“Some.” And by some, I meant only paying for Diego’s school expenses, but that was enough for me. Excelor Academy was the most expensive and exclusive school in the city.
Carter’s jaw tightened, as if he was grinding his teeth together.
“Breakfast is almost done, looks like,” I stated, infusing my voice with excitement. I was ready to get off the subject of Gabriel.
“Taste test first,” he said before cutting a piece of one of the pieces of bread. He brought it over to me on a fork, holding it up in front of my mouth. “Open.”
My jaw slackened, falling open at his command. He slid the fork into my mouth, pulling it out slowly once my lips had clamped down around it. I chewed, relishing the sweet taste of banana and the delightfully soft texture of the French toast. By the time I swallowed, I was ready for my next bite, and Carter was waiting to feed me again.
I ate my entire breakfast on that kitchen counter ? Carter feeding me forkful after forkful of French toast, sausage, and some fruit he’d cut up. I don’t even remember him eating himself, instead he seemed to be satiated from watching me eat. It was the best meal I’d had in a very long time.
****
Carter
“How come you parked your car in the driveway?”
I peered over at Michelle’s wet body, still wrapped in a towel from the shower we’d taken together. She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her body down with moisturizing cream. I, once again, made a silent note in my head to send her mother a bouquet of flowers for agreeing to keep Michelle’s son until that evening. I’d asked her to remain with me for the rest of the day and thanks to her mom, she agreed.
“Carter,” her voice snapped my attention back to her face.
“Sorry, sugar. I get lost looking at you.”
She rolled her eyes but the smile that broke out on her face said what she was really thinking.
“What’d you ask?”
“I asked how come you parked your car in the garage.”
“Oh. ’Cause my garage is reserved for my real vehicle.”
She frowned.
“Finish dressing and I’ll show you.” I threw a dark T-shirt over my head and a pair of faded jeans. We had plans to go see a movie. I was doing my best to be a gentleman and not keep her in bed all day, her legs locked around my waist. But that’s what I really wanted to do.
A few minutes later, we were headed to my garage through the mudroom. I opened the door and took her hand.
“Watch your step,” I said, gesturing toward the three concrete stairs that led to the main garage space. In the middle sat my second favorite baby. Obviously, my Ducati had moved to number two on my list since Michelle came along.
“Whoa,” she stated. “That’s a serious motorcycle.”
I grinned. “She gets parked in the garage. The Yukon remains outside,” I stated, answering her question from earlier.”
“You’re such a guy.” She giggled when I pulled her to me, encircling her waist.
“What’s that mean?”
“Itmeansyou’re such a guy. You have no … practically no furniture,” she corrected herself. “And two very up-to-date vehicles. The cost of one of which could probably furnish this entire home.”
“Probably,” I agreed. “But I’m not aguy.I’m a man. A man who waited for the right woman to come along to even think about furnishing any part of my home. I wanted this place to be hers as much as it is mine.”
Her shoulders sagged a little, and she lowered her face to my chest. “When you say things like that …” She trailed off.
“What? You believe me?”
She sighed but remained silent for a long while. My hands tightened around her waist. I was doing my absolute best to hold back. Yes, it was very early in our relationship but my instincts never lied. They’d saved my ass more times than I could count. And I was a Townsend. My father had told all of his sons that Townsend men just know when they’ve met the right one. We were laser focused in that area. I hadn’t paid him much attention when I was younger, but since the first time I’d met Michelle, she’d made a believer out of me. I’d pursue her with more intensity than I had when joining the army or fighting fires.
Her head popped up from my chest. “Let’s go for a ride.” Her eyes were wide with anticipation.
