Page 34 of A Kiss for Carter (The Laws of Love 3)

Foxy face gave her another lascivious grin, and Avery tossed her head and sashayed back to Zammy in the milkshake queue.Even from here Carts could tell she was blushing.

The interlude made unease jackknife in his gut.

That guy was no school kid.

And frankly, his intentions did not look honourable.

Not.At.All.

When he finally rounded up his band of four and got them back to the car, Carts couldn’t stop the troubling thoughts about foxy face in the denim jacket.By the time he’d dropped off the rest of the gaggle at their respective homes around the suburb, it burst out of his mouth.“Who was that bloke?”

“What bloke?”

“That one you were talking to in the denim jacket.”

“I don’t talk toblokes.A bloke is a weirdo who hangs around small children.”

“Exactly my point.Who was he?He looked too old to be at school with you.”

He shot her a glance.Avery’s eyes rolled.“You’re giving me Mum vibes.”

“I’m just looking out for you, that’s all.I didn’t like the look of him.”

“FreakinhellwhatisYOURproblem?”

How did Avery manage to create single words out of what was normally a sentence?It must be something to do with her flute playing, because she didn’t even need to draw breath.

“Who is he?”

“If you must know, he’s Zammy’s brother’s best mate.His name’s Duke.”

“What’s he do for a living?”

“None of your business.”

“Tell me.”

“He works for a car mechanic, as an apprentice.And for the record, he’s really, really nice.”

Carts grunted.“He better not be at Zammy’s party.”

“OrWHAT?”

“Or I’ll have to rethink whether getting Mum to agree to let you go was the right decision.”

Avery’s squealed protest pierced his ear.“AreyouforREAL!A-hole.”

He winced.“Aves, cut it out.And the rule is I pick you up at 10 pm.”

“Noooo!Everyone will think I’m pathetic if I leave at 10.”

He prevaricated.“10.30, no later.”

“11.”

“10.45.”

“10.55.”

It was time he laid down the rules.“Avery.I’m this close to reneging on the whole deal, and you won’t go at all.It’s now gone back to 10 pm.No arguing.”

She turned the full force of her glare on him.Carts kept his eyes resolutely on the road.He was congratulating himself on winning this one, feeling quite proud of his assertiveness as he drew up at the traffic lights, even thinking he’d make a bloody brilliant parent, when he made the mistake of glancing at her.

Her little nose screwed up.

Then she flipped him the bird.

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