"It doesn’t mean anything," Carter said. "Don’t tell my dad, though."
Walter gave him a bemused look. "So you aren't planning on marrying her?"
"I don't know," Carter said. He knew his uncle was extremely smart. He might have already figured out the game Carter was playing.
Walter shook his head. "Fine, but don’t break her heart. I like her; she has spunk."
"My mom thinks she’s rude."
"I think she was just pulling your mom’s leg. Look at people’s actions, not what they say."
Carter studied the snow. It was close to the time of year when his cousins were killed in the Christmas Eve fire.
"Your dad loves you, you know," Walter said to him.
"I guess."
"He does. He just has a hard time of showing it. I’ll talk to him," Walter said, clasping Carter on the shoulder.
"So Grandpa is back."
"He just wants money," Walter said. "Then he'll go away."
"He seems really…" Carter trailed off. He didn't really want to say anything bad about Grandpa.
"Immature? He has terrible taste in women," Walter said with a snort. "Not that I should talk, considering my wife killed our children and her parents and tried to kill Grant and Kate."
"Maybe you should try dating again," Carter told Walter.
"Nope. I'm done. Never again. A good, honest woman is hard to find. Allie seems real. I don't know her, obviously, but if she has a good heart and you love her, don't worry about what Jack says."
11
Allie
Allie woke up to what she thought was rain. She rolled over and looked. The sun was shining, reflecting off of the light snow that had dusted the ground the night before. Carter was standing on the balcony, completely naked, taking a leak.
"That is disgusting," she said loudly.
"I had asparagus for dinner last night," Carter said over his shoulder, still watering the plants.
"Gross."
"Well, one of us has to act trashy. I spent ten thousand dollars on you, and I feel like you’re not giving me my money’s worth."
He walked inside and slammed the French doors behind him.
"Put some clothes on," she told him.
"Why?" he said, stalking over to her.
He leaned over Allie on the couch. She went wide-eyed as his naked body was right there in front of her.
"You don't want me to show you a good time instead?" he murmured.
Yes,Allie wanted to say.
"Nah, I'm just kidding," Carter said, going into the closet.
