Page 6 of Loving Carter

I frantically pat the pockets on my smock.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Looking to see if I brought my tiny violin to work today so I can play it for this sob story,” I tell him.

“Cute.” He sighs, and I know I’ve won. “Fine. I’ll help.”

“That’s the spirit. It won’t be bad, and we won’t be doing it by ourselves. The committee has lots of people on it, and it will be great publicity for both our businesses.” When he still seems unmoved, I add, “And your aunts will be thrilled.”

“You owe me,” he tells me.

I shake my head and laugh at that comment. “Hardly. Remember that day in elementary school when your aunts sent you with a liverwurst sandwich for lunch, and to save you, I shared half of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

He meets my gaze, and a frown furrows his brow. Mentioning his aunts is a low blow since he’ll do anything for them, but I’m serious. He needs to help. I want him to help. Working on the expo will be fun if he helps too.

“I don’t remember asking for part of your sandwich,” he says.

I tap on the counter. “Yes, you do. You also remember all the other trillion things I’ve done for you over the years.”

“Skylar—”

I know it’s bad to guilt someone into action, but sometimes, guilt is the only weapon you’ve got. “Carter, it’s the right thing to do for the town, and you already agreed—twice. Once before, and once just now.”

The frown on his face keeps getting deeper. I’d feel bad about that, but I’m not asking him to do anything I’m not also willing to do. See how fair I am?

“And you’re helping simply because it’s good for the town?” he says.

His tone is doubtful. He has me there, and he knows it. Rather than protest, I tell him the truth. “I want to say yes, that helping the town is my main motivation, but—”

“It isn’t, is it?” There’s glee in his voice.

I hate being put on the spot like this, but honesty forces me to admit, “You’re right. It isn’t. I’m mostly doing this because it will give my business a lot of free publicity, and I could use more customers. Everyone has been stopping by since we opened and spending money, but I know that may not last. I need to let other people know about us, and this expo will bring in new customers from nearby towns.” I meet his gaze. “There. I’ve admitted my evil plan. If I had a handlebar mustache, I would twirl it. Happy now?”

He grins and looks way too satisfied with himself. “Yes, ma’am. I am.”

Well, he might be happy, but I’m not. I hate that my motivation is so selfish, but it is. Like Carter, I’m busy, and I don’t have time to spend working on a town expo. But I know it will be good for my bakery, and I’m hoping I can make some serious money.

“You’re allowed to be focused on your business, so stop overthinking it,” he says, placing a ten on the counter and heading toward the door.

“You’re overpaying again,” I say, the same way I do every morning when he leaves too much money.

“I want my friend to succeed.” He pushes open the door.

“You’ll do that by helping with the expo,” I say.

He blows out a loud breath. “I said I’d help, and I will. I’ll be at the meeting.”

His answer makes me smile. “See what a nice guy you are?”

“I’m a regular saint. And I promise not to flirt with any women,” he teases, but the gleam in his eyes belittles his words.

“Spare me.”

Carter chuckles, but when I frown at him, he says, “Seriously, I’m just a friendly guy. I can’t help it if people misunderstand. You know me. I’m a loner. A sad, lonely loner who’s all alone.”

A loud laugh bursts out of me. “You really can be a dork at times.”

He flashes that million-dollar smile again. “Ahandsomedork. Always remember the handsome part.”

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