by Gina Azzi
"Wait, you're going to bed now? For real?" Sierra asks my sister as I pass the bathroom. The door is wide open, and they both stand before the sink, toothbrushes hanging from their mouths as they have a conversation, staring at each other in the mirror.
"Yeah, so tired," Daisy huffs out, a spittle of toothpaste sticking to the glass of the mirror.
"You girls are disgusting. Sleep on your sides," I tell them as I clear the doorway.
"Night Carter," Daisy says, and I hear her spit into the sink.
"Thanks for the drinks," Sierra calls out.
I enter my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind me.
Laying Taylor on my bed, I sit next to her sleeping form. She wrinkles her nose but doesn't wake up. My sweet girl; she's exhausted. Unbuckling her sandals, I drop them to the floor. Then I pull back the comforter and tuck her legs inside, pulling the blanket up until it reaches her shoulders.
I take off my jeans and shirt and climb in next to her, kissing the soft, smooth skin of her forehead and letting sleep pull me under as Taylor's warm body and sweet scent fills my dreams.
"Oh, my God."
"Stop!"
"Are you for real?"
"Did that happen?"
"I can't believe y'all are leaving tomorrow."
"I know. Me either."
"Is Carter awake yet?"
I groan, rolling over and feeling empty space beside me, the imprint of Taylor's delicious body still marking my sheets. The space is still warm from her presence, and I breathe in the scent of flowers that seems to follow her as I roll onto her pillow.
A soft tap on the door has me raising my head as Taylor pushes into my room. I rub the sleep from my eyes and take a moment to just stare at her. God, she is more beautiful without makeup than with it. She looks tired, but her smile is wide and infectious.
"Good morning." I hold a hand out to her as she perches on the edge of my bed.
Pulling her toward me, I rest my head in her lap and look up into her bright blue eyes. Her hair is tangled and wild, framing her face like a halo. Her lips are pale pink and full, her skin smooth and creamy. I could spend the whole freaking day just watching her and noting the expressions rippling over her features.
Happy. Excited. Nervous. Unsure.
"What are you thinking so hard about this early in the morning?"
Relieved. She beams down at me, her fingers running lightly over my scalp and I close my eyes.
"How do you feel?" I ask, peering up at her again.
"Not as bad as I should." She laughs, scraping her teeth over her bottom lip.
"Then you're still drunk," I tell her, shifting my weight so I can pull her down across my bed and hover over her.
She blinks up at me and bites her lip again. "If this is drunk, then I'm going to become an alcoholic."
I snort, leaning forward to kiss her once, twice, three times before my bedroom door bangs open, and I'm completely cock-blocked by... my sister.
"Sorry," she says immediately when she takes in our position.
I glare up at her, and Taylor tips her head back so she can see Daisy upside down.
"Can you shut the door?" I give Daisy an incredulous look. I mean, she's a smart girl. She should have hightailed it out of here by now.
Daisy closes the door and walks closer to my bed, waiting.
I sigh, sitting back on my heels and tugging Taylor up so her back can rest against my chest.
"You're the worst," I tell my sister.
She waves a hand dismissively. "I have to tell you something."
My blood ices at her serious expression, and my thoughts turn to the worst possible scenarios to explain the gravity lining Daisy's normally sunny face. "What's wrong?"
She leans closer and drops her voice to a whisper. "I think Sierra hooked up with someone last night."
"Okay," I whisper back, raising my eyebrows to indicate that she should get to the point.
"I think it was Denver."
I throw my head back and laugh, the idea so ridiculous that it's actually funny.
Daisy steps closer and clamps her hand over my mouth, shushing me.
My mouth drops open. "You're serious?"
She nods.
"No fucking way."
"Yes."
Taylor turns her head, looking at me with confusion. "Is that a bad thing?"
I stop to think about it before shaking my head. "No, it's not bad, but it's really surprising. Denver doesn't, I don't know, he doesn't ever take women here, so I have no clue what the hell he does."
"She's my best friend," my sister whines like a little girl again. "What if he pisses her off and she—"
"Stop. I'm sure it was a fun night of drunken debauchery and poor decisions. They'll move on. Denver will still be your brother, and Sierra will still be your friend."
"I guess," she huffs, uncertain.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, blowing out a deep breath. "What a weekend."
"I had fun last night," Taylor admits.
"Me too." Daisy agrees. "I'm sorry we crashed your date, but I'm so glad I got to hang out with you. I wish Jax and Evie were staying."
Taylor nods as I gesture Daisy toward the door.
"Also, Denver’s making eggs benedict and your plate is up first," Daisy tells Taylor as she turns to finally leave us alone.
“Denver’s making breakfast?” Taylor stands from my bed, her eyes darting between Daisy and I like she doesn’t know if she should go to be polite or stay because it’s obviously the better option.
My sister nods and holds the door open. "He likes to cook. And guests always get served first so you’re up. Then Sierra. Then me. I’m starving.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.” Taylor follows Daisy out of the door, shooting me an apologetic glance over her shoulder.
I groan again, throwing myself back across the pillows. I really need to move out and be an adult. I can't be having my little sister interrupt me and my big brother's drama overshadow time with my girl.
Listening to Daisy and Taylor's voices mingle as they move down the hallway toward the stairs, I force myself to get out of bed and pull on a pair of shorts.
I guess any chances of morning sex and a nap are out.
24
Taylor
"I'll see you tomorrow?" I ask, kissing him again.
Before I can pull back, he angles his head, and I let the kiss pull me under like a riptide, momentarily losing myself.
"You're dangerous, Taylor Clarke."
"Me?" I scoff. "You're the one who—"
"Kept you pinned to my bed for most of the morning?"
“You know you liked it.”
“I loved it. I’m definitely not debating that point.”
I roll my eyes, wondering about how Carter’s even holding up in this moment. We fooled around quite a bit but we didn't have sex. In fact, my dress stayed on the entire time. But it wasn't for my lack of trying. Every time I tried to take our physical intimacy to the next level, Carter pulled back.
"We're not doing this for the first time with a house full of people acting like they belong in a frat house." His voice was serious.
I had huffed and moved in for another kiss.
"I'm serious, babe. The first time I have you, I won't be interrupted by one of my idiotic brothers or my sister's drama."
I laughed at that, remembering his frustration with Daisy earlier in the morning.
"Okay," I agreed.
But that didn't stop him from worshiping my body in a slew of other ways that make me blush and beam just thinking about them. The acts somehow were more intimate given the fact that I was nearly clothed for all of them.
"Don't be embarrassed. Please, pin me to my bed every morning," he says, bringing me back to the here and now.
"One day," I agree, wrapping my fingers around his wrist and pulling him closer for another kiss.
He hesitates and I look up.
"I think your parents are waiting for you."
/> I turn in time to see the curtains in the front window flutter. How embarrassing. It’s like high school but worse, since I’m twenty-six. I really do need to move home.
"One more kiss." I pucker my lips.
Carter chuckles, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear before brushing his lips against mine.
"Okay, I'm going." I exhale loudly, my hand on the door lever.
Carter reaches out, his hand coming down on my thigh and stopping me. "Let me know if you need anything, okay?"
I nod.
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"Thank you, Taylor. That was the best date I've ever been on."
I smile, suddenly shy. "Me too."
He reaches over and kisses my cheek. "I'll talk to you later."
"Yes." I push open the car door and climb out, pulling my purse along with me. Giving him a small wave, I shut the door and walk the few steps to the front porch. Turning, I wait for Carter to pull out of the driveway and disappear down the street before entering my parent’s home.
“Morning Taylor.” Daddy says cheerily as soon as the door closes behind me.
“Hi Daddy.”
“Good date?” He asks, raising his eyebrows.
“Great date.”
“How hungover are you?”
I snort. “Not awfully. But I definitely need a nap.”
“Coffee?”
“That’d be good. I actually want to talk to you and Mom about something.”
“Oh?” He pushes open the front door and steps inside. “What’s that?”
“We could grab a coffee first.”
He nods, steering the way to the kitchen.
He turns to look at me over his shoulder, “You want to move back to your home?”
I nod. “It’s time. I miss my space and my life and –”
Daddy holds up his hand, halting my speech. “It’s good to see you enjoying your life again, Taylor. I understand. When do you want to move back?”
“This weekend.”
“I’ll help you move.”
“Thanks Daddy.”
“But if you don’t feel well or anything changes –”
“I can always come home.”
Daddy’s eyes soften as he stops in front of the coffee maker, pouring us two mugs. “Always. So this guy?”
I accept the hot mug gratefully. “He’s the real deal.”
Daddy sips his coffee slowly, mulling this over. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
I roll my eyes, taking in the small smile that passes over his mouth, even as his forehead wrinkles and his tired eyes meet mine.
“How are things going?” I ask, implying about the business and the gambling.
Dad breathes out a large breath of air, leaning against the counter and crossing his ankles. He shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. Immediately I think of Carter and how he does the same gesture when he’s exasperated.
“Not great. I’m starting to pay back some of the people I owe money to which is buying me more time with others. In the meantime, Barrington is taking over more and more of the daily operations of Clarke Enterprises. He will have a much larger role moving forward. You sure things with you and him –”
“No.” My tone is sharper than I intend it to be and Daddy watches me closely for several seconds before nodding.
“Alright.”
“So, the business?”
“May just be saved with Barrington’s help. But he will control fifty-one percent of the shares, so I’ll be the minority shareholder. It won’t really be our company anymore.” Daddy’s voice drips with disappointment as his eyes dim with regret at the words.
My heart squeezes in my chest as I see how devastated he is, my frustration toward him lessening. “I’m sorry Daddy.”
He waves away my words, taking a large gulp of coffee. “Don’t be. It’s my own fault and it looks like we’re going to come out on the other side better than we thought. I’ll still have a stake in the company, we aren’t losing our house, and you, your mother, and I are healthy. Gotta focus on the good things, Taylor. Besides, it’s me who should be apologizing to you. The support you and your mother have showed me,” he shakes his head, his eyes growing cloudy with moisture, “I don’t deserve it. But I’m going to earn your mother’s and your respect back, Taylor. I promise. This will never happen again.”
A lump forms in my throat and I take a sip of my coffee, trying to wash it away. Daddy was definitely lost for a while there and it’s a relief to see him making the right decisions. I can’t imagine being consistently let down by my dad and my chest aches for how much hurt and disappointment Carter must have endured from constantly being disappointed by his own father.
“It will all be okay, Daddy.” I say the words quietly, finally believing them.
He offers me a wry grin as he pulls me into a hug and holds me longer than necessary. But I let him have this moment. I think we both need it.
“So, you’re moving?” Carter asks me over the phone the following day.
“Yes. I think it’s time I get back to my own place, my own routine.”
“Cool. Do you need any help?” he asks, his voice warm through the line. As if he really wants to help me move. Maybe he does.
“That would be great. My dad is helping me too but he’s not free until the afternoon and I’d like to get a move on in the morning.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m starting at Cork’s at 1:00PM so I can help you get started in the morning.”
“Great. 10:00AM?”
“I’ll see you then. I’ll grab the coffee.”
“And donuts.”
“Demanding, are ya?”
I chuckle. “See you tomorrow.”
Hanging up the phone, I feel lighter than I have in a long time. Tomorrow, I’ll be back in my townhouse, with my own belongings and familiarity surrounding me. And Carter is going to come and help me move, come and see my home. Little by little he’s becoming someone I rely on in ways I never imagined I could. I never counted on Barrington or the other guys I ran in the same circles with for anything. But Carter’s different and I’m excited I will see him tomorrow.
The next morning, the doorbell rings and Carter greets me on the front porch, a bag of donuts and a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Good morning.” He greets me cheerily, as if there is nothing else he would rather be doing on a morning he isn’t working.
“Morning. Thank you.” I accept the coffee cup and bag of donuts.
“These are for your parents. I have another bag for you in the car.”
“That’s so sweet of you. Come on in.” I hold the door open for him and he steps into the foyer, taking a quick look at the packed suitcase and boxes I have lined up in the hallway. When I moved in with my parents a few months ago, I never anticipated staying so long. And I definitely didn’t realize how my dad running to my townhouse every few days to pick up something I forgot would accumulate into so many of my belongings.
Carter’s eyes widen as he takes in my family home, his eyes lingering on the framed photos of my parents and me lining one wall. “You have a beautiful home.” He says finally.
“Thanks. It’s my parent’s place. I promise my own space is a lot simpler.”
He smirks, following me as I lead the way into the kitchen to deposit the donuts on the counter top.
“Thanks for coming so early on your day off.”
“Nah, it’s nothing. I’ve been up since 6:00AM anyway. Sort of fell into a pattern of running with Jax and decided to keep it up even though he’s gone. Although I’m not hitting the same pace without him.”
“He’s a tyrant?”
“You have no idea. But I miss him.”
“I bet.” My heart warms at his words, liking that he has no problem admitting his feelings, of missing his brother.
“You want to get started? We can probably move everything in one trip between my car and yours. I’m not sure your dad will even have
to haul anything.”
“I realized that once everything was in the hallway too. I’ll just see if he wants to pass by for lunch.”
“That’s nice. That you and your dad are close and have that type of relationship.”
I take a sip of my coffee, nodding in agreement. “Yeah. He’s really trying to turn things around and I respect that. I don’t want to be annoyed with him, not about this. He was honest with me and my mom and that’s all that matters. I think part of the reason I was so hard on him is just because I wasn’t in a great place myself.” I shrug, hating that I took my own frustrations out on my father’s situation but knowing it’s true anyway.
“It happens. You had a really tough summer.”
“It’s been better in other ways.” I admit, smiling at him.
The corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles back, and a beat of silence stretches between us. Except its comfortable, natural, easy. Just like everything with Carter.
“Okay. Let’s get going.” I say, before the moment can stretch too long and I lose myself in Carter Kane.
He nods and we head out to the foyer where Carter efficiently loads up our SUVs with all our belongings. “Don’t forget your coffee.” He turns to tell me over his shoulder as he opens the door to this SUV. “There are more donuts for us to eat. We can celebrate once moving is finished.”
“A picnic?”
“Something like that. I’ll follow you.”
“Okay.” I slide behind the wheel of my SUV and pull out of my parent’s driveway with Carter following closely behind me.
25
Carter
Pulling into Taylor’s townhouse complex, I can’t stop the low whistle I let out under my breath. The place is beautiful. These townhomes probably cost more than three of my family homes. Even though Taylor seems nonchalant about her family’s wealth, not oblivious to it but also not aware of it either, her family home and townhouse reminds me of the residences that Daisy fawns over in her decorating magazines. Completely out of our league.
I park in the spot next to Taylor, directly in front of what I assume is her townhouse and cut the engine. Stepping out of my SUV, I breathe in the beginning of Autumn and follow Taylor as she walks up a few steps and unlocks the door to her townhouse.
