“You’re quick.” She chuckled with a glint in her eye as she shook her head at the truth of my realization.
“Charlotte,” I treadedverycarefully. “He mentioned some arrangements after Sara’s college graduation.”
“He said that?” She immediately stopped walking and studied me for a moment, her eyes swirling with alarm.
I cleared my throat, uncertain if I should even bring it up. “He also mentioned that’s how the two of you met.”
She looked surprised, if not a little anxious. “About that.” It was almost a plea. “The kids don’t know.”
“I won’t say anything.” I quickly promised, feeling my heart split in half—after everything she’d done for me, and all this time, I’d had no idea. “It’s not my place, but, Charlotte, if any of you ever needanything.”
She huffed a laugh. “You’re a sweet boy, Carter, you always have been, but I try to keep the things that aren’t in my control out of my worries.” She smiled up at me, taking on a motherly tone that told me we were done discussing it. “But that’s enough of all that. With regard to Sara, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Brad and set things straight.”
Then she muttered more to herself. “He’d never get her down the aisle anyway. What was he thinking, negotiating her future like that? Just ridiculous.” I grimaced in agreement as her tone shifted. “I’m just glad you’re doing well and thatyou can finally join us for the holidays again. Weallare.” Her tone turned curious. “Especially Liam,and Sara,of course.” She looked up at me, searching my eyes, and I did my best to keep my expression blank.
“It’s good to be home.” I agreed quickly, looking away after an inconspicuous amount of time had passed.
She chuckled and patted my arm affectionately. “Just remember, all good things take time. Be patient, and most of all, Carter,be persistent.” She stopped before we hit the dining room and looked me dead in the eyes. “If you haven’t figured it out already, you have more leeway than you realize, and I think now might be the perfect time to start using it. Time is a fickle thing, don’t let too much of it pass or you might regret it.”
I opened my mouth to ask what exactly she meant by that because if she meant what I thought she did—but River started crying, a tiny little howl amidst the clatter of small, arguing voices at the end of the wide hallway.
“Oh dear, I wonder what that’s all about.” Charlotte quickly headed towards the sound of tiny, upset voices chiming like the mother hen she was. “Now, now, who did what?”
I stepped into an alcove and, for a long moment, I just stood in the dimly lit hallway and let the silent tears fall. Charlotte wasn’t my mother, but she was certainly the next best thing, and she was proud of me. Who I was. Who I’d become. I know she didn’t know all the dirty little details of my life and my violent career, but part of me knew even if she did, she still wouldn’t judge me. I liked to think my own mother would feel the same.
But it didn’t take long before Brad’s words were replaying in my head like a broken record.She’ll do as she’s told. Like hell she would.
I thumbed the damp from under my eyes and threw one long gaze over my shoulder towards Brad’s office, realizing in that moment that he wasn’t any different from any of my father’s associates. He was ignorant, and selfish, and possibly incrediblydangerous.
He wanted something from me, needed it so desperately he was willing to use his own daughter as a bargaining chip, and the realization chilled me to the bone.
Sara wasn’t a bargaining chip though, she was the dealer, controlling the entire game, and maybe—it was time I dealt myself in.
CHAPTER 10
Netflix and So Not Chill
SARAFINA
I plopped the last scoop of fresh whipped cream onto the still-warm apple cobbler when I felt a presence suddenly looming behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know exactly who it was.
“If you need a volunteer to lick the bowl, I’d be happy to oblige.” Carter crooned, already reaching around me, but I moved quicker, pulling the bowl away with a smirk.
Wide hands hit the counter on either side of me, and I turned, intending to say something snappy, but the closeness of him,the look in his expression, stole the breath right out from under me.
Nerves hit me like a freight train as I shyly dropped my gaze, realizing he wasn’t about to budge. “Maybe I was going to eat that.” It came out a meager whisper.
“Yeah?” He murmured with a lazy grin, while the scent of him invaded all my senses. All manly, musky, and damningly intoxicating. Like sexy fresh laundry, if that was even a thing.
“Yeah.” I slowly ran my finger around the rim of the bowl, collecting the last bits of whipped cream for myself.
He chuckled low and deep. “Oh, you shouldn’t have done that, pretty girl. I’m faster, remember?”
Itwasa fast glance Carter made behind him, confirming we were alone in the kitchen, and then it happened all at once—he gripped my wrist, and before I could put my finger into my own mouth,hisplush lips slid overmyfinger instead.
I gasped as his tongue swirled over the pad of my finger and he sucked the whipped cream clean off it. I nearly dropped the mixing bowl, but Carter was already there, steadying it in my hands.
I might have been gaping as he gave me a lopsided grin and slowly backed away without offering another word.
