Chapter Twenty-Four
ELIZA
The wheels are turning behind his squinting eyes. He’s absolutely adorable and I have the urge to hug him.
“I thought it came easy to you.” I can’t help but tease him, because somebody has to take him down a notch or two.
He scowls at me.
“It’s taking you double the time you usually take to finish.”
Carter’s eyes widen and a slow smile creases the skin around his eyes. Damn it, I walked right into it.
“I’m flattered you keep close tabs on me.”
“I just want to know how long I have to suffer through breakfast with you.”
“Is that so?” He’s alight with amusement. “I know it’s your favorite part of the day, since I’m at your mercy. You can chat my ear off.”
“You can always take your breakfast on the porch again. It’s warmer now.”
Carter’s attention is set on me. “I could.”
His focused gaze washes over me like an electric wave of apprehension.
“But you don’t.”
I don’t know how to interpret the look that crosses his face.
“Why?” I don’t know what I hope to achieve with this question.
He’s a storm of indecision. But he settles on an answer that has my heart thundering.
“Maybe I enjoy being cornered by a chatty forest woman.”
I can’t hide the delighted grin making Carter roll his eyes.
“Get dressed,” he orders.
“I’m not sure I’m fond of you bossing me around,” I say, digging my fists into my sides.
It’s the wrong thing to say. Next thing I know he’s sitting too close, one hand shooting to my waist. Painfully slow, he brings our bodies together. “I think you get off on it.” Carter drags his nose along my jaw, his gritty voice traveling down my body, dissolving into a hot pool between my legs.
“Put the yellow dress on.” He presses his thumb under my belly button, and I almost lose the ability to stand straight. “I’ll get the car. We’re not going into town,” Carter finally says, a thick gruffness coating his words.
“You have to get me back by six.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Oh. Do you have a date?”
“Yes, with Quinn. That disastrous night at the pub she met a guy called Mike. As a good friend, I need to be filled in with all the details. She sounded excited about him.”
Driving in the opposite direction to Silver Lake Falls, he’s quieter than usual. I always remind myself Carter’s not Jared and his silences are not meant topunish me because I did something to upset him. It still makes me uncomfortable, but it’s manageable.
Until the silence stretches for too long.
I take in his stern profile, the faraway glaze of his eyes, and a taste of unease springs under my tongue. His hands are relaxed on the steering wheel, but the set line of his mouth might give way to a scowl.
This time anxiety expands to a threatening crest that triggers my fight-or-flight response. Since I’ve never been one to fight, I consider jumping out of the moving car rather than taking the silence for a second longer.
