All of You (A Well Paired Novel Book 7) Page 8

  “Sure.” She sipped her water.

  “Sure? As in you really want me to go get some?”

  “Why would you offer, if you weren’t going to follow through? Or is that your thing?”

  “My thing?”

  “Yeah. Making ... suggestions and then not following through.”

  “Is that what you think?”

  Mimicking his earlier move, she lifted a shoulder and took another sip of water.

  “So, you like a guy who follows through.” Carter pushed off the counter with his hips and encroached on her.

  “Guy, girl, whatever. I like people who follow through. Who are true to their word. Who mean what they say and say what they mean.” There was more meaning behind her words than she wanted to let on.

  “Do you hold yourself to the same standards?”

  “Always.” Mostly.

  “So tell me, Hailey.” He toyed with a strand of her hair then tucked it behind her ear, gently stroking her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “What are you trying to say?”

  Should she? It could ruin their working relationship and potential future business with his friends’ businesses, but it would be worth it; she was sure. He’d proven himself to be a nice guy.

  She opened her mouth to tell him she was totally game with a quick roll in the hay, and then she remembered her legs. When was the last time she’d shaved? And her purple underwear? The most comfortable pair she owned with the small hole in the front? Yeah, he wasn’t getting a look at those.

  Clearing her throat, she patted him on the chest and stepped around him. “I’m saying we have business contracts we signed with Coastal Vines and Marshall Farm that we better finish up.” Setting her glass down, she took a seat in front of the laptop and turned it toward her.

  She opened the folders with the pictures from the tasting and pulled up her five favorites. An Oscar, an Academy Award, and a chastity belt. She deserved two and needed the other.

  “These will show visitors the wine, the food, a little bit of the tasting room, and the people behind the counter. Ben, Alexis, and Tristan are as important selling points as the wine and food; don’t you think?”

  “I think,” Carter drawled out, bringing his chair next to hers, “that we have a lot to talk about.”

  “Absolutely. Talking is important in a business relationship.” She shielded her face with her ice water. Coward.

  “I like you, Hailey Webster.” Carter’s voice was soft, gentle, as if he knew she needed space.

  “You seem like a nice guy, Carter Marshall.” She gave his bicep a friendly pat. “And strong. Nice arms.” Don’t let him see your nerves.

  “You okay?”

  This wasn’t going to work. The nice, sensitive Carter would mess with her head more than a bottle of gin.

  “Fine. Cards on the table.” She closed the laptop and swiveled her legs until their knees bumped. “I’m not the beat-around-the-bush type of woman. I didn’t think there’d be a mutual sexual attraction between us. I figured it was one way.”

  “Sweetheart, I can’t speak for you, but there’s a whole helluva lot of attraction coming from my end. Please tell me it’s not one way.”

  Damn her self-doubt. Instead of glowing like a five-year-old on Christmas morning, she was doubting if Santa Claus was real. Only she wasn’t doubting Santa; she was doubting why he’d be delivering gifts to her.

  “Do you believe in Santa?” Crap. She didn’t mean to say that. Were those ice cubes she put in her glass made from gin? Vodka? Hell, she hoped not.

  Carter smiled. “I believe in the magic of Santa, yes.”

  “Good answer.”

  “That’s me saying what I mean and meaning what I say. You should try it.”

  “I am.”

  “You want to talk about Santa Claus?”

  “Did you ever have a Christmas morning when you weren’t sure if he came during the night? That he’d learned about you getting in trouble and skipped over your house?”

  “Whatever stories my brother told you, they’re only half-true.” Those adorable eyes of his twinkled.

  “I’d like to hear about those half-true stories.”

  “That’s what you want to talk about?”

  “No.” If she didn’t come out with it, she’d regret it forever, and things would be awkward between them. They still had quite a few hours of work to do to finish their current projects, and would then work together this summer and again in the fall, finishing up the seasonal themes on the websites.

  “I don’t want what I’m about to say to ... to change our work projects.”

  “Okay.” He placed his hands on her knees and gave her a gentle squeeze.

  Hailey looked down at his hands on her legs and bit her lip. He wasn’t repulsed by her plus-size body. He wasn’t using her to advance his career. If his flirting wasn’t just Carter being Carter and actually meant something, the only question was, why? Why her?

  “WHY?” CARTER REPEATED Hailey’s question.

  “Yes.” She avoided eye contact and stared at his hands, still on her knees. “Why do you think you’re interested in me?”

  “I don’t think I’m interested in you.”

  “Oh.” She shifted away from him and stood. “Yeah. I know. I’m kidding. It’s that flirting thing that means nothing. Remember?” Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

  Carter much preferred the playful banter with a woman, and Hailey seemed more comfortable and confident when they were teasing each other instead of having a serious conversation, but she'd started it.

  He stood and placed his finger under her chin, tipping her face so he could see into her eyes. “I know I’m interested in you. I already told you that. The question is, is it mutual?”

  “Why?”

  “So we’re stuck on that.”

  “You never answered.”

  “Let me guess. You’ve dated an entire lineup of losers who made you think you weren’t special.”

  “Sorry. I don’t want to do this right now.” She backed away from him. “This isn’t like me. The serious conversations. If you’re interested, I’m even more interested. Sex would be great, but not tonight. Maybe tomorrow?”

  The woman was really going to plan their sex? He hadn’t pegged her as the type. Spontaneity was more his style.

  “Sweetheart.” He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and lifted it to his lips, placing a kiss on her open palm. “When we have sex, it won’t be because we marked it on a calendar.”

  “Oh.” Her arm went limp. “Oh,” she said again, her body straightening. “That’s a good one. Nice line. Totally worked.”

  It wasn’t a line, but he let it slide. She wanted to lighten the moment so he would, but he’d let it be clear how much he wanted her. “Do you like raisins?” Hailey paused and wrinkled her brow as if trying to figure out the shift in his question. “How about a date?”

  She opened her mouth to respond and then it clicked. Her lips turned upward. “Not a fan of either.” Dropping her arm from his hold, she reached over for her bag and took out her keys. “I prefer grapes.”

  With that, she turned on her heel and left. As tempted as he was to chase her down and cover her mouth with his, he let her go. She needed space, and he’d give it to her. He’d rattled her, and as much as he hated to admit it, she rattled him as well.

  Carter wasn’t looking for a relationship, yet he didn’t want to have a one-night stand with Hailey. It would be something more than meaningless sex. Before he slept with her, he’d have to let her know the type of guy he was. If all she wanted was a quick roll in the sheets, he’d have to respectfully decline. By her sudden one-eighty reactions to him, he figured some guy had done a number on her in the past. He’d have to tread lightly and slowly with her.

  But he wasn’t a light and slow kind of guy.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Carter stood and rolled his shoulders. Being hunched over his computer for the past six hours was tor
ture on his body. He didn’t usually let himself sit for so long. A couple hours answering emails, a quick run, back at his desk designing logos and websites for his clients, then down in his basement for a few rounds with his punching bag.

  The past two weeks of working with Brady had felt good on his body. He’d never been much of a gym rat. No need for it when you grew up on a farm, and then being in the military. But with his career taking off the way it had been, he’d need to get a gym membership or add more equipment to his workout space in the basement come winter.

  He wasn’t used to spending so much time on his ass. Carter took off his glasses and tossed them on his desk. Another lifestyle change that came with his new career. He’d never been much of a reader, and he used his spotty vision as an excuse not to pick up a book.

  Then, when he started working on the computer all the time, the headaches began. He’d never been to an eye doctor in all his life, but he sucked it up and went last year. Farsighted, she’d said, and prescribed him glasses for reading, working on the computer, and watching television.

  Thankfully, he didn’t need them to drive or function outside his house. It wasn’t that he minded wearing them, but he wasn’t good at remembering to bring them with him, and he’d already lost three pair around the house. One, he thought, was somewhere in the garage.

  He’d forgotten he still had them on and had put on his motorcycle helmet. When he went to put on his sunglasses, he’d realized he still had on his readers. That was the last of the memory. Someday he’d find them under his workbench or in the corner somewhere.

  Must be what they meant by getting old. First the aches and pains, then the memory would go to shit. What was next? Viagra? Carter cringed and adjusted himself, mostly to make sure his junk was where it was supposed to be, underused as it was.

  Hailey’s crystal green eyes filled his thoughts, and his jeans tightened at the straining behind his zipper. Meeting at the Sunrise Diner today for brunch had been his idea. A great one, he might add, smiling to himself as he made his way to the shower, his desire growing the more he thought about her.

  It was her genuine smile and sense of humor that lured him in the most. When she was relaxed and full of banter, he loved listening to her tease him, and at the same time, he wanted to cover her mouth with his.

  They didn’t need to meet today; the final approval could be done online and through email, or even phone calls, but he wanted to see her. Meeting at his house would be too tempting. He promised himself last night he’d take things slow, even if she didn’t want to. Seeing each other in public was the safest plan, although he was dog tired.

  Last night he’d spent five hours going back and forth with Milton Hennington, Esquire on an emergency company logo change. Carter had done the firm’s logo and marketing material two years ago, and he’d referred a handful of clients to Carter since.

  The urgent call came yesterday morning when Hennington’s former partner, Kyle Dexter, had been charged with fraud and sentenced to federal prison for fifteen years. He worried Hennington & Dexter Family Law would fail with Dexter’s name still attached.

  Hennington was paying him good money, so Carter stayed up until two in the morning sending drafts to the attorney and his operating CEO. When they finally agreed on the slogan and simple lines, Carter updated the website, made new business cards, letterhead, and all the other marketing tools from pens to notepads that the attorney’s firm would need.

  With the ease of online banking, he’d already had the hefty payment in his account when he rolled out of bed at five. Another few hours of emails and finalizing Coastal Vines’ site, and his work was done.

  For now. There was still Sweet Spot Bakery in Portland, Shawnie’s Peak Gym, Tender and Rare meat market, and Lily’s Sea Glass Spa that needed new branding. Those could wait.

  He turned on the shower and stepped in, not waiting for it to warm up. The cold water helped to ease the pressure below his waist. It only took a few minutes to wash his hair and soap up his body. By the time the water had warmed up he was done.

  Ten minutes later, he was dressed in clean jeans and a navy polo, and climbing into the seat of his truck. The parking lot was empty at the diner. Breakfast brought in the big crowds. Well, big crowds for Crystal Cove.

  They’d have the place to themselves for brunch, which he kind of liked. In typical small-town fashion, the bell on the door chimed when he opened it, and he stepped into the Sunrise Diner.

  “Well, aren’t you a breath of fresh air? How you doin’, lovey?” Priscilla greeted him with her signature adoration.

  “Mighty fine now that I’ve got you in my arms, Scilla.” Carter picked up her plump hand and kissed her knuckles. “Care to escort me to a table?” He put her hand on the crook of his elbow as if he were escorting her to a ball.

  “My you’ve got it on thick today, handsome. Some lady friend keeping you warm at night?”

  “Scilla,” he pretended to reprimand her when they reached a table by the window. “You know it’s not like me to kiss and tell.”

  “No need to tell when I can read it all over you, lovey. You’re my ray of sunshine. A walking, talking yellow ball of love and humor.”

  “And you’re my rainbow of color, darlin’. Think you can fix me a pot of gold?”

  “I’ve got coffee.”

  “That’ll do.”

  He took a seat at the scarred table after she left. Priscilla was the sweetest thing. She was the kooky town psychic, old enough to be his grandmother. She’d slap his hand if she heard him call her that, though. Auras. She read auras, she’d say.

  Ever since he was in elementary school and would come in for a milkshake with his father after earning good grades on his report card—which were B’s and the occasional A—Scilla had claimed he was a walking ball of sunshine.

  Apparently, yellow was his color. Funny since he didn’t own a single thing in yellow and thought it to be a boring color.

  “Here you go, sunshine.” Scilla set the steaming cup of coffee in front of him. “Not used to seeing you this time of day. Whatcha got going on?” She stuck her pencil in the bun knotted at the top of her head and tucked her notepad under her arm.

  “Business brunch. Frankie still out back?”

  “Sure is. Your fellow going to want coffee too?” The door chimed, and she looked over her shoulder at the guest. “Morning, darling. Take a seat wherever ya like. I’ll be with ya in a sec.”

  Carter craned his neck around Scilla and held up his hand in a wave to Hailey. “I’m over here.”

  “Oh, reeeally?” Scilla drawled. “Here you go, hun.” She pulled out the chair across from Carter for her.

  “Would you like coffee? Hot tea?”

  Hailey laughed. His body responded too strongly for such a simple reaction.

  “Sure. I’ll have tea, if that’s okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t it be okay, hun?”

  “I, uh.” Hailey unrolled her silverware and placed the napkin on her lap. “It’s kind of a joke.”

  “I made a fool of myself the other night heating up a bottle of cold iced tea. Apparently, that’s not the way she likes it.”

  Scilla pursed her lips and nodded. “We all need something to keep us warm at night. It takes some longer than others to figure out what will do the trick. I’ll be back with your tea.”

  When she was gone, Hailey took out her laptop. “The website looks fantastic. I think we made the right decision with the carousel of pictures and video.”

  He didn’t want to talk business yet. “Their French toast is amazing. You should try their autumn special. Maple syrup candied pecans in a buttery sauce. Kind of tastes like butterscotch if you like that kind of thing. Their fruit compote is pretty good, though.”

  “I’m all set with tea. Thanks, though.”

  “I thought we were having a brunch meeting.”

  “I’m not much of a brunch person,” she said, not looking up from her screen.

  “We can have
lunch.”

  “I just ate breakfast a few hours ago. You go ahead and order. I’m fine.”

  “Here ya go, hun. Cream and sugar?” Scilla placed a cup of hot water and a small plate with a tea bag and wedge of lemon next to Hailey.

  “No, thank you. The lemon is perfect.”

  “You two need time with the menus?”

  “Maybe a few. I’ll let you know when we’re ready, Scilla.”

  Scilla tapped her pencil against her lips while she studied Hailey. “Hmm,” she said before walking away.

  “Did I do something to upset her?”

  “Nah. She was probably reading your aura.”

  “Like my color?”

  “Yeah. You know anything about it?”

  “Not really. I’ve heard of people being able to read colors, but I’ve never paid much attention to it.”

  “Well, in case you were wondering.” Carter leaned his elbows on the table. “I’m a ball of sunshiny yellow.”

  “Of course you are.” Hailey laughed, bringing awareness to his lower half. “I couldn’t imagine you any other color.”

  “Really?” He sat back in his chair and scratched his chin. “Why yellow?”

  She shrugged. “Yellow is happy. You’re always happy.”

  “Except when you threaten to destroy my family jewels.”

  “Don’t do anything to piss me off, and I won’t have a reason to use this.” She pointed her butter knife at him.

  “I think I’d prefer the foot over that.”

  She tapped the knife to her chin and lifted herself so she could peer down into his lap. He felt himself thicken and covered his crotch with his hands.

  “I may need a bigger knife.”

  Carter opened his mouth to offer a witty comeback, but none came. “You intrigue and freak me out at the same time.”

  “Then my job here is done.” She sat back down and did a drop the mic move with the knife. Picking up the tea bag, she plopped it in her mug and dunked it in the hot water with her finger like she hadn’t just flipped his world upside down.