Page 13 of Cursed Touch
She knew absolutely nothing about this man. No, that wasn’t true. She knew he could be tender with his kisses, he was a doctor of some sort, and he was sexy as hell. Some unseen force was insisting she tell him yes.
“I don’t even know your name,” she said in lieu of what she really wanted to say: hell yes.
“Carter Broderick.”
“Vanessa Rayne.”
He smiled and his eyes crinkled, softening the serious lines of his face. His smile faded, and he turned to look at Georgia over his shoulder. Her friend did not bother to pretend she was not staring at him.
“Do you two know each other?” Vanessa blurted.
“No.”
“Kinda.”
“Carter Broderick,” he said, offering Georgia a hand.
Georgia studied it a moment before moving closer to accept it. “Georgia Reed.”
Another silent moment passed while the two of them studied each other until Vanessa could take no more. “What’s going on?”
Georgia released Carter’s hand and stepped around the counter to stand hip-to-hip with Vanessa. “Nothing. How do you two know each other?”
“We met a couple weeks ago,” Carter said.
“He’s the doctor who helped Tyler out,” Vanessa said, giving Georgia a warning look.
“He’sDoctor T—oof.” Georgia grunted when Vanessa’s elbow connected with her side.
Carter cocked his head, his eyes dancing as they met Vanessa’s. “Been talking about me?”
Her face became enflamed at the slip-up. “Just told her a nice doctor helped Tyler out.”
“Uh-huh,” he muttered, clearly not believing her half-truth.
She squinted as she studied them both. “Now, how do you two know each other? Kinda isn’t an answer.”
Georgia shook her head. “We’ve never personally met. I have met his sister, Brandy. She’s close to Peter.”
“How do you know it’shissister who’s dating Peter?” Vanessa asked, trying to follow along.
Carter chuckled. “They’re best friends, not dating. Brandy just got married.”
Vanessa swiped the credit card he’d set on the counter as she let the information bounce around her head. Their town was not small by any means, but what were the chances of her best friend and the man her body literally vibrated for were in similar circles? It was not glowing-red-eyes odd but strange nonetheless.
Carter slipped his card back into his wallet as she turned the screen toward him. No one spoke as he went through the prompts. “Phone number?”
“That’s just in case you want to join the VIP club, where I’ll text no more than twice a month,” she said to assure him.
Carter shook his head. “No, I’d likeyourphone number.”
Her heart stuttered under her breastbone as she ignored a low growl from beside her. “Why?”
He smirked. “Seeing as you didn’t answer my last question, I can call you and ask again.”
She pursed her lips in thought, ignoring the voice in her head screaming yes. “If you’re talking about dinner, you didn’t actually ask me out.”
He smiled. “Vanessa, will you please have dinner with me?”
