“Tyler was right,” I confessed. “This used to be my place. I let him have it two years ago when I bought my own home.”
“So, you have your own home but bring me to your brother’s bachelor pad?” The anger was back in her tone.
“Yes, but only because it would’ve taken too long to get to my place.”
“Taken too long for what?”
“For me to get inside of you.” I lowered my head so that my lips hovered just above hers. “I’m an ass and a selfish one at that,” I stated, moving in to nuzzle the side of her face with my nose. “I wanted you more than the time it took to get to my house. So, I brought us somewhere closer.” That was the truth. That, and another reason I was slightly too embarrassed to admit right then.
“How do I know you’re not lying?” She pulled back to stare up at me. Her eyes had softened, but she was still wary.
“I told you I’d–”
“Prove it.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“You told me you’d never lie to me. Prove it. I want to see your home.”
My head dropped a little, my chest enlarged on an inhale and, I averted my gaze. I debated on how to handle this. When I felt her shoulders slump against me, I knew that she conceded that I was lying. I couldn’t have that.
“Okay,” I finally responded. “I’ll take you to my home.” I took a step back and turned to press the button to allow the elevator to carry us back down to the ground floor. If she wanted to see my home, then so be it.
****
Michelle
“You live in Cedarcrest?” I asked, as we passed the sign that read “Welcome to Cedarcrest.” It was one of the wealthiest communities located just outside the city of Williamsport. Come to think of it, the community wasn’t too far from where Carter’s parents lived, just on the border of the city.
“Yup.” His response was quiet. I could feel his mind wandering as we drove.
It’d taken nearly thirty minutes to drive out there. My eyes passed over houses that were triple and quadruple the size of the small home I’d grown up in. My vision finally landed on a massive, modern-styled home, most of which was covered in tanned colored siding, with the lower level of the left side of the house covered in brick siding. Out front I saw a spacious lawn that looked like it had been cut every once in awhile but nothing else had been done to maintain it. The light illuminated the porch and driveway as soon as we turned in.
Carter parked his Yukon in the driveway instead of pulling into the garage as I thought he would. He sighed heavily, turning off the car and climbing out. I watched as he rounded the front of the car, coming to pull my door open. He was quiet as he opened the door, holding his hand out to me to help me down.
“You seem nervous,” I remarked. I could feel his tension.
“I don’t get nervous.”
Those eyes turned down on me and my belly flip flopped. But I still could see there was an unsureness in his eyes.
“Liar,” I mumbled, and then laughed, unintentionally, when he made a growling sound in his throat.
“Okay, sugar. You asked for it,” he stated, pressing the code for his home. Seconds later the door unlatched and he pushed it open.
“You don’t even use a key.”
He shrugged. “No need.” He took a step back, to allow me to enter first just as the inside lights came on.
I stepped inside the entranceway and was completely thrown by what I saw. I heard Carter sigh from behind me as the door closed. I looked around and realized aside from the cream carpeting there was … nothing. His home was just about bare, save for an ugly black futon that sat in the room to the right that looked as if it was supposed to be a study. The design of the house was beautiful. There were two spiraling staircases upon first entrance, that led up to the second floor. The home was spacious, and even standing close to the front entrance I could make out an open kitchen down the hall on the other side of the house. But it was bare. As if no one lived there.
I abruptly turned to Carter. “How long ago did you say you bought this house?”
His head dropped. “Two years ago.”
“Two years you’ve lived here and you have no furniture?” My eyebrows were nearly touching my hairline. I took a few more steps inside, still shocked by the sight of barely any furniture, no pictures or accessories of any sort, lining the walls. Nothing.
“I have some furniture,” he grumbled, coming up behind me.
