Page 34 of Never Again
They shook hands. “Thank you, Rashad. You’ve helped a lot.”
“Glad to hear it. Hey, don’t forget the cookie and muffin. Half the people in this office are on diets, and I can’t eat them all myself.”
Carlos placed a cookie and a muffin on a napkin. “Thanks again.”
“Take care.”
14
Carmen exited the gym where she’d conducted an inspection as part of her duties. She’d done her job well but was excited about the evening she planned to spend with Carlos. He flew in two days ago, and after they met briefly, he spent two nights at his mother’s apartment. Tonight, he was coming to stay at her condo, where he’d remain for the rest of his trip.
She looked forward to each moment they spent with each other as if their relationship was brand new, and in some ways, it was. They were relearning each other because they were different people than they had been three years ago. She saw more confidence in him. He seemed more centered, more focused in a way that calmed her and allowed her to live in the moment without the same level of worry that an outside force could burst their love bubble at any minute.
Carmen stepped into the beaming sunlight and went around to the shaded side of the building where Carlos waited. He was leaning against a rented charcoal SUV in the parking lot, legs crossed at the ankles, eyes trained on the cell phone in his hand.
He must have sensed her presence because he looked up almost immediately, and as he brushed wayward strands of hair back from his face, with one look he softened her knees. She’d been walking since she was eleven months old, but he made the familiar movement harder to execute.
When she almost reached him, he pushed off the vehicle and took several steps forward and enfolded her in his warm embrace.
His hand at her lower back fused her against him, and their lips met in a soft press, slow and sensual. She sipped his flavor, leisurely savoring the sweetness of his mouth—like a particularly tasty piece of candy reserved only for her enjoyment.
When they finally stopped kissing, Carmen sighed and rested her forehead against his chest.
“Tired?” Carlos whispered against her temple.
“No. I just missed you,” she replied.
He rubbed a palm up and down her back. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
But neither of them moved. He must have sensed she needed a moment, so they stood there for several more minutes. Emotion filled her chest, and she knew she couldn’t do this much longer.
She couldn’t continue to hide her feelings and lie to her family. Carlos was her first love, her last love. Her only love. She wanted to scream those words from the top of the CN Tower, and knowing she’d given him a single moment of doubt made her sick.
He released her and opened the door to the vehicle. She climbed in and watched him walk around to the driver’s side. When they were both settled, he started the engine, but Carmen placed a restraining hand on his forearm.
He looked at her. She couldn’t read anything more than inquiry in his gaze.
“I’m going to tell my father.”
“Carmen, I know you love me. You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
“No. Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s so much at stake. He’s proud of you right now and all the work you’re doing. As far as he’s concerned, he has his daughter back. I don’t want to be the cause of friction between the two of you.”
“You won’t be.”
He lifted an eyebrow.
“Okay, you will be, but…I don’t want to hide our relationship anymore. We did this before, and it didn’t work out. I have the perfect plan to set everything in motion. You can escort me to the charity ball I told you about. Beforehand, I’ll tell my father you’re my escort. I want the world to know that we’re together.”
Carlos squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips. “They will, but we have to give it time.”
“Enough time has passed. Don’t you want me to tell him?”
