That was when Maisy realized Eric was an insecure prick she absolutely had no reason to deal with and felt just a bit sorry for him. Not sorry enough to forget all the years of heartache he had caused, though. So, without waiting for her food, she picked up her purse and looked him straight in the eye. “You know all those years I spent trying to please you, thinking I was the one at fault, and now I realize you’re the one with the problem, not me. I was good to you, good for you, and you abused me, humiliated me, and treated me like shit. But now, I’m free from you; trust me, not only do I pity the next girl you’re going to punish for your childish, pathetic insecurities, but you’d best believe I would never, ever be that girl again. Take a good look, Eric. All of this is me and for me. You had no hand in this, and you can keep deceiving yourself that you did. But just don’t let me ever hear from you again, or you’ll find out exactly how easy it is for me to bench-press your weight.”
The last statement was said while she looked directly at his face, and the look she gave him made him flinch out of fear. Maisy stood up from the table. But she hadn’t taken two steps when Eric wrapped his hand around her arm and attempted to drag her back. Maisy heard the gasp around the room as most of the patrons in the restaurant noticed the commotion. She jerked her hand from Eric, and noticed another commotion in the room. Then, before she could blink, she saw Carter by her side as he, without any preamble, punched Eric right in the face.
The blow sent him to the floor. There was another loud gasp as many of the patrons recognized Carter. They had also seen Eric accost Maisy, so no one was willing to help the injured Eric on the floor. He stood up, and, after taking a good look at Carter, realized there was no way he could take him on. Eric looked at Maisy and was about to say something, but saw Carter standing beside her looking like he really didn’t mind going after him again. He cursed silently and stalked out of the room, swearing at a few people who were still staring at him.
Maisy watched Eric leave and, in a way, was glad she didn’t have to deal with him anymore. Then a small nudge at her back reminded her she now had someone new to deal with. Pasting the biggest smile on her face that she could, and hoping she could get away for the next few minutes without showing any emotion, she turned to look at him. She was instantly floored by how much she’d missed him, missed his face, his touch, hearing his voice. She thought he looked a little tired, a little more worn out than she remembered, but had to admit that was probably just her looking for a reason to know he had missed her, too.
“Hi, Carter,” she said, glad her voice didn’t betray her emotions. “Thanks for that. But I could have dealt with Eric myself.”
“I know that, but I’m glad I could do that for you. Guy’s an asshole, and I wish he had made one more move so I could knock him flat on his ass again.”
He stopped talking, and they stared at each other, not saying anything. Around them, people went on with their dinner, oblivious to the two people standing in the middle of the room. Then suddenly, Maisy hitched her purse on her shoulder and ran out of the restaurant. Carter stared in shock then quickly ran after her, easily catching up with her just as she was about to turn the corner. He put out a hand to stop her, and Maisy whirled around, attacking him, sort of. And that was when Carter realized she was crying.
“Why the hell couldn’t you just stay away?” she bawled as she kept hitting him, small blows that were more for show and didn’t hurt him at all. “I was just starting to get over you, maybe even starting to forget how it felt, and you brought everything back.”
Chapter 20
Carter let her hit him as much as she wanted, glad to have that much contact with her. When she got tired of that, he opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace, breathing in the scent of her hair, his heart beating right for the first time in weeks. There was a little hesitation from Maisy, but finally, she gave in and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Carter placed his hands on Maisy’s face and raised it, looking into her eyes. Then suddenly, they were kissing, lips meshed as they tasted each other, oblivious to the people around them.
After a while, Carter broke the kiss and raised his hand to stop a cab. He helped Maisy in and then gave the driver the address of the gym. When they got there, he paid for the fare and led Maisy in, glad to see the gym was empty. When they got inside, Maisy immediately headed for their workout space, more out of habit than anything. But as soon as she got in, she stopped in her tracks, looking around the room, recalling the memories she had in this place. Turning around, she looked at Carter and asked, “Why did you bring me here, Carter?”
He shrugged. “Because this is the only place that seemed right for this.”
“Right for what, Carter? To remind me of everything that happened between us?” She looked at him with a pained look on her face, and that, more than anything, hurt Carter. It scared him a little because he never wanted to see that look on her face again, much less cause it.
“No, to tell you that I’m in love with you, Maisy,” he stated simply, hoping she would see he was telling the truth.
Maisy stared at Carter, almost not believing what he was saying. “You’re in love with me? Why, Carter? You saw me today and thought I looked so bad you’re going to pretend to be in love with me to make me happy?”
Carter grabbed her by her shoulder. “Christ, Maisy, take a look at me and tell me if I look like someone who’s had fun these last few weeks? You left, and it may sound cliché, but as soon as you did, I realized what I lost. Nothing has been the same for me since that day. Nothing tastes right or looks right. Things are just not as good without you in my life, Maisy. I tried calling, wanting to hear your voice, even just once, and you never picked up my call. You never even tried to see me again.” He was almost shouting now, his voice not as steady as it used to be. “Then I saw you today, and it finally clicked why I’ve been so miserable all this while. It was because of you, because I love you. And I know I fucked up once, but I swear if you give me another chance, you won’t regret it.”
Maisy looked at him, slightly stunned by the emotion behind his words, and even more than that, by the words themselves. Then, realizing what he was asking, and knowing the answer to that question, she wrapped her arms around him. “Yes, Carter; yes, I’ll give you another chance.”
The relief that crossed his face made Maisy laugh, then his lips on her lips made her moan as they both threw themselves hard at each other, kissing passionately and long till they had to come up for air, laughing the whole time.
“You’re leaving that gym and coming back here; you know that, right?”
Maisy smiled giddily. “Actually, I now teach a class there, Carter. Even going to community college for my degree.”
“I know that you can teach a class here, too. You were already teaching one before you left, remember?” he said as he hefted her easily and carried her farther into the gym.
“How did you know I was teaching a class over there?”
“Facebook,” was his simple reply as he began to undress her, starting with the buttons on her blouse.
“So, you’ve been cyber-stalking me all this while?” Maisy coyly asked as she lifted her arms so he could take the blouse off.
“Sure. I had to see you, Maisy. Needed to know that you were okay.” Maisy closed her eyes at the onslaught of emotions that swamped her at his statement. She reached up and kissed him softly, a meeting of just their lips as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“Okay, I have some conditions if I’m to come back,” she said after they broke the kiss.
“What conditions?”
“First, I want you to double my pay—”
“Done,” he simply said, without allowing her to finish, as he went back to undressing her.
“Okay, something tells me I should have asked for more there. Anyway, my other condition is that we still get to come here, use this place anytime we want, just the two of us.” She looked at him so he knew what she meant, and if
he didn’t, the naughty smile on her face told him exactly what she meant.
“I’d have it no other way, baby girl,” he said as he finally got her in just her panties, a mesh-lacy number that sent the wiring in Carter’s head going crazy. Groaning, he reached down for a kiss as he fondled her nipples.
“I love you, Carter,” she said, and when he lifted his head to look at her, Maisy saw the reply in his eyes even before he said it.
“I love you more than anything in this world, baby girl.”
Epilogue
Six Months Later . . .
“That’s it. Just six seconds more . . . hold it . . . three, two, one . . .” Maisy clapped and smiled as Rebecca dropped to the ground. “You got this, girl. One day, you’re gonna be able to do a full minute plank.”
“It’s impossible,” Rebecca panted. “I could barely do fifteen seconds.”
“Drink your water,” Maisy said with a chuckle. “One day, you’ll be able to. I promise.”
“How do you know?”
“Because nothing is impossible,” a male voice echoed behind them. She knew that voice. “Carter?” She spun around to see him holding flowers.
“I knew I would find you here . . . I’ve never gotten to see you in action before. I’m so proud of you, little one.” He pulled her into a super tight hug and then looked at Rebecca. “Sorry. I used to be her trainer a long time ago, and she’s just gained so much . . . I’m sorry to take up your time with her.”
“No, please. Talk to her; it’s okay. She’s killing me.”
Carter and Maisy laughed. “Rest for a bit, Rebecca, while I talk to him.”
“Have a seat, Maisy; we need to talk.”
He led her to one of the spare workout benches and sat her down and took her face into his hands. “Look at me, Maisy. Look at me . . . There, that’s it. I love you, Maisy, and I don’t want to live without you.”
“What? What’s going on?”
Carter bent down on one knee in front of her and smiled as he heard the gym music stop. He felt all eyes on him, but all he focused on was the beautiful girl in front of him. He took her hand and looked into her eyes. “Maisy, you’re beautiful, not only outside, but inside as well. I remember when you walked into my gym, jittery as a June bug, and now you’re a stunning, kickass, confident trainer. You’re the woman I would love to spend the rest of my life with. These past six months have shown me that I can’t live without you, and I don’t want to try anymore. You have gained so much, Maisy, and I would be honored to gain you as my wife forever. Please, Maisy, will you help me ‘make my gains’ and marry me?” He pulled out a strawberry ring pop and held it up to her as she burst into giggles. He knew they were her favorite.
Laughing through her tears, she whispered, “Yes . . . Yes, Carter! I’ll marry you.”
He stood and lifted her into a hug and spun her around. “You have made me the happiest man alive.” He kissed her nose and then pressed his lips to hers. “Do you want to see the real ring now?”
Maisy laughed and nodded as they sat on the bench together. He pulled out the blue velvet box and tugged the ring out. He held her hand and slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. It wasn’t huge, and she didn’t want it to be. It was a beautiful half-carat, princess-cut diamond ring.
“You went to Jared’s.” She giggled.
“No, silly girl. I went to Kay’s.”
“Oh . . .’cause every kiss begins with k—”
Carter pulled her into a deep kiss, holding her tight. “I love you, Maisy.”
THE END!!!
Also by Samantha Morgan
A chance encounter. A dark secret. An unforgivable betrayal.
Hayley Monroe misbehaves. She needs someone to put her in her place. As a middle, there’s part of her that knows this is just an act. Acting like a brat as an adult isn’t exactly going to win her friends, but it’s fun.
In a darkened corner of a BDSM club, Hayley meets Hunter. He’s dark and brooding with a dangerous edge that both thrills and terrifies her. He is exactly what she needs to keep her in line. Little does she know, she’s about to be hunted.
Buy NOW: Amazon
About the Author
Hey! So, my name is Samantha, and I’m a part-time author, who attends classes during the day, and writes sinful, seductive romance by night. When I’m not in school studying for my NASM Certification, I also work as a portrait photographer at a small local studio near the parks of Ohio.
Some fun facts about me are that I love apple martinis, and my favorite movies are Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. I’m a gamer girl too. Animals are close to my heart; I have a citrus leatherback bearded dragon named Pixels (he’s blue and yellow) and a crazy old Dachshund named Nikki who still acts like a puppy.
My favorite thing to do is to write sinfully seductive stories that will melt your panties off, and emotional stories that will make you cry, and rejoice when the hero gets the girl in the end.
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