Page 2 of Carter
“What did you just say?” Graham’s face is turning red. I’m a little worried he might have a heart attack and die. “Did you just threaten me?”
“I think everyone just needs to take a big deep breath and calm down,” I say.
“Calm down?” Graham says. “He threatened me, Makayla! Call the police. I want this man behind bars immediately.”
Carter stands up and takes a step forward. Graham practically leaps backward. A look of real fear on his face.
“I knew I never should have taken this job.” Carter downs the rest of his drink and hands me his glass. Maybe later I’ll run my tongue along the edge and see what it tastes like. “Everyone I spoke to said you were an impossible little cunt, but I didn’t listen. I’ve worked with some demanding people in my time, but none of them have been so obnoxious and rude. You can find someone else to finish this shit, because I’m done.”
“Done?” Graham asks. Even after everything he’s said, he’s still shocked someone might dare to say no to him. “What do you mean done? The party’s in three day’s time!”
“Not my problem, buddy,” Carter says, slinging his t-shirt over his shoulder and walking toward his truck.
He puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles loudly. The guys on his crew immediately start packing up their stuff and loading it onto the truck bed.
Graham and I stand in silence. Watching them.
“Do something, Makayla,” Graham groans.
“Me?” I ask. “What do you want me to do?”
He turns to me. Focusing all his anger and hate in my direction. “Your fucking job!” he says. “That’s what I want you to do! Now go stop that neanderthal from leaving, otherwise, he’s not the only one who’ll be out of a job this morning!”
2
Carter
I watch Makayla walking toward my truck in the rearview mirror.
Her hips swing from side to side.
She’s a full-figured woman. Curvy in all the right places. Just how I like it.
“Carter?” she says. “Can we talk?”
I get out of my truck, against my better judgment. Ignoring the knowing smiles of Larry and TJ, my two employees.
I fold my arms across my chest and try to act like I’m still pissed. But every second I look at this beautiful woman, my heart melts and all I can think about is making her mine.
“I don’t think we have anything to talk about,” I say. “You can expect my bill in the mail.”
Makayla takes a step closer. I can’t help but look down her top. Imagine what it would be like to hold her big round orbs in my hand and bite the naked flesh on her shoulder as she moans my name.
“I’m really sorry about what happened back there,” Makayla says. “He’s not usually that bad.”
“Oh, yeah?” I say. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”
Makayla bites her lip. I stare at her teeth pressing against her juicy pink flesh and wonder what she tastes like.
“Okay, fine,” she says. “He’s a total fucking jerk and I hate him and watching you talk to him like that was the highlight of my year.”
I raise my eyebrows. This was not what I was expecting. “But…” I say.
“But…” she says. “I’m never going to be able to find someone to replace you at such short notice. Which means this patio is never going to be ready in time for the party. Which means Graham is going to throw a total fit and fire me and I won’t be able to pay my rent and my mom’s just had surgery and I’m helping pay off the medical bills and I really, really need this job even though sometimes it feels like I’m stabbing out my own eyes with a hot poker.”
“So, what?” I ask. “You just want me to forget he talked to me like that? Roll over and pretend like it never happened. That’s not the kind of man I am, Makayla. I don’t forgive and forget. Not when it comes to assholes like Graham fucking Bastow.’’
“What if I can keep him away from you?” she says.
