughing so loud, other customers are looking at us funnily.

14

Mason

I walk into the house, nothing can take this smile off of my face, especially seeing Quinn’s car in my driveway. My next step is cleaning the other side of my garage for her, so she can park in there. Living on the beach, the salt air is horrible for cars.

“Quinn,” I say out loud as I walk into the living room from the garage.

“Hey, I’m in the kitchen,” she responds. I make my way to her, she’s standing at the stove and the scents of something baking is permeating in the air. Quinn looks so much at home and yeah, this weekend her and I are going to have a serious talk, it’s not too soon. I want forever with her.

I walk into the kitchen and see she has mashed potatoes heating on the stove, meatloaf that just came out of the oven, with a side salad.

“Did you cook all this, for us?” I ask Quinn as I come up beside her.

“Yeah, you’re letting me occupy your home while at work. It’s the least I could do.” I lean down, my lips finding hers. Quinn’s tongue peaks out and I take that as my cue that she wants more, or maybe she needs more. As much as I need more from her. I sip from her lips, slow and steady, building her up, until she’s grasping and hanging onto the lapels of my white dress shirt. I ditched the suit coat as soon as I walked in, along with the tie.

Standing here while she’s dressed in a pair of cotton shorts, sweatshirt, and hair piled on top of her head with tendrils falling down, looking at home. It’s something I want each and every day.

“Hey,” she gasps as we pull apart.

“Hi, baby,” she finds the crook of my neck and burrows into it. Quinn is the type of woman that loves to be surrounded by warmth, and I’m the lucky bastard that she found.

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