A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(186)

Hopefully, it would be enough. Jesus Christ, he hoped it would be enough.

If he could make Kat’s mother see he wasn’t all about the length of his criminal record, and that mistakes don’t define a man, then he would be on the home stretch. Goddammit, he was a wreck. He wondered fleetingly if he would have time to have a smoke before battle commenced.

“We’re here,” Kat murmured, turning off the car engine.

Apparently not.

Carter swallowed and opened his eyes. “Peaches.”

“Carter.”

They spoke at the same time, nervous and quiet. Carter turned to her with a wry smile.

“Go on,” he offered.

“No,” she insisted with a shake of her head. “Please, what were you going to say?”

What was he going to say? He had no idea whether her name had escaped him simply because the sound of it and the knowledge she was close by comforted him more than he could express. Carter picked up her hand and brought it to his mouth, placing a courtly kiss in her palm.

He sighed. “Whatever she says, whatever she calls me or accuses me of. Whatever happens, I want you to promise me that you won’t say anything.”

Kat’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You heard me.”

If he was going to do this, he had to do it alone. What kind of mother wanted to see the man who loved her daughter as a weak, incapable prick? The last thing he wanted was for Kat to defend him. He was determined to fight this one on his own.

“I can’t promise that, Carter.”

“Please. I need you to do this for me.”

Fire sparked in her eyes. “If she says—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Carter said firmly, interrupting her. “Look at me. I’m not going anywhere.” He brushed the back of his fingers down the side of her face. “I swear to you. Do you trust me?”

She nodded. “But I’m terrified.”

“I know,” Carter whispered. He kissed her fingertips.

“I’ll try and keep my mouth shut,” she said with conviction. “But if she starts, so will I.”

It was as much as he could hope for.

Standing on Nana Boo’s porch waiting for someone to open the damned door, Carter clutched Kat’s hand like a drowning man. He knew he was drawing all of his strength from her, but that was fine. When her small fingers tightened around his, he knew she was doing the same thing.

The sound of a dead bolt sliding home made his neck tingle and his throat dry.

Go big or go home, right?

[page]Trevor opened the door with a wide, gracious smile as Reggie wagged his tail heartily at his side. “Miss Katherine. Mr. Carter. How nice to see you again. Please come in.”


Kat smiled, but Carter could do little more than grimace. He literally had to pull his feet from the floor so he could walk forward. It was just his luck: the confidence and determination that had filled his body the day before had all but disappeared now that he needed it. With a jolt he suddenly felt very, very foolish.

Kat pulled both of his hands to hers. He pursed his lips and blew a breath of relief, so grateful for her, standing with him, on his side, ready to back him up in any way she could.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” Nana Boo smiled warmly at Carter and kissed his cheek. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.” He stood back and fixed her with an apologetic stare. “I’m sorry about yesterday.” Kat’s hand pressed into the small of his back. “I’m an idiot and the last thing I wanted to do was to upset Kat. I mean, I know she’d have been upset,” he mumbled. “I just— I wanted— I’m sorry I left, okay, and … yeah.”