Carter Reed

“Emma,” he whispered, bending close again.

I closed my eyes as I felt his lips move against mine. My heart was beginning to break. I didn’t know what he was going to do.

He added, “Go back to the party.”

“And you?”

He began to step back, but I didn’t let him. My hands were fisted into his tuxedo and I kept him against me. I didn’t want to let him go.

His eyes flickered down to my hands. He didn’t fight my hold, but he gave me a tentative smile, cupping the side of my head. His thumb brushed some of my hair back. “I need to make some phone calls and then I’ll come back.”

“You promise?”

The need to believe him was so strong, but my gut was stirring. He was still lying to me.

He nodded. “I promise.” Then he pressed his lips to my forehead and again to my lips. “I love you. I’ll be right back.”

“Carter.”

“I will.” His eyes were reassuring now. “I promise.”

I let him go. I had no choice. I knew that now. He was going where he was going and I drew in a shuddering breath. My heart wouldn’t calm down. I had no idea what to do, but he was gone in the next second. Even if I went after him, I knew he’d be gone. This was what Carter did. He was a ghost, but I had no idea what to do.

My legs couldn’t move.

I was beyond scared now.

I went back to the banquet room, unsure what to do. This was what he did. That was who he’d been for so long, so I should trust him, but not this time. A nagging voice kept saying to me. ‘Get up and go after him! What are you doing?!’

The award ceremony had started, but I struggled to hear any of it. The voice kept yelling at me to get up and go.

“Finally,” Theresa exclaimed once Noah gave the last speech of the night. He thanked all his employees and gave the normal ‘This hotel wouldn’t be what it is without the people in this room’ message. A collective ‘Aw’ went around the room as people felt moved by it. Then he announced that all the liquor stations had been restocked and hurried off the stage. Coming towards us as everyone else headed towards the stations, he was only stopped by two board members. When he broke free from them, he collapsed into the chair beside Theresa. “Shit,” he grunted. “That took a lot of time.” He reached for Theresa’s glass and drained it.

“Hey, that’s mine!”

He put it down and reached for mine.

“That’s Emma’s!”

“She hasn’t touched it all night. I’ve been watching you guys.”

“Do you know where Carter is?” I asked now. My soft voice was clearly heard, and Noah stiffened before meeting my gaze. He was guarded. He knew. That was all I needed to know before I stood up. The voice screamed at me, “GO!” My mind was made up. “Nevermind.”

I was going after him.

“Emma, where are you going?” Theresa stood with me.

Amanda stood as well, but she remained silent. She was waiting for what I said next.

A fake, but polite smile plastered over my face. “I think I have to go to the bathroom.”

An eyebrow lifted as Theresa asked, “You think or you have to go?”

“Yes.” I nodded to myself. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Mind’s made up, hmm?” Her grin turned knowing.

Noah set his glass—my glass—down on the table and regarded all three of us with caution. “What’s going on?”

“Emma has to go to the bathroom.”

“Okay. Go.” He kept skirting between us. “Do you all have to go? Am I supposed to watch your purses?”

Theresa snorted again, but in disgust. “Yes, Noah. That’s what we’re doing. Would you watch our purses for us?”

He gestured to the table. “Sure. Leave them, but don’t you guys always take them with?”

Theresa opened her mouth to keep arguing, but I clutched mine and headed towards the nearest exit door. Amanda followed behind. Theresa remained at the table. Her arms went up in the air—all the signs of another Noah/Theresa fight about to happen.

Amanda snickered. “You know they’re going to find a room pretty soon.”

“Yeah.” I shook my head. Their sexual chemistry fizzled at times, but was combustible at others. It was nearing the explosion mark now. “Wish they’d get together once and for all.”

“Yeah,” Amanda sighed beside me as we went through into the hallway. It was empty except for a few drunken employees.

“Emma!” someone called out.

Oh god. It was Tamra. She had a fake smile as she gripped her drink. A purse was stuck underneath her arm and her free hand held up the front of her silver dress. Even in high heels, she hurried to us and didn’t seem to break stride. I would’ve been impressed if I hadn’t been so irritated. She was keeping me from finding Carter.

“Hi, Tamra.”

“Hi!” Her red lipstick was smeared to the side and a few strands of her beautiful sleek hair slipped from the fancy bun. “Did you hear about my promotion?”