Page 23 of Tangled Up

I try again. “Are you still mad at me?”

She hesitates between me and the dark hallway, glancing back. “I haven’t decided.”

That makes me smile. “You came here to have sex with me.”

“I came here because I was angry with you.”

“But you weren’t wearing panties.”

Her arms cross, and she narrows her eyes. “I was getting ready for bed, and I didn’t think about it.”

Slowly walking towards her, I take a chance. “You thought about it. I’ve known you since you were thirteen years old.”

Reaching out, I try to catch her again, but she moves away. “You didn’t speak to me until I was fifteen. You didn’t kiss me until I was sixteen. You didn’t sleep with me until I was eighteen.”

“Because your brother would’ve kicked my ass.” My brow furrows. “Where is Henry anyway?”

“He had a conference this weekend. He’ll be back on Monday.” Tilting her chin up, she meets my eyes. “Are you really leaving tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I’ve got patients…” I slide my eyes down the line of her profile. “How long are you planning to be here?”

“I don’t know. Aunt Viv fell last week, and… I don’t know. They said it wasn’t anything, but it might’ve been a stroke. I had some time off work, so I thought I could stay with her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have checked on her.”

She shakes her dark head. “Jessica said the urgent care doc checked her out. Henry would’ve said something if it was serious—”

“Henry’s a vet. I specialize in geriatric care. You should’ve said something to me.”

Her eyes widen, and her voice rises. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning!”

“Okay, okay.” I hold up my hands. My goal is progress here. “So you’ll be here next weekend? I can rearrange my schedule and make another trip down. I’d like to follow up with Mr. C anyway.”

She seems startled, but she recovers quickly. “I’m not sure when I’m leaving.”

“Will it be before next weekend?”

“I don’t think so. I really don’t know.”

Nodding, I lift my wine. “I’ll be back.”

She exhales a noise before dropping her arms and heading for the bathroom. In less than a minute, she’s back with that cute little dress on, and her hair in a ponytail again. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”

“You’re not walking home alone.”

“I walk everywhere in Eden. It’s perfectly safe.”

“You’re not doing the walk of shame from my house.” Snatching my jeans off the couch, I jerk them over my hips.

“I think it’s only a walk of shame if it’s the next day.” She hands me the shirt she was wearing, and I pull it over my shoulders.

“Either way, I’m driving you home.”

I’m not fucking up this time.

CHAPTERSEVEN

CARLY

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