AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I jot things down so I remember them later. That’s all.”
“You know, your phone has an app that can do that for you. It can even send you handy little reminders, so long as your battery’s charged.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the lesson.”
“Carter?” A woman’s voice broke through to his bedroom. It was coming from the lounge, but moving closer. “Carter?”
Jane froze, her face blanked of emotion as she stared down at him.
“Oh, shit.” He looked at her apologetically. “I completely forgot about Karina.”
“Karina?” Her pulse was racing through her body, and her fingers were tingling. “Who is Karina?”
“My cousin.” He looked towards the door. “Hang on a second!”
“Your cousin?” Jane was sceptical. “What is your cousin doing here at ten o’clock?”
“She’s our Philly station manager. She was in town for meetings today and I completely forgot I asked her to come over when she got through.”
“Right.” Jane moved away from him with true regret. Suddenly, the gulf between that moment and when she would next see him felt enormous. “Give me five minutes and I’ll leave you to it.”
He reached for her hand. “No, you don’t have to go. You’ll like her.”
“Carter.” Her voice broke on a note of pain. “That’s really kind of you, but we’re not actually a couple.” She forced herself to remember her own rules. Keeping him at an emotional distance was imperative. “I don’t need to meet your family. I don’t need you to introduce me. It’s fine. I’m not offended.”
Fury etched into his features. “You said you’d stay with me for nights. I want you to stay.”
“I know.” She wanted that too. Desperately. “It’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She pressed a kiss against his lips, aiming for nonchalance to disguise the way her disappointment was making her queasy.
“Carter? Are you drowning under the weight of a bookcase or something?” Karina’s voice was just outside the door.
He swore softly. “I said I’ll be right out.”
He pulled on a pair of jeans and strode towards the door. “I want you to stay.” He said, his hand on the doorknob.
“There’s no point.” Jane didn’t meet his eyes.
He shook his head and pulled the door open. Jane had the impression of a red swish of hair and a hint of Joy perfume before the door swung closed again. She dressed quickly, putting her clothes on with fingers that were shaking.
Her appearance in the mirror was more or less normal. She stared at her face, wondering how she could look calm and relaxed when inside, she was a cyclone of feeling. She lifted her fingers to her lips. They were still tingling from his kisses. Along her neck, there was a hint of pink from where his stubble had grazed her, and her eyes shone with the strength of what they’d just done. But to a stranger, she would look fine. She breathed out unsteadily and forced her legs to carry her towards the lounge.
Karina was lovely. Neat hair, corporate suit, a somewhat jaded manner that was as honest as it was refreshing. Her eyes were like Carter’s. So blue they were almost arctic. “You must be Jane,” she said, standing and cutting across the room. She extended a slender hand and shook Jane’s confidently.
Jane nodded. “And you must be Karina.”
“You two are excellent at introductions,” Carter drawled from the kitchen.
“Carter tells me you have to be somewhere, but I hope I can twist your arm to at least stay for a scotch. It’s so rare for me to get to meet someone in his life.”
“Is it?” Jane queried, curious in spite of herself.
“He’s rather private, you see.” She linked an arm through Jane’s and walked her towards the kitchen. “Carter, Jane will stay for a scotch.”
Jane sighed with pointed inconvenience, but her lips were twitching with a suppressed smile. She knew the smart thing to do was to go. The only way this would work was if she kept their boundaries up. It was hard to do though, as she saw more and more of what lay behind his tycoon façade. That was before she even contemplated the spell his body was able to weave around hers. She had to go. And yet… “Okay, okay, I’ll stay. But no scotch for me, thanks.”
“You don’t like it?” Carter queried, pouring out two measures.
She shook her head. Scotch was the devil’s drink.
