“Oh, that.” I feel heat cross my face at my brain lapse. I shrug nonchalantly. “It’s a stair lift for Christian. I found it on eBay.”
He blinks once. Twice. A third time. His eyes narrow as his brows smash together. He backs away and paces the floor between the couch and the small kitchenette.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, he belts out, “Are you serious? I know what those cost.”
“Consider it a thank you gift.”
His hands rake through his hair. “I thought you didn’t have a credit card.”
“I never said I didn’t have one. I just don’t like to use it.”
I don’t tell him that using it for eBay is safe as the charge won’t reveal my actual location like a charge from a local store or hotel would.
“Don’t misunderstand my reaction. I’m grateful. This might be the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. But…” His head shakes. “Woman, you confuse the shit out of me.”
“Sorry. That’s not my intention.”
He walks back over to me, his face much softer this time. “Why can’t you trust me?”
I decide to tell him the God’s-honest truth. “I’ve been burned before. I find it hard to trust these days.”
“Because of Cyrus?”
“Not just him. Others. Friends. Distant family.” I look away. “Everyone.”
“Kenna.” With a finger under my chin, he forces me to turn and look at him. “I promise you can trust me.”
“They promised too,” I say in a harsh whisper.
His gaze falls to the floor. “Jesus.”
“Don’t feel sorry for me, Carter.”
“This isn’t me feeling sorry for you. It’s me wishing I could do something to make your life better.”
The smile that overtakes my face is a sad, emotional one that almost brings tears to my eyes. I reach out and touch his arm. “You already have.”
“Go on a date with me.”
I shake my head and look away. “I can’t.”
“You can. Allie will watch Amelia, I’m sure of it. If you’re dead set on leaving this weekend, please do me this one favor. Nothing big. We can walk through the park. Maybe stop at Donovan’s for a bite. Catch a movie. Whatever you want.”
A date with Carter Cruz. An actual date. It’s the last thing I should be considering. But when I envision us walking hand-in-hand down the street, through the park, along McQuaid Circle past Ava’s coffee house, Donovan’s Pub, and lots of other small businesses, I completely cave to the part of me that wants this man to the depths of my soul. And I nod.
He belts out an excited, “Whoop!”
I laugh and he nods to the stairs. “Come on. You can help me with dinner. I’m making my famous tater tot casserole.”
“Famous, huh? What’s your secret ingredient?”
He chuckles. “I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” He winks. “Or marry you.”
My heart flips. Did he really just say that?
Obviously he was kidding since he’s already halfway up the stairs. When he realizes I’m not following and turns to see me frozen in place, his heated stare says so much more than his unspoken words ever could.
Chapter Twenty-five
