Dad’s job is logistics and management.
Carter’s job is all that and more.
“I’ll see what the weather and my options bring in the morning, okay? You’re welcome to check-in Greg… No, I’m not trying to boss you around I’m just trying to… Alright then. You wanna say goodnight to Serena?” he asks, raising both brows in my direction as I prepare myself for the phone again.
“Honey, Carter, and I have decided it’s best if you come home. He’ll find a way for you both once the weather clears. Don’t worry about the truck, we can sort that out later. The most important thing is getting you both back here in one piece,” he says, sighing heavily again.
“I gotta go, sweetie, just tell me you’re safe. Tell me you’ll do what Carter tells you?” he asks imploringly.
“Oh, I will, dad. Don’t you worry about that. G’night daddy.”
“G’night pumpkin. I love you.”
“I love you too daddy,” I tell him, meaning it and breathing loudly as I fall back on my mountain of pillows clutching the phone to my chest.
I sigh loudly again, closing my eyes and only open them when I feel Carter hovering over me.
I open my lids and see his mouth creasing a smile before he takes the phone back, making me gasp suddenly as his huge hands brush my chest.
“Dad said I have to do whatever you tell me,” I whisper, feeling myself shiver with heat from my groin up.
I can’t even feel my ankle when Carter’s hands are anywhere near me.
“Did he now?” Carter asks with a grin, sidling gently next to me on the huge leather couch, brushing my hair back, and leaning over to kiss me.
“I’ll get you home, that’s what Greg wants,” he tells me but has a question in his eyes.
“But, what do I want?” I volunteer.
He makes a low sound and looks away, moving his hand to my thigh and resting it there.
“We’d better play by his rules for now… getting you home at least. Your dad will be stuck in Washington longer than he would’ve spent here,” he adds.
“And what about Wendy?” I ask, not meaning to sound like a brat but I can’t help it. It just slips out.
“Who?” Carter asks, really searching his mind for a moment and then groaning before kissing me again, holding my face with both hands.
“I love you, Serena. I don’t even know a Wendy. I told your dad what I thought about all that before he got on his chopper. He won’t be playing cupid again, not with me anyhow,” he assures me.
“But, she’s still here?” I ask, knowing Carter’s still at risk of her evil blackmailing mind.
He shrugs, patting my leg gently.
“Who knows and who cares, darling. It’s you and me now. When the moment’s right, I’ll sit your dad down and explain how it is between us now, don’t worry.”
I feel a huge weight lifting off from somewhere, knowing that Carter’s in charge, and even though he joked about it, I’ll do anything he says.
I’ve never felt safer, happier, or more content in my life.
Or hungry.
Reading my thoughts, Carter shifts to study our food stores stacked up by the fireplace.
“Mac and cheese,” I ask pleadingly, pouting in reply to his frown.
“It’s what I really feel like,” I protest, and he sets to work, making us both the biggest serving of Mac and cheese I’ve ever seen.
He even offers me ketchup with it once it’s ready, somehow knowing that’s just how I like it.
Somehow, silly as it sounds, above everything else this just proves to me that he’s the one.
Chapter Eighteen
Carter
Settling a few things right over the phone with Greg is a relief. We didn’t part on good terms, and I made sure Serena didn’t hear all I had to tell him about how I felt about his attempts at finding me romance.
After today and with her ankle, I’m determined to make tomorrow better and even indulge her by only making us both Mac and cheese for dinner.
I set her ankle in a bandage, opting for warm heat from the fire and elevated rest over ice to help with the swelling.
Looking at her face all night in the firelight, seeing the half-smile on her face and a few times even sure I hear her murmur my name as I quietly keep the fire going, I know I’ve done good.
I know she’s mine now and it gives me such a thrill inside I couldn’t sleep even if I wanted to.
Without even looking at the time or outside, after dozing off for just an hour or two, I know it’s late morning before she even opens her beautiful blue eyes.
She stretches and makes a little sound, so cute I can’t help but go to her. To hold her and give her a good morning kiss.
Wincing from her ankle just a bit, we both can’t help get entangled on the couch.