Strong (Kindred #1) (16 page)

“You okay?” he asks, concern in his eyes.

“As much as I can be, are you?”

“I am so much better now you’re here, they’re driving me nuts! Are you ready to meet them all?”

“Yes.” I grin happily.

We walk into the bar and I spot Carter’s family, I recognise them all from the wedding. I’m introduced to everyone and Carter asks what I’d like to drink. I’d sworn off alcohol when I first found out, but after the day I’ve had, I think I deserve one.

“A white wine, please.” I smile, sitting in one of two vacant seats.

“Carter was telling us about your day together,” Alexis smiles. “We should totally spend the day together, I desperately need to hang out with someone my own age while we’re here!”

“That would be lovely.” I smile, not telling her it isn’t going to happen.

Carter comes back with our drinks and sits next to me, his arm casually draped across the back of my chair. I let everyone else talk, happy to listen to their adventures in the city and what their plans are for the rest of their stay. When we all go to sit down for dinner, Carter again, sits next to me, Alexis on my other side. When his Dad asks him a question, she leans closer to me and whispers in my ear.

“Are you dating my brother?”

“No,” I laugh, turning to face her. “Why would you think that?”.

“I’ve seen how he looks and you, and how you look at him, not to mention he’s had his hand in yours under the table while we’ve been sitting here.” she raises an eyebrow at me and smirks.

“You noticed that.”

“I notice everything, I’ve got two brothers, I learned from an early age to see and hear everything so I had leverage over them.” she winks.

“Good plan, I can’t imagine what it was like growing up with two brothers.”

“Stinky. Boys are stinky and having two only made it worse. The bathroom was always busy and there was always football stuff all over the place, and don’t even get me started on game day. They took over the whole front room!”

“What are you telling her, Lex.” Carter scowls, leaning closer.

“Just how delightful it was growing up with you and Jack.”

“She’s talking crap.” he laughs.

“You don’t know what I said. I could have said you were the best big brothers in the world, couldn’t I?”

“I know you, Titch, you didn’t say that.”

“You’re right, I don’t lie.” she grins.

“Shall I tell Carmen what it was like growing up with you? How every other week there would be a new guy and another broken heart story to tell?” he teases her.

“I wasn’t like that, I was with Tyler growing up, so shut it!” she growls at him. “What about you and Madison? Who might I remind you, called me again yesterday asking for you.” she rolls her eyes dramatically.

“Who’s Madison?” I ask intrigued.

“Carter’s ex, she’s a bunny boiler.” she mock whispers.

“We dated for two years, she wanted more than I was willing to give so we broke up.”

“You mean you finally came to your senses.” she snorts.

“Lex, you can stop talking now.” he growls at her.

“I was just asking Carmen if she’d like to come out with me sometime while we’re here.”

“Carmen is busy.” he scowls at her.

“But she can fit in seeing you? I’m much better company than you are.”

The waiter arrives then and brings our starters so I’m saved any more awkwardness. It’s almost ten when I notice the time, and I’ve had three glasses of wine. I decide I’ll call a taxi and pick up my car tomorrow. Carter’s Mum and Dad have gone to bed leaving Carter, Alexis and I downstairs in the bar, when Alexis announces she’s going to bed too, I say goodnight and stand ready to go hail a taxi home.

“You can’t drive, Carmen.” Carter tells me, holding me by the elbow.

“I’m going to get a taxi, it’s okay.”

“Why don’t you stay?” he asks, then seems to realise how it sounds. “I don’t mean like that, just, you’ve had a bad day and maybe you could do with some company.”

“You have a double bed?”

“A queen.” he grins.

“And will you make me a hot chocolate before bed?”

“Of course, I even have cookies.”

“Okay.” I nod, wrapping my arm around his and walking towards the lift.

When we get to Carter’s floor, I text Mum and let her know, I’ll be home in the morning, then switch my phone to silent. Carter unlocks his door and holds it open for me. I step in and actually gasp a little.

“Carter, you have the best view!”

“I know, cool huh?”

“And you have a bath by the window! Please tell me you’ve used it?” I turn back to look at him and he’s smiling.

“No, I actually haven’t, more of a shower kind of guy.”

“That is the most shocking thing I’ve ever heard.” I roll my eyes, running my hands along the top of it.

“You’re welcome to use it.” he adds cheekily.

“Nice try.” I slap his arm and he grins.

“I’d leave the room, Carmen. Unless of course you’d prefer me to climb in and wash your back?”

“Carter…”

“Sorry, sorry,” he backs away and holds his hands up. “Blame the beer.”

I walk towards him and stop when I’m in front of him, leaning forward so my lips are inches from his, I inhale his scent and close my eyes. I let my head move a little closer and when I’m so close I can feel his breath on my face, he stops me.

“Carmen, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Sorry,” I mumble stepping back. “Blame the wine, blame the day, blame how ridiculously attractive you look tonight.” I turn around and bring my hand to my forehead, trying to calm myself down.

“Don’t apologise, it’s been… It’s not been a normal day for you, it’s okay.”

He comes to stand behind me and when he turns me around, I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his chest.

“I just need to be held, Carter. Can you do that?”

“Sure I can.” he whispers.

“I need to dance too.” I speak against the cool cotton of his shirt.

“Dance?”

“It’s the only thing that soothes me. Can we dance?”

“Here?”

“Yes, here.”

I unlock my phone and find my chilling playlist, I don’t care what song plays, I just want to dance. The opening bars of
Run To You
begins and Carter steps up to me and pulls me to him. As we move to the music, I remember dancing with him at the wedding, how everything else floated away, ceased to exist while I was in his arms. I close my eyes and hope being so close to him has the same effect tonight. After three more songs, we both kick our shoes off and in seconds, we’re in each other’s arms again. It’s comforting and soothing and I think we both need it.

We spend another hour dancing and when I yawn, Carter suggests we leave the music on and lay in bed. He pulls a t-shirt out of his wardrobe and hands it to me, leaving me to get ready for bed while he goes into the bathroom. I slip out of my dress, leaving my knickers on and climb into the huge bed. Everything smells like Carter and when I lay back, the pillows are the comfiest pillows I’ve ever slept on. He appears a few minutes later wearing a pair of loose fitting pyjama pants and a t-shirt, he looks cosy and smiles when he sees I’m already in bed.

“Shall I turn out the lights?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

He climbs in next to me and rolls over onto his side to face me. There’s a slither of moonlight coming in through the window and his face is illuminated. He smiles and reaches one hand out to brush away the hair from my face. I feel warm where his fingers touch, and a shiver runs up my spine.

“Do you want to go to sleep?” he whispers.

“I guess so…”

“What do you want?”

“I really want a cuddle.” I laugh nervously.

“Well scoot over then, I won’t bite.” I move closer and he wraps his arm around me, holding my body to his. I take a deep breath and suddenly, I feel myself relax. “This okay?” he asks.

“More than okay.”

When I wake up the next morning Carter isn’t there. I roll over and there’s a note on the bedside table.

I’ve gone for a run, it’s 7.30, I’ll be back at 8.30. Feel free to use the tub. I’ve not taken my key so you’ll have to let me in X

I look at the time, it’s not even eight yet, I have time. I slip out of bed and run the bath, pouring in a generous helping of the vanilla scented bath bubbles sitting next to it. When I sink into the bubbles, I groan.

It’s perfect.

Looking out over London while soaking in the water is the best feeling in the world. I close my eyes and let yesterday run through my head. Today I need to start looking for somewhere to rent, I can’t stay with Mum and Dad. I check the time and it’s nearly eight-thirty, I drag myself out of the bath and get dressed in last night’s clothes. Except for one thing, I cannot wear last night’s knickers so I search the drawers until I find Carter’s boxers, slipping them on just in time as he knocks on the door two seconds later.

“You’re awake, did you take a bath?” he pants as I open the door.

He walks into the room and drags his t-shirt over his head in one move, tossing it to the floor and turning to face me.

Oh. Dear. God.

Standing before me, with his muscles rippling and sweaty, his hair sticking up all over the place and his cheeks pink from his run, he’s more gorgeous than anyone should be allowed to be.

“Yeah…” I mumble.

“Did you sleep okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay, Carmen?” he smirks.

“Yes, half asleep. I’m going to go.” I tell him slipping my feet into my heels and picking up my bag and jacket. I turn around and smile before heading to the door.

“Thank you for last night.”

“No need to thank me, are you sure you’re okay? As okay as you can be, I mean.”

“Yes, I’m okay. I’m going to go home then I’m going to try and find somewhere to rent, I need to get things sorted before… Well… You know.”

“Can I help?”

“Do you want to?”

“Sure I do. I’ll have a look around too. Can we meet later? Go over what we find?”

“Sounds perfect.” I smile.

“I’ll text you.” he smiles, walking over to kiss my cheek.

“See you later.”

I leave his room and stop just outside, pressing my back to the wall.

What is going on with me right now?

I don’t have time for this.

Snap out of it Carmen, now is not the time to fall for anyone.

Not even Carter.

I
spend the morning on the phone to Doug. After chatting with him at the wedding and after talking to Harry who told me Doug helped him find the house he and Megan are buying, I figured he was the best person to ask. He promised not to say anything to anyone so no one will find out until we tell them. Doug seems to be one of those people who are good at everything and it turns out that the apartment that Sophie used to live in is currently vacant. It also happens to be only fifteen minutes from Carmen’s Mum and Dad and a little over half an hour from the hospital. I think it will be perfect for us.

Us.

I’m really not sure how she’s going to take this idea, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough. I find a table in the coffee shop and wait. When she comes in, she spots me and smiles and my heart rate picks up.