The Merriest Magnolia (Magnolia Sisters #2) - Michelle Major Page 0,57

end of the holiday season, for now she wasn’t ready to let him go.

“Are we good?” he asked, poised at her body’s entrance. “I only want this if it’s what you want, too.”

“More than anything,” she told him honestly and the way his face lit with relief and gratitude made her heart hurt just the tiniest bit.

Then he pushed into her, filling her body and her senses until their current reality vanished. All that was left was need and desire. They moved together like their bodies were made for each other, pressure building within her and around her until she wasn’t sure where she ended and Dylan began. Carrie rode the blissful wave until she couldn’t hold out any longer and her release crested over her.

She held on to Dylan, whispering his name and taking him over the edge with her.

It was everything she’d remembered and more. So much more, which she knew could only mean one thing. It would hurt so much worse when it ended.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“CARRIE!”

Carrie stepped away from where she stood in front of the easel, pulling the earbud from her ear and pausing the music. “What’s wrong?” She looked between Meredith and Avery, who were staring at her from the doorway of the studio. “What’s going on?”

Meredith thumped the heel of her palm against her forehead. “You haven’t been kidnapped and held captive in some crazy basement bunker.”

“Are you disappointed?” Carrie asked with a surprised laugh.

Avery stepped forward. “We’ve been calling and texting for the past hour. You never showed up for dinner.”

Carrie blinked then glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot. I lost track of the time.” She’d made plans to meet her sisters, along with two members of the town council to discuss next steps for Magnolia’s tourism plan after the first of the year.

“Tonight was important.” Avery’s soft admonishment made the hair on the back of Carrie’s neck stand on end. “Everyone was expecting you. We need to capitalize on the success of the festival activities if we’re going to stop Dylan.”

“I realize that.” She put down the paintbrush gripped tightly between her fingers and wiped her hands on a towel. Letting people down was not something in Carrie’s usual repertoire. Normally her life was based on a solid underpinning of how she could help, what she could do better and her need to go above and beyond with the way she contributed to the community. She should feel guiltier about forgetting tonight and worrying her sisters and her friends.

She glanced toward the canvas that engulfed her attention and pride swelled inside her chest, despite knowing she’d disappointed the people who mattered to her. Tonight she’d also taken care of herself, and that mattered.

She mattered.

“Does this have something to do with Dylan Scott?” Meredith demanded.

“Excuse me?”

Her petite younger sister put her hands on her slim hips. “Has he gotten to you? Convinced you that the festival and what comes next in Magnolia isn’t as important as his plan? You know if we fail at this, it sets him up to prove our vision for the future as a legitimate tourist destination is just a pipe dream. He’ll gather support and momentum to turn this place into the North Carolina coast’s version of Monte Carlo or some other snobby playground for the wealthy. He’s using you to ruin everything we’ve worked for.”

“He’s using me?” Heat crept up Carrie’s spine. Since the previous weekend, she’d spent every night in Dylan’s bed, drawn by their connection and the way she seemed to come alive in his arms. He’d invited her for dinner tomorrow night, a real date, he’d called it. At the time the gesture had seemed sweet. He wanted her to know she meant more than just a secret tryst. Which was exactly the reason she’d only visited under the cover of darkness, once Sam and most of the rest of the town had drifted off to sleep.

The invitation flattered her, but she had her priorities straight. The physical pleasure of being with him didn’t change the fact that they were on opposite sides of Magnolia’s future. She almost never lost sight of her goal.

“You know what I mean,” Meredith added, her tone softer, as if she realized she’d overstepped some invisible line.

“We don’t want you to forget what’s important.” Avery smiled. “This town is everything to you.”

“Not everything.” Carrie shook her head. “For too long it’s been everything. I’m dedicated to Magnolia’s success, but maybe I want something for myself, as well.” She pointed a