Into You (23 page)

"Tim
e to wake up, Sleeping Beauty."

The smile on her face made my heart swell. I wondered if it would always be like this. Would just looking at her and knowing I did something to make her happy fill me with pride?

"Mmm. I don't want to, I'm too comfortable." She rolled onto her back. "Come back to bed."

"C'mon, I cooked you breakfast."

She opened her eyes, "Really?"

"Yep.
And I have something for you."

"Okay, let me jump in the shower."

"No. Since I have to finish working early, I changed my schedule around. I have to leave soon. You can clean up after breakfast."

I went to my closet, pulled out a robe and tossed it to her. "Here you go."

She cuddled into it as she wrapped it around her body. I'd never been more jealous of an inanimate object.

"Is this what I have to look forward to? Homemade breakfast every morning?" she asked as she settled int
o the chair I held out for her.

"Definitely not every morning, but once in a while.
I have to tell you though, this is my specialty."

I could see by the look of surprise on her face that she found the French toast tastier than she expected.

"OMG this is delish! I didn't know you could cook."

"When you live alone long enough, you learn, or things get crazy expensive.
And on that note." I reached into my front pocket. "I promised I had something for you."

"Ooh, I should stay over here every night."

"That is the plan." I pulled the key out of my pocket and placed it on the table in front of her. "I had this made for you. This way, you can come and go as you please until you officially move in."

She came around to my side of the table, took a seat on my lap, and threw her arms around me. "Thank you! I'm so happy. I don't even know what to say."

"Say you'll be here waiting for me when I get home tonight. I have a feeling I'm going to need you."

She placed her hand on the side of my cheek and smiled at me. "I'll be here, but I doubt you'll need me. You're going to nail this."

"Here's hoping!"

Chapter 55

Elizabeth

He waited until the end of the day to call me into his office. I didn't want to go. These meetings were becoming too regular a routine. Even though he and Carter were sort of on speaking terms, I didn't like it. I almost felt like a pawn in a chess game.

"Dr. Penbrook, I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to get home."

"Elizabeth, I know for a fact Carter has an important dinner tonight. I arranged it. That's why I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss your future."

"I thought we did that when the three of us went out." Maybe he needed a reminder that Carter finally gave him the time of day again.

"Not like this. Be in my office in ten minutes."

I didn't like the sound of this. I knew this was the moment I should quit. I didn't even care anymore if Carter thought I did it because he wanted me to. I didn't want to be behind closed doors with his father. Not after that set up. What interest could Dr. Penbrook possibly have in my future that didn't involve Carter? And why the hell did he want to do this tonight, without his son?

A knot formed in my stomach. It turned and churned and I wanted to throw up. If he tried anything, I'd set him straight. He wouldn't though, would he? If he loved Carter half as much as he claimed to, would he
ruin their semi-reconciliation?

I picked up my phone and sent Carter a text message. Whatever happened next, I wanted him to k
now he was on my mind.

Good luck! I love you
xoxo

I passed Joan on the way to Dr.
Penbrook's office. She was the interim office manager. She had ninety days to prove herself. In the meantime, Dr. Penbrook was rotating a bunch of us at the front desk to see who best handled the cranky patients.

Joan smiled as we walked by each other. That was a far cry from Sandy who would've tried to knock me on my ass if she knew where I was headed. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe Dr.
Penbrook only wanted to offer me the front desk position and a raise to go along with it. One could only hope.

*

As usual I found myself alone in his office. I hated how this always played out. I gravitated to the only family picture Dr. Penbrook had in there. I wondered if Carter and I had a son, would he have a strong resemblance to his father like Carter had to his dad?

How did that happen? How did I find myself lost to the illusion of children? I never daydreamed of being a mother, until now. It was like he was opening a whole new world to me, one of love and marriage; a love that didn't need to be kept hidden in the dark.

I jumped when I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders. I never heard the doctor come into the office.

"I'm sorry
Elizabeth, I didn't mean to startle you."

"You didn't, Dr.
Penbrook. I just . . ."

"Please, dear, call me Steven."

Oh we were back to that. Carter was so not going to like this.

*

I stayed at the office longer than I anticipated. I didn't know how Carter was going to react. I kept checking my phone to see if I had any missed texts or calls. Still no word from him. I hope that was good news. He wanted me to meet him at his house. My shiny new key was just itching to be used, but first I had to pick some things up from my apartment, little things like clothes.

I couldn't control the jittery feeling that overran my body. Internally I felt like every part of me was shaking. Externally my hands were nice and steady. I didn't know how Carter would take it. I just had to make sure I told him at the right time. Dr.
Penbrook didn't want him to know, but I made a promise to Carter, and I understood how much that promise meant to him. Still, I didn't want to be the cause of added friction between them.

I drove on mindlessly, not even listening to the music on the radio until I reached my complex. I just needed to run in, grab my clothes for the morning, and I could leave. It was simple enough. Hopefully I'd make it back to Carter's before he got home.

The phone was ringing when I walked in. I checked the caller ID to make sure it wasn't Carter, although he rarely ever called me on the land line. He knew it was easier to reach me anytime anywhere through my cell phone. My parents. I knew I should answer. We'd been in a silent war since Christmas with Violet acting as the go-between.

"Hi, Sweetheart."
It was my mother. "Your father and I would like for you and Carter to come for Sunday dinner. We want to get to know him better and discuss your plans."

She couldn't even bring herself to say
it, not our plans, our wedding.

"Great, Mom. Are you guys planning to be reasonable or are you going to send me to my room for a time out."

"Beth, we overreacted. I'm sorry. We just had no idea you were in that serious of a relationship."

"I'll have to check with him."

"Oh." She didn't try to hide her disappointment.

"Look, I'll call you tomorrow. I'm sort of in a rush right now. I got home late and I'm supposed to meet Carter. I'll talk to him and let you know tomorrow. Okay?"

"Alright sweetheart, I guess that will have to do. Have a good time."

Before I even clicked the phone off, the doorbell rang. Great! I knew it had to be Carter. I was running so late. I hoped I could avoid the reason behind it for a while, at least until I could gauge his mood.

I pulled open the door, not sure of what to expect.

His lips drew up into a smile. It must have gone well. Whew! Maybe I could tell him? I didn't expect a long, passionate kiss before he came into the apartment, but when his mouth met
mine, it was like we hadn't seen each other in a month rather than a few hours. He came at me with the hunger of a starving man at a banquet for the first time ever. He pulled me close, his hands on the sides of my face. They moved down to my waist and kept on their excursion until they cupped my bottom.

I pulled away. "I can't tell if that means it went well or not."

"Shh," he placed a finger over my lips and was quick to replace it with his lips as he backed me up into the apartment.

Still wearing the suit he wore to the meeting, Carter undid his tie and tossed it aside. My fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt. It didn't matter that we hadn't spoken. All that mattered was the need pulsing through us, between us, the need to connect, to be part of each other.

"Does this mean you got the funding?" I asked pulling his now open shirt out of his pants.

"I don't know. I think I convinced Dr. Wilson. Mrs. Shields made it clear she controls the purse strings."

"She was there?" I ran my hands up the warm skin of his stomach and chest.

"Uh huh."
He picked my shirt up over my head, pulled the cups of my bra down and admired my breasts.

"
Mmm. How I missed you," he brought his mouth down to one breast, his tongue flicking back and forth over its peak while his hand kneaded the other.

"Did she like your plans?" I asked finding it near impossibl
e to maintain the conversation.

"Don't know." He pulled away to answer as his hands took their fill of me, caressing, and pinching the peaks of both breasts. He bent down ready for his mouth and tongue to meet my other breast. Before he could, the doorbell rang. Carter pulled away, "Expecting someone?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Then ignore it. They'll go away."

"Give me a minute, maybe it's a delivery or something."

"Are you waiting for one?"

"No." I pulled away, adjusted my bra and put my shirt back on before I opened the door.

"Hi, Beth."

My stomach dropped like a barrel over Niagara Falls, hard and fast. My heartbeat picked up strength and speed. My mouth went dry. I recognized those large brown eyes, the shaggy look of his dirty brown hair, and perfectly trimmed, layer of stubble covering his face.

Mason.

"Beth." He leaned forward, placing his hand on the doorjamb, probably so I wouldn't slam it in his face "I need to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say. And this isn't a good time." I started to close the door hoping he'd pick up on the cue and back off.

"Please just hear me out."

I felt him come up behind me. I didn't need to look back to feel the tension and heat that seeme
d to bounce off Carter onto me.

"Is everything alright?"

I nodded, too nervous to look at him when I answered. I kept my focus on Mason hoping he'd take the hint and leave.

"Everything's fine. He was just leaving."

"I'm not leaving. You need to hear me out."

"No, I don't. I'd think you would've gotten the hint whe
n I hung up on you."

With his shirt still askew, Carter stepped up from behind me so that we were standing side by side. He didn't say anything, but a quick glance at him, I could see his jaw clenched and anger
burning, seething in his eyes.

Mason turned. It was like he just noticed Carter was there.

"Who's this?"

"I'm her fiancé."

"Fiancé? Beth, please, you can't marry him. Not until we talk."

"I think you should leave." Ca
rter's voice was cold and hard.

"Please, give me another chance. I told Mandy about us."

"You shouldn't have."

"I owed her the truth. I owed it to you. I never meant to hurt you."

"C'mon, buddy," Carter stepped forward. "She doesn't want you here."

"Not until Beth asks me to leave."

"Leave. Go home. Go back to your wife and kids."

Carter took another step forward. He brought his hand up to Mason's chest, backing him away.

"This isn't over. Beth. I love you and I want you back."

I turned and went back into the apartment knowing I needed to explain the scene to Carter. It wasn't the scene that concerned me. It was the questions and implications that would follow. I should've told him about Mason, should've told him the whole story when he asked.
Or when Mason called. I knew it was a bad sign when I found that note mixed in with my mail. Why the hell did he have to show up?

A few minutes passed before Carter came back into the apartment. When he did, he shut the door and leaned against it. His hands were up on either side of his head, his eyes closed
, no doubt recomposing himself.

"Did you know he was coming? Is that why you were late?"

I swallowed hard. I couldn't possibly tell him what happened with his father now. He wouldn't understand. First, I had to clear up the Mason mess.

"No, I just . . ." I searched for an excuse.
Anything that might be plausible. "I was on the phone with my mother and I lost track of time. My parents invited us to dinner on Sunday. They want to . . ."