A Pound of Flesh (A Pound of Flesh #1)(83)

“How do you know that?” She watched his Adam’s apple dip and rise in his throat.

“Because he misses her, you know, when, um, when she’s not there.”

His eyes met Kat’s for a split second, but that was enough time to send a burning-hot dagger of desire straight through her center.

“How do you know he’s confused?”

Carter smiled with the right corner of his mouth. A knowing look shimmered across his high cheekbones. “A hunch.” He looked at the text. He scratched at his jaw. “He’s … ‘hollow.’ He’s empty without her.”

His blue gaze lifted from Hemingway’s words. What Kat saw there made her heart almost stop.

Usually, when Carter’s eyes were on her, Kat saw raw sex and desire. It always tinged his irises, making them a cloudless blue. That was still there, but more prevalent than that was a remorseful haze surrounding every inch of his pupils. It was so clear, Kat knew without his saying a word how he was feeling. He was sorry. And she felt the exact same way.

She had no idea how long they sat—looking at each other, lost in each other—and only returned to where she was when Carter touched her. His palm was warm and comfortable on the back of her hand, and the hot fizz of energy that was always present between them breathed a sigh of relief.

[page]It seemed like forever since he’d touched her.

Carter edged forward. “Peaches,” he said, allowing his thumb to smooth its way across her skin. He kept his eyes on the table where their hands joined. His hands felt so good. Fleetingly, her mind began to imagine how they would feel on other parts of her.

Her attraction to Carter was slowly turning into something more, something scary and irrevocable. She was tired of denying it, of course, but she still had to tread a careful path.

Carter’s hand squeezed hers. “About Saturday—”

“It’s fine.”

“No,” he retorted firmly. “It’s not. It was— I mean, yeah, the kiss was …” He raised his eyebrows. “Look, whatever you think of me, I didn’t kiss you to be a dick. Honestly.”

“I know, I—”

“The thing is.” He paused, his brows almost meeting in the middle. “The thing is, I might not have flowery f*cking words or anything, but I’m … I’m serious about you.”

Dizziness accosted Kat, making her grip on Carter’s hand tighten.

“I know it’s not the perfect situation.” He pointed to himself. “I’m just a … and you’re … but, f*ck, I’m happy to have anything you’re willing to give me at this point. Just sitting here with you would be enough.”

The sincerity of his words made Kat want to fall into his arms and never leave them. Unable to articulate how hard her heart was beating, she simply uttered, “Okay.”

Carter appeared satisfied with her answer. “Okay?”

She smiled.

“Are we good?” he asked quietly, watching her carefully.

Kat cleared her throat. “We’re good.”

Carter exhaled, seemingly torn. “I’m glad, but I need you to understand something, Peaches.” He licked his lips. “I’m not sorry, and I’d do it again in a f*cking heartbeat.”

Oh God.

Realizing she was staring and barely breathing, Kat dragged her eyes from Carter and quickly pulled a folder full of papers from her bag. Change the subject. Change the subject …

“Do you want these now?” She placed them on the table.