My body was already on edge, anticipation building up as if he was just behind the door.
“Maybe I wouldn’t want one,” I replied playfully.
“Oh, I’d convince you. Wear you down.”
“Is that so? And how would you do that?”
“I’ll keep my secrets for now. But I think your imagination can fill in the blanks. Have a good night, Val.”
“You too.”
Holy hell, did my imagination ever flare up after the line went dead. I played music, then I sank into the tub up to my chin, grinning to myself, even though worry nagged at me. I liked that he’d said no expectations. It took off any pressure.
But I already felt a connection to Carter, and it was a little scary.
I was shaking my hips lightly to the rhythm of the slow music, but I wanted a more energetic sound. I hadn’t selected a playlist, just let it shuffle around, and some slow songs had hijacked my evening. I set to rectifying the issue immediately. After drying my hands on a towel I kept nearby, I switched to my favorite playlist, and my mood immediately changed. Oh, yeah.
With a jolt, I noticed Carter had sent me another message.
Carter: How about next Tuesday? I’m not giving up until we set a date in stone tonight.
I had just cooled down from our previous exchange, but now I felt as if someone had poured hot water in the tub.
Val: Next Tuesday works great.
Dots appeared on my screen, and my entire body was pulsing as I waited for his answer.
Carter: Perfect. I’ll call you tomorrow to talk about the details. I won’t hijack your naked time anymore... tonight.
Chapter Fourteen
Val
The next evening, mayhem reigned during Friday dinner.
I’d cooked chicken fajitas with iceberg salad on the side, and I’d monopolized my niece, Willow, holding her on my lap throughout dinner. I loved her toddler smell and the way she grabbed the fabric of my dress in her tiny fists.
“You, my dear, have excellent taste in clothing,” I informed her, then asked no one in particular, “Is it too early to buy her scarves?”
My sisters were shoe lovers, but scarves were my kryptonite.
“Landon, watch your daughter,” Jace cautioned, “or Val will turn her into a shopaholic.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Maddie asked, looking at her daughter happily. My twin had been a widower when he’d met her. I hadn’t thought he would fall in love again. I was so grateful that Landon had found Maddie.
“She’s a Connor girl,” Landon said lazily. “I bet she was born with the shopping bug.”
“That’s my twin.”
I was on a mission to discover if Jace was in trouble. He and Hailey had their heads together again, chatting a little apart from the rest of the group. What was up with that? And Jace even had a few deep frown lines.
As the youngest, they always stuck together. If it was meant to be a secret, the joke was on him, because Hailey had the worst track record as secret keeper in the family.
After dinner, we chilled in the backyard, soaking the last sunrays. The evening was splendid. Under the guise of bringing out lemonade glasses for everyone, I roped my sisters into helping me.
“What’s up with Jace?” I asked Hailey straight awa
y. “You two have been whispering the whole evening. Last Friday too.”