She took the opportunity of their formal introductions to extricate herself from the rock and the hard place she was literally squashed between. Emotionally, she was even more caught.
‘What are you doing here, Matt?’ She summoned a big smile as she asked, because she had a fictional happy life to live up to.
‘Coming to make sure you’ll be around to have dinner with me. Has to be tonight because I’ve got a conference for the next couple of days.’
She hadn’t known he was in town. Why hadn’t he emailed to tell her? ‘Of course I can do dinner,’ she said brightly.
‘No other plans?’ he asked.
‘None I can’t change.’
Matt’s brows lifted. ‘What about the man?’ He turned to Carter. ‘You’ll come too, right? I want to grill you. Being the only one in the family to meet you so far, I’ve got responsibilities to those back home. Namely Mum.’
He spoke casually but Penny understood the undertone. Her kid brother was checking up on her. She tried to make her muscles relax but her smile felt superglued on. ‘Carter has to work tonight. Sorry, Matt. He has a meeting.’
‘Actually, honey, that one got cancelled.’ Carter tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as if he had all the rights of such casual intimacy. ‘That’s what I was coming to tell you only I got…distracted.’ He looked from her eyes to her mouth in a blatant sensual stamp and then he turned. ‘I’d love to be there, Matt.’
All Penny’s internal organs shrank. ‘But—’
‘You can let me know for sure later,’ Matt broke in, his expression impassive. ‘I have to see your flat too, Penny. More of Mum’s orders.’
‘You should have warned me.’ Penny laughed. ‘I’d have tidied up.’
Matt answered with a quick rare smile again, but Carter wasn’t smiling at all.
‘I’ll walk you out,’ Penny said quickly, wanting to take charge of the plans without Carter listening in. She manufactured more brightness as she led him to the lift. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were coming sooner? I could have made some plans.’
‘Wanted to surprise you.’
Yeah, he was checking up. She hated that he felt he had to do that. Her little brother had had to grow up too soon and he’d got all paternal and protective on her. It was her fault. He should be out there having wild times of his own, not worrying about her or carrying the burden of their parents’ worry for her. And that was her fault too. She’d tried to ease it—hence her stupid, overly imaginative emails.
But now she smiled and gave him a hug. ‘It’s so awesome to see you. I’ll text you with details of where to meet, okay?’
‘You mean you actually have my number?’ Matt asked dryly. ‘I wondered.’
Yeah, it was only the occasional email that she sent. She rarely texted, and never talked. It was easier that way. She’d never said she was brave. And she was feeling beyond cowardly now. She went back into the lift and reluctantly pushed the button for the top. Droplets of discomfort sweat slicked her skin yet she felt chilled to the bone.
Carter stood by the windows in Mason’s office, looking down at the street scene below. She closed the door behind her and waited.
After a moment that made her nerves stretch past break point, he turned.
‘Just how many men have you got on the go, Penny?’
She shook her head. Glad his desk was between her and him. Because he was looking more than a little angry and she needed all four feet of solid wood between them.
‘Tell me about him.’ Carter’s voice lifted. ‘He’s some sugar daddy you spend the weekends with?’
Her flush deepened. ‘No.’
‘No?’
Penny swallowed the little pride she had left. ‘I made him up.’
Carter blinked. ‘Pardon?’
‘I made him up. In my emails home, I invented a relationship.’
For the first time she saw Carter at a loss for words—momentarily. His eyes narrowed and he took a couple of steps closer. ‘You’re telling me this “man” doesn’t exist? You don’t actually have a real boyfriend.’
‘No.’
‘And there’s no one you’re dating, or sleeping with, or friends with benefits or whatever you care to call it.’
She held his gaze. ‘I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. No.’
He nodded slowly. ‘When were you last seeing someone?’
‘It’s been a few months.’ She was flushed with heat—anger, embarrassment and the burning need for him to believe her. For some stupid reason it was important he understand. ‘I don’t remember exactly how long.’
‘But Aaron doesn’t count?’
She lifted her chin and answered pointedly. ‘A couple of kisses don’t count.’
Carter’s jaw went more angular. ‘So how many kisses haven’t you counted in the last few months?’
Her brows shot up. ‘Aaron. Another guy. You.’
‘My kisses don’t count?’ he asked softly.
‘Definitely not.’
His devil grin flashed. ‘I’ve figured it out.’
Penny blinked at his suddenly bright demeanour. ‘Figured what out?’
‘How to tell when you’re lying.’
She jerked. ‘What? How?’
He shook his head and laughed aloud. ‘Not telling because then you’ll stop doing it.’
‘Stop doing what?’ She sighed and gave up, knowing he wasn’t about to spill it. Besides, there was something more important to know. ‘You do believe me, don’t you?’
He went serious again. ‘Yeah, I do.’
She was absurdly relieved. She’d been a complete fool with the emails and he knew it, but oddly that didn’t matter so long as he believed her when she told the truth.
He walked around his desk, picked up her hand and ran a light finger over the bruises still marking her wrist. ‘You know I just said that about coming to dinner tonight to wind you up…make up whatever excuse.’ He gave her an ironic glance. ‘You’ve got the experience. Your brother might not know your little giveaway.’
Penny frowned and pulled her hand free.
Dinner with Matt. She’d half forgotten it in her need to clear up the confusion with Carter. But now she thought about it, she was dreading it already—the questions,
the search for conversation, all the anxiety… She just didn’t want to face it. She’d spent years not facing it.
Actually maybe it would be a good idea to have someone with her. With extra company she could present the happy façade for the night, no problem. And she really was happy. It was just that she’d added an imaginary gorgeous man to give the picture a fully glossy finish. Companionship without complications—she had enough complications inside already. It had been so long since her last real, short-term gorgeous man, she’d invented one.
Now she looked at Carter. Handsome, charming, socially expert Carter.
‘I think you should come with me,’ she said.
His brows shot up.
‘No, I mean it.’ She stepped in closer to him. ‘Come to dinner. After all, Matt’s expecting you now.’
His attention dropped to her body and back up. ‘Well, isn’t that your problem for misleading him in the first place?’
‘But you played up to it. The least you can do is follow through.’
Carter leaned back against the edge of his desk, a small smile tweaking his mouth.
Really, the more Penny thought about it, the better an idea it was. Matt could maybe learn a few things from Carter—social smoothness for one. And Carter would deflect the attention off herself. She didn’t know how well she could maintain the façade on her own. Most importantly, the conversation would stay in safe waters. Matt wouldn’t drag up the past with Carter present.
‘I’ve seen you talking with the guys who work here… And the girls.’ Her gaze narrowed. ‘You’re good socially.’
Too good actually. Every woman looked at him as if he were the biggest honeypot to hit the town in a decade or forty—and they all wanted a taste.
‘Is that a compliment? Because the way you’re talking I’m not sure…’ He studied her slyly.
She couldn’t hold back her smile. He was a charming wretch and he knew it.