by Jill Sanders
“Your pupils are responding nicely.” He patted her hand. “I think you’ll walk away with a bump and a small cut.” He turned away from her. “I’d like to take her in for some scans…”
“No.” She groaned at the thought of moving again. She didn’t think her stomach could handle it.
“She can stay here,” Carter jumped in. The room went silent, and she glanced around at the looks on her family’s face. “I’ll sleep in the guest room,” he added as if it was obvious. “I’ve got plenty of rooms.” He motioned. “If she doesn’t want to be moved…”
Just then Robert came in.
“Heard you had a little run-in.” He sat next to her. “Sorry I took some time to get up here. I was checking all the guests. There isn’t anyone on the grounds or in the house that I don’t know. I’m having Simon go around and write down the name of everyone who is here, for the record. Can you tell me what happened?”
She ran over what she could with him, but she was feeling so tired and didn’t really remember what had happened. It was hard to focus through the pain.
“I’ll want to meet with you tomorrow, when you’re feeling better. Maybe you’ll think of something else.”
“Okay,” she said.
“If she’s going to stay here,” Aaron said once Robert left the room, “someone will need to check on her every hour.”
“I’m a light sleeper,” Carter added. “Besides, I’ll be up cleaning up after the party.”
“Jordans never leave a party without helping clean up,” her mother jumped in. “But it’s up to Riley if she wants to stay.”
“I already have my bag.” She waved her hand to where her stuff sat just inside his bedroom door. “I brought it to change into after the party so I could help clean up.” She glanced slowly over at Carter. “If you don’t mind…”
He touched her hand. “I feel somewhat responsible. You were hurt in my house, after all.”
She nodded and then groaned and rested her head back on the pillow. “I’m not moving.” She sighed. “Not until the world stops spinning.”
“It’s settled then.” Aaron leaned closer to her. “I’ll put a bandage over the cut.” He pulled her head up and she leaned slightly as he wrapped gauze around her head like a bandana and taped it. “I’ll leave these.” He pulled several new packages of gauze out of the medical bag he always kept in the trunk of his car. “You’ll help her change this if it needs?”
“Yes.” Carter nodded.
“She can have a few of these.” Aaron pulled out a small bottle. “But I’d wait until the wine wears off.”
“I only had…” She couldn’t remember how many glasses she’d had, or much else about the night. She frowned.
“In the morning,” Aaron said. “After breakfast, if she’s hurting.”
Carter took the bottle from him. “I’m on it.” He tucked the pills into his pocket.
“I’ll call first thing in the morning,” Aaron promised her. Then he looked over at Carter. “You have my number?”
“Yes, it’s programmed—”
“I mean my personal cell.” He pulled a card from his wallet. “Text or call if anything changes.”
“Us too,” her mother jumped in.
“Let’s all let her get some rest. We’ll be downstairs, cleaning up.” Aaron leaned in and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll check on you before I leave.”
“Thanks.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.” She remembered why they were having a party. “Oh my god. Lilly and Corey.”
“They don’t know yet. I thought…” her mother started.
“No, good. It’s better I didn’t spoil their night.” She rested back.
“I was going to tell them when I went back down,” her mother added, “since it appears the party is dying down anyway.”
She sighed. “If Lilly wants to see me, tell her to bring a slice of that cake up.”
Her father laughed. “See, that’s a good sign.”
Carter was the only one who remained as everyone else left the room.
“I’m sorry I bled all over your dress shirt.” She reached up and touched his sleeve. His shoulder, the one she’d rested back on, was covered with a dark stain.
He glanced down and sighed. “I can buy more.” He shrugged and was silent for a moment. “Did you see who hit you?” She noticed the worried look in his eyes.
“No.” She frowned. “I didn’t.” She watched him think about it for a moment.
“Do you think there were two of them?” he asked.
“I…” Suddenly she realized what he was thinking. “You think it was your parents?” she asked.
Before he could answer, Lilly rushed in and flew towards her, tears in her eyes.
“What happened?” she cried out.
“Where’s my cake?” she tried to joke.
For the next half an hour, Lilly sat with her while Carter and Corey returned downstairs to help clean up.
When Corey came upstairs to gather Lilly to go home, the house was silent, and she was nibbling on a slice of chocolate cake with caramel ice cream. Lilly had helped her change out of her dress and, since it was soiled with blood, promised to drop it off at the dry cleaners first thing in the morning for her. She pulled on the pair of cotton shorts and tank top she’d brought to help clean up in, since they were soft and comfortable.
“I don’t expect to see you in the shop tomorrow,” Lilly warned. “Suzie’s already promised to fill in for you tomorrow and the next day, if you need it.”
“Really, I’m fine…” she started, but her cousin gave her a look and she shut her mouth. “Thanks,” she said instead. She didn’t know how she would feel tomorrow, but already, her head was throbbing. She desperately wished for a dark room and some sleep.
Lilly kissed her forehead, much like the rest of her family had when they had left and turned to Carter.
“Call us if you need anything,” she said.
“I will,” he agreed.
“Same goes for you, bro,” Corey jumped in. “Take the day off, watch her.” He nodded to Riley. “I’ve got your shift.” Corey smiled. “It’s the least I can do for all the work you did pulling this together.”
“I’ll take the day,” Carter said with a laugh. “Will you be okay while I walk them out?” he asked her.
“Yes.” She handed him the half-empty plate. “I’m going to just rest my eyes.” She leaned back.
He handed the plate to Corey and grabbed a thick blanket from a chair in the corner and laid it gently over her. “If you need anything… I’ll be just down the hall.”
She nodded and couldn’t help the slight groan that escaped.
“Night.” Lilly blew her a kiss. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Night,” she said keeping her eyes closed.
Once she was alone in the dark room, she pulled the blanket up to her chin and drifted off to sleep surrounded by Carter’s scent.
True to his word, Carter woke her every hour and checked on her bandage. He changed it once in the middle of the night. She sat still as his hands worked gently, moving her dried, blood-soaked hair away so he could clean the wound with the salve her uncle had left for them.
“I think your parents think we’re sleeping together,” he said once he had started wrapping the bandage around her head again.
“What?” She jerked her head and had him making a soft hissing noise.
“Easy,” he said. “From the look your father gave me when I suggested you could stay…”
She relaxed. “Dad would have given anyone that look.” She smiled. “I’m his only daughter.” She tilted her head slightly towards him. “Think of how you would feel.”
He was silent for a while. “Yeah, I suppose. I’ve never had to deal with parents.”
“You’ve dated other women before, haven’t you?” she asked.
“Sure, but they never brought me home to meet their folks.” He shrugged and put the last piece of tape on her
bandage. His hands ran down her neck. “I’ll get a cloth to wipe the dried blood…” He stood up.
“Carter, my parents are going easy on you.” She smiled. “Trust me, I’ve seen how they act with… others.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “How many others?”
She would have laughed, but she doubted her head would allow it. “I’ve only brought two boys over to the house. My first date, when I was sixteen, and then my senior prom.”
She watched him relax. “I’ve had a few more… lady friends.”
She did laugh at this and instantly regretted it. “Afraid to call them girlfriends?” she asked, holding onto her head.
“They weren’t…” He took a deep breath. “They were just…”
“Sex?” she finished for him.
“Yeah, right.” He turned away to head into the bathroom. “None have met my parents. Thankfully.”
She thought about that while he cleaned up the dried blood.
“I thought about what you said…” she said once he was done. He turned towards her.
“About?”
“It just being sex.” She waited until he nodded.
“And?”
“I’m not that… I want more.” She crossed her hands on her lap.
His eyes ran over her, and she felt her body heat. “Don’t knock it until you give it a try.” He was teasing her, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“I bet you said that to all your lady friends.” He chuckled. “Does it ever work?”
He was sitting beside her on the bed and reached up with a finger to brush a strand of her hair away from her eyes.
“I’ll let you know.” His eyes were so mesmerizing that she found it hard to look away.
“I’ve never had just sex. With anyone. Before.” She waited until her meaning sank in. His eyes grew wide. “I think, at least for my first time, that I want more.”
He swallowed, then slowly nodded. “That would be best.” He started to get up to go.
“Carter?” He stopped and glanced over at her. “I still have my heart set on it being with you.”
She watched a different emotion cross his eyes, darkening them almost. “That’s not… going to happen.” He turned the light off and left her alone in the room.
Chapter Nine
It was impossible for Carter to sleep the rest of the night. Riley’s words kept playing over in his head.
What had he done to deserve such a gift from her? He’d never been anyone’s first before. Hell, he hadn’t been sure he was good enough to touch Riley to begin with, before she’d sprung this on him. Now, there was no way in hell he was going to touch her again. Not after knowing that.
When the sun started to streak in the windows of his guest room, he checked his watch. He needed to go check on her once more before her uncle showed up.
He pulled on his shirt and walked silently down the hallway. He was staying in the room that whoever had attacked her had been snooping around in.
There was nothing in it. All of the dresser drawers and the closets were empty. Most of his house was like that. Except his office.
“Riley?” He walked into the room and ran his eyes over her. She had gotten her color back.
Last night she’d been so pale, he swore he could see every vein in her body. Now, however, her skin was back to its beautiful glow. Damn, he had to stop thinking of her like that.
If he’d thought she was off limits before, just knowing no man had ever… He stopped himself from daydreaming about what he’d wanted to do to her since first laying eyes on her.
He reached down and touched her shoulder.
“Riley,” he said softly.
She rolled over, then groaned and reached for her head. “I’m still alive,” she said softly. “I think.”
“That’s good. I’ll want to check your bandage.” He turned on the lamp by the side of the bed. She’d tossed and turned since the last time he’d checked on her. Now the white bandage was lying on the pillow beside her.
Sitting on the side of the bed, he checked her head. “It looks like it has stopped bleeding.” He pulled off the rest of the gauze. “I’m sure your uncle will want you to keep something on it, but I don’t have anything else. He only left us enough to change it twice.”
“That’s okay.” She shifted and wiped her eyes. “What time is it?”
“A quarter to seven,” he answered without looking at the clock. “Your uncle said he’d call around eight.”
“I’m starving.” She laid her hand over her stomach.
“I was going to make something.” He mentally ran through what he was going to prepare for breakfast and changed it a little to fit her tastes. “If you want to shower, I’ll start on it.”
“Yes, I want to remove the rest of the blood.” She touched the spot where the dried blood was clumped in her hair.
“You know where everything is.” He started to get up.
“Carter?” She stopped him from leaving the room. “I don’t remember much, but the more I think about it, the more I’m sure it was a man standing in the room last night.”
“He’s the one who hit you?” he asked.
“No, the hit came from behind.”
He nodded, and then left the room. What could he say to her? I’m sorry my parents tried to kill you last night? Hell, his mother had attacked Lilly once, not to mention the ordeal of Reece trying to kill Riley, Lilly, and Blake in Classy and Sassy.
He moved around his kitchen as he mentally laid out a plan to confirm that his parents were somewhere near Pride. Before Riley came down, however, his cell phone rang. Seeing his grandfather’s lawyer name, he answered on the second ring.
“Morning,” he answered.
“Morning. Before you start, I talked to Corey last night. He called me when he found out what had happened with your lady friend last night.”
“Alright.” He waited, removing the pan from the fire, and leaned back to hear the news. “What did you find out?”
“Only that your parents were reported to be in Seattle last night. Their lawyer claims they met with him for dinner to discuss their next tactics to get your grandfather’s money.”
“And you believe him?” he asked.
“Her, and yes, her office faxed over a receipt already this morning.”
“Which could be for anyone,” he added.
“True, but she’s willing to sign a statement to the fact that until around eight last night, both of your parents were in Seattle.”
He thought about it. “It couldn’t have been Reece. She’s still in jail.” There was a long silence on the line. “She’s still in jail, right?” He jerked.
“No, she’s been out for almost a month. Since no one was injured…”
“That’s bullshit,” he said, his voice echoing in the house.
“I’ve got some people looking into this. If she was within fifty miles of Pride, I’ll know by the end of the night.”
“It could be too late for that. Why didn’t you think that bit of news was important enough to tell me?”
Again, the lawyer was silent for a moment. “I told your brother.”
“When?” he asked.
“The day after she was released.” Earl Triggs was a good lawyer and as far as Carter could tell, a good man. Which meant his brother had kept this bit of news from him on purpose.
“Thanks,” he said. He hung up before the man had a chance to say anything else.
“Problem?” Riley stood in the kitchen door, watching him. She’d pulled on a pair of his sweats and one of his T-shirts. Her wet hair was pulled back into a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind me borrowing a few things. I only brought…”
He nodded and punched his brother’s number, while holding up a finger for her to wait. He was pissed and didn’t want to waste that energy anywhere else.
When his brother answered, he pretty much yelled.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell
me Reece was out of jail?”
“Because I knew that you’d respond this way,” Corey answered easily.
“It could have been her that hurt Riley last night.” He felt like punching something, so instead, he turned and kicked the trash can with his bare feet.
“Triggs will find out if it was. At least we know it wasn’t our parents.”
“Do we?” He leaned his head against the refrigerator since his foot was throbbing now.
“I’m coming over.”
“No, don’t bother.” He hung up and tossed his phone on the counter.
Hands took his waist and turned him until he was looking down into Riley’s eyes.
“Don’t be mad at Corey. There was no way he could have known someone would sneak into your house and hurt me,” she said, her hands still resting on his hips.
“I could have…” She stopped him by laying a finger over his lips.
“We can’t change the past. So I have a bump on my head. My brothers used to do worse to me when we were kids roughhousing around.” She smiled up at him. “Besides, my uncle has always said that the Jordan women have some of the hardest heads around.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything…”
She stopped him by leaning in and kissing him. “This makes it all better.”
“Riley, I don’t think…”
Just then his doorbell rang, and he groaned. “That will be your uncle.” He started to go. “Damn, please tell him you’re wearing my clothes because you raided my closet, not because I slept with you.”
She laughed. “No promises.”
After her uncle gave her a clean bill of health and put a couple of butterfly bandages over the small cut, they sat down for breakfast. Aaron rushed out after he was done, claiming he had a breakfast date with his wife before she had to go into the city for a county meeting. He did promise that he’d pass on how she was doing to the rest of the family, but while he and Riley ate out on the patio, her phone chimed more than a half dozen times.
“Go ahead.” He nodded to it. “Answer them. I’m sure they’re just worried.”
She rolled her shoulders. “They can wait. I texted Lilly already and told her to pass it on that I survived last night.” She sipped the orange juice. “This is amazing. You should start serving breakfast at Baked.”