by Jillian Dodd
Finish this later.
Vale
Carter walks toward me, takes my hand, and leads me outside to the porch.
I wrap my arms around his waist, glad he’s here. “Thank you for what you just said. I’m sorry about this mess.”
He leans closer to me, almost looking like he might kiss me. Instead, he just runs his hand through his hair. “I understand now why you don’t come home much.”
“Being here, even though things with my father aren’t good, makes me realize all that I’m missing out on. I’ve only seen Sophie a few times in person and only because my sisters came to visit me.”
He kisses my forehead. And it’s the sweetest gesture ever.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he says. “Because I wanted to when we were laughing on the bed and I’m regretting it.”
I toss my arms around his neck and press my lips against his. And, my God, does it feel good. Our lips part. Our tongues intertwine. Carter deepens the kiss.
And it’s like I’ve been starving for him. I want to wrap my legs around his waist and never let go of him, but just as I start to, I hear a cough.
Carter stops kissing me. And I’m praying it’s not my father.
Fortunately, when I open my eyes, I just find Trent on the porch with us.
Carter practically growls in my ear. And it’s such a turn-on. “Don’t you have some pizzas to cook, best man?” he says to Trent.
“I am the best man,” Trent says back, but he doesn’t go anywhere.
Carter kisses me again. This time, just a sweet peck. Then, he whispers to me, “We’ll finish this later.”
And I sincerely hope what he said is true. I want to ask him this now, but I know better. Not in front of Trent.
Instead, I just smack him playfully on the butt like I used to when we were dating and say, “I’ll hold you to that.” Then, I let my body sway sexily as I walk away.
Dinner is casual, and the baking of the pizzas is a fun event. Everyone is hanging out by the ovens. When a pizza is finished cooking, it gets laid out on the bar, and everyone samples a piece.
We’re trying a mushroom and onion pizza with a white sauce and enjoying a couple of beers when I whisper to Carter, “You really did handle my father beautifully earlier. I appreciate it.”
“I’m used to keeping a cool head in hot situations. Besides, you thanked me with your lips already.” He winks at me before picking up a piece of pizza—this one sausage, spinach, and feta—and feeds me a bite. “These pizzas are damn good.”
“And smart. Lots of carbs to soak up the alcohol tonight.”
“So, Vale”—my aunt Helen slides up next to us with my grandmother in tow—“when are you two going to start a family?”
“Well, I plan on drinking heavily tonight, so probably not anytime too soon,” I joke, wondering why they are even at the dinner before the bachelorette and bachelor parties.
Hopefully, they don’t plan on coming to the bachelorette party. I didn’t invite them or Mom, but now, I’m worried they will come anyway.
“Oh, honey,” Helen says, patting my hand, “alcohol is usually how babies get made.”
Carter chokes on his beer. And I have to stifle a laugh.
“You’re not getting any younger, you know. The clock is ticking.”
I really wish Carter would say something, but he’s just watching with an amused look on his face.
“I’ll keep that in mind. In the meantime, I have plenty of nieces and nephews to spoil.”
Though I have to admit, I don’t spoil them much. Other than the gifts I send whenever I see something cute, I don’t have much to do with their lives at all.
That’s one thing I’m missing out on. Watching them grow.
“There’s still time for that,” I murmur to myself.
“For what?” Carter asks as Grandma and Helen turn their attention to Blake, who is refilling their glasses with their favorite peach wine. “What were you talking about? Time for what? Kids?”
I have to keep my voice low. “To spoil my nieces and nephews.”
He nods in understanding. “You haven’t gotten to spend much time with them, I assume.”
“I haven’t, and it makes me feel so bad.”
His expression softens. “You have your reasons for staying away.”
“At what cost though? I’m missing so much. I almost missed all of this. I can barely believe that I nearly told my little sister that I couldn’t come to her wedding.”
“You’re here now. That’s what matters.” He gently nudges me with a little smile. “You’re going to make a lot of happy memories this weekend. Don’t let your tenuous relationship with your father get in the way of that.”
Happy memories.
Aside from witnessing Lakelyn’s wedding, I wonder how many happy memories I’ll be able to take with me after this weekend is over.
And how many of them will include Carter?
Grandma and Helen are back at our side. Plates and glasses refilled.
“I just love seeing the two of you together.” My grandmother is wearing what can only be described as a shit-eating grin. “You’re such a pretty couple.”
“Thank you.” I take Carter’s arm, pulling him closer to me, partially to protect him from these women, who seem to lose all their decorum around him. “I mean, I think he’s the one who got lucky, but …”
“I know I am.” Carter pats my hand as he gives my grandmother a wide grin, the one packed so full of cockiness that he could charm the panties off any woman in the room.
At least, it always worked on me.
“Do me a favor, sweetheart,” Grandma coos, nudging me. “Give him a kiss for me. Really lay one on him.”
I know we kissed on the porch, but that was in private. And I don’t even know what it meant.
Besides, Carter’s not a show dog. I can’t expect him to just act on command.
“Uh, I’m a little shy when it comes to public displays of affection,” I reply hazily, not even sure what I just said made sense. Because I’m still lost in a memory of a particularly passionate night in New York City during Fashion Week. We’d been at the club, dancing close all night. Drinking. Grinding on each other. It was like four straight hours of foreplay, and when we got back to our room—
“Honey,” Helen says, “you flash your rear end and bosom all over the world on a regular basis. And those pictures are blown up and put on billboards. I hardly doubt a simple kiss from your man could be considered indecent.”
Grandma nods in agreement.
And they have a point.
I glance at Carter.
He grins at me in a way that lets me know he’s game for it, but he teases Grandma and Helen anyway. “I don’t flash my rear end and bosom though,” he offers.
Helen rolls her eyes and says, “Youth is wasted on the young,” while Grandma leans over and squeezes Carter’s bicep.
Mom joins us. “Are you two causing trouble again?” she asks Grandma.
“No, Sarah, we are not. And I would thank you to speak to your mother with a little respect.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mom murmurs with a wink my way.
“We wanted to see these two kiss, is all.” Grandma pouts. “It makes me happy to see Vale in love. I mean, I might not live to see the wedding.”
“Grandma!” I gasp.
“It would do an old lady’s heart good to see her favorite, most beautiful granddaughter kiss her handsome beau. Is that such a crime?”
CHAPTER TEN
Fair warning.
Carter
I say no matter how old Grandma is, she needs to get laid. I’ve never met anyone so determined to watch a kiss.
And after the kiss earlier, I’m more than happy to oblige.
So, I do what the old woman wants. I place my hands on Vale’s waist and try not to think about other times when I’ve pulled her to me like this.
It doesn’t work.
She rests her hands on my chest
and tips her head back, her lips waiting.
Soft. Sweet. Lips I still crave.
It’s safe to say that the kiss on the porch didn’t cure me of my addiction. If anything, I just want to kiss her more. But I need to stay in control.
I lower my head and plant a respectable kiss on Vale’s lips.
“Pooh.”
That clearly wasn’t good enough for Grandma.
With a dry laugh, I shrug. “Hey, that’s as frisky as I get in front of family. Have you met her father?”
Vale’s eyes open, and I wish I knew what was going on behind them.
What is she thinking? Why am I putting myself through this torture if I mean nothing to her?
Vale giggles nervously as I think about how we kissed a few moments ago and her reaction, but then a vision of the guy making out with her on New Year’s Eve flashes in my brain, giving me a whiplash of emotion.
“If you ladies will excuse me, I have some things to discuss with Blake and the others. Bachelor party things.” I make a funny face that causes Grandma to laugh.
But the moment I turn away from them, I stop smiling. This playing the happy couple and navigating the family dynamics is difficult enough without all my old feelings resurfacing.
It would probably be easier if I could just hate her.
Trent surprises me by handing me a cold beer. “Tonight should be interesting,” he says.
I take the beer from him instead of smashing the bottle over his head like I would have liked to do when he interrupted our porch kiss. But since I need to get through the bachelor party for AJ’s sake, I act civil. “I heard Blake say you boys have big plans for AJ tonight.”
“Yeah. Limo, drinks, strip club—the works.”
“I’d love to pitch in. I know I’m a last-minute addition.”
He waves a hand. “No worries.” But then he gives me a staredown. Apparently sizing up what he thinks is his competition.
If he only knew.
“So, you and Vale, huh?”
“I’m a lucky guy,” I lie.
“Fair warning.” He leans in like we’re BFFs and he’s about to tell me a secret. “Blake intends to test you out tonight. See the sort of guy you really are. Whether you’re good enough for his sister.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I would do the same to any man who managed to catch my sister’s attention, so I can’t blame him,” I lie again. I would never disrespect my sister in that way. “I know you’re close to the Martins. Is that how you and AJ became so close?”
“He practically grew up in this house, like me,” Trent says with a chuckle. “He’s a great kid. Good head on his shoulders.”
I notice Trent wince. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He pats his stomach. “Too much celebrating. Gotta keep in mind, I’m not a young buck anymore.”
“You’d better pace yourself if you want to hang with the college boys tonight,” I warn him.
All I know is that I want him wherever Vale isn’t. I don’t like the way his eyes linger on her, and I certainly don’t like the way he brags about practically growing up in her house.
It feels like the one-up game. Like because he’s known her longer, she should be his by default.
Sorry, dude.
Although I know their past is none of my business.
And I shouldn’t be jealous.
But I can’t stop thinking about that kiss—and I’m not talking about the one in front of Grandma.
Maybe I’ll get lucky.
Vale
“Who are you talking to?” Lakelyn asks, catching me as I’m getting off the phone.
“Huh? Me?” I touch a hand to my chest. “Why would you care? Do you think I’m up to something? Like your bachelorette party perhaps?”
“You have been acting sneaky. Brooke and Raine are staying close-lipped about tonight, which means you told them to keep their mouths shut.”
“At least they’re doing what I asked—for once. But you aren’t that big on surprises, are you?”
“I love surprises,” she counters. “I just like to have an idea of the surprise, so I can prepare for it.”
“If you can prepare for it, it’s not a surprise.”
“Can’t you just tell me a little something? I’ll be honest. I’m a little worried about tonight. I know the boys are doing the strip-club thing, but that’s not really my style.”
“I know that. And even though it was highly suggested that we go to a male revue, I had something different in mind. Something fun. More interactive than just sitting and watching guys dance.”
She lets out a relieved sigh. “How should I dress? I bought a few different options.”
“Short, sexy. Cute. I’ll take care of the rest.”
She throws herself in my arms. “I’m really glad you’re here. Promise me that when I move, we’ll spend more time together. That you’ll come to some of AJ’s games. See my new home. I love and miss you. And it’s high time we stopped letting Dad interfere in our relationship, don’t you think?”
I hug her tightly as tears fill my eyes. “Definitely time, and I promise. Now,” I say, untangling myself and turning her toward the house, “let’s go get all glammed up. Do you want me to do your makeup?”
“I would love that,” she says.
I meet her in her room after grabbing my makeup kit. I might have hoped that would be her answer. I brought some false eyelashes with pink feathers mixed in that will be super fun if she can wear them and still manage to see.
She pulls three dresses out of her closet. The first is a tight black party dress, the second is a nude-colored jumpsuit with a bandeau top covered with tiny pastel rhinestones, and the third is a beaded and sequined fitted party dress. “What do you think?”
“Which is your favorite?”
“Well, I love them all, but I was thinking pink for tonight and the jumpsuit for the rehearsal.”
“What’s the black dress for?”
“In case we went to see male dancers. I didn’t want anything that would show dirt.”
This makes me laugh.
I do up her makeup, pretty and pink, subtle mostly, except for the lashes, and then I turn her toward the mirror. “What do you think?”
She flutters her eyes like she was born with ridiculously long lashes and squeals. “I loooove them!” She preens in the mirror some more. Then, she looks at me. “Why don’t I curl my own hair while you go get yourself ready? We’re meeting at ten, right?”
“Yep, we need to be downstairs then.”
I start to leave her room but then turn around and say, “Is it true Trent is still having dinner here on Sundays?” Because part of me wonders if he’s telling the truth.
“There’s always a spot for him at the table, for sure,” she says. “I don’t know about every Sunday since I’ve been away at college, but he’s always here when AJ and I are.”
The way she replies is so straightforward. Like it’s normal. No big deal. But then again, his family life wasn’t great when we were in high school. His dad left, and maybe my dad stepped in to fill the role.
“Plus, he works at the car dealership with Jake now. So, he’s practically family.”
“Is it just me, or is it kind of weird?”
She rolls her eyes. “Everyone knows he’s always carried a torch for you. I swear, I don’t know what power you have over men, but I would’ve killed for some of it back in the day.”
“You’ve always had AJ wrapped around your finger.”
“Still, there’s a time in every girl’s life when she wouldn’t mind leaving men panting after her. When he broke up with me freshman year, I thought we were over forever.” She studies my face. “What’s wrong?”
“It seems like Trent hasn’t moved on,” I admit. “And I don’t like the way he looks at me.”
“There have always been extra people for Sunday dinner. Come on. Don’t worry about it. I think it’s really good for Trent to see how crazy in love you are with Carter
. I mean, it’s written all over your face every time you look at him. Maybe this will give Trent some closure. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get lucky tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“He could meet a stripper and fall in love.” Lakelyn grins at me before shooing me out the door.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Viscously sexy.
Carter
“Are you excited for tonight?” I ask Vale when she comes into the bedroom.
I’m lying on the bed, relaxing. Actually, that’s not true. I’ve been thinking about having sex with Vale. On this bed.
“I am. My sisters told me we needed to go see male dancers. I didn’t think Lakelyn would love that. So, I got a limo and some fun props, and we’re going to make a game out of barhopping,” she says, throwing open her closet.
Earlier today, she hung a viciously sexy party dress up to get the wrinkles out, and now, she’s stripping off her clothes, presumably going to change into it. She’s used to changing in front of a lot of people at fashion shows, but I’m not a lot of people.
Her back is to me, and it’s like she’s trying to be modest. In front of me. Who has seen every part of her in intimate detail.
She reaches behind her and unhooks her bra, and even though I can’t see them, I can picture her breasts perfectly. I know exactly what they look like—
“Hello?” She glances over her shoulder. “Earth to Carter.”
“Huh?” Damn it, I need a cold shower. Probably several of them.
“I know you’re worried about AJ tonight. I just asked if you were worried about me getting in trouble. You know, I used to be a bit of a hell-raiser myself, back in the day.”
This makes me laugh and shake my head. “I just can’t picture it. I can’t imagine you getting away with anything.”
“I was sneaky.” She’s now got on the dress that screams sin and walks over and takes my hand, pulling me up off the bed and leading me to one of her windows. “See how this part of the roof is sort of flat? I’d sit out here and smoke sometimes. And then there’s that tree there. See its strong branches?”
