Page 127 of For One Night

“Do you want me to shut the door?” Carter shouts from the living room.

“No, I’ll only be a minute.” I step into the bathroom, dialing Lachlan’s number. There’s no answer, so I end the call. I quickly change, hurrying back to the living room. I don’t want Carter in my room.

“You look wonderful.” He smiles, making my skin crawl. “Here, I wanted to replace that garish thing around your neck.”

I touch the gift Lennox gave me, feeling sick at the thought of replacing it with anything from Carter, but I need to run with this tip and see where it leads me. I reach up, taking it off, and laying it on the counter.

“How sweet of you, thank you.” I turn, allowing him closer than I want him. He drapes it around my neck, clasping it. I peer down at it, smiling. “It’s beautiful.”

Carter grasps my arms, spinning me around. Before I can stop him, his lips are on mine. I push on his shoulders, trying to fight him off. I twist and turn until finally he stops.

“What in the hell are you doing?” I step away from him. “Don’t ever do that again, Carter.”

“Oh, c’mon Lola.” He chuckles as if he has an inside joke. “I need to freshen up.” He removes his suit jacket, laying it across my couch.

“I’m going to run and check my mail.” I smile until he walks into my bathroom. “Eww, like he can’t use the guest bath.”

I peek in my room and rush to his coat. I reach in the pocket and take his keys out. Making a mad dash to his car, I grab my phone and some tissues. As I step out my door, I kick something. I bend over to find my keys. Scanning the lot, I see my car.

“Lennox must’ve had it delivered.” I run to his car, hit record on my phone, and open his trunk. Sure enough, his briefcase is here. I pop it open, and it’s like Christmas. “Son of a bitch, he fucking stole my files.”

There lay copies of the Charlotte file in black and white. I hold my tissue so that I can pick it up without getting my prints on it. “Busted, fucker.” I run to my car, tossing it in and hurry back up the stairs.

I practically fall into my door, huffing and puffing. I drop his keys in and lock myself in the extra bathroom. I hit dial, calling Millie.

“Hey.”

“I need you to call Hardy and get your ass over here now,” I whisper.

I hear her door shut. “I’m coming, is it Carter?”

“Yes, and it’s bad.”

“I’ve got you.” She ends the call, and I dry my face.

“I’m sweating like a hoe in church on a Sunday.” I open the door to find Carter leaning against my couch. “Are you ready?”

“Lola, I’m truly shocked and dismayed at the level you have allowed yourself to lower to.” His jaw ticks as he grips the back of my couch.

I sashay over to the kitchen counter. “I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“I know what you’ve done, and putting the kitchen counter between us won’t help.” He glares at me.

“I don’t care what you know or what you think you know. This is my house, and you can leave anytime you want.”

He stalks toward me. “What’s your plan now that your rich boy toy can’t pay for everything?”

“First, if you think Lennox’s money paid for this, you’re wrong. He can afford better, unlike you.” I pivot, moving away from him. “Second, what would I know, Carter, I’m only a woman.”

He shrugs. “He deserved what he got. You have no idea who he is, I saved you from him.”

“There’s nothing—let me repeat that because you really need to let it sink in—nothing I don’t know about Lennox.” I narrow my eyes. “Down to the size of his cock.”

“You’re sleeping with him?” His face pales.

“We don’t exactly sleep, if you know what I mean.” I wink.

He glowers. “You’re disgusting.”