Page 28 of Heart in Waiting
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After Carter left Reese’scondo, he’d gone straight to Olivia’s apartment to pick her up. For some ungodly reason he was nervous and couldn’t shake it. After their altercation in the elevator, she hadn’t left his mind. That kiss... It had been hot as hell, and he wanted to see if they could recreate that fire. With all the upheaval in his life of late, at least he had found something that felt right for a change. He might not have located Nolan, but he was comforted knowing both his sisters were safe. What would it hurt to do something for himself for once?
He brushed his hands over his pants to wipe the sweat away. He’d never had to deal with that before, and it irritated him that he had to now. A woman didn’t want to be touched with damp palms. What did that say about him? He should be confident and charming—not as nervous as an untried youth. Maybe this was his punishment for never being one. He’d always been cool and collected, but Olivia West turned him into a blubbering idiot at times. It was time to knock on her door, yet he stood there staring at it like a moron. He took a deep breath and rapped his knuckles against it.
It opened after several moments. Olivia took what was left of his breath away. Her midnight locks were piled high on her head and curls dripped down around her face decadently. She wore a floor-length, sleeveless black gown enveloped with lace. The sweetheart bodice dipped low, covered in sheer lace. His gaze traveled down and stopped at the sultry thigh-high slit in the long skirt. He might convince her to let him explore where that slit led and maybe make them both a little happier...
Carter swallowed hard. “Are you ready?” There were stupider things he could have said, but that wasn’t far off the mark. Clearly, she had anticipated leaving. She had a black silk purse in her hand, and she was wearing a pair of black strappy stilettos that matched her dress.
She lifted a brow. “Unless you have something better in mind.”
Statements like that would lead them down a path of no return. He wanted to guide her back into her apartment and show her exactly the direction his lustful brain had gone. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d appreciate that particular action. She hadn’t spent so much time preparing for the fundraiser to end up naked with him. As appealing as that image was, he wouldn’t act on it. Maybe after the whole shindig though... “You couldn’t handle it.” He winked. “Let’s go. Dane and Reese are waiting for us, and I don’t want to be too late.”
“You’re the one delaying us. Don’t blame this on me.”
“I never said I was.” Why did she always have to be contrary? More importantly, why did he like it so damn much? “Just stating a fact.”
She rolled her eyes and locked her door. “Then, by all means, lead the way to your car. I would like to arrive in time to actually eat. I’m starving.”
At least she wouldn’t be afraid to eat in front of him. Some of the ladies he’d dated in the past had picked at their food. She had a nice trim figure and apparently a healthy appetite. Olivia clearly took care of herself and didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought of her. He liked a woman who spoke her mind and didn’t give a damn what the world said about it.
“This is your car?” she lifted a brow.
They had reached his midsize dark blue sedan. It was as nondescript as a car could be, and it came in handy in his line of work, so he wouldn’t apologize for it. She might be used to flashier vehicles, but they were a hindrance to him. “Yes,” he replied. “What are you waiting for? Me to open the door for you?”
“I’m not that foolish,” she said sarcastically. “Detective Carter Jackson, a gentleman? The entire town of Envill knows that is as likely as discovering a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.”
He had been an ass for quite a while now. It had been his way of discouraging the females his mother sent his way. She’d decided he needed a wife and had handpicked a few for him to date. After the first three, he’d realized he had to do something drastic. A dozen prospects later, most of them didn’t even listen to his mother’s dating advice. Unfortunately, it had left him with a reputation as a jerk. In some ways, it had made his life easier, and in others, made his sex life decline. That was probably why he acted like a randy teenager whenever Olivia came near him.
“You never know,” he said. “Maybe you’ll get lucky.” Or maybe he would...
“I’d rather not risk it. Some things aren’t worth it.”
Ouch...Maybe she’d rethought what happened in the elevator and decided being with him was too much effort. He’d just have to change her mind. He fully intended to see if they had something between them that was bigger than mere lust. He liked Olivia, even when she drove him crazy. That had to mean something.
“You ever think that maybe it’s you?”
“Me?” Surprise laced through that word. She drew her eyebrows together and glared at him, then she laughed, outraged by his statement. Her eyes narrowed into tiny slits and her mouth was a firm white line. He wasn’t sure what she would do next. “Carter, let me reassure you—it’s all you. Now get in the car so we can go already.” She opened her door and slid into the seat.
Carter sighed and followed her lead. He could work on her more at the fundraiser. There, they’d be able to dance, mingle, maybe find a room to lock themselves in and have some erotic fun. It was a hotel, after all...
They were both silent on the drive to the Roseland hotel. Carter moved into a parking slot and killed the engine. He decided to surprise her and open her door for her. It would be amusing to see her reaction. He rushed over to her side of the car and opened her door before she had a chance to. She stared up at him in surprise, but it didn’t last long. Olivia was good at schooling her reactions. That made her an awesome lawyer, but she didn’t fool him. He’d seen what she’d hope to hide. She had liked that he’d acted a little gentlemanly for her. He held out his hand to her. “Ms. West?”
She placed her hand in his and smiled. He helped her out of the car and she shook her head as she came to her feet. “Don’t think you’re fooling me. I see what you’re up to.”
“What?” he said as innocently as possible. “Would you rather I be an arrogant ass?”
“You’re good at that, but no, I’d prefer that you’re more pleasant.”
He smiled as he slid her hand into the crook of his arm and led her inside the hotel. He’d never been to this particular hotel, but it wasn’t a bad one. It had some fancier elements he didn’t care about one way or the other. Carter hadn’t come to appreciate the finer side in life. He probably should have bought tickets for it to support his sister, but hadn’t because of their mother. She’d take this as a sign he was finally ready to settle down. Olivia West would probably excite her too. She was exactly the kind of woman his mother would have sent his way. Maybe that was why he’d fought his attraction to her for so long. He hated making his mother happy in that regard. He was a fine mess.
The ballroom was already filled with a lot of people. He didn’t recognize anyone immediately, and he had no clue where they were supposed to go. Maybe he should have asked, but he’d figured he’d just spot Dane or Reese and head in their general direction.
“We are sitting at your sister’s table,” Olivia offered. “It should be at the front of the room.”
Carter scanned the area and frowned when he spotted his mother. “Can we avoid that area for a while?” He had no desire to spend any unnecessary time in his mother’s company.
“Hey, sis,” a male said.
