“I can just leave it here if you want.” I indicated toward the table and then clarified, “On the table.” I shifted awkwardly, not wanting to rush out but knowing it was for the best. I needed this job. “I’ll get out of your hair. Just give me a call if you want me to go over anything with you.” I placed the envelope on the table and tapped my pointer finger on it before taking a step back. “Okay….” I was a blundering idiot and would soon be hitting the realms of destroying my ego and any chance of suave I had going for me, or hell, any chance of getting the job if I wasn’t careful.
I ground my teeth together, all levels of pissed off at myself. This was not me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been in the same vicinity of a gorgeous man before. Regardless, he affected me.
“Oh.” He turned toward me, pan in hand as he removed it from the heat. He chewed at the corner of his lip before continuing, “Err, I don’t suppose you want to stay for dinner and then you can explain it all to me?” A light blush spread across his cheeks, something he’d done a lot since we’d met. “All this house stuff, materials and tools, is so out of my comfort zone.” He gave a short laugh. “It would really help me get my head around everything.” He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “I have plenty. I always make more than I should.” His blush turned a brighter shade of red as his mouth ran away with him.
I nodded and took a step back to the table. “Sure, I can do that.” I held back the smile desperate to break free, knowing if it escaped, I’d look like an idiot with a big-ass grin.
It didn’t stop Carter from smiling broadly though, his pearly whites on full display. “Perfect. It’s just spaghetti bolognese. I hope that’s okay?”
“Sounds great, thanks.” I couldn’t remember the last time anyone other than Davis had cooked for me. “I just need to shoot off a text, then do you need me to do anything?” I asked, feeling like an idiot as I stood staring at him.
Still stirring the pot he held in his hand, he nodded and indicated the fridge. “There’s beer and white wine in the fridge. Red’s just on the counter. Help yourself.” He then turned and set about finishing the food.
Exhaling, I cracked my neck, trying to relieve some of the tension that sat on my shoulders. “Beer’s good, thanks. What are you having?”
“Red, please. The glasses are just to the right of my head.”
After shooting off a quick text to Davis letting him know I wouldn’t be over to help with Libby at bath time, I held back the groan when he immediately texted me back offering me his words of wisdom.
Davis: Behave and if you can’t keep it in your pants, make sure you give the best head ever. Stop being a fucking pussy!
It may not have been my smartest move to tell him about Carter and how fucking hot he was. Davis hadn’t let up since then. He’d been actively encouraging me to screw my no-fraternizing rule, which he’d said was “the biggest pile-of-crap excuse” he’d ever heard. I knew he was onto something, but there was no way I’d tell him that.
After turning my phone to silent and shoving it in my pocket, I ventured over to where Carter stood, stepped around him, and reached up, my chest brushing against his back. I swallowed hard when his intake of breath hit my ears.Retreat, retreat,sounded in my head, even though it was the last thing my cock wanted. Clenching my jaw as I stopped myself from reaching out and doing something stupid, I quickly swiped a glass from the shelf, grabbed the bottle of wine, and headed straight for the fridge. The distance helped—a little.
After I’d sorted our drinks, I went to the table and sat down, watching Carter flitter around the kitchen, organizing the dinnerware, straining the pasta, and then finally dishing up. I took the opportunity to get myself under control and put my game face on. Mixing business with pleasure was never a good idea. While it could be all sorts of fun, Carter’s job would take months to complete. If it had been a quick one, I was sure I would have already pounced on him by the time he’d put the plate in front of me. But it wasn’t. Any sort of play would have been an asshole move. Relationships could so quickly get screwed, which would make working for him a nightmare. I had to be smarter than that.
“So, dig in,” Carter said, offering me a smile as he picked up his utensils.
“Thanks.” I drank a mouthful of beer before doing exactly that.
I didn’t hold backand happily accepted a second helping. Carter could cook, like seriously cook. As I scooped up the last bit of sauce on my spoon, I became embarrassingly aware that the room seemed very still. I lifted my gaze to find Carter openly staring at me. He held his wine in one hand, his chin resting on the other. I placed the spoon in my mouth quickly, not aiming for sexy, simply not wanting to spill the sauce on my tee.
His gaze flicked to my mouth, and it took everything in me to chew the food and not choke on it. While his attention wasn’t unwanted, I felt on display, a position I was not used to. Swallowing, I placed my spoon down and picked up the napkin off my lap, inwardly smiling that he’d offered me one in the first place. I didn’t know anyone who used a napkin at home, let alone fabric ones.
“That was great. Thanks.”
Offering me a wide smile, he sat up and took a sip of his wine. “My pleasure. It was nice to have company.”
I nodded, feeling the same way. Admittedly I had Davis and Libby, but still, Carter’s company was a welcome treat. “So,” I began, feeling the need to steer the conversation, “veterinarian, huh, was that what you always wanted to do?”
Carter nodded. “Yeah. Always loved animals as a kid. I did well at school and had a head for science.” He shrugged. “I also had a habit of searching for injured wildlife and trying to get them back to health.” He laughed. “My parents never knew what to expect when they’d get home from work.”
I grinned, imagining a young Carter sneaking in creatures and hiding them in his bedroom. “Pretty cool.” I looked around the room. “No pets?”
He shook his head. “One day maybe. I’d love a dog and have a huge yard out back, plus the practice I work at is pretty great and actually allows dogs to come to work, as there’s a good-sized run outside, but I have all of this to contend with first.” He indicated the room.
“That makes sense. Holes in floorboards and dog paws probably aren’t the best match.” I threw him a wink, unable to stop myself. I watched in fascination as pink swept across his cheeks.
He cleared his throat. “What about you? Are you an animal lover?”
“I always had a dog as a kid,” I answered, “and would love a dog now. I’m finally feeling settled in town so am actually on the lookout.”
“What breed?”
I shrugged before taking a pull of my beer. “Not quite sure. I like big dogs, ones you can get on the floor and wrestle with, you know?” He laughed. The genuine joy in the sound pulled a grin to my own mouth. “I have my name down on a few rescue lists for larger dogs. Just waiting for the call.”
Taking a sip of wine, Carter kept his gaze on mine. He pulled the glass from his mouth and swiped the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip. “That’s great, especially that it’ll be a rescue.”
