Gage, Ronna - Send Her To Me (Siren Publishing Classic) (19 page)

Her suspicions settled to a lower level, but the annoyance still remained. “Thanks, but I can handle it.”

“I’m good at heavy lifting.” Carter flexed his right bicep. “I’m at your disposal.”

Kelli lifted an eyebrow. “What a fascinating choice of words.” She eyed him carefully and then moved past him, leading him into the house. Her stomach did that familiar flip-flop motion. She inhaled, caught a whiff of his cologne, and creamed in her panties. Mentally, she shook. It will be a major mistake, a setback, if you don’t get control of yourself. Months of strategy to keep him at arm’s length would be undone in seconds if she didn’t.

Carter took off his coat and looked around the small living area. “Nice place.”

At his approval, Kelli’s heart quickened. She didn’t need his endorsement, but his giving it, unsolicited, set free her doubts about the move. “Thanks, I like it so far.”

She walked past him to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out a pitcher of tea. Carter likes iced tea. Oh! Why do these little facts keep hounding me? She turned and found him leaning against the bar. Her heart almost stopped beating, her mouth went dry, and if it were possible, Carter looked better today than the last time she saw him two weeks ago. His black sweater and jeans accentuated his body. His hair, loose and silky, looked fuller and yes, definitely longer than it was in the summer. I’ve always loved his hair loose, to run my fingers through the strands, feel the soft texture. Kelli gasped and shook with the thoughts of his naked body in bed. His head tilted at a slight angle. The silent plea in his eyes invited her to take the hand he offered and come join him. His long hair fell off his shoulder and the provocative way the sheet draped over his hip barely hid his stiff cock. Snapping out of her reverie, she looked up into his brown eyes and saw the raw desire that expressed his feelings. The tension between them sizzled with the sexual attraction. She closed her eyes, only to open them and see a knowing look in his gaze. Is he reading my thoughts? Do I convey my desire that easily without words? She felt her panties get wetter. The subtle odor gained her attention. This must be how he knew what I was thinking. This isn’t fair. To see him face-to-face always makes my heart flutter.

The phone conversations they shared were definitely safer. He was a voice on the other end. Someone to talk to and pass the time when she was alone, feeling lonely. She didn’t have to see him or look into his eyes and read his feelings, especially his desires.

“Would you like a glass of tea?” Before he answered, she handed him the glass already made for him. She took a sip of the cold drink in her glass. I need something stronger. She watched his long fingers curl around the glass. Her insides became weak, which spiced up her exasperation of weakness. “What are you really doing here?”

Carter shrugged. “Like I said, I’m here to move the heavy stuff if you can use me.” Carter took another sip of tea. His gaze locked with hers over the glass. They displayed a glimmer of mischief.

Is he flirting with me? “Uh-huh,” she replied sarcastically to his excuse for being at her house. She looked around the living room. “As you can see, I’m in the middle of unpacking. I wasn’t expecting company.” She hoped the comment would hint to his leaving, but he ignored it. Instead, he laid his jacket on the barstool and turned to her.

“Where shall I begin?”

It had been awhile since Kelli took close notice of his body. His arms were bigger. She remembered those arms favorably. The temperature in the room increased, flooding self-doubt to her mind. I’m not sure I can handle myself under this kind of pressure. She feared she would give in to him. Her defenses were definitely weakening.

The doorbell rang again, giving Kelli another welcomed distraction. She rolled her eyes at the second interruption. Now what? Inside, she breathed a sigh of relief. Any interruption right now would save her from herself. She heaved a heavy sigh of feigned disgust, and then looked at Carter. “Excuse me.”

“Not a problem,” he whispered quietly. He cleared his throat. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

Kelli understood with certainty whether she had company or not, Carter was not leaving until he was ready or she kicked him out.

A dimple appeared on his left cheek. Butterflies toiled and fought inside her stomach. Her defenses were definitely eroding. Before they diminished further, she hurried to answer the door.

Kelli opened the door and almost yelled for glee. “Paul Hoffman! What brings you by?” Paul stepped inside the doorway and then gave her a small peck on the cheek. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I would drop in.”

* * * *

A pang of jealousy hit Carter in the gut with the greeting Kelli gave the arriving guest, a man. The welcome came off warmer than the one he received. He tamped down the emotion.
Carter, let it slide. This is Kelli’s night, not mine or the other man coming in.
He bent and picked up one end of the sofa and placed it along the wall.

“Come on in. Let me take your coat,” Kelli offered.

When she entered the living room, she came up short. Her surprise reflected in her stumbled comment. “Carter, thank you for moving the sofa. That is exactly where I wanted it. I haven’t had the room to move around.”

“Or the muscles he seems to have,” the man said from behind her.

“Paul! Oh, where are my manners? Paul Hoffman, Carter Banks. Carter, Paul.”

The two men shook hands. A heavy awkward silence filled the room.

Paul took a quick look around the living area. “Nice place. Maybe I can give you a hand with the electronic stuff. And it won’t cost you anything but pizza.”

Yeah right
. Carter almost bit out the words but caught himself in time. He turned and set the bulky coffee table in place, and then focused his attention to the heavy wall unit.

Taking a step back to admire his own handiwork, he noticed Paul watching him. “So, Paul, what do you do for a living?”

“I teach at the same school as Kelli.”

“Paul is the media technology teacher,” she finished for him.

“I see.” Carter turned his back and set a matching chair by the sofa. He didn’t like the other man being here. His possessive nature struggled to come through.

“Paul, I’m so glad you stopped by. I could use some help sorting out the mess of tangled cords on the floor and connect them to the right electronic equipment.”

Another wave of jealousy hit Carter. She didn’t make him feel as needed when he offered her his help.

“I’ll get right on it.” Paul went to the pile of cords.

“I’ll order the pizza. I have to call it in from the bedroom. I have my cell phone charging there.” Kelli left the two men alone while she went to call in the pizza order.

Silence settled in a heavy wave between them again. “So, how do you know Kelli?” Paul asked.

Carter didn’t see any reason to lie. “I used to date her, but we stayed friends. I’m trying to win her back.” He didn’t feel it necessary to hide his intentions, and he wasn’t stupid enough to believe Paul was in the neighborhood with no ulterior motives to stop by. “How well do you know her?”

“My class is across the hall from hers. She and I chat all the time.” Paul coiled a wire and set it with the others.

Carter sorted through the mass of multi-colored cords Paul coiled and found the one to the computer’s printer.

“I may be spending more time with her since she has her own place.”

At the same time, both men glared at one another, each one more or less squared off, sizing one another up.

Carter reached for one of the cords. “I wish nothing but the best for Kelli.”

“Why did you let her go if you obviously care for her?” Paul picked up a few more loose wires and rolled them up in a circle.

“I was stupid and let my selfish pride get in the way. I thought love was enough, but I was wrong.”

Carter uncoiled the blue cord for the computer and plugged it into the terminal.

“I’m not looking for a serious relationship. I’m separated at the moment, and I don’t plan to get involved.” Paul faced Carter. “I don’t think she’s looking for a serious thing either, but I’ll take your advice into consideration.”

Carter knew Paul antagonized him with jabbing remarks to make a scene.
Don’t fall for this asshole’s bull. Leave now before furniture breaks or a night in jail enters in your near future.

“Tell Kelli,”

“Tell me what?” Kelli asked, joining them at that moment.

Carter pulled on his jacket and walked to the door, Kelli close behind. “I’ll be around if you need me.” Before he left, he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. The urge to kiss her was so strong that he had to bite his tongue to keep from it. He buried his fingers deep in her hair. “Kelli, if you ever…” He bent and kissed her forehead. “I’m a phone call away.” He opened the door, and then walked out into the cool night air, leaving her in the company of an asshole.

* * * *

Carter, don’t leave
. She watched him walk out the door. Her heart screamed for him to come back. Somehow, she held firm. He had to work for not only the privilege of an invite but for her trust. She thought about his stupid distrust of women, and it made her angry again. They had to get past this blemish in their relationship.

The power of his confessed feelings knocked the wind out of her. She felt something flicker while she stood in her bedroom and listened to his and Paul’s conversation.

Is he giving up on pursuing me? Did he only want to be friends?

She walked back into the living room thinking about those questions. How would she feel if he did give up on her? She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted them to find a bond to make their previous relationship better. Nothing can be the same. It had to be better or nothing. Her heart grew heavy.

She entered the room to find Paul busy working with the cords. He didn’t see her watching him. Paul reminded her of her brother, Josh, only with a smaller build. His blond hair was well kept, those playful blue eyes gave her a warm sensation, and he had a tall body.

At her approach, he turned his head and smiled.

“I guess you know how he feels,” Paul stated matter-of-factly.

“Yeah.” The ringing doorbell caused her stomach to flutter wildly. She looked back at Paul. “Do you think it’s him?”

He shook his head and gave her a small, almost sympathetic, smile. “Too soon.”

“I hope you’re wrong.” Kelli went to the door. When she pulled the door open, it wasn’t Carter.

“Is my husband here?” Jennifer Hoffman asked in her playful singsong voice.

“Yes, he is. Come on in.”

Jennifer stepped inside. Her stomach protruded enough to make hiding her delicate condition difficult. Her blonde hair and brown, doe eyes made her glowing pregnancy much more motherly.

Kelli envied her. She wanted motherhood and love for herself. No one but the jackass who left her doorstep not more than five minutes ago would do.

“I’m in here,” Paul hollered.

Jennifer and Kelli went into the living room. Paul plugged in the last cord and turned on the computer. “Eureka!”

“It works,” Kelli cheered.

“As if you had any doubt,” Paul admonished playfully.

Jennifer clapped. “Good, let’s eat.”

He smiled and wrapped his arms around his wife. “Ah, are you guys hungry?” he cooed as he softly rubbed her tummy.

“Yep, all three of us,” Jennifer stated.

In classic reaction, Paul gaped at Jennifer. “Did I hear you right?” He looked down at her protruding belly. “Twins! We’re having twins?”

Jennifer handed him the sonogram picture. “Baby A is a boy and baby B is a girl.”

“And you told Carter you were separated? Shame on you.” Kelli grinned and stepped closer to see the sonogram pictures.

“Who’s Carter?” Jennifer asked.

“The man Kelli’s in love with,” Paul answered. “But she’s playing hard to get.”

Jennifer thought for a second. “Then why did you tell him we were separated?”

“To bother him, get under his skin. Besides, we were separated,” Paul defended as he snuggled Jennifer closer. “You were in Tennessee until this morning. I missed the hell out of you.” He turned to his beautiful, glowing wife and kissed her. “I want to make love to you.”

“Now?” Jennifer gave him a doe-eyed look. He smiled. “Can’t we eat first?”

The three laughed. Kelli looked at the couple. “I hope Carter and I have this close of a relationship. One that will last forever.”

Paul looked down at her. “You will. But only when you find the peace you need to go on.”

“I know.”

“What do you want to find out?” Jennifer asked.

“Carter has to trust me to love him for him, not his money. I have to stop paying for everyone else’s mistakes. Just as he has to stop paying for others in my past.”

“Good luck with that one. Everyone pays for something somehow,” Jennifer acknowledged. “It is the couple who survives this life lesson that goes on to be stronger. And at one time or another, we have all had to come to terms with a past relationship.