I look around, taking in all the people who would see us, and slowly shake my head. “Not here.”
“Okay. Later, then.” He winks at me, dispelling the cloud that had settled between us at my doubt.
“Are you sure you’re okay to take the meeting today?” I ask.
“I’m happy to step up. Plus, with Trent here, we both know it’s not likely going to go how either of us planned. It might as well just be me he’s talking over.”
“And you don’t think it’ll look bad if I’m not there?”
“No. Everyone who matters knows what an excellent job you and your team are doing. Honestly, it’ll probably make you look even more important if you’re too busy to come to a meeting.”
I bite my lip, trying not to let the memory of Lukas taint everything I’ve come to know about Carter.
He is not Lukas.
“Okay,” I say. “Thank you.”
“Of course, Kels. I’d do anything for you. You know that,” he says, sliding his hands into the pockets of his slacks.
Taking in his muscular frame, I’m once again annoyed by the fact that Trent pulled him from our bed this morning.
“Anything?” I ask, twirling a piece of hair around my finger like I just stepped out of a ’90s rom-com.
Carter fights a battle against the smirk that wants to cross his face, ultimately losing. “Oh, definitely that. Whatever you’re thinking, I’m more than happy to oblige.”
“Amazing! I was hoping you’d go for a ten-mile run with me tomorrow,” I tease.
“I would do anything…but I won’t do that.”
“Sure you would.”
“Okay, I definitely would,” he says before leaning closer to whisper, “But you’d have to help me forget about my sore muscles once we got back.”
“All I’m hearing is excuses,” I say as I turn to walk away.
Carter catches my arm, pulling me back into him. “You like being on top anyway. It’s a win-win.”
“I’m starting to see the benefits of changing it up,” I concede, offering him a smile as I walk back to my table.
“Holy crap, Kelsey,” Bryn says, coughing. “I can barely breathe with all the sexual chemistry floating around in here.” She waves her hand like she’s trying to fan away smoke before breaking out into a teasing grin.
Lila snickers beside her.
“Why do I hang out with you?” I ask.
“Because you love us,” Izzy replies, her smile not quite meeting her eyes.
“You good?” I ask her.
“Yup.”
“Just too many drink options?” I tease.
“So many choices. How am I supposed to decide if I don’t thoroughly examine the menu?”
We finish our breakfast in a whirlwind of laughter, avocado toast, and good-natured jokes. After I finish, I quickly run back to the room I’m sharing with Carter to change into the golf outfit Lila brought for me to wear.
“On second thought,” Carter says when I pass him in the hallway outside our room. “You should be at the meeting. I can’t handle knowing you’re walking around Australia like that.”
