Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 4)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  I used to love pre-recording on Fridays.

  Fridays before we pre-recorded were boring and slow. I ended each segment hating the sound of my own voice.

  Everyone was always busy, going out and getting pissed on the weekends. So it got awkward when we didn’t get many callers.

  When Mr Cross Senior came up with pre-recording the show and using callers from previous segments we couldn’t get to, I thought it was great. We could still it like we were live as it’s never edited.

  Now, not so much.

  With the new addition letting men call in added to the podcast, we have been overloaded with calls and messages.

  It’s crazy.

  The website crashed on Tuesday because so many people were wanting to get in on the next podcast or voice their opinion. And Clayton wasn’t even around for me to take it out on him. It was his idea to bring in the opposite sex, but he couldn’t be bothered to be there to help deal with the extra load. If he doesn’t hire someone else to help with the extra work soon, we’re going to ruin a good thing. Because no one likes to be ignored and they’ll eventually get tired of trying.

  I want to throttle him.

  And kiss him.

  And then throttle him again.

  But that’s neither here nor there.

  Wednesday, he was just as frustrating as Monday. I’ve got a lot of people in my life who know how to wind me up, but not in the same way Clayton does.

  I’ve never met a man who makes me want to fuck him then kill him in the same breath.

  And the worst part about it: he doesn’t seem as affected by me as I am him. After our small moment on Monday, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It’s been driving me nuts.

  Wednesday, I wore my shortest denim skirt with thick black tights and paired it with my favourite black, ripped T-shirt. It was hot, giving a glimpse of my stomach and cleavage.

  And the only reaction I had from him was one of annoyance.

  Not lust.

  Not desire.

  Annoyance.

  And I can’t stand the fact that I cared.

  I even made sure I looked hot as fuck tonight for Lily and Jaxon’s party, but he isn’t around to see it. It isn’t just about getting a reaction to me as a person, I get a kick out of trying to blow his fuse. He’s just so easy, and if the past few days have taught me anything, it’s that he hates that he can’t tell me what to wear.

  Pulling my leather jacket tighter around me to at least try to cover some of my cleavage and ward off the cold air, I walk up the steps to Uncle Maverick’s and Aunt Teagan’s.

  Fairy lights have been wrapped around their shrubs and over the archway that leads to their small porch.

  Growing up, the only thing I hated about this house was that it wasn’t on our street. Before Nan and Granddad died, they lived in the house next door to my aunt Harlow and Uncle Malik, and at the back of the garden was Mason and Aunt Denny’s house. Down from them was our house, and just around the corner, still considered the same street, was Myles and Aunt Kayla’s house. But Maverick and Teagan chose to move a few streets away.

  Personally, I think it was because my dad drove him nuts, but no one will either confirm or deny it.

  And now, slowly, we’re all moving away. It’s kind of depressing, even if we aren’t far from one another.

  Hearing a car door slam, I drop my hand from the front door handle and turn to see who it is. Maddox glares at his sister, Madison, who is giggling away. I take a step down the stairs, waiting for them to acknowledge my presence.

  “Holy fuck! What happened to your eye?” I call out, taking a few more steps down when I see how nasty Maddox’s eye looks.

  He glares down at Madison, who laughs harder. “Nothing.”

  Knowing Madison will tell me, I look to her. “He snuck into Lily’s house last night. Or tried to. Jaxon punched him, thinking he was someone breaking in.”

  “He knew it was fucking me. It was payback,” Maddox grouches.

  Her lips press together as she looks away, trying her hardest not to laugh. It’s useless though, because moments later, she bursts into laughter once again.

  I grin at Maddox, who seems so unhappy, he looks like a lost puppy. He’s probably more bothered that he doesn’t look as good with a black eye and swollen jaw than he is that Jaxon hit him. “What on earth drove you to do that?”

  He throws his hands up before dropping them to his sides with a slap. “They took my fucking key. How else was I meant to get in?”

  My lips twitch in amusement. “Not what I meant,” I tell him. “She’s married. You can’t go sneaking in anymore. They want privacy.”

  He tilts his head, his brows furrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “God, I worry how you made it this far in life. They have sex.”

  “Hayden!” he yells, covering his ears.

  The front door behind me flies open and I glance over my shoulder to see Dad looking flustered. “What’s—Woah, what happened to your eye?” Dad asks, grinning as he comes to stand by my side.

  Maddox looks away, pretending to be interested in the old lady unloading her car, so I answer for him. “He snuck into Lily’s and Jaxon hit him.”

  Dad snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. “I would have punched you too, but I’m an arsehole.” He pauses, seeming to think about something for a second. “Then again, if it were me, he wouldn’t have known I was there. I wouldn’t have been punched,” he brags.

  Maddox glares. “Are you serious? They’d hear you from outside, old man. And he didn’t sneak up on me. I was drunk, tired and hungry. You know what I’m like when I’m hungry.”

  Dad’s stomach grumbles at the mention of food. “Yeah, but you’re still an idiot for sneaking in their house. Didn’t she take all our keys except Teagan’s?”

  Maddox pouts, throwing his arms out in a tantrum. “He’s changing everything! She didn’t care if I was there before or if I ate her food. Now he’s there, he’s all, ‘Don’t eat that, we need to go shopping’; ‘You can’t sleep here, we want the night to ourselves’; ‘Maddox, you have your own house to play the Xbox in’. I just want some peace, ya know?”

  I shake my head, then roll my eyes when my dad nods in agreement. “I hear ya. Maverick was the same. He would always be, ‘This is my dinner’; ‘Did you take the last pack of Jammie Dodgers?’. I mean, who can eat just one, am I right? And whenever we used to go and see the girls, he’d go on like he was the favourite,” he rambles, then snorts. “I’m the favourite. Everyone fucking loves me.”

  I glance at Dad, seeing he’s serious. “Dad, you do realise most of the population want to murder you.”

  He glares down at me. “No, they don’t, and if this is about that old lady across the street, I don’t want to hear it. I paid for that pizza. It was mine. And she needs to get over it.”

  “It was meant to be for her. She ordered it,” I tell him, rolling my eyes.

  “Like you can talk. Didn’t you steal Aiden and Bailey’s food not long ago?”

  Fuming, I place my hands on my hips and turn to him. “Hey! That’s not fair. I was doing them a favour. Sunday was poorly and the food was going cold. You know how Aiden is about wasting food.” I take in a breath before continuing. “And wasn’t it you who stole the cake Aunt Kayla made for Uncle Myles last year?”

  “It was my birthday too,” he snaps back.

  “She made you your own,” I yell.

  “What on earth is going on?” Mum calls out, rubbing her arms up and down against the cold.

  Dad presses his lips together, his eyes scrunching as he narrows them on me, warning me not to talk.

  “Nothing, Mum, we were just talking about how Maddox shouldn’t be sneaking into Lily’s.”

  Mum looks over at Maddox in disappointment. “Maddox, sweetie, they’re married. You can’t keep doing that.”

  Pushing past us, he huffs, heading into the house as he mumbles how unfair everyone is being.


  Mum looks at the closed door in concern. “Maybe we should get his dad to sort his neighbours out. They must still be making a lot of noise.”

  “He doesn’t want to move,” Madison replies. “He’s been waiting on the council to do something. The last time he spoke to them, they said they would be installing something to prove they’re making noise.”

  Dad, suddenly straightening, glances at Mum. “Did you leave the cupcakes out?”

  She sighs, looking up to the sky. “Yes, Max, I did. I bought them for everyone, not just you.”

  “God dammit, woman, you know these kids eat us out of house and home.”

  Please give me strength to get through tonight.

  *** *** ***

  Lily and Jaxon are yet to arrive. It’s taking a toll on my uncle Maverick. He’s finding it hard letting go of his girls, and with Faith’s wedding coming up, it’s showing. From as young as I can remember, my granddad told us how Maverick was the caregiver, the one who went above and beyond to help raise his brothers, even after Granddad was given custody and he no longer needed to put that pressure on himself. I wish there was something I could do to make it better for him.

  His expression morphs into one he only gives us girls when Bailey hands over Sunday to him so she can clean up the mess she’s made behind the sofa. He laughs at the mess the beautiful little girl has made of herself. It seems the mini Carter will take after her dad and love her food. She has icing, chocolate and ice cream smothered around her mouth and down her dress. I should feel an ounce of guilt—I saw what the little girl was up to—but I don’t. Those cupcakes were the best.

  My ringtone blares from my jacket pocket. Pulling it out, I groan, loudly, seeing ‘Hot Jerk Boss’ flashing across my screen.

  “You okay?” Mum asks, her glittering blue eyes pinning me in place. “You’ve been acting weird all week. Is it that boy?”

  Silencing the call, I place my hand on Mum’s arm. “It’s not about him, Mum. He was forgotten the minute I walked out of the flat. It’s just work.”

  “Difficult customer?”

  I laugh quietly as I bump my shoulder into hers. “No. I don’t deal with customers as such.”

  “I wish you’d tell us. We’re already proud of you, and we’ll be proud no matter the profession.”

  “Even if I was a stripper?”

  She flashes her megawatt smile at me, one that matches my own. “Even if,” she tells me. “You could teach me some moves.”

  My phone starts again and I roll my eyes at the name I put Clayton under. “I should take this. They won’t stop calling otherwise.”

  “Go on, we can continue after.”

  I give her a brief hug before walking out of the living room and past everyone talking amongst each other. I head upstairs, where it will be quiet and no one can overhear. Everyone, even the Hayes family, is downstairs, so they’re all occupied.

  Going up the stairs, my eyes run over the pictures hung on the wall, one’s I’ve seen a thousand times. But the one at the end catches my attention. It’s new. I’m not sure who took it but it’s lovely, and not only because the girl pictured is angelically beautiful.

  It’s Lily and Jaxon on their wedding day. From what I remember, they had just finished giving their vows. Lily’s expression is one of awe, but it’s the love shining in her eyes for Jaxon that really moves me. It’s the same strength of love I see in Jaxon’s as he gazes down at Lily, her hands in his.

  It’s breath taking.

  A lump forms in the back of my throat at the sight. I want love—who doesn’t? But I’ve never gone out of my way to find it. I won’t force the next guy I’m with to be my ‘one’. It’s either there or it isn’t. I won’t rush it. In fact, it’s not something I’ve been overly ecstatic to find.

  But seeing it captured in one frame… It makes me wonder if I’ll ever get it. If I’ll ever feel that level of emotion these two clearly share with one another. If I’ll ever have what my parents have.

  Holy fuck!

  Would I find someone who would put up with my dad’s crazy? Would I want someone who couldn’t handle my dad’s crazy?

  The terrifying thought has me nearly tripping up a step. Gathering myself, I push open the door to Faith’s old room and answer the phone when it begins to ring again.

  “If someone doesn’t answer, it usually means they’re busy or asleep,” I greet, my tone snappish.

  His laugh is loud and unrestrained. “Do you always answer your phone so rudely?”

  “Only to those I deem annoying.”

  “Maybe if you answered the phone, I wouldn’t have had to keep ringing.”

  I sigh, exasperated. “Is there a reason you called so urgently?”

  “Yes, a couple of reasons. I’ve got your new contract to sign.”

  “And I told you, I’m not signing it. There is nothing wrong with what I wear. Unless I turn up in my underwear, you can’t tell me to change my appearance.”

  I wait for him to clear his throat. “We’ll discuss it before next weekend.”

  “Why next weekend?”

  “Because we’re setting up your online dating account.”

  I groan, angry. “I told you, I want to keep my anonymity. If my family find me on that dating site, they will kill me. You’ve not met my dad, and trust me, you don’t want the first time to be on bad terms. He will eat you for breakfast.”

  “We’re using the name Hayley, so it shouldn’t be a problem. All potential dates will be screened. It’s an exclusive site. It’s not like other dating sites where every Tom, Dick and Harry are on there just to get laid.”

  “I don’t care if you’re using the name Hayley. I could still be recognised. My family will find out, and then they’ll find out it’s for my job because they know there is no way on earth I’d ever choose to use one.”

  “This company is relying on you to come through, Hayden. We need this exposure.”

  “Date Night can kiss my arse.”

  “Hayden,” he calls sternly.

  An idea forms in my mind. “I’ll do it on one condition.”

  “What is that?”

  “You let me run a story on the recent break-ins. I’ve noticed a pattern—”

  “I’m going to stop you right there. We aren’t a newspaper. We’re a podcast/radio station. And I’m not having you look into something that is becoming dangerous.”

  “Dangerous,” I snort. “So, you’re telling me you aren’t allowing me to run the story because I’m a girl, but you’re happy to let me go online dating with men I don’t know and could attack me?”

  “This is getting out of control. You’re twisting my words. I’ll see you Wednesday to get you an outfit.”

  Hearing that, I perk up. “Do I get to choose?”

  “See you Wednesday, Hayden,” he answers curtly.

  I pull my phone away, cursing under my breath when I see he’s ended the call. “Prick!”

  “Even after hearing that, I still can’t figure out what you do for a living,” Reid announces, causing a small scream to escape my lips.

  I turn around, finding him in the doorway. “Are you fucking crazy? I could have taken you out.”

  “What with, your phone?”

  “How much did you hear?” I ask, knowing I divulged more than I have to my family during that phone call.

  “Enough to know you were talking to your boss but not enough to know what you do,” he replies, grinning at me.

  I roll my eyes. “You do know it’s rude to listen in on people’s conversations.”

  He shrugs, not bothered. “I was coming out of the loo and heard you. Thought I’d come say hi.”

  It’s my turn to grin. “You mean, to see if you could get in my knickers. Which is never going to happen. You had your chance.”

  “You wish. You look like you could do with a good fucking though.”

  “The fact you described it like that says it all,” I murmur, stepping towards him so I can leave the room. He steps in
my way, blocking the door.

  “In all seriousness, don’t let your boss push you into something you don’t want to do. I can’t say I have experience—we’re our own bosses—but I do know neither I nor my brothers would ever treat an employee like that.”

  Speechless, it takes me a minute to gather my thoughts. This is a side I’ve never seen of the playboy and joker. “Um, thanks.”

  He smirks, back to his playful personality. “And as much as you’d enjoy me fucking you, I’d prefer to have you as a friend. I think two members of our family being involved is enough. And honestly, your dad makes me nervous. Did you see him holding that knife when I first arrived? He spent thirty minutes glaring at me.”

  I give him the once over before tilting my head and tapping my chin with the tip of my finger. “You’re right.” I shrug. “But Dad wasn’t just glaring at you because of New Year. You took one of the cupcakes my mum handed to you. Word of warning: don’t go near his food, especially something his wife has cooked. He will kill you.”

  His mouth gapes open. “Um, okaaay. And right about what?”

  I use his distraction to walk past him, chuckling under my breath. He follows, cursing. “He wouldn’t really kill me, would he? I’m too fucking hot to be killed. Women all around the world would mourn.”

  I snort, still not answering.

  “Great. Fucking great,” he murmurs. “I’m too fucking young to die.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  When I walk back into the front room, Dad is glowering at Aiden, who is now holding Sunday. It doesn’t take more than a guess to know Aiden ate the rest of the cupcakes Sunday had earlier. The cupcakes Mum made.

  The second Dad sees me enter the room, his gaze goes over my shoulder to Reid, who is still mumbling under his breath behind me. Every muscle in his body is tensed.

  I inwardly groan as he marches over. “Look, I’m too good looking to go to prison, but I will happily do time if he doesn’t leave you the fuck alone. And my wife’s food.”

  “Holy fuck,” I murmur, hoping he doesn’t cause a scene this early into the party.