Carter's Treasure

by Amy Gregory

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

  “You’re unique.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “That’s about as good as ‘you’ve got a great personality, but…’”

  She was grinning when she looked up at him.

  “Unique is good, Gorgeous…very, very good,” he said quietly as they came up behind Erin and Brody. Oh, so good. Finally after years of putting up with the wrong women, he finds the most perfect girl. He wasn’t going to factor her possessive control freak of a brother into the equation or that small, minor little problem that what she did on a bike scared him to death.

  “Here, Erin, exactly the way you like it,” Molly said, handing Erin her food.

  “Oh baby, you’re my angel, I’m starving.”

  “Where’s mine?” Brody asked her.

  “Probably back at the grill, I would imagine.”

  This time Carter laughed when Molly did nothing to disguise the smug look she shot at Brody. He figured he’d better get over the two of them being so close if he had any chance of making this work.

  “That’s the thanks I get?” Brody fired back. “Rearrange my life for the next four months, drive your ass clear across the damn country, and then no dinner? Seriously?”

  Molly looked at Brody with her head cocked to the side.

  “Rearrange your life? Really? Need I remind you…I am your life?”

  There were a few chuckles from the guys. Brody just raised one eyebrow at her response. Carter did his best to hide his pride. That would only make things worse with Brody. He had a feeling that if she’d stand up to her brother, she was definitely no doormat.

  Carter had seen bits and pieces of that spunky attitude. She was going to be a challenge. And that attracted him all the more. Sweet, caring, and fire all wrapped into one. He didn’t want a yes girl. That was half the problem with being famous. Molly on the other hand, she didn’t need him like that. She was famous in her own right. She was his perfect match, all right.

  “Here’s your beer, now shut it.” Molly smirked.

  Carter could tell she loved bantering back and forth with Brody. He had watched them torment each other all afternoon, but it was plain to see how much they adored each other, too.

  She shrugged. “It’s not like you won’t eat the rest of mine anyway.”

  “Then what are you going to eat?” Carter asked, suddenly concerned, and then caught himself. Damn it. He had this compulsive urge to be protective of her. He knew he was going to have to tamp it down or he could screw this up before it ever got off the ground.

  “Oh, Lord. He’s making me sound like I’m high maintenance.”

  Erin smacked Brody for Molly’s sake. “He’s just being an ass. You just eat a little healthier than most.”

  “Anybody that doesn’t chug four energy drinks a day eats healthier than him,” Molly shot back.

  Carter squeezed her leg, giving in a little to that compulsion. “So what do you eat?”

  “Damn it, Brody. You’re making me sound like a salad picker.” Molly eyed her brother from across the space.

  Eli choked on his beer as Jesse and Cody came back with their dinners. “Dude, you okay?” Cody asked as he plopped into an empty chair.

  Eli pointed at Molly while still laughing and half-choking. “What’s a salad picker?”

  Jesse grinned. “You know, one of those girls who won’t eat in front of a guy. She orders a little tiny salad, then sits there and just picks at it.”

  Molly giggled and finished Jesse’s answer, “Yeah, and then goes home and pigs out on anything she can find because she’s starving.”

  Eli crossed to give Molly a high five. She took one more bite and then got up and crossed the group, handing Brody her plate.

  Eli, still grinning, looked at her. “So what’s the difference between you and a salad picker, since you ate…what…two bites off that plate?”

  “I can polish off a salad. Besides, all that fried food…I can’t run if I eat that crap. I’ll just grab something from our motorhome later.” She gave Brody a shit-eating grin. “This really was his plate. I just wanted a couple of bites.”

  Carter chuckled proudly.

  “Speaking of running.” Brody snatched the plate from her and gave her an evil eye. “Don’t wake us up in the morning.”

  “Do I ever?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Whatever.” All she could do was roll her eyes. Brody was in a foul mood. One could only hope Erin could fix that, however she had to do it. Molly knew he was concerned about Carter. And she had no explanations for him, at least not until she could wrap her own head around it. This was new for both of them and he was going to have to back up and give her some space to figure it out.

  She let out an impatient breath, blowing her long, draping bangs from her eyes. She sat back in her chair, crossed her feet at her ankles, and took a very relaxed stance. She wasn’t going to fight with him about it in front of these people. They’d just met. It would take a saint’s patience, but she refused to embarrass herself.

  “Don’t wake them up?” Cody looked at Molly. “What time do you get up?”

  She shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m up usually by four or so.”

  “A.M.? Are you crazy?” Jesse asked.

  “What the hell are you doing up that freaking early?” Carter looked at her, his eyebrows scrunched, mouth parted.

  “Running.” Her simple answer floored the guys around her. It made her all the more proud of how hard she worked. She grinned at Carter who was shaking his head. “Don’t worry, I promise not to wake you up, either. I’m used to it. I only ran this afternoon because we’ve been on the road and I couldn’t get it in before then.”

  Jesse looked at her, still in slight shock. “So what time do you go to bed then?”

  “Well, pretty quick here.”

  “But…” Carter chewed a bite of food quickly and put his plate down. “You can’t go yet. It’s only, what, seven?”

  “More like seven-thirty and that’s Pacific Time. I’m running on East Coast time…you’ve got to remember the time change.”

  Carter wrapped his arm over her shoulders again, squeezing her tight to him, obviously not wanting to let her go just yet. The fatigue was setting in, and she took a deep breath and rested her head against his shoulder. She looked at Erin for support then closed her eyes to block the shock on Brody’s face.

  “Okay. I know this is so rude and you’re not supposed to ask a woman her age, but with you curled up beside him like that, you look like you’re about fourteen. I’ve just got to ask, are you legal?” Jesse chuckled.

  “Ha ha ha, Jesse. Yes, I’m legal. I’m retired, remember? I’m twenty-six, if that makes you feel better.”

  “Almost twenty-seven, by the way.”

  She didn’t even lift her head to argue with Brody’s smart ass answer. “Younger than you brother.” She knew he was getting sensitive about starting to feel his age and getting closer to thirty, especially when it was added to the aches and pains he’d had the last couple of years. He’d dealt his body a lot of abuse over his career.

  “On that note,” Erin said as she stood up, “I’ve got to go to bed, you boys be nice. Mol, call me if you need anything, honey.”

  “Thanks Erin,” Molly said, yawning.

  Brody stood up to get the keys out of his pocket and leaned in to kiss Erin goodnight. “I’ll be there in a bit, babe.”

  Jesse looked between them. “Aw, look at you two,” he teased, obviously making note of the chaste gesture. Erin winked to answer, before turning to walk away.

  “Yeah, well, we aren’t quite as into the PDA like our love birds over there,” Brody said sarcastically, gesturing to Molly and Carter.

  “Oh, bite me. Joey remembers what it was like four or five years ago, don’t you, Joe?”

  “Oh Lord yes,” Joey answered with his hand covering his mouth and pretending to throw up.

  “It was awful.” Molly rolled h
er eyes as she tried not to laugh. “They were all over each other. You had to be careful walking around corners or you’d walk in on them making out. Especially in the shop when James was at work. Joey and I both saw way more than we ever wanted to see…and on separate occasions.” She could see Brody smile to himself. She laid her head back down against Carter’s strong shoulder, liking the safety she felt next to him, something she definitely needed to think about. Maybe tomorrow, when she wasn’t so tired.

  “Speaking of PDA,” Dylan said as he looked at Molly, snickering as he tried to be funny, “I thought you said she wasn’t that kind of girl. Are we sure? You said she wasn’t a flirt, but I think she passed flirt a long time ago.”

  Oh my God, will he not shut up? Molly had taken several deep breaths throughout the afternoon and evening to block out his remarks and nasty comments. She had been flirting with Carter, but she had done nothing to deserve the crap this asshole had dealt her at every turn. Even she had a breaking point. She sat up and eyed him with a glare. Before she could open her mouth to speak, Carter was out of his chair and in Dylan’s face.

  “I sure as hell hope you’re joking.”

  Jesse smacked Dylan hard. “Dude, you looking to get your ass handed to you tonight? If so, keep talking.” He scanned the circle. The joking and laughing had come to an abrupt halt and both Brody and Joey had immediately flanked Carter’s sides.

  “You know what, jackass, you’ve been making snide and rude comments all night. Everything that has come out of your mouth has been a slap at her. I’ve tried to let it go and to ignore you. But dude, you just went too far.”

  “Oh yeah, Sterling, what are you going to do about it?”

  “Carter!” Molly pled as she tried to calm him down.

  “How old are you?” Brody asked with a laser pointed glare locked on the man.

  Dylan looked Brody up and down. “Why? What’s it to you?” Dylan continued to glower back at him, but he finally answered, “nineteen.”

  “Okay, so let me put this in perspective for you.”

  “Oh yeah?” Dylan stood and crossed his arms, then sneered back at Brody.

  “She started racing, not riding, but racing when she was four. So she’d been racing for two, almost three years by the time you were even born. She put her time in and retired the best of the best. Then I moved her into freestyle, trained her hard, day in and day out, and she competed for two more years. Now she works. She’s worked hard her whole life to get to where she is today. She’s never even so much as had a boyfriend, so I don’t know where you get off being a dick. She rode when she was sick, she rode through every holiday, hell she’s ridden with broken bones more times than I can count.”

  Molly gasped. She couldn’t believe Brody had just said that. That was something she didn’t want brought up. It was the last thing she wanted to explain to complete strangers.

  “Brody!” Her heart began racing.

  “She’s getting paid to be here, so don’t you ever compare her to those little girls who drool all over you guys. You are a cocky little shit with a God’s gift to women complex, and you’re just pissed off that she didn’t fall down at your feet.”

  “Yeah, well I can’t help it if she’s been all over him like a tramp all...”

  Carter came across his nose with his right fist faster than Dylan could finish his sentence. Dylan bent over, blood gushing all over the concrete floor. “Son of a bitch. You broke my nose.”

  Molly froze.

  “Don’t you ever talk about her like that again. You got me, asshole?”

  “You broke my fucking nose.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck,” Carter spat out the words. “You will never talk to her like that again. As a matter of fact, you’d best do your damnedest to avoid her, or I’ll finish your ass.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “I mean it, Martins. One more nasty word out of your mouth and I’ll beat the living shit out of you.”

  “Carter!” Molly tried to wiggle loose of Eli’s hold. “Just Stop. You’re going to get into trouble with George. Eli, please…let me go!” She flung her arms, fighting the hold. She knew Eli was trying to help by keeping her a safe distance from the possible brawl, but she hated behind restrained. A couple of other riders had joined in on Dylan’s side, but Jesse, Brody, and Joey had Carter’s back. At this rate, if this got out of hand, it looked like it was going to be an all out mess. Because of her.

  “Oh God. Carter…stop! Eli!” she begged as she continued to fight the arms around her, but he was so much stronger. Oh my God. “Stop.” Panic engulfed her before she could stop it. She went limp, except for the racking sobs coming from deep within.

  “Noland!”

  Brody turned at Eli’s startled yell.

  “Oh my God, Molly!” Brody forgot all about Carter, Dylan, and the fight. Eli had sunk to the ground with Molly crying in his arms. Brody dropped to her side, scooping her up.

  This was the last thing Molly needed. When she calmed down a little bit, Brody knew she was going to be mortified. He whispered to her, letting his voice bring her back down while he cradled her in his arms and gently rocked her. He slipped his phone from his back pocket.

  Handing Eli the phone, he rocked Molly while giving him directions. “Erin is number one on speed dial, call her. Please.”

  Eli nodded, stood, and stepped away with the phone.

  Carter was on his knees across from them, his expression shocked. “What’s…?”

  Brody ignored him, continuing to whisper to Molly as he rocked her.

  “Brody.” The choppy whisper tore his heart up.

  “It’s okay baby. I’ve got you. It’s okay. Shh…it’s okay.” He held on tightly to her middle, but never constricted her arms.

  “Carter?”

  Brody cringed, but answered, “He’s right here, sweetie…don’t worry.”

  The crowd parted for the loud voice.

  Shit. Could this get any worse?

  Brody heard George coming before he could see him.

  “What the hell is going on here?” George dropped to his knees when he saw Molly and Brody on the floor. “What happened? Is she all right?”

  Brody nodded. “You need to get everyone away from here. Wait.” He swallowed hard, trying his best to keep his composure and his voice calm. “Sterling, Frost, and Hunter can stay.”

  Chapter Four

  After she’d had to give George the gory details plus a long phone call to James, Carter could tell Molly was exhausted. When she announced she was going back to their motorhome to go to bed, he jumped at the chance to be alone with her and offered to walk her back. Brody had scoffed, but Carter watched out of the corner of his eye as Erin quieted him down. It looked like he had an ally. That was a helpful piece of knowledge to keep tucked away.

  He walked at a slow pace with her pulled close to his side, wanting to make the minutes last as long as possible, wanting to keep her with him.

  And he really did, he wanted to keep her in his arms, permanently.

  He sucked in a quick breath as the meaning seeped into him. He knew he felt like she was the one, but the force of that word hit him like a two-ton truck. All of a sudden he felt lighter than he had in years. Even after the last forty-five minutes of hell, he all of a sudden felt amazing, like he finally had the answer to one of life’s hardest puzzles.

  She snuggled into his side and he could feel how relaxed she was with him. It made his heart swell even more. She’d fallen to pieces during that whole fiasco. Brody had brushed it under the rug as a reaction to violence. No big deal. What the hell? It was a big deal, a very big deal. But she had pulled herself together within minutes and with such grace, he had to admire her strength.

  “Come here, Gorgeous.” Carter pulled her closer to him.

  “Hey Molly.” He tightened his grip on her in case she should try to pull away. “I heard what Brody said, but sweetheart, there’s more to this story. Even if you are opposed to violence, it
was one punch. I sure as hell didn’t mean to scare you, but I have a feeling it’s way more than what Brody let on.”

  He felt her stiffen, but she didn’t say anything, so he continued, “I won’t pry, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here. I want you to know that. I’ll always be right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

  With her body next to his, he felt the deep breath she took. After several silent moments, she nodded.

  He knew she wasn’t going to tell him anything tonight. But that nod was an admission. He had a feeling tonight’s episode had to do with how skittish she was and how protective her brother was. And after hearing her and Brody on the phone with their father, he knew Brody was a walk in the park compared to James.

  As they walked out of the large, dim walkway toward where the motorhomes were parked, he kissed her head. They wound their way around to hers. He glanced up at her door. He’d hang onto anything he could to keep her from walking through it. Knowing he wasn’t getting any information tonight and that he wanted to keep her in his arms just a little longer, he changed the subject. “So? Who’d have thought I’d meet the girl of my dreams today?” His tone was playful.

  Molly looked up at him. “The girl of your dreams, huh? Are you crazy? Were you not there and involved in a fight? Over me?” She paused. “I talk like a trucker and I ride a dirt bike for a living. I’m not exactly the girl you take home to mom.”

  “Oh, yes you are, you’re perfect…perfect for me,” Carter said in a low voice.

  Suddenly the jovial mood he was going for went serious. With one hand on her waist, he pulled her closer. He ran his finger under her chin and brought her face to his. So much had happened since the last time he’d tried to kiss her. But he was caught up in the moment and wasn’t thinking. Before his brain could warn him to give her space, he bent and kissed her gently on the lips, so light it was almost a whisper.

  He pulled away a few inches to look at her…waiting for her to stop him, but hoping she wouldn’t. Her shallow, jagged breaths gave her away. She wanted him. He leaned in to kiss her again, cradling the back of her neck with one hand as he slid the other to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. When he felt her put her hand to his heart, he prayed like hell it wasn’t to stop him. Instead, she parted her lips just a little, and he took the invitation, tilting his head to the side to deepen the kiss. He slipped his tongue over hers, just slightly, instinct telling him to take it very slow with her. The deep breath was necessary as they slowly broke.