Taking Chances (15 page)

Carter’s head
tilted back a bit, his eyes lit up like he was just told valuable information,
“Chase huh? Good for you two, I don’t judge.”

Brandon snorted
and trailed his other hand down my arm to intertwine our fingers, “Hear that
Chase? Apparently we’re together.”

“Ah. It all
finally makes sense. Why you’re always at my house and such. Guess I should
take you on a date or something.” Chase smirked but kept his glare on Carter.

I kicked
Carter’s leg and gave him a
be nice
look.

He smiled
warmly at me and glanced above my head to Brandon again. “What are you going to
school for?”

“I’m double
majoring in financial services and accounting, and minoring in marketing.”

Carter seemed
genuinely surprised by this. I had been too when Brandon told me he’d taken
every core class he would need at a community college while he was still in
high school, so all he had to focus on during his time at SDSU were his majors
and minor. He was incredibly smart, and it only added to his appeal.

“That’s
admirable I guess,” Carter said looking at me, “you can probably go into
something to make a good living.”

“I make a good
living now.” He pulled me closer into his body and I watched as the muscles in
his forearm strained against the skin.

I rolled my
eyes and was about to stop the testosterone filled interrogation when Carter
spoke again.

“And how’s
that? You a manager at McDonalds?”

My mouth
dropped and I glared at my friend, why was he being such a jerk? Brandon stiffened
and I shut my eyes. Here we go.

“I fight. And
I’m damn good at what I do.”

I quickly
glanced at everyone around us, it was like a bad movie. Everyone stopped
talking and was staring at Carter to see what he would say.

“What kind of
fighting? With open handed slaps and hair pulling?” Carter goaded.

“MMA.” Brandon
said through what sounded like clenched teeth.

“Oh perfect.”
Carter glanced down at me, “You managed to find an abusive hot-headed boyfriend,
exactly what we tried to get you to stay away from.”

“Carter!” I
hissed.

“Consider this
your warning tool,” Carter’s eye got dark, “the minute you touch
my
girl.
I will end you.”

Brandon started
to stand up but I beat him to it, grabbing Carter’s arm and pulling him with
me. As soon as we were far enough away that I didn’t think anyone else would
hear us, I whirled around, “What the hell is your problem?!”

Carter looked a
little sheepish, “I’m just looking out for you Blaze.”

“You’re being
an asshole!”

“Well!” His
arms shot out to the side, “I don’t think he’s good for you.”

I was getting
freaking tired of people telling me who is and isn’t good for me. I crossed my
arms over my chest, wishing I would have put my shirt back on. “And why is that
Jason?”

His eye flashed
with hurt, he knew I only used his first name when I was mad at him, “Because
of what he does. You heard him, he fights for a
living
Blaze. And he was
having a hell of a time trying not to hit me and I just met him.”

“Because you
were being incredibly rude! And you’re right, you two had
just
met. If
you would have given him five seconds you would have seen how amazing he is.
Instead, you continued to push every button you could find, and why did you
have to keep calling me
your
girl. I’m not your anything and you know
that.”

“You’re my best
friend Blaze.” He said softly.

“And I thought
you were mine, but my best friend wouldn’t have treated anyone the way you just
did, especially my boyfriend.” I turned to walk away but he grabbed my arm.

“Blaze I’m
sorry. Please don’t walk away from me, I’ll make this up to you I swear.”

Yanking my arm
from his loose hold, I stepped closer to his body, even though I was much
shorter than him, he still backed up, “Do you have any idea how much you’ve
embarrassed me?” I put my hands on his chest and shoved him back, “When I told
them about you, all I did was gush over how awesome you were and how much I
missed you. Then you show up and treat them this way?” I looked down trying to
get ahold of my emotions that were all over the place. I was embarrassed, angry
and sad for the loss of the Carter I knew. Huffing sadly, I glanced back up at
him, “Go back to base Carter and please don’t call me anymore. You shouldn’t
have come to California.”

He grabbed my
hand when I turned away and pulled me back to his chest, wrapping his arms
around me. “I’m so sorry Harper. I was being stupid, I just – I don’t know. I
guess I felt threatened by them, you’re
my
best friend, and they were
all looking at me like they wanted to protect you from me. It pissed me off,
and I shouldn’t have let it. I’m really sorry.”

I sighed and
put my arms around his waist, “Because they would protect me in a second. It’s
just the same as it was on base, Carter. These guys are really protective of me
and Bree. That’s why I’m so comfortable with them, it’s like I went from one
family of a bunch of brothers, to another.”

“But you barely
know them.”

“Carter,” I
laughed lightly, “how long had I known you before you knocked out a guy from a
different unit that said something about my chest?” He shifted his weight not
wanting to answer, so I continued, “About two hours. It’s the same.”

“It’s not
Blaze. I want to be the one to protect you. I don’t want anyone else to do my
job.”

“Oh my God.
What is it with you guys? I don’t need anyone protecting me and I’m not your
responsibility.”

“I know you
don’t,” he pulled back a bit and looked at my face, “there’s just something
about you that makes guys go crazy wanting to take care of you.”

I rolled my
eyes and cursed my tiny frame, “I know. Oh!” I smiled widely at him, “Did I
tell you I busted some guy’s nose that was coming on too strong?”

His eyes
darkened but he still smiled, “No, but I would’ve liked to see that.”

“He just wasn’t
understanding that I didn’t want him, and then he challenged Brandon and I knew
Brandon was going to do something, so I did it first. Smashed his face right
into my knee,” I brought my knee up now, “See, I still have a bruise from it!”

Carter shook
his head and hugged me to his chest again, “I’m proud of you Blaze.” He kissed
the top of my head and I tensed, not knowing what to make of that, “Do you
forgive me?”

Pulling away
from him, I punched him lightly on the arm, “Yeah, but you need to be nice to
my friends. And you need to apologize to Brandon.”

“You really
like him?” His face twisted.

“Yes, I do. So
be sweet!” I grabbed his arm and started walking back to everyone else, “It’s
Friday so there will be a party at Chase’s house tonight. If you can get back
on everyone’s good side, you all can come over and crash after.”

He stopped
walking, “Yeah, what’s up with that guy anyway? To be honest, I would have
thought he was your boyfriend, the way he looked was like he wanted to kill me.”

I laughed,
“Honestly, I have no idea. You and Brandon are both wondering that. But he
means well, I promise.”

Carter mumbled
something under his breath, but I was already rushing over to my boyfriend so I
didn’t hear him. Brandon stood when he saw me coming over and caught me in his
arms, smiling against my mouth when I kissed him soundly.

“Everything
okay?” He whispered in my ear before setting my feet on the ground.

“Yes, I’m
really sorry, he isn’t usually like that.”

Brandon looked
behind me and shook someone’s hand.

“Sorry man.”
Carter said, “She just means a lot to me.”

“I understand
that.” Brandon said as he stared in my eyes, warming my heart. “Come on, Harper
made lunch for everyone, you and your guys are more than welcome to it.”

I smiled
against Brandon’s chest. Even after Carter had been an ass, he was still being
incredibly polite to him. We all sat down to eat, and stayed at the beach for
another few hours. Everyone but Chase seemed to forgive Carter for the way he’d
been when he first showed up. Even Brandon was laughing and joking with him as
he invited them all back to the house for the party that night.

***

“Carter!” I
yelled and ran over to hug him after slamming back another shot. This was the
third Friday in a row he’d come to Chase’s house with some of the guys from his
new unit.

He hugged me
tightly and shook Brandon’s hand, “Sorry we’re late, it took forever to get off
base.”

“Just glad
you’re here now.”

Carter’s
answering smile was warm and slow, and kind of confusing. “Me too.” His words
were lost in the loud music, but it was obvious what he was saying. His arm was
still around me, and I slid out of it, wrapping my arms around Brandon’s waist.

“Let’s get you
a drink.” Brandon said as he led the way to the kitchen.

After we all
had a beer in hand, Brandon gave me a weird look when we tried for the third
time to start a conversation with Carter, and he just stared straight ahead.
Chase walked through the kitchen, on his way to work I’m sure, and when he saw
Carter his face fell as he pushed through him to leave. Carter glanced at him
and drained his beer. It wasn’t weird for Chase to be rude, as far as I knew he
still had yet to say anything to Carter. But usually Carter would make a snide
remark to him, not just stand there and take it.

“Are you okay?”
I asked, placing a hand on Carter’s arm.

He glanced to
Brandon, then back to me, “I’m perfect, why?”

“You’re being
really quiet.”

“I don’t have
to keep you company every time I’m here, do I? As far as I’m concerned, that’s
your boyfriend’s job.”

“Hey,” Brandon
pulled me closer to his chest, “she’s just worried about you man. You don’t
have to be an ass.”

Carter laughed
humorlessly, “
She
doesn’t have a reason to be worried.”

“Look,” I
leaned into Carter so I could speak in his ear, “obviously you’ve had a bad
day, or week, and I’m sorry. But you need to have another drink, relax, and go
find a girl or something.”

“I’ll be sure
to do just that.” He grabbed another beer out of the fridge and left the
kitchen.

Brandon kissed
my neck, “Just let him go, he needs to chill for a bit.”

I nodded and
tilted my head to give him better access, “I don’t know what his deal is, he’s
been so different since he came to California.”

“Maybe he’s
having a hard time getting used to his new unit.”

“You’re
probably right.” turning, I wrapped my arms around his neck and slid my tongue
across his bottom lip, I laughed huskily when he moaned, “Want to dance?”

He grabbed my
hand and led me into the living room, smiling when Bree winked at me from where
she was grinding on Konrad, they were finally exclusive. Pressing my back
against Brandon’s chest I slowly started moving against him, loving the way his
hard body felt against mine. I brought a hand up to cup the back of his neck when
I felt his lips on my shoulder, and placed my other hand over one of his
gripping the bottom of my shorts. My body felt like it was melting into him as
heat burned through me, and I was once again left with my heart racing and
wanting to take him somewhere where we could be alone. When the song changed
into a faster one, Bree grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her, Brandon
stayed right behind me. The four of us were dancing so close to each other, I
kept brushing against Konrad’s legs and I knew Bree was having a hard time
avoiding Brandon’s. While one of his hands stayed on my thigh, Brandon’s other raised
up and went under my shirt, leaving it at the top of the denim I was wearing.
My breath caught when he gripped me tighter, his pinky barely sliding under my
shorts, the rest of his hand splayed across my bare stomach. I pressed my back
against him even harder, resting my head on his shoulder and closing my eyes so
all I could do was feel his body and hear the music. When my movement caused
his ring finger to go below the waist of my shorts as well, my body trembled
and I felt him harden against the small of my back. I don’t know if it was the
shots, or the music, but I brought my hand behind my back and let it pass over
the bulge in his jeans every time he’d move against me. Brandon trailed his
fingers lower, skimming them across my satin underwear and I let out an
involuntary moan, my body aching for his hand to continue lower. Suddenly, his
hands and body were no longer touching me. I turned to ask what was wrong, but
I lost my voice when I saw the passion and heat in his gray eyes.

“If I don’t
back off for a minute, I’m going to take you right here in front of everyone.”

I grinned
wickedly at him and watched him mentally talk himself into walking away without
me. Good thing one of us could remember that we weren’t alone, I would have let
him do anything to me just then, people surrounding us or not. I kept my eyes
on Brandon while he walked to the kitchen, but had started dancing with Bree
and Konrad again when a hand on my arm caused me to turn my head and look at an
angry Carter. He tilted his head to the side and back, indicating the back yard
so I followed, slowly making our way through the tightly packed bodies.

“Wha–”

Carter turned
and roughly pressed his mouth to mine. My eyes went wide and I pushed against
his chest, trying to scramble back.

“What the
hell?!”

He was still
holding my upper arms, his eyes smoldering, “Blaze, I want you. I’ve wanted you
since I met you last year.”

My jaw dropped
and I shook my head, “What?”

“I love you
Harper.”

“No you don’t,
we’re not like that, you know that!”

“No…I don’t
know that. I moved here for you, I followed you across the country so I could
be with you.”