Hate to Date You (Dating #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,40
inner sanctuary.”
“My inner sanctuary? Trust me, it’s not that special.”
“You always keep that door shut. I’ve never even caught a glimpse inside. I want to check out your bedroom.”
“You have seen it.” She pauses. “Remember?”
Oh yeah.
Truthfully? That night is a hazy memory. Of drunken laughter and hot kisses and clothes flying. I remember how at one point, Stella draped her naked body across mine, how warm her skin was. The needy little sounds she made when she came. The way she tasted.
“I don’t remember much,” I admit. “I need a refresher.”
Stella stands, laughing some more. “You’re incorrigible.”
“That’s my best trait.” I glance up at her, smiling. “You ready?”
“No. Not yet. You can wait, Carter.”
She walks away, leaving me half-hard and stunned. Normally I can convince a woman to leave with me in less than two minutes.
Not this one. She’s a challenge.
One I’m determined to accept.
Fifteen
Stella
Carter is very determined when he wants something—it must be an Abbott trait, since Caroline is exactly the same.
I should’ve realized this, at the very least remembering how he pursued me the last time we were at Tuscany together, with all those smoldering glances he sent in my direction.
After I walked away from our very interesting conversation, he followed me. I’d stop and talk with my friends, he’d stop too. Interrupting our conversation with some charming remark and making them all laugh. Poor Eleanor ended up getting an Uber and making her escape early. I can’t blame her. I bet she’s pissed at me for asking her to flirt with Carter.
She’ll get over it, though, once she starts collecting her two weeks’ worth of lattes from me.
When he interrupts a conversation Caroline is a part of, she sends her big brother on his way, which is a relief.
“How are you two doing, living together?” Caroline asks once Carter leaves our group, her expression serious. “Are you getting along?”
“We’re fine. We barely see each other.” Which is true.
“When we were growing up, he was a complete slob. His room was disgusting.” Caroline makes a face. “I hope he still isn’t like that.”
“You already warned me about that,” I remind her. “Besides, he’s a grown man, Caroline, not a gross teenager. From what I can tell, he’s neat and tidy.”
Sarah bursts out laughing. “You sound like an old woman, Stella. Neat and tidy?” Her laughter grows and Kelsey joins in, the jerks. “Glad to hear he’s such a gosh darn swell roommate.”
I glare at the both of them, wondering what the hell is so funny. Though I’m pretty sure I know what they’re thinking. How Carter and I have done the deed, yet his sister doesn’t have a clue. Anything I say about Carter to Caroline right now is probably like a big joke to them. “Shut up.”
“I don’t think I could ever describe my brother as neat and tidy,” Caroline says, her nose wrinkling.
“You haven’t lived with him in a long time,” I point out. “People change.”
“I saw that you two came together tonight,” Kelsey says with raised eyebrows. She works at Wilder Hotel Corp—she used to be Alex’s assistant, but he recently promoted her, and now she helps coordinate events. Caroline pulled her into our friend group at first, and we all love her.
Most of the time.
Right now I’m not too sure.
“He was ready to leave. I was ready to leave.” I shrug. “We both walked over here together.”
“It must be nice, living so close,” Kelsey says with a sigh. “You’re within walking distance of everything here downtown.”
“The only problem is downtown Carmel lacks a reasonably priced grocery store. And gas station.” Everything is so pricey in this area, and while I don’t have a problem with spending money, sometimes I wish a supermarket was closer. Downtown is a complete tourist trap, but it’s also a place where people work and live. Locals need cheap stuff too, whether it’s a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas.
Of course, I live in an extremely wealthy part of the peninsula. So I guess cheap gas and groceries isn’t high on my neighbors’ priority lists.
“True.” Caroline presses her lips together for a moment, glancing around at all of us before her gaze settles on me. “Can I talk to you for a moment, Stella? In private?”
Making agreeable murmurs, our friends leave, giving us privacy, and I can’t help the nerves from forming. Why does she want to talk to me?
Is it about Carter?
“It’s about Carter,” she starts.
Oh no.
My heart sinks into my stomach and I open my mouth,