Faith (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 1)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “We’re staying here?” I ask in awe when we pull up to a hotel.

  It’s huge, the white building standing out in the dark of night. People are milling around, laughing and enjoying themselves.

  I turn back to Beau in astonishment. “You did this, for me?”

  He tucks my hair behind my ear, gazing into my eyes. “I’d do anything for you. You deserve to be spoilt, to be cherished, Faith. I feel like a dick for not taking you out sooner.”

  “We’ve gone on dates before,” I remind him, taking his hand in mine.

  He shakes his head at me. “No, not like this. Even though I knew you were special, we were just friends. This is different. Tonight, I want to show you how much you mean to me.”

  “As much as I love that you’ve done this, you didn’t need to do any of it to show me how much you care. I feel it and see it every time we’re together, Beau. You show me every time you run me a bath, watch One Tree Hill with me, and cook me dinner. I see it in the way you look at me.”

  “And how do I look at you?” he asks, his voice hoarse.

  I lean forwards, my lips a breath away from his. “Like you can’t breathe without me. Like I’m the only girl in the world.”

  “That, Faith Carter, is because you are the only girl in the world for me. You are the air I breathe, the reason I feel alive each morning.”

  I love you is on the tip of my tongue once again, but before the words can reach my lips, Beau’s door is opening.

  “Sir, can we get your bags?”

  Beau startles away from me, eyeing the porter with confusion. “Um, yeah.” He turns the engine off, steps out of the car and hands the keys to the porter. A steward walks over, and they exchange a few words before he heads back into the building.

  Beau walks around to my door and opens it, before taking my hand. “Come, this is only the first surprise.”

  I grin, my thoughts of killing the porter for ruining our moment gone, and take his hand. “Well, who am I to hold us up.”

  He laughs, pulling me into his arms as soon as I step out of the car. “God, you’re amazing.”

  I tilt my head to the side. “I know, right?”

  He chuckles once more, before leaning down and kissing me, stealing my breath away with the intensity of it. The feel of his fingers running through my hair and his body pressed against mine is all I can take.

  I want him.

  Now.

  “Sir, we have your table ready for you.”

  And I’m thinking of murdering the porter again.

  I try not to pout, I do, but when Beau releases me from his kiss, it’s all I can do to stop myself from stomping my feet and demanding Beau take me right here, right now.

  The porter takes our bags around the side of the building, following a stoned path, while the steward leads us down another leading to the shore.

  The breeze from the sea blows my hair around my face, and I soak in the salt air. Being near the sea is the best feeling ever. It makes you feel refreshed, free.

  When we reach the bottom, tables, under parasol heaters, line the beach. I gasp at the beauty. The flames of candles flicker on each table, and outside lights brighten the surrounding area. Couples, families and friends are busy eating, but the atmosphere is still romantic. The most romantic sight I’ve ever seen.

  “Beau.” I turn to him and take his hands in mine. I fight the urge to cry, even though I so desperately want to. This is incredible. “This is perfect. I can’t believe you planned all this.”

  He grins as he pulls me against him and kisses me quickly. “Like I said, I’d do anything for you, baby.”

  My cheeks feel like they’re going to crack I’m smiling that wide. “I love it. Thank you so much for doing all of this.”

  He gives me his usual ‘I think you’re adorable’ look, causing me to melt against him. “Let’s go eat. According to Travel Rate, this place cooks the best steak ever.”

  “I love steak.” He pulls me down the platform built on the sand, to our table, where he pulls out a chair for me.

  My knees buckle at the gesture, never having had another person do this for me. Ever.

  I sit down, giving him a small smile as I hold myself back from clapping and giggling in my seat. I’m so overwhelmed by everything, including Beau. He’s so darn perfect. Well, not completely perfect; he does snore. I can look past that though.

  “Can I get you some drinks?”

  Beau looks to me, his eyes heated as he gazes at me across the candlelit table. “Red wine?”

  I sag into my seat. “Sounds perfect.”

  “Your best red wine, please,” Beau tells the waiter, and he walks off to get our drinks.

  “How did you find this place?”

  He cheeks flush and I almost laugh. “I called my mum. I explained I didn’t feel like a meal and a movie was enough. She told me about a few places my dad had taken her to. When I looked up this one, it seemed perfect. I remembered you telling me about your love for the beach.”

  Aww, he’s so cute when he’s embarrassed.

  “Beau, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, but you need to know, movies and takeout? Best part of our time together. I’d have loved to do anything with you. But I’m glad you changed our plans. This place… I’ll never forget our time here,” I tell him, with more meaning than he knows. He has no idea what I have planned for later, or about the sexy lingerie I’ve packed. I couldn’t wear it with this outfit, so I had planned to change into it when we got home. But now we are staying here… I’m glad I bought it to begin with.

  I already knew tonight would be perfect, no matter where we were or what we did. Although, being here with him will not only make this night one I’ll never forget, but a dream come true.

  When I’d given up on finding Prince Charming, I really did stop searching. I’d had no hope of finding the love I’d read about in fairy tales, or the love my parents share. But the minute I met Beau, hope had blossomed. Now, it’s spread through me and I’m living the dream.

  “I’m glad. And I love our time together too. I have another surprise for you… Well, you and your family.”

  “You do?” I’m stunned. Him bringing me here was surprise enough. If he does anything else, I might have an emotional breakdown. He makes me so happy.

  He grins. “I do. Me and my new partner helped a guy’s daughter with something. He offered us VIP tickets to Party in the Park for you and your family this Saturday. There’s enough tickets for all of you, I made sure.”

  “Oh, my God, are you serious?” I squeal. We’d tried to get Hayden tickets for her birthday, but they had sold out.

  Even Liam and Landon would love this. I can’t wait to tell them.

  “Yes.” He laughs at my antics.

  “This is amazing. I can’t wait to tell the others. They are going to love this.”

  He laughs. “I did hear Hayden moaning to your sister about not being able to get tickets. I think a boy she likes was going or something.”

  I laugh. “Yeah, someone she met at work. We can tell her tomorrow at the dinner. Thank you, Beau, so much.”

  “It’s my pleasure. We’re not meant to take anything from people we see, but I couldn’t say no.”

  “Beau, you are the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met. They’re all going to love this. Seriously.”

  “Don’t go spreading that around, you’ll ruin my reputation.”

  I laugh and grab his hand across the table. “I promise, but I can’t promise not to gush to my mum and sister about all of this. Really, thank you.”

  “You keep saying that, but you don’t need to say thank you.”

  The waiter walks over with our wine in a cooler and pours us both a glass. “Are you ready to order?”

  Shit, we haven’t even looked at the menu.

  “You ready?” Beau asks me. “I’m thinking of the steak.”

  I lick my lips, it does sound good. I put my menu down and turn to the waiter. “We’
ll have two steaks.”

  The waiter smiles. “Good choice. We won’t be long with your food.”

  “Thank you,” Beau and I say in unison.

  When he’s gone, I watch as a steak is brought to the next table over, then turn to Beau. “My mouth is watering now.”

  He looks over to the food and chuckles. “Yeah. My belly is protesting that I feed it.”

  I giggle. “How was your day?”

  “Long. I didn’t think I’d get off in time, but Collings knew about my plans and offered to do the paperwork.”

  “Remind me to send him some chocolate.”

  “Don’t, his wife is on his back to eat healthier,” he chuckles.

  “I bet he’s hating that.”

  He nods. “Sneaks his Snickers’ and Mars Bar’s into his locker at work.” I laugh at his serious expression. “What about you, how was Maggie’s?”

  “Surprisingly, really good. I see her becoming a part of our family. She’s a really lovely woman. Her house needs a lot of work, but with Aiden rounding up my family, it won’t be long till it’s good as new.”

  “And the kittens?”

  “Cute.” My face lights up. “And guess what?”

  “What?”

  “She’s going to keep them.”

  “That’s great. I was going to call Aiden earlier, but didn’t have time. I’m sure Collings will do it.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask. I didn’t even know they were calling buddies. Colour me shocked.

  “Yeah, I didn’t expect your brother to call me either,” he tells me, reading my thoughts. “But he wanted something done about this guy who ripped Maggie off. After he convinced her to make a statement, we looked into it. We found the guy. He’ll be going before court in a month or so.”

  “That is brilliant. I’m glad she decided to do something. She said earlier she was unsure whether making a statement was worth it or not. She’ll be thrilled you found him.”

  “Yeah, me too. I was worried your brother was going to take things into his own hands. He said he had Liam on it. But I didn’t know Liam was into computers.”

  I laugh at hearing Liam’s name. Not my cousin, but my uncles’ friend from school. He’s amazing with a computer and made a name for himself designing video games.

  “He’s not on about my cousin Liam. Liam is my uncles’ friend from school. They all go to him when they want something done on the computer. He’s a genius.”

  Understanding spreads across his face. “Ah, now it makes sense. He talked him up, but the Liam I met, although he can give off one serious glare, didn’t seem the type to sit still long enough to check his Facebook.”

  Laughing, I nod in agreement. “Very true. My aunt Lake would threaten to tie him to a chair if he didn’t do his homework when he was younger. Used to drive her up the wall when he wouldn’t sit still.”

  I take a sip of my wine, the taste sweet, like nothing I’ve ever drank.

  “Good?” Beau asks.

  “Impeccable,” I answer honestly, taking another sip.

  “Let’s make a toast,” he says suddenly, holding his glass up.

  I follow. “What are we toasting to?”

  “How about to us? To finding us?”

  I melt at his words. He couldn’t have said anything better. “To us,” I say, clinking my glass with his. My gaze burns into his, my heart falling harder and harder for the man in front of me.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Dinner was fabulous, and the dessert astounding. We had warm chocolate gateau that melted in our mouths, and the ice-cream tasted divine. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything that good in my mouth before. When I told Beau that, he’d started choking, reaching for his wine.

  “Sir, your drinks are waiting on your balcony.”

  The server passes a key card attached to our room number over to Beau, whispering something near his ear, before clearing our table.

  “What was that?” I ask, suspicious.

  He just gazes at me. “Want to take a walk along the beach?”

  I’m out of my seat before he finishes. “Yeah, I do.”

  He laughs, taking my hand in his, before walking me back towards the path we entered from. Instead of going up, we walk down, following the spotlights that light up the path. When we reach the beach, I kneel to unstrap my shoes. Beau does the same.

  “It’s a lovely night,” I say, wanting to fill the silence. I’m excited to get back to our room, but what girl would turn down a walk on the beach with their boyfriend.

  Not me.

  He takes my hand in his and holds his shoes in the other. I do the same, feeling merry as my toes sink into the soft sand.

  “It is,” he replies, leaning over to kiss my head.

  I smile to myself, watching the waves crash against the shore, the noise soothing. Little cottages line the beach, a place I wouldn’t mind having as a holiday home. But the cost of living there would probably be high.

  “Wonder who lives in them,” I muse, pointing to the row of lit up cottages.

  “Funny you should mention them, we’re staying in number two-zero-one.”

  I stop walking, pulling on his hand to face me. “What?”

  He grins at my expression, or the surprise in my voice—I’m unsure, it could be both. “Yeah. I booked us our own room on the beach.”

  My feet move towards the houses on their own accord, then back to Beau, my heart beating rapidly with excitement. “Please don’t be joking.”

  He laughs. “I’m not, I swear.”

  When he points over my shoulder, I turn, my gaze following where his finger is aimed, and gasp when I see our number on a post at the end of a stoned path.

  “Beau,” I squeal, before dropping my shoes and jumping into his arms. He chuckles, dropping his own shoes as he catches me.

  My legs wrap around his waist, my arms gripping the back of his neck. “You, Mr. Beau Johnson, are an amazing man. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I pepper his face with kisses before reaching his lips.

  My mouth opens, sliding my tongue against his. I’ll never get enough of his kisses. My body buzzes with awareness, my blood surging through my veins. His grip on my arse tightens and I moan into his mouth.

  He pulls back, clearing his throat. “That was…”

  “Phenomenal, breath-taking, mind-blowing?”

  He laughs against my lips. “Yeah.”

  Slowly, he slides me down his body, my arms still around his neck. “Show me our room.”

  At my excitement, he presents me with a smile before bending down and grabbing both our shoes.

  We walk up the pathway. In front of the window is a swing bench, and next to it is a table with a silver bucket on top and a bottle of something inside. Candlelight flickers inside its glass.

  Everything looks magical. It’s the perfect setting, the perfect night, with the perfect man.

  If I wasn’t sure before, then I am now. Girls, wait for that perfect moment and nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, could get more perfect than this, in this very moment.

  Once we reach the door, Beau places our shoes on the floor, then takes the key card out of his back pocket. I reach out, stopping him from inserting the key.

  “Let’s have a drink before we go inside,” I tell him, having a plan already in mind.

  “All right, baby. Take a seat, I’ll open the champagne. They told me it’s their best.”

  “Awesome.” I smile, taking a seat. A blanket is folded next to me, so I shake it open and place it over my legs, the chill in the air getting colder.

  When he walks over with two full champagne glasses, I take one with a quiet, “Thanks”. I’m all kinds of nervous; the good, the terrifying, and anxious kind.

  He takes a seat next to me, and I drop the other half of the blanket over his legs.

  “I’m glad we came,” I tell him, sinking back and watching the waves crash against the shore. A gentle breeze stirs the air and through the gaps in the clouds, I see th
e stars, shining bright.

  “Me too. Oh, before I forget, Saturday, I might be able to finish my shift early. It all depends on what calls we have. Collings said I’ve been working other cases, which I’m not hired to do at the moment, so he did this for me. I don’t mind though. I’ve really liked working for the department. The guys there are great. Collings even hinted at me getting offered a permanent job after your case is closed.”

  “Really? I thought you were already working there full time. What will you do if you don’t get offered the permanent position?” I ask. Taking a large gulp of champagne, I wait nervously for his answer. It never occurred to me he would leave once my case was solved.

  “No, I’m only temporary at the moment. If I don’t, I’ll go back to being a PI and doing security.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but it is. Would he move back to where he lived before all this started? Would he stay? I need to know.

  “Does that mean if you don’t get a permanent job, you’ll be moving back to where you lived before?”

  He turns to face me, raising one knee on the chair beside us. He looks at me lazily, his smile small. “Faith, nothing would make me move back there. My home is here now. With you.”

  My breath catches in my throat. “You really mean that?”

  He runs his fingers down my cheek. “I do.”

  His lips are soft when he kisses me, licking the seam of my lips. With a gasp, my mouth opens, and he slides his tongue against mine.

  Pressing my fingers into his biceps, I melt against him the best I can in the position we’re in.

  My lips are still tingling when I pull back, clearing my throat.

  It’s now or never.

  “Can I have the key, so I can go freshen up?”

  Pulling it back out of his back pocket, he hands it to me. “Go ahead.”

  “Won’t be long.” I smile, giving him one more kiss before getting up.

  When I get to the door, I realise we don’t have our bags. A mild panic attack is brewing as I turn back to face him, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

  “Um, where are our bags?”

  He turns away from the view to face me. “They put them just inside the door. Want me to come in?”