Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2)(81)
“Stupid? I’m sorry. You haven’t exactly been a monk all these years. I figured a zebra doesn’t change his stripes.”
“So you think I’m working this hard just to get laid? ‘Cause let me tell you, I could get laid with a whole lot less hassle if I wanted to.”
“That’s flattering.”
“It should be. I don’t want some easy woman, Liz. I want you.” He shook his head and choked on a laugh as he shoved his hand through his hair. “For some reason I haven’t figured out, I like your company more than other women. I like your lists. I even like your crazy, run-for-the-hills-every-chance-he-can-get cat. Sure, I like the sex, and I hope we can have a whole lot more of it, because I haven’t begun to do to you all I’ve thought about doing to you, but—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—even if we didn’t have sex, I’d still want to spend time with you.”
Liz stared at him, her heart thudding in her breast as she struggled to absorb his words. Fought against her own cynicism to believe them. “You would?”
He reached across and took her hands again. Warmed them. “Yes.”
She couldn’t look away, couldn’t tear her gaze from his as the energy—the need—coursing into her through their entwined fingers held her in its grasp. “So what do you want from me?” she breathed.
He shrugged. “Six weeks?”
Liz blinked, trying vainly to control her pulse and scattered thoughts. She pulled her hands back and folded them in her lap. “Six weeks?” she echoed.
Carter smiled, a brilliant, intoxicating light, as he leaned across the table again. “Yeah. Six weeks. If at the end you’re done with me, that’s it. We call it quits. If you’re not—”
“If I’m not?”
“We renegotiate.”
Liz twirled her straw in her tea, stalling for time. “I leave for Chicago in two days.”
“Go back Sunday instead. Give us another weekend together.”
“Even if I could get my flights changed...” She shook her head. “This is crazy. What do you expect to happen in six weeks? I’m not even going to be here most—”
“Just give me a chance is all I’m asking for. Let what’s happening between us happen. Don’t think about the distance or the logistics. No over-thinking. No excuses. Just... enjoy it. ”
She bit her lip and studied him. “What about sex?”
“I’m for it. You?”
She shook her head even as a smile curved her lips, the warm suggestion in his eyes sending electric tingles to her toes—and other places. She doubted she’d ever find equilibrium again. “I can’t believe I’m even considering this.”
“Then say ‘yes.’”
“I,” she met his gaze and soaked in the promises unspoken there, forgot the humiliation, the rational arguments. Forgot to be jaded. “Fine. Six weeks,” she said.
“Let’s shake on it.”
Liz reached toward him then yelped in surprise as Carter clasped her hand and all but pulled her over the table. “On second thought, let’s seal it with a kiss.”
“I—”
And that was the last rational thought she had as his lips slid over hers, teasing, tempting... until a polite cough intruded on Liz’s consciousness and with her lips still planted on Carter’s, she slid her eyes over to see the waitress who was waiting to deliver their appetizer.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
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“I WONDER IF THEY’VE HAD SEX YET.”
Ruth gave Lydia a quelling look. They’d arrived at Claire’s house soon after Claire returned home from the hospital bearing food and non-alcoholic drinks to celebrate the fact that Claire wasn’t, in fact, dying. At this age, it was always cause to celebrate when one left the hospital on one’s own two feet.
“What? It’s a perfectly reasonable question. I bet they have.”
Ruth pulled the cover off her hastily prepared veggie platter and set to work making chicken salad sandwiches.
Claire sipped the lemonade they’d set in front of her and made a face. “They have. But it’s too soon. Things aren’t going well.”
“Things are going perfectly well,” June disagreed as she set a bakery box on the counter. The smell of chocolate wafted through the kitchen. “I’ve spoken to Kate myself. There’s definitely something brewing there.”
“They’re barely talking,” Ruth said. “Did you see how awkward things were when they left the E.R.? I’d say there’s a definite problem.”
“And I’m saying if he and Liz are having issues it means they mean something to each other. I think things are going swimmingly.”
“I agree with June!” said Lydia as she gathered plates and utensils. “Kate even left town on Jim. Remember that? But that all turned out in the end. Give it time. If the sex is good, they’ll be back together...”
“If the sex is good? Where’d you hear that?” asked Claire. “People have sex all the time without getting married.”
“That’s just everyday sex,” said Lydia, popping a cherry tomato into her mouth. “Over the moon sex is entirely different.”