Tucking his hands in his front pockets, he leaned against the wall and watched Hailey at the stove. “Hi,” he said shyly.
“How are you feeling?” she asked without turning around.
She was mad. She had to be. He deserved whatever wrath she wanted to let loose on him. “I’m sorry, Hailey. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I’m sorry.”
“Huh.” She turned off the stove and turned around, a plate in each hand. “Hungry?”
Carter tilted his head in confusion. The smile that reached her eyes was genuine, so he couldn’t have been a complete ass, maybe a half ass.
“I ... sure. Thank you.” Like a gentleman, he pulled out a chair for her and waited for her to sit. “Greasy bacon and strong coffee are exactly what I need for this hangover.”
“I’ll pretend not to be offended at the greasy comment. Strong coffee is accurate, though.”
He picked up his fork and dug into his eggs while eyeing the three strips of bacon. They were a little lighter in shade than he was used to. Could just be because it was grocery store bacon instead of farm raised.
“Smells good.”
“Turkey bacon. It won’t clog your arteries and should still help with the queasiness.”
“I owe you an apology.” He set down his fork and folded his hands in his lap.
“You already apologized. Unnecessarily. Eat up. You’ll feel better.”
“How bad was I?”
Hailey picked up a piece of bacon and tore it in half before eating it. “On a scale of one to ten?”
“That bad?”
She laughed, the sound calming instead of jarring to his head. She did that to him. Made him forget the ugly by surrounding him with the good. “You were a bit, well, mushy.”
“Mushy?”
“You know, pleading your undying love to me.”
“I do that sober too.”
“Not the same. You had grabby hands.”
“Do that sober.” He picked up his coffee and sipped until it was half gone.
“You were cute and pathetic and smelly.”
Carter set his mug down. “Hailey. I’m sorry about being drunk. I know you don’t like to drink and—”
She held up a hand, stopping him. “Easy there, whiskey boy. Just because I don’t drink doesn’t mean no one else can. I’ve told you that a dozen times before.”
“I was wasted. I don’t even remember half the night.”
“Like climbing up my window?”
“I ... what?” He glanced at the kitchen window and then followed Hailey’s finger pointing to the living room. It all started coming back to him now. “That was dumb.”
“Since you didn’t fall and break your neck, it was kinda romantic.”
“Ben had climbed the giant maple outside Alexis’ old bedroom when they were dating. I must have gotten the idea from the stories she’s told.”
“I have to admit, I can’t believe Brady helped you with the ladder. I’m impressed.”
“You’re seriously not mad?”
“I mean, your drunken snore was a bit much. And you reeked like a rat drowned in a barrel of beer and whiskey, but I managed to catch a few Z’s on the couch.”
“Hailey. I’m sorry.”
“You keep saying that. Eat and drink up so I can jump your bones later. You moping around all day in hangover mood is not how I envisioned spending my day.”
Without further delay, he finished his breakfast and washed it down with the rest of his coffee. “Thank you for breakfast.” He picked up their plates and carried them to the sink.
A knock on the door startled them both. “Hailey, it’s Mr. Eggerson.”
Carter pressed his finger to his lips and tip-toed down the hall to her bedroom. A second later he heard the door open, and he listened in to their conversation.
“Mr. Eggerson. You should have called me. I would have met you downstairs. No need for you to climb all the way up here.”
“We thought we heard a prowler last night and then again this morning.”
“Oh no. Was anything taken?”
“Not that we can tell. The garage door wasn’t shut all the way, and I’m pretty sure I closed her up tight last night.”
Carter winced. His foolishness could have gotten Hailey into trouble with her landlords. Granted, he hadn’t done anything majorly wrong, but he’d broken every cardinal sin according to their rule book. Well, all but one. One that he’d hoped to break as soon as breakfast was over. Now he’d have to wait until they got back to his house.
“As long as you and Mrs. Eggerson are safe is all that matters.”
“Thought we heard voices up here too, but didn’t see any other cars in the driveway.”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I was too loud. I had my phone on speaker so I could multitask. My bosses in New York and I were on a conference call. I can turn down the volume next time.”
“That explains the man’s voice we heard. The Mrs. was concerned something improper was happening up here.”
Carter rested his head against the bedroom door. He’d really screwed this up for her. How the hell was he supposed to leave without being seen? Not that being locked up in Hailey’s bedroom was a terrible situation to be in. Worst case scenario: he’d have to wait until the Eggersons went to bed before he slipped out.
He eyed the rumpled sheets on the bed. If they smelled anything like he had an hour ago, he’d need to strip them and put clean sheets on. The door closed, and he heard Hailey come down the hall.
“Coast is clear.”
“I’m sorry. Really.”
“You keep saying that, and I keep telling you there’s nothing to apologize for. While I think climbing up on to that tiny overhang was reckless and stupid, I found it rather romantic.” She slipped her arms around his waist and pressed her chest into his. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“I won’t be able to sneak out until later tonight.”
Her hands found his back pockets, and she gave his butt a squeeze. “Well then. How do you suggest we pass the time?”
HAILEY CURLED INTO Carter’s warm body and stroked her hand across his naked chest. “You smell so much better than you did last night.”
“I really am sorry about showing up blitzed out of my mind. It was ... a long week without you.”
“To be honest, I was really looking forward to surprising you by slipping into your bed naked.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I didn’t know you were coming home last night. I’ll give you a key when we get to my house.”
Her heart picked up a quicker cadence. No man had ever given her a key to his place before. And never a key to his heart. Carter had given her everything she never expected to find. Love, happiness, a home. Not that they were moving in together or anything.
“Feel free to surprise me by slipping naked into my bed anytime, sweetheart. Morning, noon, or night. Now I’ve put you in a situation with your landlords.”
“Totally worth it.” She kissed his chest right over his heart and propped herself up so she could see him better. “It’ll be fun trying to sneak you out of here.”
A bright bolt of lightning filled her dark room with light followed by the crash of thunder. “At least I’ll have the storm to cover up the noise of me escaping.”
“Escaping, huh? So you feel imprisoned in my lair?”
“I mean, you’ve made me your sex slave for the past four hours. Not that I’m complaining.”
“You can return the favor at your place later.”
“Can I now?” Carter brushed back her hair and draped his strong leg over her body. “You know, I’ve been thinking of a hundred and one different ways to pleasure you.”
“That’s it?” She snorted. “It’s obvious who thinks about who more. And I don’t need a deck of cards to come up with ideas.”
“Trust me, Newman, these ideas are all my own.”
“When are you going to tell me what this Newman business is all about.”
&n
bsp; His smile reached his eyes as he locked his gaze with hers. Carter ran his finger down the tip of her nose and pecked her lips. “In due time.”
Another flash was followed by a rumble that shook the house. They stayed in bed a little longer before getting dressed and making a small dinner. Her food supply was limited, not being home all week.
“You must be starving.” Hailey cut into her chicken parmesan. Eating low carb on the run was a challenge, so she’d made up a bunch of small meals and froze them so she’d be less tempted to eat out or binge on pasta.
Carter’s portion would hopefully curb his appetite enough so he wouldn’t pass out on the way to his house.
“It’s a perfect appetizer. Just like that was.” He nodded toward her bedroom. “I know how hard it is for you to be quiet while we make love.”
Her bedroom was directly over the Eggersons’ living room. The last thing she needed was for them to hear her and Carter.
“Excuse me, but you’re the loud one.”
“Sweetheart.” He closed his eyes and shook his head like he’d heard the most pathetic response from a child.
“You’re the one who talks during sex.”
“While you make noises.”
“Noises?” Her voice came out in a loud squeak. “Noises,” she repeated, softer. “Well then, I’ll try to limit my noises if we ever do it again.”
Carter scraped his chair across the linoleum and picked up their plates, but not before dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “Please don’t stop on my account. I’m rather partial to them.”
He took the dishes to the sink and washed them. Hailey stayed in her seat and watched him be all domestic in her kitchen. It was sweet. And super sexy. Yeah, the noises would be out in full force when they got back to his place.
The storm had darkened the evening sky earlier than normal. “Here’s the plan,” she told him when he’d finished cleaning the minimal mess in the kitchen. “They’re known for peeking out the window every time I come and go. When you leave, stay close to the house and go into the backyard. You can cross through the neighbor’s behind us, and I’ll pick you up on Pine Grove.”
“That’s the road behind here?”
“Yeah. Do you mind? I can give you a sweatshirt and an umbrella.”
“No need.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I plan on taking off these clothes the second we get to my place anyway.”
“Horny bastard, aren’t you?” She curled her fingers through the belt loops of his jeans and tugged him closer.
“Only around you. Now let’s go.” He patted her backside and opened her door.
“Hang on a sec,” she whispered and went to the bathroom to toss her toothbrush and a few toiletries into a bag.
“Clothing is optional,” he said from behind her.
“I’m bringing a change of clothes.” She laughed as she pushed past him and into her bedroom.
“How about underwear is optional.”
Hailey rolled her eyes and opened her dresser drawer, taking out underwear and socks, then a pair of jeans and a shirt. She added them to her backpack and kissed Carter on her way past him. “Let’s go.”
It was adorable watching him tiptoe down the stairs, careful not to make any unnecessary sounds. Once outside, he pointed to the back, then to her car, and then to her as if he was a sergeant in the Army directing his platoon.
He placed his finger over his lips and then slithered around the house under the cover of the night and the rain. She giggled as she ran through the downpour to her car. As soon as she started it, the Eggersons peeked out of their living room window.
She waved to them even though they probably couldn’t see her in the car. Just to prove she was alone, she turned on the interior light and pretended to look for something, then shut it off and backed out the driveway.
Her headlights picked up Carter’s wet figure easily. He walked backward, his thumb in the air as if hitching for a ride. She pulled up next to him and cracked her passenger side window. “Need a ride, cutie?”
“Hells yeah.” He hopped in and leaned over the center console, giving her a long, wet kiss. Rain dripped off him, soaking both her and the interior.
“You’re a mess.”
Instead of being mad or frustrated that he had to sneak out like a teenager and stand in the pouring rain, his eyes danced with playful mischief. “Let’s get home then, so we can get out of these wet clothes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
June and July passed in a whirlwind for Hailey but dragged on for Carter. Visiting her on location in the Finger Lakes District a few weeks ago had been the highlight of his summer. The scenery was breathtaking. He got to watch Hailey in action during the day, and the evenings were spent making love in their gorgeous suite. He wished the wine festival lasted longer than two days.
Other than that, even with his full load of work and helping Brady on the farm, he was bored out of his mind. No, not bored. There was plenty to keep him busy.
Lonely.
He missed Hailey like crazy. It was ironic how he’d never wanted to settle down with a woman because he didn’t want to be strapped down, having to check in with her anytime he wanted to go out and do something with the guys, or go for a ride. Now, he wanted to do all those things with Hailey. And he worried when she didn’t check in regularly with him.
Their daily texts and nightly phone calls were the highlight of his day. And she’d more than once surprised him with an early flight home. He figured she’d been telling him a later return date on purpose so she could surprise him when she got home on a Monday night instead of Tuesday afternoon, or Saturday morning instead of Monday night.
Only now he expected—anticipated—her being home before the supposed scheduled flight.
“You okay?” Brady tossed an unripe blueberry at Carter’s head.
“Yeah. Fine.”
“How’s the long-distance thing working for you guys?” Carter lifted his brow. “That’s what I thought. It wouldn’t have worked for me and Grace either.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t working.” It was. Sort of. Only he wasn’t happy with it. She spent a lot of time during the week at the headquarters in New York learning the ropes, and now she was gone on weekends since most events took place on Saturdays or Sundays.
When she’d flown out to Indiana a few weeks ago, he nearly lost it. Eight whole days without seeing her.
“Does she know how miserable you are?”
No. Hailey was living her dream. Every night, even when exhausted, he could hear the excitement in her voice. Whether it was about a new role she’d taken on, or pictures she’d snapped at an event, or a connection she made with a child or adult suffering from whatever disease, ailment, or issue the nonprofit was trying to raise awareness for, Hailey had found her calling.
“This is an important time for her.” He didn’t want to mess up her new job by laying on the guilt about her leaving him all by his lonesome. When she came home, they picked up right where they'd left off.
The old adage was true. Absence made the heart grow fonder and made the mind go mentally nuts. But she was happy. Truly happy.
“So what are you going to do about it?” Brady popped a handful of fresh berries in his mouth.
“Nothing.”
“Why?”
“What am I supposed to do?” Carter picked a dark blueberry off the branch and studied it between his fingers before eating it.
“Go after her.”
“I don’t need to. It’s not like she ran away. She comes home every week or so.”
“For twenty-four hours, and then she’s gone again. It’s gotta be costing her an arm and a leg to keep flying back only to turn around again.”
“She’s on the road all the time. She’s not even working in New York that much anymore. It’s where she did her training.”
“So why not go to her? You’ve got a job you can do from almost anywhere. The only thing keeping you here is the farm. You’ve put i
n more than your owed time, Carter. Go after her. Be happy.”
Carter slipped the blueberry in his mouth and thought about his brother’s words. It was true. Not once had he gone to see her, and he could have. She’d covered plenty of events in Vermont and Connecticut, all within driving distance. But he didn’t want to be the smothering boyfriend, and she’d never asked him to come see her.
Hailey made him whole. She’d brought light into his life that had already been pretty damn sunshiny before. When he was with her, he lost track of time and got lost in her eyes. In her laugh. In her sense of humor.
The old adage about opposites attract was bullshit. He and Hailey were so much alike in every area except their opinion of the ideal meal and their insecurities. In the few months they’d been together, he’d watched her become more confident in her body. She’d confided in him about how she abused food, alcohol, and her body to make up for her lack of self-confidence. She was more secure than she used to be but still complained about her pear shape, a shape he very much appreciated.
Hailey was strong inside and out, and he loved every inch of her, body and soul. Her self-worth had been wrecked by bullying and abuse, and she still had a way to go before truly loving herself as much as Carter did, and he made it his daily mission to show and tell her how much he loved her. It was a mission he was rather fond of, only the geographical distance between them made it harder and harder to do so.
His words only lasted so long. He needed to show her. This weekend she’d be in Rhode Island. She was worth the five-hour drive. She was worth every damn thing in the world.
He pulled off a few more berries. “Thanks for the talk, bro.” He tossed the berries in the air and caught them in his mouth. “FYI, I’ll be in Rhode Island this weekend if anyone needs me.”
“Good luck.”
With a burst of energy he hadn’t experienced in months, Carter jogged to his side-by-side and sped down the trail to his house, Brady’s advice echoing between his ears. It was true. He could do his job from anywhere. All he needed was his laptop and WIFI.
He took the corners and bumps a bit more aggressively than usual and parked inside his garage. Making sure everything was off and locked up, he took out his cell and tapped in Hailey’s number on his way to his house.
All of You (A Well Paired Novel Book 7) Page 22
