CARTER

Motherfucker. What was this horseshit?

Aleah bounced over to me and flung her arms around my neck. “You’re early! Good, this gives you and Emma time to catch up before your photoshoot. I knew she’d be perfect for the job. You two have always been comfortable with each other.”

Clenching my teeth, I watched as Emma posed with her cunt of an ex. He had his hands all over her as they posed for the pictures; I wanted to rip his arms off. “You failed to mention any of this to me,” I huffed.

“Hey,” Aleah said, squeezing my wrist. I tore my gaze away from Emma and focused on her. Aleah’s smile faded as she glanced back and forth between the three of us. “Am I missing something? Why are you mad? I thought you’d like working with Emma.”

My attention went back to Emma, and I couldn’t tear my eyes off her. Her bare skin shimmered in the sun, and her dark hair now had caramel wisps that weren’t there before. I could almost remember how it felt to touch her and have her nails rake down my back as she screamed out my name. I have always wanted her, and now she was right in front of me in another man’s arms, the arms of someone I knew had been with her the way I had. And now, I had to watch him touch her as if she was his.

“Carter, talk to me,” Aleah demanded, her voice low. “I’ve never seen you this angry. What’s going on?”

The photographer directed Ryan and Emma to change positions, and Ryan moved even closer to her. I had to force myself to look away before I lost my shit.

“I wasn’t expecting Emma to be here, much less with that prick,” I hissed.

Aleah stepped in front of me. “Ryan’s not that bad. He wants Emma back and thought this would work.”

“He’s a fucking tool. He doesn’t deserve her,” I fired back.

Aleah pinned me with her honey-toned stare, crossing her arms over her chest. “And who does? You?”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” I spat out quickly.

A slow, wry smile spread across her face. “It’s not what you’re saying but how you’re acting.” She peered over at Ryan and Emma again. “I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re seriously giving off the jealousy vibes right now.” When I didn’t respond, her eyes widened in understanding. “Oh my God, you have a thing for Emma. I had my suspicions years ago but never saw anything happen.”

My jaw muscles hurt from clenching my teeth so hard. “That’s because we didn’t let anyone see it.”

Aleah sucked back a gasp. “Have you two like …” She waved her hands in front of her as if she was trying to find the right words. “Gotten close?” she finished. Again, my silence was her answer. Her mouth gaped, and she grabbed her chest. “Holy shit, you have. And here I am flaunting her in front of you with another guy. I’m so sorry.”

She couldn’t be blamed for this.

I shrugged. “Emma left for New York, and I went my own way. It’s fine. We haven’t spoken in a long time.”

Groaning, Aleah shook her head incredulously. “First off, I’m going to kill you for not telling me any of this. And second,” she griped, holding up her hands, “I got this. I’m team Carter all the way.”

“What are you going to do?” I wondered.

Aleah winked. “Getting you what you want. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what that is.”

She strolled over to the photographer and stepped in between Ryan and Emma so she could hug him. Emma refused to look at me again, but she was about to have no choice. Aleah waved me over, and I made my way to her and Emma.

Ryan marched toward me with a warning glare in his eyes. “Carter Reynolds. Great fight the other night.”

Did he mean it? No chance in hell. “Thanks,” I replied dryly.

He stepped in my way before I could get to Emma. “I saw the way you were looking at my girl. She’s off-limits, got it?”

Lips pulled back in a fake smile, I spoke through gritted teeth. “If you don’t get out of my way, I will break your fucking face.”

Ryan glowered at me, but I didn’t let my grin falter. Reluctantly, he moved out of the way, and Aleah laughed nervously when she came to my side. “All right, let’s get you two started. I’m going to take Ryan to my office so I can finish his interview.”

Grumbling under his breath, Ryan tensed and flexed his muscles, which broadened my grin. Once he walked away with Aleah, I turned my gaze to Emma, and the tension spiked between us. She still had yet to look at me.

The photographer waved me over. “Okay, you two,” he called out to Emma and me. “Let’s try a couple of different poses. Carter, why don’t you stand with your back to me and turn your head to the right so I can see your side profile. I want it to look as if you’re focused solely on Emma.” I stepped in front of the camera and did as he said, only nothing could take my attention off Emma. She was so close, yet so far away. “Good,” Chris acknowledged with excitement in his tone. “Now I want you to wrap your arm around Emma’s waist as she faces the camera. Emma, sweetheart, I need you to move closer to Carter.”

Emma huffed under her breath, but it wasn’t out of disgust … it was nervousness. I could sense it all around her. Out of all these years we’d been apart, she still wanted me the way I wanted her. She just didn’t want to admit it.