Page 51 of Bad Boy Done Wrong
And so Carrie would now meet gentleman Zach. As soon as the song ended, he guided her off the dance floor, pulled out her chair for her, and offered to get her a drink. Surprisingly, Carrie didn’t seem to notice the change in his behavior. She must’ve been more upset than she looked.
After he made sure she had enough to eat and drink (nonalcoholic), he made the rounds with her, both for support and protection from any possible confrontation with her ex. That guy had a real crafty look in his eyes. Like he was always calculating how to turn things to his advantage. Zach was not at all surprised that Edward had found another sweet young woman for a girlfriend. He seemed the kind who wanted a woman to bend to his needs, not share in a true partnership. Just thinking about Carrie with that guy made him furious.
Carrie put on a good show of smiles and friendliness for everyone despite her pain over seeing her ex. She was a strong woman. They stopped at every table to thank people for sharing in the special occasion. He didn’t know anyone beyond her immediate family. Didn’t matter. He was here for Carrie.
Finally they finished thanking everyone. He slid an arm around her shoulders. “Would you like to dance?” It was another slow song. Her parents were out there, along with a few other older couples.
“I’d love to,” she replied.
He guided her onto the dance floor, one hand on the small of her back, then arranged them in the traditional waltz position.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him close and pressing her cheek against his chest. “I’m cold.”
He pulled back to look down at her. “You want my jacket?” The temperature had dropped since sunset.
She clung to him. “No.”
That was when he realized she needed comfort, not warmth. He wrapped his arms around her and swayed slowly. Though what he really wanted to do was get her home, tuck her into bed and just hold her. Huh. That was new. He couldn’t ever remember wanting to hold a woman with no sex involved in the equation. Maybe Carrie was rubbing off on him—cuddling the wolf had turned the wolf into a cuddler. The truth hit him with shocking clarity, stealing his breath.
He’d fallen for her. Hard. No chance of recovery.
It should’ve alarmed him, but love made him stupid. Stupidly hopeful that somehow, someway they could make this work. He needed to let her know. Not now. Her mind was all tangled up with her ex. Tomorrow would be soon enough for a serious talk.
They stayed another hour, until her parents announced the party was over. They had a flight to catch to Hawaii the next day to recreate their honeymoon. Everyone laughed and cheered them on.
He took off his suit jacket and draped it over Carrie’s shoulders, then walked her to his truck, one hand on the small of her back. She was quiet and he knew her well enough to know she was still hurting. “Anything I can do?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
They got to his truck and he helped her in the passenger side and shut the door. Actually he did that all the time. Guess some of his gentleman manners had trickled out without him thinking about it.
On the drive home, she broke down in quiet tears. He’d been expecting it, but it didn’t make it any easier. His chest ached in sympathy. By the time he pulled into the parking lot at her place, she was wiping her eyes.
He turned off the truck. “Would you take him back right now if you could?”
“No!” Fresh tears poured out. “But it could’ve been me! He proposed to me! I told him no.”
“C’mere.”
She just kept crying, her shoulders shaking. “How did he move on so fast? Was he with her when we were together?”
He pulled her across the console and cradled her in his lap. “It doesn’t matter. You don’t belong with him. He made you miserable.”
She sobbed into his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her, wishing he knew how to make it better for her. She spoke in a choked voice. “My mom apologized to me right after the ceremony. She didn’t know about the pregnancy. Edward had kept it a secret, even from his own parents.”
“I’m sorry you found out that way.” He couldn’t think of a single good reason why her ex would keep it secret unless the pregnancy had been a surprise to him too, sprung on him at a late date.
She sniffled, her tone laced with bitterness. “I guess now the news is out!”
He stroked her hair.
Finally she quieted and lifted her head. “I’m sorry. I ruined your shirt.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He glanced down at his shirt with black mascara and pink lipstick along with her tears. Stupid Edward. “You know why your ex chooses such young women?”
She nodded. “I get it now. He wants to mold them.”
“And you don’t need molding. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
