Color washes into her cheeks and I lean toward her, but before I can kiss her, she’s taking the single step down from the raised entry and I’m watching her delectable ass sashay across the room.
My longer legs soon catch me up and I just smile when she eyes me sideways. I know she has to be freaking out right now. We’ve barely scratched the surface of personal in the last few weeks and while we’ve spent most of our time at the bar, she has been to my house a handful of times, but I’ve never been here.
It’s like she’s trying to keep our worlds separate. But I want in on every part of her life and when I woke up this morning, I decided today was as good a day as any to cross those invisible lines.
I’ll help her get ready for her dinner party then make myself scarce for the few hours everyone is here. Or if she insists, I’ll head in to work and come back later.
“Why are you here, Carter?”
“I thought you might need an extra pair of hands to get ready for tonight.”
“Don’t you have to be at the bar?” She opens a huge industrial-sized fridge, one worth thousands. And I should know. I had to replace a similar one at the bar last year.
“No. Devon and Garrett have it under control.” I wait while she makes room for the box then slide it onto the shelf she cleared.
“But surely you’ve got something better to do?”
I straighten and turn to face her. Time to lay some real truth on her. “Livi, there is no place on earth I’d rather be than with you. And no, I’m not here for sex.”
13
OLIVIA
Iglance over at Carter for what feels like the millionth time.
We’re finally getting around to preparing tonight’s meal and I put him to work cutting eggplant into one-centimeter thick slices for the vegetarian lasagna I chose for the main course.
After getting over my initial shock at seeing him on my doorstep, we went to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients I didn’t have on hand. Yes, I could have had what I needed delivered, but I wanted to test us together, as a couple, in the real world—my world.
It’s one thing to be together at Boyd’s or Carter’s apartment, or even here in my apartment, but venturing out in public—in my normal stomping grounds—puts a whole new spin on things, and I wanted to see how it felt, how both of us would react to my usual environment.
A slight smile curls my lips.
We did okay—good actually.
He was a perfect gentleman—opening doors, walking between me and the curb. He even tried to pay for my purchases, which still sends a thrill through me in spite of my bone-deepneed to be independent after everything my parents and ex put me through.
And when he suggested we stop somewhere for lunch, I loved sharing my favorite waterfront café with him.
In spite of the fact I knew we’d be seen by more than one acquaintance. Several people from my social circle saw me and either waved or smiled, but no one ventured close. Their inquisitive gazes told me I’d be fielding inquiries about the man at my side soon enough.
I’m ready for those calls. And I don’t care how soon word gets back to my mother; although that is one conversation I don’t want to have, I’ll gladly suffer through it over and over to share my favorite smoked tomato risotto with Carter.
I don’t feel as though I owe any explanations about my life or who I’m with to anyone. Not anymore. And it’s not like my parents have bothered to enquire about my life before now. Neither of them has commented on the absence of Colin in the three years he’s been gone.
“Hey.” Carter taps the end of my nose with a fingertip. “Am I doing all the work?”
“What?” I look down at the onion I am supposed to be dicing. “Oh, no. I was just…” What was I doing?
“You were miles away. Want to talk about it?” he asks, going back to slicing the eggplant.
“Not really. It’s not important.”
“Are you sure?”
I sigh, my shoulders dropping as the air leaks out of my chest. “I was contemplating the phone call I’m bound to receive from Mother when it gets back to her that I was out to lunch with a man who is not the one I married.”
“And that’s a problem?”
