Carter Reed

I sighed. I knew he was right, but at that moment some of the girls I used to consider casual friends came over. The interest was in their eyes, along with their own desire. I bit back a growl.

Grabbing the empty pitcher, I gestured to the bar and slipped from his hold. As I did, I glanced back once I got to the bar. A sneer came over me. Carter was watching me, amused as he folded back into the seat. My eyes darted to the two girls that stood next to Noah. They were talking to their boss, laughing with him and even Theresa, who thought everything was hilarious by then, but their gazes never left Carter for long.

“Hey.”

I turned. The bartender was gazing at me with frank approval. He lingered on my cle**age before catching my eye. Gesturing to the pitcher I had placed on the counter, he asked, “Refill?”

“Yeah,” I murmured, distracted as I looked back to the table again.

“Here you go.”

I reached for my wallet and handed a ten dollar bill to him, but it wasn’t until his hand covered mine that all my attention snapped into focus. The bartender ran a finger over my wrist and palm before he closed my hand over the money. He winked. “It’s on me.”

He was hitting on me.

I couldn’t believe it.

Mistaking my shock for interest, he continued to run his hand over my arm. He went up and down before I jerked it away.

“Do you need anything else?” His eyes were saying something else. Do you want anything else?

I sucked in my breath before a calm settled over me. Leaning close, I gave him a sultry grin and saw him light up. He leaned closer as well and I whispered, “You see the guy behind me?”

His grin grew. “There are lots of guys behind you. Is one of them your boyfriend?”

I nodded. My smile stretched. “You see the head honcho at the back booth?”

Wariness started to filter in. His grin lessened, only a bit. “Yeah?”

“You see the guy across from him? In the black hoodie.”

His grin vanished and he straightened.

“You recognize him?”

His Adam’s apple jerked up and down. Panic came over him. Oh yes, he did.

I patted his arm. “Don’t worry. I don’t think he’ll kill you for hitting on me.”

The bartender moved his hand away and slammed against the counter behind him as if he’d been burned.

I didn’t look over my shoulder, but I knew Carter was watching. He’d been watching the whole time. This guy seemed ready to piss himself as he stuttered out, “Uh-I-I have more customers.” And he hurried to the farthest end of the bar.

“Did you enjoy that?”

Two arms came around me and rested on the bar. Turning in his arms, Carter smirked at me. His eyes full of humor and something more. They were dark, a primal stirring underneath. My body reacted before I comprehended what he said. Then my heart slammed against my chest and I drew in a deep breath. He leaned closer.

I knew so many were watching this. Sliding a hand up his arm and encircling his neck, I ceased to care. I pulled him closer.

His lips lingered over mine, brushing against them. “Are you ready to go home?”

Nodding, I wound my arms tighter and surged upwards. My chest was pressed against his and he wound an arm around my back. Lifting me in the air, he carried me out of the bar. We must’ve looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. The need for him would never lessen. It grew with each day and as soon as we were outside, Carter placed me into the car. He was right behind. I was barely aware of anything else. His lips covered mine and that was all I needed.

The world melted away.

CHAPTER THIRTY

A week later we were back in that car, but instead of leaving a work event we were heading towards one. It was The Richmond’s Christmas party. Noah had opened three more Richmonds across the nation so each hotel across the nation and a few internationally were sending employees to our corporate headquarters. In short, this party was a big deal.

Carter was dressed in a tuxedo and I wore the white dress Theresa had once forced me to wear. The fabric was sheer and shimmery. It was layered so nothing could see through, and the two lengths were tied around my neck again. The ends were long enough so they were draped over my shoulders and decorated with diamonds. My hair was another matter. I had tackled the dress on my own without difficulty, but Amanda insisted on doing my hair. So we had all been picked up from their apartment. Noah was already at the party, but my friends were dressed to impress.

Their eyes got big when Carter came to the front lobby. Even Amanda seemed to have held her breath for a second.

I couldn’t blame them. He was dashing.

I wasn’t sure if it was the rich lines from the tuxedo that molded over his lean physique or it was his eyes. An extra amount of chill was in them that evening. They seemed ready to tear into anyone, which emphasized the aura of danger that always clung to Carter.

I patted his hand once in the car and asked in soft voice, “Are you okay?”