Gage, Ronna - Send Her To Me (Siren Publishing Classic) (22 page)

He sat on the bumper of the truck. “Carter is my best friend. He has been hurting so much these last few months. I don’t think you know how much.”

“Do you think it has been easy for me? I’ve watched him go out with another woman at the awards banquet. I had to keep myself from him, so I wouldn’t have to witness any more.”

“That blonde with him at the banquet was a plant. I put her onto Carter to flush you out.”

She stepped back, shocked to hear Dex’s involvement. He did to her what she did to Carter. “Why would you do that?”

“So you would come to your sense about your feelings.”

“I’ve known all along that I love him.”

“If you loved him, why did you put him through this?”

“He had to prove his love and understand to trust me, good or bad.”

He looked at her in surprise. “I think there is something you should see.”

“Okay.”

He stood up. “Follow me.”

* * * *

Kelli followed Carter’s truck out of the parking lot and then headed in the direction of her house. She became increasingly worried about Carter.

Do you really want to give me up? Do you still want me?
“Carter, we’re so close to being together.”

When they turned on the main thoroughfare to her street, her curiosity mounted. “Why is he taking Carter to my house? How does he even know where I live?” Then, they passed it. She looked back but kept following them, becoming more suspicious than ever to where Dex led her. Subconsciously, she looked at the elusive neighbor’s house as it came into view. Most of the downstairs lights were on.

He must be in town.

When Dex pulled into her neighbor’s long driveway, she couldn’t grasp the comprehension of his actions. She followed him inside the security gates, and then to the back of the large house. In the driveway was Dex’s Corvette.

“What the hell?”

As the garage door opened, Dex pulled the truck into the open spot.

A hundred and one questions ran through Kelli’s mind as she watched the garage door go down. Too stunned to move, she stayed in her car
. How do Dex and Carter know my neighbor? If Dex’s car is here, how did he get to the bar? Taxi probably.

Dex tapped on the window some minutes later. Kelli jumped at the loud tap. She shook her head, clearing it of the stupor of questions in her mind. Turning the key, she let the motor die.

She opened the door. “You scared me!”

Dex laughed. “Are you coming in?”

He had a big, goofy grin on his face that only irritated her.

“Whose house is this?” She stepped out of the car.

“Carter’s.”

“Carter? I don’t understand.” She looked across the vast yard and saw her own tiny home. Anger poured out of her so fast she couldn’t stop it. “Was he spying on me?”

“No, dumbass. He was looking out for you. He has had your best interest at heart since the day he met you. All this,” he spanned his arms, “is to prove his love for you.”

“You can’t buy love. It’s stupid to try it!” she shouted. Her heart became heavy with despair. “Why can’t he get that?”

“Why can’t you understand?” he exploded back. “It wasn’t until he knew you would be all right that he let you go.”

She shook her head in defeat. She lost him. It wasn’t until that moment she grasped the depth of his love. Now, it was too late. She leaned against the hood of her car and sobbed her misery. “I pushed him away.”

Dex pulled her into a hug. “No, he’s tired of fighting what he thought was a losing battle. No matter what he did, he couldn’t win.”

She pulled away from Dex’s hug. “Don’t you see? He could have won all along.”

“What did you want him to prove?”

“That I’m not like the other women in his past. In addition, I had to make sure he wouldn’t hurt me and go on to the next piece of ass.”

“So, has he proven his love yet?”

“Yes, when he sacrificed his happiness for mine. It was the ultimate sacrifice.”

“When did he do that?” Dex was obviously lost.

“In the bar.”

“You are playing with some serious fire.”

Kelli couldn’t think about the consequences now. She had to make sure Carter was all right and put an end to this madness. “Where is he now?”

“I had the guards try to give him something to eat. He will wake up with a doozy of a headache tomorrow.”

“I have to see him.” Her lips trembled. “Don’t say no.”

“I don’t intend to stop you,” he whispered softly. “You may manhandle me again. And that’s no fun when I don’t get the pleasure of being bound.”

Kelli laughed through her tears. “Dex, you’re a good friend for Carter, thank you.”

He grabbed her purse off the hood of the car and dug around in it.
”Get out of my bag.”

“Wait a minute. I’m looking for a handkerchief.” He pulled it out of her bag and used it to dab the tears away from her face.

“We don’t want to upset him with your tears.”

She grabbed her purse and took a step toward the door. Before she had a chance to enter the house, his hand stopped her.

“I know I don’t have to say this, but I will anyway.”

Kelli braced herself. “What?” She saw a serious glint in Dex’s eyes then in a snap, it was gone.

“Don’t make any specific plans during basketball season.”

Kelli laughed. “Dex, are you making plans for mine and Carter’s future?”

“Someone has to.” He walked away, griping about the ordeal he’d witnessed. “With the way you two play games and shit, it’s a wonder anything gets done. Hell’s fire! Drama, fights, tears!”

I hope you’re right about your insinuation about our future plans.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Carter blinked his eyes open. A splitting headache forced them to close immediately. His mouth felt dry. . I feel like shit! He sat up, and the room spun. Placing his feet on the side of the bed, he waited to gather his strength. He rubbed his hands down his face. “How in the hell did I get home last night?” Furthermore, how did I get up into my room…and into bed?

A sudden shift of his mattress caught his attention. His mind searched the broken memories of the previous night. Who did I come home with last night? Confused and a little worried, he looked over his shoulder at the sleeping body. Kelli lay next to him. His gaze took her in. She’d slept wearing his old gray dress shirt. Just looking at her now reminded him of how much he loved her. Immediately the realization of her absence returned. What I wouldn’t give to get you back into my life. But he let her go last night. Then why is she here in my bed? It doesn’t matter. I will make everything all right. What about Paul? But Paul has a wife who’s pregnant.

Carter straightened. “Paul is a fucking philanderer.” Screwing his wife over and knocking her up was one thing, but to drag Kelli into it is another matter. I won’t stand idly by and let Kelli ruin her life for that jerk. In his torment, the pessimistic side of his nature made its view. What’s the use, Carter? Maybe she wants to be there. Could she be trapped in a relationship she didn’t want? Theorizing what Kelli had or hadn’t done with Paul literally made him sick. His stomach rolled, and he belched and tasted the remnants of last night’s tequila shots and beer. The pounding headache worsened. With extra slow efforts, he placed his weight onto his feet and stood up. The room spun faster this time. He sat down and set his aching head in his hands.

“I will never drink again.”

Kelli sighed.

He turned and looked at her. “God, Kelli. What have you gotten yourself into?” he whispered in anguish.

“I wonder that a hundred times a day,” her sleep-husky voice answered him.
 

Carter couldn’t take his eyes off her. “I didn’t mean to wake you.” Even knowing she saw a married man, he still wanted her.

“You didn’t. I’ve been napping off and on all night.” She pulled herself up in a sitting position. “I wanted to stay with you and make sure you were all right. I hope you don’t mind.”

At her words, he smiled. “No, I don’t mind.” She does care. He eased himself closer to her, laid across the bed, and rested his head on her folded legs. Reaching for her, he softly stroked her cheek.

Her gaze panned his bedroom. “When did you move in here?”

He picked a strand of her hair and played with it. “I moved in a week after you and I broke up.” Watching for a sign of turbulent emotions, he lay still and braced himself for another argument. When nothing happened, Carter inwardly admitted surprise. She didn’t make a big case out of the suspicion that he kept this from her as well.

“I didn’t know you could have a house built this quick.”

“I told you I was having my house built while we were dating. I liked the location, so I settled here.”

Kelli eyed him for a moment. She laid her hand on his chest. “Carter, did you mean what you said to Paul last night?”

What did I say to Paul last night? Hopefully, I professed my love for her. He had to be very careful with what he said. “Every word. Kelli, I haven’t stopped loving you. Just because…”

She placed a finger over his lips. “Carter, ever since Larry hurt me, I became distrustful of men and used that as an armor to keep you at arm’s length. I told myself that I wouldn’t get hurt if I didn’t allow another man to get too close.”

Carter thought about it and took a deep breath. He kissed her finger and removed it from his lips. “Yeah, I guess you can say I did the same.”

“It wasn’t until I let my guard down that I met you. Out of nowhere, you came into my life and resided in my heart. Taking a chance and being hurt was worth it for you.”

“What did we learn? How can we go from here?”

He took her hand and held it. “Kelli, I’ve never had a relationship that I would say was honest. Unless, you count the one woman who told me she was interested in me only because I was capable of providing her with a life of leisure and comfort.” Carter smiled at the memory. It hadn’t been funny back then.
The woman had balls
. “That was the last time I recall any woman being straight up with me.”

Kelli laughed. “In other words, she wanted a hefty sum for a divorce settlement.”

Carter nodded. He didn’t like going into details about his failed relationships. He was more interested in his current one. “Kelli, what is Paul to you, and how does his wife fit into this affair you’re having with him?”

* * * *

“Paul and Jennifer are friends of mine.” Softly, she fingered his hair. “I work with Paul. Jennifer and I get along really well. They invited me out to dinner with them last night knowing I would be alone this weekend.” She smiled. “Since Jennifer became pregnant, Paul said she’s been mothering everyone. He and I were meeting Jennifer at the bar. They also helped me to find out what was most important. You loved me for real, and you were trustworthy.”

Carter looked confused. “Paul told me he and his wife were separated. Are he and Jennifer not separated?”

“No, they’re not,” Kelli admitted with a grin. “Jennifer was in Tennessee that day you met Paul. He used a technicality to get to you. He implied a separation, which you assumed meant his marriage was falling apart, when, in fact they are very much in love. Jennifer is carrying twins. If you had stayed around for five minutes that night, you would have met her.” She emphasized the last part with a soft poke to his chest.

He hesitated. “So, there is nothing going on with you two?”

She laid her hand on his chest again. “No. We just happen to work in the same place.” His heart beat a slow, steady tempo under her hand. Her steady gaze raised the tempo another notch and then another. “Besides, I can’t see another man right now.”

“Why?”

Kelli smoothed her thumb over Carter’s bottom lip. “I’m still in love with you.”

Neither one glanced away from the other. His quick heartbeat was the only indication that her statement fazed him.

“Why did we have to go through six months of hell?”

Kelli sensed anger mixed with his confusion. “Because you had to prove you loved me. Not buying my love but proving yours was real. And I was scared.”

“You don’t ever have to be afraid.”

“I needed to know that you could be trusted. And you needed to sacrifice your happiness to prove it to yourself.”

“How did I prove that?”

“You let me go to find my happiness, even if it meant losing me to another man. My happiness was all that mattered to you.”

“If you love someone, set them free,” he whispered.

Silence filled the air.

“What do we do now?” Kelli wondered aloud.

“I think we should never let the other go.” He dipped his head and lightly kissed her lips. “I also think we should just love one another.”

“I like it so far.” Kelli liked it when he took control. He was such a giving and caring person and lover. “What else?”

Carter pulled the covers back. He settled himself between her legs. Slowly, he pulled at the three remaining buttons of the gray shirt. Once he had the last one undone, the shirt parted to reveal her breasts. The pink tips perked to buds. His cock sprang to life. Putting one arm under each knee, he scooted her down to a lying position. His eyes roamed over her body. “I have craved this body for months.” His thumbs hitched under the strings of her bikini panties. He smoothed his hands down her legs, pulled the panties past her feet, and tossed them on the other side of the room. “I also think that we should make love to one another often.”