Katie. I consider asking about Carter and his knee and school plans, then opt not to. Carter should be the one telling me those things if he wants to.
After inhaling the mouthwatering aroma for far too long, we sit around eating and discussing random subjects. Mr. Cooper argues with Carter about the best muscle cars, and Mrs. Cooper talks about the new summer lines arriving in her boutique.
"Speaking of—" She sneaks a peek at Carter, who nods, before looking back to me. "Carter mentioned you were searching for a job."
Carter’s hand giving my knee a squeeze beneath the table prevents a freak-out. He wouldn't have told his mother about today, right? He said on the way over that I controlled what they learn about me. My gaze slides right, and I release my held breath at the almost imperceptible shake of his head.
"Chase typically works for me, but she would rather work at the garage with three gorgeous men and her brother—"
Carter chokes on his drink. "Those three men better have nothing to do with why Chase works with me, or I'll fire her sorry butt."
"Hear, hear." Mr. Cooper seconds, prompting Chase to drop her head in her hands.
"Anyway," Mrs. Cooper says extra loud. "I could use another manager. The hours are pretty regular during the weekdays. Nine to six-thirty. Every other Saturday. More hours than a normal full-time job, but I can be flexible."
My jaw falls.
"I assume you're only here until the fall semester, so if learning the ropes for a management position seems too much, I'm always in need of mature sales consultants."
"No. No, a manager position would be fine if you're sure you want to bother training me since I won't be here all that long." I slouch back in my chair, shocked by her kindness, at Carter's help. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Cooper. I can't tell you how much … my coming home wasn't planned, so finding a job was difficult." Carter's hand breaches the gap between us, landing on my thigh with a squeeze.
"Gail, please," she says encouragingly. "And don't thank me, you're the blessing here." The way she spoke the words has me thinking she's talking about more than the job. "I don't hire just anyone at the store. I'm rather picky, which is why I hadn't replaced Chase, but Carter vouches for you, and I trust him."
"So, where to?" Carter asks when we're leaving his parents’ home two hours later. He forces me against the passenger door of his Chevelle and boxes me in until our bodies are flush.
My arms drop around his waist, craving his proximity as his mouth descends upon my neck. I called Dad and verified he was well while Carter ran back inside for an unknown reason. That leaves one thing on my mind.
My hands lower over his ass. "Your place?"
Carter's mouth smiles against my skin. "Fuck, yes."
Carter
The necessity of words is overrated.
Jess’s intentions are evident in the indentation of her teeth on her lip and in her hips sway. In the arch of delicate shaped brows over warm chocolate eyes when she looks over her shoulder, and in the way she lowers her zipper, letting the innocent white fall away, and leaving me trailing a raven-haired queen to wherever she leads.
I swallow a litany of thoughts when I enter my bedroom. Her back faces me, nothing but dark hair and round ass cheeks covered by white cotton boy shorts. They're sexy as hell. Then she turns, and her breasts are bare, and I fucking lose it. My needy hands reach for the warmth of her skin, pining for a touch, and Jess evades me until she's against the wall with a smirk on her lips. She's one hundred percent in control of this situation.
"I can't with you," I say, pressing the flat of my hand over her breastbone, and gliding my index finger between the valley of her breasts.
Her eyes hold mine while her fingers unbutton my dress shirt, her movements painstaking and slow. "You can't what?"
"Take your pick." I palm her breast. "I can't look at you without the yearning to devour you." My thumb swipes across the peak of her nipple, circling. "I can't think of you without worrying if you're okay." Her chest rises like she’s seeking more from my touch as she drags one sleeve down. I aid in removing my arm and switch hands on her chest. Giving her right breast the same attention while she finishes divesting me of my shirt.
"And