by Gina Azzi
"Hey baby," she purrs in the next breath, and I can smell the sweet alcohol on her breath.
"Lor," I reply, my eyes going to Taylor, who regards me with a wide-eyed stare that quickly narrows into an uncertain scowl. Jesus. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah. Haven’t seen you around much lately.”
“I know. I’ve been working a lot of double shifts at Cork’s. Plus, hanging with Marco.”
“Still, you could hit me up at night.” She raises her eyebrow and I know I need to shut this down, be straight with her.
“I met someone, Lor.” I nod in Taylor’s direction and Lori follows, her eyes connecting with Taylor. Her shoulders deflate a little and I feel guilty for hurting her even though I’ve also always been honest with her. “It’s new and I definitely didn’t expect it but Taylor’s my girl now.”
“Oh.” She breathes out, taking a step back.
“We’re still friends, Lori. We’ve known each other a long time.”
“Right.” She nods, her voice tight, her lips pinched. “Friends.”
“If you want.”
“Sure. Okay. I’ll see you around, Carter. Denver.” She nods at us stiffly before walking to a booth in the back.
Denver whistles low under his breath and I look at him, narrowing my eyes. “What?”
“You really didn’t know she was into you?”
“Not like that. I mean, not until recently.”
“Little brother that girl has been sweet on you for years. Since high school.” Den says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Maybe it was and I missed all the signs?
I shrug. “I always thought we were just friends with benefits.”
“It doesn’t matter now. You were straight with her. Now go see your girl.” He points his chin in Taylor’s direction and I grin, slipping off my barstool.
22
Taylor
My stomach sinks when I see her. Bright blonde hair, huge breasts, and a tiny waist, the girl leaning over Carter and pressing her lips to his face does so with a familiarity that I can't rival. At least, not yet. My stomach sinks momentarily before I remind myself to get a grip. Of course Carter has friends who are girls. Hell, he’s obviously dated before me too.
Remembering his words from earlier, about me being his girl, I shut down the unease that fills my stomach and mentally scold myself for being so insecure. I see Carter jerk away from her touch, watch as Denver throws the girl side-eye, and a second later, an arm lands across my shoulders and turns me away.
"Hey." Evie says, rolling her eyes in the direction of Carter. "You're doing awesome."
"What?"
"Tonight. Coming here. Being on Carter's turf and having to deal with the crap that comes along with that." Her eyes flick toward Carter again but when I look, the girl from earlier is gone. "It was cool of you, and I'm happy I got to meet you before Jax and I move on Sunday."
"Me too." I like Evie. She's funny and honest and listening to her and Jax bicker one minute and stare at each other as though they know a massive secret the rest of the world doesn't the next is both entertaining and heartwarming.
"She doesn't mean anything to him," she says after a pause.
"Sorry?"
"The girl you just saw. That's Lori Filton. They've known each other a long time, and he cares about her as a friend, as a person, but that's it. It's not the same way he looks at you." Her blue eyes darken as she watches Carter joke around with Denver, and I can tell that she worries about him. "Carter's like a brother to me. I'm happy he has you, especially now that we're leaving." She turns back to me, grinning. "If you ever want to come visit us in San Antonio with him, you're always welcome."
She says the words casually, but I can tell she means them, which catches me by surprise. I mean, she just met me. But looking around at Carter's "turf" as Evie called it, I can tell how much his circle of people love him. Care about him. Look out for him. The way they all have each other's backs.
"Thanks," I say finally.
"You and me, my Maywood, pool." Jax comes up behind us, pulling Evie into a deep kiss before steering her toward the pool table in the corner.
I watch them go, wondering if Carter and I will ever be that in sync, that connected. I hope so.
"I love this song!" Daisy shouts over the thumping bass, her arms thrown overhead as she dances to the music.
I sway in front of her, losing my balance for a moment, but Sierra reaches out to steady me.
"You okay?" she asks, her eyes catching mine and peering intently, waiting for me to nod.
Jeez. I'm freaking drunk. Like, drunk. Not just tipsy off of one glass of wine too many. This isn't going to be a champagne hangover with a dull headache. This is beer and tequila shots and crazy colorful cocktails with tiny umbrellas hanging over the rim. This is salt and lime chasers and lemon drops and something called an Irish car bomb. This is... drunk.
"Woo," Daisy yells out again, grinding against the guy who comes up behind her and pulls her flush against his chest.
Sierra laughs as she points at Daisy but in the next moment, Daisy's hand reaches out and pulls Sierra toward her.
I watch the girls dance in amusement, swaying to the music, but also needing to sit down. The air is hot and stuffy; my left foot alternatively aches and goes numb. I'm sweating. I feel the moisture as it collects at the back of my neck, beads of sweat rolling down my back.
Laughing, I turn my head upward and dance, the ends of my hair sticking to my arms. My eyes close with the thrum of the music.
Warm hands close around my waist, and I stiffen for a moment before the cedar scent of Carter wraps around me along with his arms.
"Taylor," he says into my ear and I shiver, his voice causing goosebumps along my skin. "You okay, babe?"
I nod, my head dropping back against his shoulder. His chest and abdomen are hard muscle behind me, his hands resting with his fingers wide on my hips. The beat pulses on, and I fall into the moment, letting go of my inhibitions and enjoying the feel of Carter around me, his hot breath on the shell of my ear, and the way his fingers tighten on the cloth of my dress.
I tilt my head back and don't even think as I graze my nose against the underside of his jaw.
He pulls me even closer, the stubble coating his chin rubbing against my lips. I kiss him there softly, and his fingers dig into my upper thighs in reaction. Smiling, I trail my tongue from under his chin along his jawline, the stubble rough, his sweat salty. I kiss him again, nicking his skin with my teeth and he nearly growls.
"Taylor." My name holds a warning, and yet the sound of it coming from his mouth fuels me on.
Lacing my hands behind his neck, I pull until his lips hover just inches from mine. My chest heaves against his, my body still swaying, although no longer in beat with the music.
The air between us is hot and sticky. The look in Carter's eyes is needy. I scrape my teeth over my bottom lip and watch, fascinated, as lust darkens his eyes.
"Babe," he murmurs again. In the next breath, the left side of his mouth ticks up and his lips crash over mine, capturing my mouth in a kiss so hot, it sears my senses.
I respond immediately, parting my lips and shivering as his tongue enters my mouth, tangles up with mine, and has my mind racing with how much I wish we could disappear to a quiet corner. Or head back to Carter’s home.
I smile against his mouth at the thought, and he pulls back, his eyes questioning.
I shake my head, pressing our lips together once more when a hand closes around my upper arm and tugs me back, separating us.
"Body shots," Sierra yells, pulling me along with her, Daisy, and Evie in the direction of the bar.
I look over my shoulder at Carter, and he's already hurrying after me, his eyes dark with desire. “No way. You girls have fed Taylor enough alcohol tonight.”
"You're up, Taylor," Daisy tells me as Evie pats a barstool for me to climb onto.
"What?"
"Hop on up there." Evie points
to the bar.
"No, no," the bartender, I think his name is Lenny, says, but the girls all ignore him.
"I can't—"
"Of course you can," Sierra insists.
"It's the Raf's full experience." Daisy raises her eyebrows. "Besides, my brother would permanently injure any guy in here who steps up to this bar at the moment so," she says, turning away as Evie helps me onto the bar stool, "Carter Kane!"
"What the hell, Daisy?" Carter asks, reaching out to grip my knee as Sierra tugs me down, so I'm lying horizontal on the bar.
"Taylor," Evie says, coming into view at my side, "you don't actually have to do this. We thought you…" She shakes her head. "Anyway, do you want me to end it?"
I stare at her blue eyes, the concern shimmering in them as she thinks about me, cares about me enough to call the whole thing off. Even though the girls surprised the hell out of me, that doesn't mean I don't want to do this. Two of three things. I vow not to puke in the Raf's parking lot.
"It's okay," I tell Evie.
She hesitates.
"Really," I reassure her. “It’s just been a long time since I’ve done body shots but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather lick salt off of me than Carter.”
"Carter Kane, you're up!" Sierra's voice calls out and then. "No way, Lenny. Get something premium for my girl’s body shot, none of that well shit."
"Guys, stop it, she's in a dress," Carter points out, anxiety causing the pitch of his voice to rise and I laugh, the lights overhead sparkling and dazzling.
"Relax, Carter, we're not going to strip her," Sierra says, rubbing the wedge of a lime across my chest as Daisy shakes salt over me.
"Here. Take the tequila." Sierra shoves the bottle at Carter and sticks the lime wedge in between my teeth. "You look hot, girl," she tells me.
I snort, the sound muffled from the lime. Carter comes into view over me, and God, is he incredible: hooded green eyes, full lips smirking, and the dimple in his left cheek deepening. He looks down at me. "Babe, you sure about—"
I nod and he sighs.
"On three!" Daisy says, and cheers and calls from the crowd erupt.
The noise level in Raf's rises, the music thumps and bumps, threading through my veins as I stare into Carter's eyes.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
Carter bends his head over me and I feel the warm wetness of his tongue as it glides over the swell of my right breast, dips in between, and follows along my left breast in a clean line that licks up the trail of salt. He tosses back the tequila bottle, taking a big swallow, before bending down again and pulling the lime from my mouth with his own.
But instead of sucking the lime, he spits it behind the bar, and his mouth crashes over mine, pulling me into a dizzying kiss that drags me under and scatters my wits.
Carter Kane captures me fully.
Whole-heartedly.
And I'd rather drown in him on the sticky bar at Raf's then enter a charity ball on the arm of any of Savannah’s eligible bachelors ever again.
"That was wild." Daisy laughs, clasping my hand in hers as we leave Raf's in the early morning hours. Daisy's hair is a mess, pulled into a high topknot that slipped hours ago, strands sticking to her neck.
"That was the most fun I've had since college," Sierra admits from the other side of Daisy.
"Wasn't that only a few months ago?" I ask, confused.
Daisy and Sierra exchange a glance and crack up. Probably remembering a shared memory or night or joke with just a look, the way only best friends can. I never had that, not even with Isabella.
"You guys are going to be pursuing a massive hangover tomorrow," Evie sing-songs and Jax winces.
"I don't know how you can stand to be around all of us and not drink," Daisy tells her, but she shrugs it off.
"Babe." Carter appears at my other side and shoots his sister a look as he tugs me out of her clasp and wraps his arm around my shoulder. "You feeling okay? How’s your leg?"
"Better than okay." I smack my lips loudly in a wet kiss against the arm he has curled around me. My left foot is dragging more than it was earlier in the night but I’m not feeling any pain.
"You sure? I know tonight was a lot and—"
"It was the best. It was the most fun I ever had on a date." I intend for it to come out playful, but instead my tone holds the seriousness I feel. Tonight really was the most fun date I’ve ever been on. I've never been so carefree before, so open to the moment, so caught up in everything unfolding around me. I’ve never felt like I could completely relax with any of the guys I dated before Carter. Tonight was colors and lights and laughter. It was like a celebration for no reason at all except to enjoy the moment. I loved every second of it, and I'm not ready for it to end.
"I'm not sure if you'll feel that way tomorrow." Carter presses a kiss to the space just above my ear.
"I will if I can wake up next to you," I blurt out.
He pulls back sharply, his eyes fastening on mine. Studying me for a moment, he nods slowly. "You can spend any and every night in my bed, babe. Always."
I close my eyes, snuggling deeper into his side as he guides us down the street, in the direction of his house.
Laughter and voices drift around us until the wrong voice says my name and my eyes snap open.
"Taylor," Barrington says.
I stop in my tracks, my mouth dropping open as I note the wine bar behind him. Cork’s. The place where Carter works, the spot where we had dinner together. Has Carter served him before? Do they recognize each other?
Carter's arm tightens around my shoulders and Barrington's eyes narrow, as if he has some type of claim on me and doesn't like another man touching me. As if our posing together at a handful of charity events and social balls actually meant something.
The idea is laughable, and I want to remind Barrington of all the ways he used me to get an in with my father’s company and all the ways I used him to help save said company, but I lose the thought because Carter's entire palm slides to encompass my ribs. The stroke of his thumb against the underside of my bra causes every thought to fall straight out of my head.
Instead, I'm acutely aware of his touch, the heat of his fingers through the thin fabric of my dress, and the steadiness of his palm against my body.
Carter straightens beside me, his eyes raking over Barrington as a smirk works its way across his mouth.
"Hello Barrington," I reply politely, dumbfounded.
Carter's hand falls from my side. He extends it to Barrington casually. "Hey man. I'm Carter."
Barrington watches Carter's outstretched hand for a beat too long, infusing the moment with an awkwardness that makes my cheeks burn. Carter's casual demeanor never slips. Finally, Barrington shakes his hand and tilts his head in my direction. "Barrington Wade. How do you know Taylor?"
"Barrington-" I need to shut him down before he thinks he has the right to interrogate Carter, but Carter's hand settles on the small of my back and at his touch, I stop talking.
"We work together."
Barrington's eyebrows tick up. "You're a model?" He sneers before considering this. "Makes sense. You lot are always gay, aren't you? She giving you fashion tips again?" He laughs at his own joke.
I feel shame smart through me that I even wasted one event on the arm of Barrington Wade.
"For Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Georgia," Carter continues, unaffected by Barrington's arrogance. "I coach one of the boy's baseball teams. It's a lot of fun. You should come to one of the games. Especially if you want to support Taylor and the work she's committed to. My girlfriend is nothing if not generous with her time and love." He emphasizes girlfriend, letting Barrington know that he knows everything between us was a charade.
I watch as Barrington's face falls, his eyes glinting with an anger he barely keeps checked. How strange that Carter is so much better at controlling his emotions than Barrington Wade, business extraordinaire? Barrington opens his mouth to speak, b
ut Carter cuts him off.
"Good to meet you, man. Have a nice night." He steps around him, the hand on my back guiding me forward.
I walk with a straight posture, my limbs suddenly stiff. Seeing Barrington while I was enjoying a night out, having fun with Carter and his siblings, is more sobering than sleep and coffee.
"Relax, babe," Cater says next to me, his footsteps never faltering. "You're fine."
I take a steadying breath. Reminding myself that I'm an adult, and there is nothing wrong with an adult walking home after too many drinks with her boyfriend, I step closer to Carter and let myself get swept up in his powerful orbit once more.
23
Carter
"Who the hell was that?" Den growls at me as we near our house.
Taylor is still tucked into my side, but her left leg is dragging; she's dead on her feet. I sweep her up into my arms, cradling her against my chest. She begins to protest, but I place a kiss against her forehead.
"Shh, babe. Sleep," I tell her, watching as her eyes flutter closed.
"Carter," Denver says, catching my attention.
"What?"
"Who was that guy?" He jerks his head back to the street, indicating the way we came from.
"Oh, that was Barrington."
"Barrington?" my brother echoes, saying the name as if it's distasteful.
I nod. "A guy that runs in Taylor's circles."
My brother looks at her with sympathy for a moment. "Poor girl. Having to socialize with that waste of space."
I chuckle. "Let me get her to sleep." I climb the steps to the house and enter.
Evie is sitting on the living room couch, staring at her phone. "Graham! Hang on, I didn't get to see the, oh. I see it! The Berlin Wall," she breathes out.
"Goodnight, Evie. Say hi to your brother," I say as I start up the steps.
Evie waves at me over the phone, chatting with her brother who is currently stationed in Germany.
