“Why?”
“She thought it was weird, that it’d be weird for you, and she would be at the shop all hours anyway so staying here seemed logical. After this week, she’ll start to get this sorted, or so she says. She’ll probably open a second shop near St Paul’s or something.” He headed to the small kitchen and filled a kettle, not even asking if I wanted tea. It was an assumption that was rarely wrong.
“She’s driven.”
“She’s unhinged and determined and probably has ADHD, and at some point, she’ll probably have a burnt-out week. She’d have made a good doctor.”
“Or psychologist.”
“Anyone who works in a hospital.” He paused, still and looking at me. “If it makes you feel any better, I really didn’t like you talking to that author.”
“It does make things a little better. Now imagine I was fake marrying him in two weeks.”
“Point made.” He stopped what he was doing, walking back over to me, stopping when he was a footstep away. “Rosie, can we do something together this week?”
“Don’t you have wedding stuff to do?” I had no idea what size the ceremony was or what was involved.
“All done. There are only four of Laurie’s family attending; her grandfather, dad, one of her brothers and his wife, so it’s a small thing. Just a meal after and then I’m back on shift.” He looked sheepish. “It’s was easier to arrange it that way.”
“Won’t her family think that’s a bit strange?” Although I had known colleagues that had similar weddings, fitting them in between shifts because they couldn’t get the same time off.
“Her family thinks of everything as a transaction. Romance doesn’t exist. Her brother’s wife is the daughter of one of their grandfather’s business associates. They just want to make sure itgoes ahead, then Laurie’s not their problem anymore.” He shook his head. “It’s ridiculous. I always thought my dad was a bit harsh, being so pushy and making sure I was focused, but her family tops all of those charts.” He paused for a moment. “So can we hang out next week?”
“Hang out? Isn’t that what we did when we were teenagers?” I smiled at the phrase.
“I wasn’t sure how else to put it, because a asking you on a date feels awkward.” He reached out to hold me, and it was too easy to step into his arms and let myself be held.
It was warm and comforting and something else that maybe wasn’t new and had always been there. I wrapped my arms around his neck and found the kiss that followed too easy to slip into, soft, lengthy kisses that had my hands in his hair and his under my jumper, skimming up my back and onto my sides, his hands glazing over my bra and making me shiver and ache for more.
It was risky. Doors were open and any of Laurie’s team or Laurie herself could come through, including anyone who shouldn’t know about us.
But I didn’t care, and I doubted Carter had even thought about it. He cupped my breasts his mouth dropping to my neck, teasing the sensitive skin there and I wondered how it would feel when there were less clothes and more privacy.
And fewer nerves.
Carter had never felt like a brother. I had two of those already, and a number of male cousins who could be worse. Carter had been a friend, but I’d always been curious about more, especially after that first kiss when I was dared to kiss a boy to prove I’d already done it. I hadn’t expected it to feel like that.
My second kiss, which hadn’t been with Carter, had been anti-climatic, nothing like the one with Carter. It had been messy, with teeth clashing, whereas his kiss had felt like velvet.
This one was velvet also. I slid my hands lower, my palm brushing over the top of his jeans and down, feeling his hardness through the denim, aching between my own legs and wondering exactly how long after the annulment it was appropriate to wait. I didn’t feel like he was cheating; if anything, it seemed like Laurie was keen to see us together, and the way he was touching me made me forget everything that was happening in the next few weeks.
We broke apart abruptly, hands tidying clothes, me trying to look unflustered. Footsteps and a discreet cough had interfered with a kiss that was going too far.
“We’re about to do the official opening. I’m pretty sure you’d rather miss it and find some windows to steam up, but I need those flowers and you’re blocking the way.” She pointed to three large bunches in vases just behind where I was standing. “In fact, if you carry them down for me, it’ll have given you reason to be up here.” She looked entirely amused.
I pushed my hair down with my hands, hoping I didn’t look like I should.
Carter was trying not to laugh at me. “Rose looks like she’s been in a sauna for half an hour.”
“Am I flushed?”
He nodded. “Just a bit.” Then, when he came closer, and Laurie was out of earshot. “And I can’t wait to find out what else gets you like that, Rosie.”
CHAPTER 18
Carter
Getting Rose to agree to go out with me on something that could resemble a date was about as easy as plaiting fog. She was wary, probably about more than the Laurie situation, and I expected she’d be hot and cold, because she’d be unsure.
