A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(135)

Kat made to move back, to give him some space, but his hand flew to her waist, stopping her.

Carter closed his eyes and spoke in one long breath. “Do you have plans for this weekend? Because if you don’t I’d like to take you somewhere. If you don’t want to I understand, but I’d really like you to come with me. I want to spend some time with you. I mean, I don’t know …” He muttered a number of colorful curses before he shoved the tips of his fingers into his jean pockets.

Kat folded her hands together nervously. “Just us?”

Carter’s eyes shot up, blazing blue and hopeful. “Yeah.”

She cupped his cheek, smiling warmly. “I’d love to.”

Carter blinked, not attempting to hide his surprise. “Really?”

Kat laughed. “I said so, didn’t I?”

His chest rumbled with a low self-mocking laugh.

He glanced toward the empty reading room doorway and reached for her hand, clasping it gently between his large fingers. He tilted his head to the right. “I know it’s against session rules, but I’m f*cking dyin’ to kiss you.”

Kat instinctively licked her lips.

“Just a small one.” His thumb snuck under the edge of her blouse, skimming her stomach, igniting the glowing embers in her blood. “Just a small taste.”

Kat moaned deep in her throat, hearing the words he’d spoken the first time he’d ever kissed her. As soon as their lips met, her body relaxed. She forgot about the rules and risks. She forgot about Austin, her mother, and Beth.

All that mattered were his hands on her face, the strength of his body, and the way his tongue possessed every inch of her mouth.

She grasped his belt loops and pulled him closer, not giving a damn whether anyone saw.





24


Kat answered her cell phone on the third ring. “Ben, how are you?”

His smile could be heard in his answering words. “I’m great. How’re you?”

“I’m okay.”

“That’s good. That’s good. So, um, Beth called last night. She said you’ve still not spoken.”

Kat sighed. “No.”

Ben hummed. “Kat, I—”

“I know, Ben,” Kat interrupted sharply. “I’ll talk to her when I’m ready, okay?”

“Okay.”

Kat pressed her lips together and took a deep breath, fighting off the sadness that pressed heavier every day she didn’t answer Beth’s or her mother’s calls. “So did you get Carter’s e-mail?” she asked, changing the subject quickly. “Were the details enough?”

Ben chuckled. “Oh yeah. That’s what I was calling to let you know. Everything’s ready to go with Ford tomorrow. What Carter sent was fantastic. Tell him thanks. How did he get hold of that stuff?”

“I have no idea. I didn’t dare ask.”

“Well, it made for very interesting reading. Seems our boy Austin has been playing with those he shouldn’t. The Feds would have a field day with this shit, and if his shareholders got a whiff, having an ex-con on the board members list would be the least of his worries.”

Kat didn’t doubt it. Since she had asked Ben to help Carter with reclaiming his business, Ben had been working like a demon, calling in favors and hunting for any type of dirt he could find. Unsurprisingly, it hadn’t taken long.

“You’re meeting tomorrow?” Kat asked, getting into her car in Arthur Kill’s parking lot.

“Yeah.” Ben laughed. “Austin must be curious to have set up the meeting on a Saturday.”