Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“It’s me, Grace,” I heard a deep voice say. Crap! Carson.
I stood there, biting my thumbnail for a minute, thinking about what I should do.
“Grace, please open the door,” he finally said from the other side. “Please,” he added again after a couple seconds.
I sighed and pulled the door open, the cool December night air chilling me as I stood there in my cotton shorts and tank top.
My gaze ran over Carson. He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a leather jacket and he was so damn good-looking, I hated it. I really did. It made me bitter and also turned on. “What do you want, Carson?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest.
“Can I come in? I just want to talk for a minute and then I’ll leave.”
I paused but stepped back, allowing him entrance. I supposed we did need to put this to rest, since I hadn’t exactly been very convincing the day before.
He walked past me and then stood waiting as I closed the door. I didn’t lock it though. He’d be leaving soon.
I moved past him and parked myself back on the couch, bringing the blanket around me again. He took a seat on the opposite side of the couch, leaning forward, his forearms resting on his thighs as he studied me.
“Josh Garner made bail this morning,” he said. “I guess you know that.”
“Yes,” I said back. “A bail bondsman posted it. It was pretty high. I wonder how he got it.”
He gave a small shrug, but then remained quiet. It appeared he was struggling with whether to say something. Finally, he gave his head a shake and looked away. When he looked back, he said, “We should talk about yesterday morning. I owe you an apology.”
I let out a breath. “Carson…” I leaned back, bringing my hands up over my face. I ran them back through my hair and met his eyes again before letting out a soft, humorless laugh.
“What?” he asked.
“You don’t owe me an apology. I let you do what you…did. I wanted what you did.” I looked away as I felt my cheeks heat. “That was probably obvious. But it wasn’t right. On my part. Not on yours. You’re not the one who made promises to someone and broke them.” Again, terrible person.
He was silent for a second, his forehead creased. “What I was trying to say with my apology,” he said softly, “is that I’m sorry for coming on so strong.” He paused, squinting very slightly as if he wasn’t exactly sure if he really was sorry for that. “But I meant every word I said. Every word. No games on my part. I’d like to give us a chance.”
I shook my head slowly. “Carson, you had just been messing around with a cocktail waitress in your office before I walked in.”
He drew his head back and then burst out laughing. “I wasn’t doing anything with Lara. She flirts relentlessly, but I’ve never touched her.” He squinted. “You didn’t come to that conclusion after what happened with us?”
Oh. And dammit. I hated that happiness uncoiled in my belly to hear that he hadn’t been with Lara right before I’d walked in his door. Truth be told, I’d sort of been carrying the vision of the satisfied-looking cocktail waitress like a small shield. What we’d done had meant little. He gave women orgasms in his office all the time. I was just one of many in a long line-up. “How would I know that?” I asked sullenly. “ It’s been a long time, Carson.”
“Whether you realize it or not, you know me better than just about anyone, buttercup.” He paused. “And I think I know you better than anyone too. Even after all this time.”
My mouth fell open. “Well, that’s presumptuous. I think my fiancé knows me better than anyone.”
As he stared at me, I saw a small tick in his jaw. “Are you sure about that?”
I narrowed my eyes. Again with the nerve. I knew exactly what he was referring to—the fact that Alex and I had a sexless relationship. Temporarily, of course. But now Carson was going to use it against me. Hostility felt good. Another shield to carry since I’d lost one in Lara. “I should have never told you that. It’s none of your business and I refuse to speak about it with you again. God, look at us. We can’t even spend three minutes together without fighting or kissing.”
He laughed. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“Yes! Yes, it is. I need to focus… I need to…stop cheating on my fiancé!”
Carson’s face went completely serious. “You’re not in love with him, Grace. I don’t want you to cheat on your fiancé either. Call it off.” He looked into my eyes. “Let’s figure out what’s still between us. Is it really fair to the guy that you marry him when you still have feelings for me?”