Carter's Treasure (10 page)

“Look at the bright side…you’re freaking hot.”

“Whatever.”

“You do know that, right?” His face and voice had turned sincere.

“Well, if your idea of hot looks like a boy, then okay.”

Carter turned to face her as they sat at the little plastic table. He squeezed her leg again and rubbed her arm with his other hand. He gave her a sweet smile. “You do not look like a boy, you’re ripped. I mean seriously, you’re muscular and toned from head to toe.”

“Yeah, and have no boobs. I’m not stupid, guys like big boobs.”

“You have no body fat on you. You’re not going to have big boobs, I know you know that.”

“Well still.”

“Well, I think you’re perfect, and you have an amazing body.”

She blushed and looked away.

“What are you so embarrassed for?”

She smiled nervously. “I don’t know. It’s just…it’s just. I don’t know. Having a guy talk about me like that is embarrassing.”

“I think it’s sweet that you are so shy with this, but please…” He pulled her chin toward him with his finger. “Please don’t be embarrassed with me, okay?”

“I’ll try,” she said very quietly.

“Molly?”

“Yeah.” She looked back down.

“Molly?” She wasn’t going to look at him, so he did it for her. Putting his finger back under her chin again, he brought her face to his.

She could feel the fire in her cheeks; it tingled all the way down her neck to her chest. The conversation had hit that awkward point. She wanted nothing more than to run for the comfort of her motorhome, to shy away from the embarrassment. But the love in his face kept her rooted where she sat. She whispered before he could ask flat out, “I know what you’re going to ask.”

“Oh, yeah?” he said softly.

She shut her eyes. “The answer is no.”

“Really?”

“No, never.” She tried to look down again, but his fingers wouldn’t let her. She finally opened her eyes to look at him. “So…now what?” she asked quietly.

Wow. She’s all mine.
Absorbed in his own thoughts and wanting to scream out that this beauty was his, he finally blinked. When he did, her face broke his heart. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t mask the embarrassment and hesitation. Ashamed at his own selfishness, Carter smiled lovingly at her then leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. Here he was, wanting to celebrate, and she was ready for him to drop her like yesterday’s news. He kissed her again, trying to apologize.

“I think that’s amazing,” he answered quietly.

“Amazing that I’ve never been with a guy and I don’t know what I’m doing? And you might have to be with me for a long time before I’m ready to have sex with you?”

His heart raced, thinking her first time might be with him that she might find him worthy. “Well Gorgeous, you’ve known exactly what to do so far. And you’re worth waiting for. As long as you want, I’m not going anywhere. Honestly, I think it’s amazing that I won’t have to share that part of you with anyone before me.” He gave her a small smile, trying to be calm when all he wanted to do was jump up and down with his fist in the air.

“Every time I look in your eyes, my heart stops for a second. You have the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen and a truly spectacular body, and…” He ran his fingers through her hair, letting the sheet of gold fall. “I just want to hold you and not ever let go.”

She bit her bottom lip. “And when you do that lip thing you do, it about drives me insane. I know you do it when you’re nervous, but it is so sexy.”

Molly’s eyebrows furrowed.

“You don’t get it do you? You aren’t even trying to be sexy and you are. How can you not have had guys beating down your door?”

She shrugged and a tiny grin escaped. “Have you
met
Brody? Then wait until you meet James. You’ll know why.”

“Thanks for the warning.” Carter winked at her.

Damn, those ice blue eyes were beautiful. But it was that lop-sided grin that allowed her to be able to bare her soul. When he smiled, it graced his whole face and she could feel herself melt a little more each time. She pushed her nerves aside and continued.

“I’ve never really been looking for someone. I’ve been busy. I practically live on the road and I’ve met thousands of people over the years. But that’s not how you find someone special when most of your conversations are ten words or less. I know I’m really old to be a virgin,” she shrugged as she said it, embarrassed, but wanting to be open with him. “And I haven’t really had some big plan to wait until I am married to be with a man, but I wanted to at least be in love with him.”

She risked a look back at his face. She didn’t want to scare him off with plans of forever.
I’m not hinting, I promise.
“For some reason, I just kind of thought that when the time was right, the right guy would just show up. Sounds so…storybook, huh?” She huffed out a breath.

“Kind of like a prince, huh?”

“Or like a knight in shining armor?” She smiled sweetly at him.

Carter continued to rub her leg. “I have to tell you…I kind of already knew.”

“Knew?” She paused. “
Oh
. How?” Molly could feel her face warm, but she was interested in his answer, so she made herself keep eye contact.

“You made some comments last night that I picked up on. And at the track last night, I could tell.”

“Tell how?”

“You’re just…”

“Just what?”

“Just timid when we touch…and kiss…or when I talk about your body. And I realized that I spooked you a few times with jokes and comments, which, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

Molly turned redder. “Is that a bad thing?”

“No, of course not. I think it’s very sweet. I can just tell you’re a bit shy and pretty nervous. Just like a second ago when I started to ask if you’ve ever been with anyone. I was pretty sure you hadn’t, but you could hardly look me in the eye.”

This was the part of the conversation that was going to put her all in. She blew out a breath and went for broke. She normally played her cards close, but not when hearts were on the line. “And that is exactly why guys don’t come around. They know they’re not going to get what they’re looking for, so they don’t even bother. At home I’ve got a pretty good reputation for being cold when it comes to men and dating. You add Brody and James in to the mix, and well, guys quit trying…which is fine. I’m not looking for a good time, Carter. I want more. I just want to be honest with you up front. I don’t want to scare you off, but…” She shook her head.

She didn’t know where her sudden bravery came from, but it all tumbled out. Molly knew her heart would hurt if he walked away, but she just couldn’t invest more time without the truth. Every hour, every minute she was with him she got more and more attached. She just hoped that there was someone out there that could make her heart race like he did, because up until now, it had never happened. “But I don’t want you thinking I’ve changed things on you. If you don’t want to do serious, that’s fine. But I’m not—”

He interrupted her with a scorching kiss before she got the threat out. With her face still cupped in his hands, he murmured, “Shh. Gorgeous, it’s okay. Trust me, that
is
attractive to some guys, to me. I don’t want one of those ‘in your face, hang on you women’ that tend to follow some of the guys around. That’s not me. I’m excited that you’re not in this just for the weekend and a good time. I want more too, Molly. I told you yesterday, I knew it the second we met. When I looked in your eyes, I knew. You’re the one for me, I mean it. I don’t play games and I’m not feeding you lines to get you in bed.”

With his finger under her chin again, he pulled her face closer, looking into her eyes. She knew he was pleading with her to believe in him. “Do you trust me?” He paused. “Do you believe me?”

The relieved breath she let out was audible. “Yeah, I can’t explain it, but I do.”

Chapter Six

“What do mean, you
are
going?”

Molly crossed her arms and lifted her chin in defiance. This was definitely one of those times when it sucked Brody was so much taller than her. All he had to do was look down at her and she felt like a child again.
Humph
. Well not this time.

She ran her fingers through her bangs and swept them to the side. “I mean. I. Am. Going. I
thought
I made myself pretty damn clear. Now, they invited you and Erin too, and Joe. I’d like it if you came with us, but only if you can be civil. I’m done with you embarrassing me. You’re out of control, Brody.”

“I’m calling Dad.”

“What are you…
five
?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Whatever, Brody. Just decide if you’re going or not. I’m going to go get ready.” She turned, grabbed her clothes, and headed for bathroom in their motorhome.

They normally got along. And she was used to Brody
and
James being there. She had never even noticed it before; it was just the way life was. Maybe it was her. Instead of feeling protected, all of the sudden she felt suffocated. She really hadn’t ever been interested in a guy before. That or maybe she hadn’t had a chance to, now that she thought about it. Nobody ever got past the guard dogs. If it wasn’t so damn maddening, she might find that humorous.

Leaning against the bathroom sink, Molly took a long look in the mirror then dropped her head. She didn’t even bother to look up when she heard the soft knock on the door. She loved her brother dearly and fighting with him was eating her up, but on the other hand she knew Carter was worth fighting for.
What a mess.

“Mol? Honey, you all right?” Erin peeked in when Molly didn’t answer. “Oh babe, it’s okay.”

She never cried, but that didn’t mean her heart wasn’t being torn in two directions. She looked up at Erin. “I don’t like this fighting with him, Erin. I don’t.”

“I know, honey.”

“I understand he’s got to play his role. But can’t he trust me? I’ve never done anything to prove he can’t.”

“It’s not a trust thing, honey. Not with you and not really with Carter. It’s a ‘he’ll never be good enough’ issue.”

“That’s not fair.”

“I know it’s not.”

“We shouldn’t even talk. I know he can hear me. These walls are paper thin.”

“Na, Joey pulled him out the door. He said he needed to show him something on your bike so they went up to the semi.”

“I like Carter. I really, really like him, Erin.”

“I know you do, sweetie.”

“No, I mean I
really
like him. Like, he might be ‘the one’ kind of like him. I’m falling for him.”

“I know, Mol. I can see it, in you and Carter both. I think he’s a good guy. Just take it slow, okay? I don’t want you to get your heart broken. And don’t worry about your brother, he’ll come around, even if I have drag him kicking and screaming.”

Molly snorted. She could see that visual in her head. She was finally able to take a breath and relax a bit. Erin always had a way of making her feel better. Even though they were about the same age, she’d always looked to her as a big sister. Molly and Brody hadn’t ever butted heads on something major before, and they’d always been extremely close. She was worried this might drive a wedge between them that neither one of them could remove, but it wasn’t fair he wanted her to be alone.

It was that final thought that pushed her over the edge. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. Even in the most loving family in the world, she was alone because she didn’t have that special someone to share it with. She smiled at her renewed sense of self.

Molly hugged Erin tight to her and said, “I know you will. Thank you for always being there for me. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, sweetie.” Erin pulled away to look at Molly. “It will all work out, okay?”

“Yep, starting tonight. You ready to go have some fun?”

“Just waiting on you, honey.” Erin laughed.

Molly winked at her. Erin and she could be quite the handful together, and tonight would be one of those nights. If Brody wanted to make things difficult, then she could play that way. All it took was the right outfit. She didn’t have access to her whole wardrobe, but she had enough with her to do the job.

“Okay then.”

As she began to get dressed, she looked down at her jeans, her favorite, most expensive pair
. I don’t have any idea what I was thinking when I brought these, but damn I’m glad I did.
Molly slipped them on over her black lace thong. They were just tight enough to be sexy. Over her matching black lace bra, she slid on a black tank top with a rhinestone cross across the chest. She would have chosen heels, but all of her heels were back home in her closet, so she threw on her little black ballet flats. She ran her fingers through her long golden hair and swept her bangs to the side and out of her eyes. She normally wore just mascara and a little bit of eyeliner, but they were going out, so she darkened the eyeliner and used eye shadow to make more of a smoky eye.

Molly looked in the mirror.
Yep, that’s what I was going for
. The thought made her giggle to herself. She added a touch more lipstick and then threw it into her wristlet, along with some cash, her ID, and phone. She picked up her black leather bomber jacket and walked out of their motorhome. What she was wearing gave her the added confidence she needed to face Brody. He had always teased her that he hated that she was so beautiful, telling her she’d be easier to keep the guys away if she looked mousy.
Boy, tonight was going to suck ass for him
.