Over the next two weeks, Carter messaged me at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the dot. I’d gotten my way, pushing my own questions when he tried to cheat (which he did every time). I even asked his professional opinion on my beef with Beauty SkinEssence. His response had left me scratching my head. As a lawyer, he advised me to avoid a lawsuit. On a personal note, he said he’d fight for what he thought was right too.
Even so, I looked forward to his messages more than I wanted to admit. I told myself that this was just a fun way to pass the breaks. We were two adults caught up in whirlwind careers and needed to let steam off. Some people gambled or did worse to that end. By comparison, exchanging fun, flirty messages seemed innocent. But when I ran into him at the coffee shop one morning, I couldn’t ignore the current of awareness passing through me when Carter greeted me in that deep voice of his. It wasn’t innocent at all.
“Morning.”
“Hey!”
“I was hoping I’d find you here.”
“Is that so? Why?”
We stood in line next to each other, and I couldn’t help leaning in just a bit closer. He smelled amazing. He was an amazing package all around, truth be told. Carter was a classically handsome man, with striking eyes and lips and a body that belonged on the cover of a magazine. Next thing I knew, our cheeks were almost touching. He’d leaned in too.
“What time do you start work? And when do you finish?” he asked.
“Eight to six.” I had no idea why he’d asked that, but then the corners of his lips tilted up in a knowing smile.
“Why?”
“Told you I need more than ten minutes. Since you’re not relenting about your break times, I found an alternative.”
Being only inches away from him was making a mockery of my negotiation skills. The man was too compelling.
“You’re assuming again.”
“Am I?” He’d leaned in even closer, and I barely bit down the urge to touch that freshly shaved jaw. I nodded, but I was grateful that my turn came next. I ordered quickly, asking the cashier to
pack everything to go.
“It’s still seven thirty, Val,” Carter whispered in my ear. “You have time to eat breakfast with me.”
“I have to look over some notes for a meeting.”
He didn’t push at all, which was surprising.
What I’d told him was true, but it wasn’t the only reason I wasn’t staying. Maybe I should stop the flirty messages. He had just moved his office across the road from mine. If this flirting went south, things could become awkward.
In truth, I was having too much fun to stop.
So when Carter texted me at eleven on the dot, I texted right back.
Chapter Eight
Val
“Oh, these are so beautiful.”
I was shopping for an outfit for the charity event, and in true Valentina Connor fashion, I had too many favorites to decide. I twirled around, admiring the light blue dress from all angles. I placed three more dresses into the maybe pile. I was just about to ask the sales associate to bring me some shoes as well when my phone pinged. Carter. After the encounter at the coffee shop yesterday, my heart went pitter-patter each time I saw his name.
Carter: Thanks for the advice regarding April. Finally talked to her, and she agreed to (some of) my terms and hasn’t forsaken me as an uncle.
Val: Yet. Don’t underestimate her.
Carter: Let me savor the victory a while longer.
Val: Wouldn’t want you to get too comfortable.
Oh, Carter. He was a captivating man, that was for sure. And of all things, it was his voice I couldn’t get out of my mind. Whenever he spoke in that rich voice of his, I felt it like a physical caress in my intimate parts. Just remembering it had the same effect. It made me feel weak that I couldn’t ignore this magnetic pull toward him.