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I’ll just pick you up. I texted back and held my breath.
No need. I’m already out running errands, just meet me there. That was it, there were no smiling or winking faces at the end of the message, just a period.
Busy. That was always her excuse lately. She was too busy to meet up for lunch. Too busy to talk to me on the phone. Too busy to ride together to plan Pippa and Ryan’s wedding. She was a busy woman, I knew that, but I also knew it was an excuse to avoid me.
Fine. See you there.
I would have my answers today, because I needed them. Had I ruined our friendship irreparably? Would things ever be normal between us again? I was a hopeful man, no matter how determined Carlotta was to deprive me of all hope.
I arrived at Wheels 4 Rent a few minutes early, hoping to catch Carlotta before we went inside for a quick chat, because I knew she would beat a hasty retreat the moment we were done with wedding stuff. The stubborn woman had even deprived me of that, showing up exactly at four o’clock and nodding in my direction to follow her inside.
I followed behind her and admired the fantastically feminine dress she wore. It looked like a man’s dress shirt on top with short sleeves and a collar, but the floral design and the way it flared out around her knees was stunning. It was perfectly Carlotta, and I loved it.
“Carlotta Montgomery,” she drawled to the guy behind the desk. “I have a four o’clock appointment with Andrew Markham.”
He nodded and turned away to use the phone, and I used that moment to step in closer, to inhale her intoxicating scent. “Good afternoon, beautiful.”
She gasped and took a step away from me before she turned to me. “Chase. Hello. Thank you for meeting me here.” She pulled a tablet from her bag and focused on that instead of me. “I’ve divided the guest list into locals and out of towners, but some of the locals will also likely use the vans or mini-buses if they plan on indulging.”
She was determined to be all business, and I was just as determined not to let her. “Will you be indulging?”
“Of course not,” she answered without looking up. “I’ll be working.”
“I hope you’ll have time for a dance with me?”
She shook her head again. “I will be working Chase. You should probably line up a date for the wedding if you don’t want to incur Pippa’s wrath.”
I knew she was right, but I had no plans to indulge my sister in that way. “I’m perfectly capable of arranging my own schedule and personal life, thank you very much.”
“Of course you are,” she answered automatically, her gaze remained focused on that damn table until the moment Andrew Markham showed up.
“Ms. Montgomery, I’m Andrew. Come on back.” His gaze slid over me, but I knew that look well, he’d already decided I was no threat to him in any way at all. “I have three mini-buses available for the dates you requested. Would you like to take a look at them?”
Carlotta nodded and I kept my distance, watching as Andrew tried his best to charm her while talking leather interior and air conditioning. Somehow the man actually pulled it off and she was all smiles and sweet giggles for him. But me, one of her oldest friends? I got worse than the silent treatment, I got no treatment at all aside from a few questions about Pippa’s preferences.
Thirty minutes later the buses were booked for the weekend, with drivers, and Carlotta rushed from the building as if she was being chased.
“Carlotta, wait up!” Her steps never slowed, but luckily I had a height advantage and easily closed the gap between us. “Are you just going to avoid me for the rest of our lives?”
She sighed and stopped, her gaze blank as it fixed on my face. “I’m not avoiding you, Chase.”
“No, then what in the hell are you doing?” My tone was harsh, but dammit this was ridiculous.
She folded her arms, her demeanor a picture of defiance. “What I’m doing is trying to plan a wedding and half a dozen other events, Chase. What are you doing?”
“I’m just trying to get some answers.”
“No. You regret that things are different between us even though you wanted them to be different. This is your doing, not mine, so please don’t try to rewrite history.” She shook her head and let out an unamused grunt. “I don’t know if this is misplaced guilt or morning after regrets, but I’m a big girl Chase. I don’t need you to check on me. I’m fine.”
“I’m glad one of us is,” I huffed. “Because I’m so far from fine that I can hardly think straight.”
“I’m sorry about that Chase, but we’re adults and we must live with the consequences of our actions.”
“So, this is punishment?”
She let out a laugh that lacked any trace of humor. “How am I punishing you, when you get the secrecy you apparently crave without giving up the sex? If anything, you’re coming out ahead in this little agreement.” She shook her head and stepped up into her giant truck. “This will get easier Chase.”
“Yeah, when?” I asked with a growl.
