Page 104 of From London, With Love

I sit in silence for a moment, turning this over and over in my mind. The longer I ruminate on it, strangely, the more it makes sense. The way Carter has been towards me since the moment we met has never been anything less than sincere, and yet it was always a contradiction to what I’d seen about him in the media.?

At the beginning, I didn’t really think much of it, nor did I have a problem with the image portrayed—after all, I hadn’t been looking for anything serious. But looking back, as July and August rolled into September, I became increasingly aware of the contrast in the versions of Carter.?

“You make it impossible for me to evenlookat another woman, Lara, let alone consider touching one. There is only you.” Carter continues to speak, utterly unaware of the realisation I’m coming to.

The back of his fingers trails over the dampness coating my cheek. Reacting on instinct, I lean into his touch. He cups myjaw, his gaze locking on mine, and there’s a quiet confidence behind it.

“There will only ever be you.” Carter’s words are strong and steady as if they’re the only thing he’s ever known to be true.?

But how do I accept the kind of love I’ve never believed in??

“I tried so hard not to feel anything for you.” The words escape so quietly, to the point I fear Carter hasn’t heard them. Though, the fear is short-lived. Carter lets his hand drop from my face, resting it on my exposed knee. He stares at me unabashed before an uncontainable grin breaks out across his face, his eyes alight.

“You can’t give me that smile right now.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because it makes me nervous. I’m trying to have an adult conversation here, and the smile does something distracting to my insides.”

The grin only widens.

“Carter, I'm serious.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” But he doesn’t look the slightest bit sorry as he casually flicks his wrist. “Just don’t look at my face then.”

After a deep breath, I continue. “I fought hard against developing any feelings for you. There are so many reasons we shouldn’t work. Firstly, you’re my?—”

“Boss??That’s easy. I’ll move you into any other suitable position within the firm that you desire. But I know this isn’t your dream job, so I’ll help you into any industry I have connections with. Whatever will make you comfortable, I’ll do it. Next reason.”

If I didn’t know Carter as well as I do—the way he has to exercise in the morning or he’s unbearable; that he orders hisblack coffee extra hot but then lets it cool for five minutes before taking a sip; that he’s the most organised male I’ve ever encountered—I’d be gobsmacked by his prepared response. But I do, which is how I know he’s someone who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. If that means exhausting all favours with professional connections in the hopes I give in to him, he’d do it in a heartbeat and ask what’s next.

To hide the smile playing on my lips, I roll them between my teeth and rub a finger along my cupid's bow.?

“Mia.”

“I know her as Emilia, but I’m familiar with her.”

“God, you’re insufferable. Mia is my next reason.”

His hand remains firmly on my knee, encouraging as ever. “I don’t believe you can claim my sister as a reason to place a tally in the con column of us.”

“And why not?”

“Out of the three of us, she’s really the only one who should be allowed to have an issue with this, given I’m her blood and you’re her best friend?—”

“You just proved my point.” Lounging against the arm of the couch, I give Carter the smuggest look I can muster. I’m a little thrown when he mirrors it.

“You didn’t let me finish. I was going to add that, last I spoke to her, she wasn’t against it at all. I’d go as far as to say she was encouraging.”

“Encouraging? Are you sure we’re talking about the same Emilia Lawrence?”

“Unless you’ve befriended and moved in with another of my sisters named Emilia, I believe so.”

“There’s no way. There was a moment when I first told her where I worried for my life, Carter.”

“Come on, Lara. I’d expect you of all people to know howshe is—dramatic and reactive straight off the mark, but she always comes around.”

“Even so,this” — I gesture between us — “isn’t really the sort of thing you could expect her to come around to.”

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