“She’s like a gazillionaire,” Bug says matter-of-factly.
My brows slam together. “And they live… there?” I quickly realize that what I said might be perceived as a dig against Carter’s house. “I mean, this neighborhood is great, but...”
“Believe me,” Carter says, not taking offense in the least, “their house is alotbigger than this one. Largest in the neighborhood. But Allie has never been one to flaunt her money. In fact, she lived in an apartment above her parents’ garage until she moved next door a few years ago.”
That makes me want to like Allie Anderson that much more. I may even feel a slight twinge of excitement about getting to socialize with another woman closer to my age.
I take Amelia’s hand and head for the basement stairs. “I guess we’ll see you all tomorrow.”
My eyes land on Carter before I’m through the door. Every time I’ve looked at him tonight, he’s been looking at me. The only exception was when he was dancing with Amelia and his full and complete attention was on her. Damn it if that doesn’t tug at my heartstrings just a little more.
He lifts his chin and gives me one of his oh-so-charming smiles. One of his panty-melting smiles. One of hisI should definitely close this door and lock the chainsmiles.
So why, then, after I walk through, do I leave the chain dangling, just as I have ever since he installed it?
Chapter Twelve
Carter
At six o’clock, I knock on the basement door.
Amelia bursts through as if she were waiting on the other side. “We’re going to see the babies!”
I laugh. “They aren’t exactly babies anymore, pumpkin. They’re walking. They can say a few words. I think Asher said their favorite word is ‘no’.”
“Awww,” she pouts. “I wanted to seerealbabies. Like my dolls. Only real.”
“My friends Trevor and Ava have a baby. Maybe I could introduce you.”
Kenna comes up the stairs carrying a mixing bowl. She holds it up. “Do you have a serving dish I could transfer this into?”
I pull one from a cabinet and hand it to her.
“Mommy, Carter knows a baby. Arealbaby. One that can’t walk and talk. Can I see it?”
Kenna looks at me, waiting for an explanation.
“Amelia is a little sad that Bug’s siblings aren’tlittlebabies. I was just telling her about Jordan, my friend Trevor’s kid. You remember the coffee shop? Trevor and his wife Ava own it. Jordan is almost always there with Ava.”
Her eyes close briefly. “Their coffee is amazing.”
“We could go get some. Tomorrow morning? The weather looks nice. We could walk there and get some fresh air.”
“Can we, Mommy? I want to meet a real baby.”
Kenna cocks her brow while glaring at me. Again, I’ve put her in an awkward position. She has to agree to it or risk disappointing Amelia, something I know she hates to do. Kennaknows what I’ve done.Iknow what I’ve done. But, hell, if she’s only going to be here for a few more days, I’m making it my mission to spend as much of that time with her—them—as I can.
I mean, after last night. The way she was dancing. The electric thrum between our bodies. How she looked into my eyes. She was feeling the same things I was. I’m sure of it. Just like she was a few days ago when I almost kissed her.
But for some reason, she won’t give in to it.
Doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying to wear her down. Because… shit, I never believed in stuff like love at first sight. Fate. Destiny. Yet, I swear to God, when I look at her, I can’t help but thinkallthose things.
But the clock is definitely ticking.
She shakes her head while scraping the last of the potato salad into the serving bowl. I know this head shake. It’s one of those ‘I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this’ expressions. She did the same head shake when she agreed to live in the basement. She did it before dancing with me. Then again when she accepted the dinner invitation.
And it’s more than just that one mannerism I’ve figured out about her. She has different smiles as well. The one she has when she looks at Amelia playing or sleeping is the one that takes my breath away. It’s a sweet, prideful, calm smile that shows me just how much she loves her.
