Page 27 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“I’m only on a one—” Carter pauses, sliding his phone out of his pocket. “Hello,” he answers, putting a finger in the air and stepping away.
Who called him? I know he isn’t married. A girlfriend?Oh god. I’m fantasizing about another woman’s man. Why does my mind automatically assume it’s someone who gets to see him naked?
I rub my temples. “I’m going to use the restroom. Be right back,” I say to Avery, lifting from my seat.
My heels click as I briskly walk down the narrow hallway by the changing room lounges. I’m turning the last corner when I run into a pilot’s uniform and a rock-hard body.
“Oh my god!’ I yelp, my palm meeting my chest.
“Hi,” he greets me calmly as if I didn’t collide directly with him.
“You scared the shit out of me.” My heart pounds behind my ribs, not only from the sudden scare but from our close proximity. I can tell how good he smells. “No one ever comes to the bathrooms on this side.”
With his hand still on my elbow from his attempt to slow my pace, Carter bites his bottom lip. “Did you come looking for me?”
My short breaths try to keep up with my rapid heartbeat but fail miserably. With what feels like cotton in my mouth. “No.” I swallow a few times. “I came to use the ladies’ room.”
“I don’t believe you,” he taunts, caressing my elbow with his thumb. My skin turns warm and tingly. I thought about lifting my arm so his hand could fall to my waist.
“Why would I come looking for you?” I bat my eyelashes.
“I don’t know. You tell me.” His jaw twitches. “I was over here using the phone.”
“Your girlfriend?” The moment my words hit the air, I immediately regret it. Why would I ask him that?How fucking embarrassing.
A sly smile sweeps across his face. He removes his hand to rub his chin. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Oh, well, it’s none of my business anyway.” I try to backpedal. “I guess I assumed because you took off so suddenly.”
Carter takes a small step toward me, closing the gap between us. “It was my grandma’s doctor.”
Fuck.Of course, it was.I’m so immature—and incredibly nosey. He’s probably wondering why the hell I made a comment like that and why it would even be my business.
“Oh. Her doctor?” I sigh, angling my head toward the ground. “Is she okay?”Also, none of my damn business.
Carter dips his head so his eyes meet mine. “She’s in a memory care facility out here. I get weekly calls from her doctor with updates to her medical plan.”
His steadyenergy feeds into me. Without a thought, I bring my hand to his arm. “Sorry to hear that. I’m sure that’s got to be tough for you.”
His posture falls slightly. Then he wraps his opposite hand around mine as I clutch his forearm. “It is, but she’s in the best place possible.”
I smile at the natural intimacy of this moment. “Do you handle all her care?”
“Yeah. My mom isn’t around to do it, so I do. She’s very special to me.”
I stare up at him through my lashes, feeling the heat and electricity move between us. “Well, she’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one, trust me.”A beat passes. We’re standing inches apart in this empty hallway when I remember the charity ball at the end of the month.
“The organization that my mother works for is putting on a masquerade ball benefiting a few memory care facilities—”
Carter grins before softly interjecting. “One of them is hers.”
“So, you’ll be there?” I ask, stifling the butterflies in my stomach.
“I will.”
“Me too,” I reply, letting my hand drop.
