“I’m sorry. I’m so—” My head drops on the back of the couch.
“No sweetie, she’s not upset you missed it. Just worried.” Quinn tilts her head and softens her features. “She likes having you there.”
For someone who always thinks people at most tolerate her, it means more than anything.
“Missed what?”
I didn’t expect Carter to linger. But he’s rounding the small island toward the cabinets.
“Uh,” I stammer for a moment. “It’s something I do at the library.”
While gulping water, his Adam’s apple bobs hypnotically. Those gray eyes bore into me, expectantly. He actually wants to know the details. That’s unnerving.
“Twice a month local kids and others from the neighboring towns come to the library for story time. I read to them, not a big deal.” I look at my toes. I don’t know why. I’m embarrassed since Jared always scoffed.“Waste of time.”
“Adorable,” he says quietly, talking to himself. His tone is not laced with his usual disdain, and I dare to take a peek. He’s staring into the water glass like he’s doing a tea leaf reading.
“What did you say, Mr. Etiquette?” Quinn needles him while grinning at me.
“The kids must find it adorable,” Carter mumbles. I don’t know if the kids or the reading part displease him so profoundly, but I don’t get a chance to find out before he heads straight for his bedroom without another word.
The next day I invite him to explore the surroundings while I forage for some herbs for my teas. I hope to find some freshly bloomed clover blossoms and raspberry leaves.
“No. Thank you.”
He’s as friendly as a water snake, but I press on. “You’re in a beautiful area. Do you plan to spend three months cooped up here, staring at your screens?”
“I can walk out on the back porch and get some fresh air.” Carter’s distracted monotone matches his blank expression.
“I’ll start singing in the shower,” I say sweetly to get a reaction from him.
“I have some earplugs in my emergency kit.”
“I’ll call the mayor and he’ll come and pester you. He’s relentless. You’ll get invited to every pothole repair reveal ceremony.”
“He’ll find himself in possession of a big enough check to forget I even exist.”
“I’ll—” His mocking eyebrow makes me play dirty. “I’ll call your mother.”
It’s the first time his apathetic facade cracks and he narrows his eyes.
“You can’t get to her,” he sneers.
“Wanna bet?”
I count the loud thud of the poor tablet against the table and his next grumble as a win.
Chapter Eleven
CARTER
Mornings have been too quiet. The glitch in the routine unbalancing my day. It’s complete silence. No sound of running water. No out-of-tune hums. No little moans of contentment fueling the fantasies I have no business replaying in my head late at night.
Today I was expecting things to get back to normal, but the house is eerily silent again and it’s too late for Eliza to be still in her room at this hour. I have to check on her. I tell myself it’s because she makes a great breakfast now and she has to stick to our deal.
But I falter in front of her door. A faint pained moan and the rustle of sheets stop me in my tracks. I knock louder than I intended, and the sound bounces with too much force around the quiet hallway.
“Sorry. Can’t help with food today,” she says in a tiny voice I strain to make out.
