Page 42 of The Layover

I wanted to keep her around, get to know her better, and convince her she was meant to be part of us. There was no way to explain how I knew, or why I didn’t want to let the notion go. The feeling was what it was, and there was no way to put words to it beyond that.

Did I realize that made me sound like an obsessive, psycho stalker? Yes. Which was why I was keeping the thought to myself.

I’d had the same feeling about Isabella, and while it was true, she broke our hearts and abandoned Eloise, and I couldn’t fathom or forgive that… She’d also been a huge part of bringing Eloise into our lives.

So I’d be cautious with Carly. Curb most of the impulses. Watch and wait.

That resolution wouldn’t stop me from enjoying her company though. Especially as she pored over blueprints with Raul and me. Her hair was pulled into a high and messy ponytail, and when she was deep in thought, her tongue caught between her front teeth, sticking out just enough to be adorably playful.

Raul was captivated too, even if he didn’t realize how much, and his attention was captured in a different way.

“We’re set then,” I said.

Carly straightened up and blew up a puff of air, to clear a strand of hair from her forehead. “We are. I’ll have the office update the files, and by the time everyone gets in tomorrow morning, we should be set.” She used her phone to snap photos and take scans.

This meant the night was almost over, and far earlier than I’d expected. Time to change that. “Let’s do dinner, to celebrate.”

Carly raised her brows. “To celebrate… almost having the kitchen come down on us?”

“To celebrate not only stopping that from happening, but finding a solution quickly.” Raul may not be on the we need Carly in our life long-term train with me yet, but he was still letting his libido steer at least a little.

The way Carly shook her head wasn’t encouraging. “We don’t have a kitchen, how are we going to cook?”

“This may surprise you,” I said playfully, “but we have this thing here where we can call restaurants and they deliver food to us.” We could also go out, but I’d rather keep the party private. Intimate.

Carly laughed. “Really? Food delivery? Whatever will they think of next?” Her shock was so exaggerated, they probably heard it in Sicily. “All right, I’m sold. I’ll even agree it’s a celebration, though I’d like to propose instead of celebrating not failing, we make it about the fact that the two of you broke ground on your dream today.”

That sounded like the perfect thing to celebrate. “I love it.” I set about gathering the blueprints rolled out over the large wooden table we’d set up at the edge of the kitchen.

“I know the perfect thing. I’ll give them a call.” Raul already had his phone out.

Carly looked between us, lips pursed. “I’ll… sit here and look pretty?”

Responding to that felt like a trap, especially with the grief she’d given Raul for all of his cheesy pick-up lines. I was wavering on a reply when a clap of thunder rattled the windows.

Carly’s amusement wilted, and when it came back, her smile looked forced. She hadn’t liked the storm at the airport either. Was it all storms or was there something specific she didn’t care for?

“Are you all right?” I asked.

Like that, all emotion vanished from her face. “Totally good.”

The next crack of thunder was further away, and some of the tension drained from Carly’s body. A third was barely audible, and her easy smile was back.

Totally good. Sure.

Raul finished making his call and pocketed his phone. “The food will be here in just a few minutes.”

“In the meantime, I secured us a centerpiece for our meal.” I gestured at Carly, who sat perched on her stool still.

Pink tinged her cheeks.

Raul made a show of dragging his gaze over her. “We could skip dinner.”

“Uh, no. We couldn’t.” Despite the words, Carly didn’t look upset. “Because I’m hungry for food.”

“Pft.” Raul waved a dismissive hand. “Food is overrated.”

“Says the chef who promised his restaurant would make us millions.” Carly seemed to have recovered completely from the thunder spooking her.

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