“Right after you tried to have her fired.”
His usual scowl shifted to a look of contriteness but it lasted only a second before his scowl was back in place. “I thought she was just another conquest for you. A firefighter bunny or whatever the hell they’re called.”
“She was never that,” I stated sharply.
He held up his hands. “I know that now.”
I nodded.
“We make a pretty good team.”
I snorted. “When your head isn’t inserted too far up your ass.”
It was his turn to snort. “I know Mother and Father would love to see you come help run the business, especially Father,” he stated.
“I’ve already got a job.”
He shrugged. “Figured you’d say that.”
“Thanks for helping me out with this.” It would’ve taken me longer to piece together what Gabriel was doing to Michelle had Aaron not have called me with what he overheard. He never hesitated when I asked for his help in dealing with Garcia.
“He messed with a Townsend. You don’t ever have to thank me for going to bat for you.”
I grinned. This was the side of Aaron most people weren’t privy to. He was viciously loyal. Not just to the family business, but to the family. He may have had a strong distrust and even a hatred for other people, but when it came to family, he was all in, right or wrong.
“She’s going to be family soon anyway,” he stated.
A genuine smile touched my lips. “She damn sure is.”
****
Michelle
“Thanks for knocking this time.” I grinned at the tall, handsome man leaning against my door frame. He simply stared at me. Typically, I would find such staring unnerving, but I’d become used to it with Carter. He stared, drinking me in and then digesting every facet of my being.
“You should’ve put the chain on,” he stated with a serious face.
“Would that’ve stopped you from entering my apartment while I was sleeping?” I questioned, folding my arms across my chest.
A slow smile hit his mouth and I knew the answer before he spoke.
“Probably not, but it would’ve made it a little more difficult.”
Giggling, I shook my head. It’d been three days since he’d shown up out of the damn blue in the middle of the night and he still wouldn’t tell me how he so quietly entered my apartment. It both unnerved me and turned me on. My guy was a badass.
“You want to come in?” I finally asked.
“Yeah, but first …” Before I knew what was happening, a strong arm banded around my waist, pulling me into him, and his lips had captured mine. The tiny hairs of his beard tickled my chin, but when his tongue swept over mine, it was no longer a laughing matter. To say I was swept up would’ve been the understatement of the year. All the questions I wanted … no,neededto ask him fell away. And what was left was just us, two people caught up in the heat, the passion, theflameof love.
When he finally released me, we both were panting uncontrollably. My entire body felt ignited and my nipples strained painfully against the lace bra I wore. I peered up into Carter’s eyes, and the way they had darkened made my belly quiver.
“Where’s Diego?” His voice was strained from his need.
“My mom’s.”
He nodded and moved through the door, forcing me to back up to let him in. Without looking behind him he closed the door and locked it before taking my hand and pulling me toward the couch in my living room.
“You want to know what happened with Gabriel,” he stated, not a question.
