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Those eyes. That smile. I’m a goner.
“Princess?” I ask, unsure where the pet name came from.
“Yeah, you know, like Cinderella? She’s the one who disappeared in the middle of the night without a trace. Only, you didn’t even leave a slipper behind to help find you.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to be found.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have walked over here.”
Busted.
“So, Prince Charming, have you been roaming the streets day in and day out, looking for me?”
Carter points to his arm. “Not like I have much else to do.” We’re both silent for a moment. “Can I buy you lunch?”
“What?”
“Lunch. You know that meal people eat in the middle of the day.”
Playfully, I slap his arm. “I know what lunch is. I just…” Just like I did the night at the bar, I tell myself to say no—to walk away—except every part of me betrays my brain and says yes. “Sure.”
As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, Carter takes my hand as we walk to the restaurant. Admittedly, it feels right, like everything with him does, but I’m not sure what to make of it. Who is this man? How is he so much more than I ever could have imagined?
We keep the conversation light during the walk, talking about the weather, food, various happenings around town. It’s not until we’re seated, he says something that blows me away.
“Tell me about yourself, Lexie.”
Trying to keep the tone light and my identity to myself, I toss in a fake laugh.
“This isn’t exactly one-night stand talk.”
“I told you,”—Carter leans in—“I wasn’t looking for a one-night stand.”
“Then what are you looking for? Because… because I’m not looking for a relationship.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what I’m looking for. I just know that I like being with you, Lexie. I had fun the other night. Smiled more than I had in ages. Felt happier in that one night with you than I have…”
“Since the accident.”
He shakes his head. “Ever. I just want to get to know you. Be friends. Laugh.”
“No sex then?”
“Well, I mean, that would be like punishment for both of us.” He cocks his head to the side. “Don’t you think?”
Our food arrives and I’m grateful for the reprieve. I take the moments while I chew to try to figure out what to do. Do I tell him who I am and hope he doesn’t take back what he just said? Or do I just walk away from this meal and never look back.
“I’ll make you a deal,” Carter says, setting his burger down.
“A deal?”
One single nod of his head. “If you spend today with me and still don’t want to see me again, I’ll drop it. But if you do…”
“Then we’re friends?”
“For now.”
“For now?” The absolute confidence which he says it—as if there’s no way in hell I would not want more of him—is both amusing and sexy.
