“Well, that’s your business, not mine. You don’t need my approval.”
“And yet somehow I want it. You intrigue me, Serena. I can’t put my finger on it.”
“Maybe it's because I don’t fall for any BS.” I sat back as the waitress delivered my burger and our drinks. She asked if we needed anything else and left after we said no.
He nodded his head very slowly. “Maybe.”
I took a bite out of my burger. It was so damn tasty, I could see this becoming an addiction of my own. I’d better get my daily running routine underway, or I would put on weight fast.
I decided to change the subject. “So, do you know The Dream? Is it a nice place?”
“The best.” He told me. “We eat there a lot. Their restaurant is phenomenal, and also we’re members of the health club and the sports club. As residents in the area we can use the facilities.”
“I guess it doesn’t hurt to have Carter Cole and his famous friends hanging around the place.” I dissed.
“You’re very cynical you know.” Carter scratched his chin. “I’m going to have to work hard on my reputation so you realize I'm a nice guy. I’ll make sure my friends stop by The Dream and introduce themselves.”
“As long as they don’t distract me from my job and get me in trouble. Some of us need to work.”
“So where are you staying?” He asked.
“Hotel digs. Basic rooms at the back of the building.”
“Hmmm. Well, if you ever fancy trying a little luxury, maybe as my friend you could come stay with me for a while.”
“Are you serious? You just met me. I could be a serial killer or worse, a journalist.” I quipped, playing it close to the wire.
“Nah, you don’t have horns.” He quipped back.
“So is this normal behavior for you? Find a new woman in town and try to seduce her?” I decided to cut to the chase.
He sat back and laughed. “I’m not trying to seduce you. I could just use a friend and I don’t know what it is about you. Certainly not your sycophantic behavior, but I want to be yours.”
“You’re a strange one, Carter Cole.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” He said as he absentmindedly stroked the front of his lip.
“Well, I need to concentrate on my new job right now, but maybe we could meet up for another burger some time? This one was incredible.” I reached into my purse and took out a pen. Then I scrawled my number on a napkin. “Here, call me in a few days.”
He smiled broadly at me. “I will. It was lovely to meet you Miss Ripley.”
He leaned over to kiss my cheek. His lips were so cold to the touch, I jumped back a little. I wasn’t expecting that on such a hot day, and he’d had coffee, not an ice tea!
“You need to get your circulation checked out by a physician.”
“Concerned for my health and not complaining I kissed you. I’ll take it.” He said, and he threw money at the woman behind the counter and walked out of the building.
I watched the sway of his ass and the muscles of his calves as they tightened as he walked. I thought he’d look back, catch me watching him, but he never did.
> It bothered me and it shouldn’t.
Asshole.
Chapter Four
Carter
As soon as I got home, I got all the guys on a conference call. "I found someone for us all to befriend, see what we think."