Page 50 of Unraveled

He started to roll to his feet, but one hand shot out and fisted in his shirt, halting his progress. She released him as if she’d been scalded, and he took her hand in his. “You good?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Just… thanks—for everything.”

Not wanting to push her any more at the moment, he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, then slipped off the bed and left the room. It’d always been his motto to leave them wanting more, and he smiled as he felt her eyes tracking him the entire way out the door and down the stairs.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

Dinner was an uneventful affair, but both Carter and John seemed more relaxed than Audrey had ever seen them. They kept up a healthy stream of conversation, covering everything from TV shows to politics to sports. Audrey found herself glancing between Carter and his father, realizing just how similar they were despite their insistence to the contrary.

When they were all finished, Audrey stood and began to gather dishes to take them into the kitchen. She was juggling hers one-handedly when both men waved her back into her seat.

“Sit down, sit down,” John blustered. “You’re a guest here. I’ll take care of it.”

“You’re a guest, too,” Carter pointed out as he stood.

“Yeah, but you cooked dinner,” John retorted cantankerously.

Audrey bit her tongue, bemused, and watched the two men face off—one was a younger version of the other, but his glare was no less powerful.

“I’ll just—” Audrey grabbed her plate, but both men turned to her in unison. “No!”

They turned back to each other, and the glare continued for another few seconds before Carter finally threw his hands in the air. “Fine. Have at it.”

John looked pleased to have won, and Audrey couldn’t help the tiny smile that curled the corners of her lips. Carter shot her a look across the table, and she rolled her lips together to contain the laugh welling up. It really was amazing how stubborn these two were.

When all the dishes had been collected, John retired to his room, and Carter stood, holding out a hand in Audrey's direction. “Come sit with me?”

She allowed him to help her up, then followed him into the living room, where he sank down into his recliner. Audrey started to move past toward the couch, but he caught her around the waist and pulled her backward.

“Carter…” she warned.

Hands framing her hips, he smiled up at her. “You promised to sit with me.”

Audrey rolled her eyes. “That was before I knew what you intended.”

“Too bad,” he said as he pulled her down sideways across his lap. “No reneging on your promises.”

He flipped on the TV, then settled on some show about natural disasters and sat back to watch. After a few minutes, Audrey gradually began to relax and lay her head along his shoulder. She felt his lips brush a kiss over the top of her head, and she smiled at the sensation.

The show went to a commercial a couple of minutes later, and Carter hit the mute button. “How are you feeling?”

Audrey tipped her chin up to look at him. “Still a little sore, but it’s not terrible.”

He studied her. “Do you need your medicine?”

“No, I’m good,” she responded.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Is that Dr. Audrey refusing treatment, or is this real Audrey?”

Audrey rolled her eyes even as a smile curved her mouth. “I’m pretty sure you knew I was a terrible patient before you dragged me over here.”

“I do. That’s why I’m asking.”

She delivered a slap to his chest, and he laughed before his eyes turned serious. “I’m not just talking about your arm, you know. How are you really?”

Audrey fiddled with one of the buttons on his shirt. “I’m… okay.”