Hope Burns

by Jaci Burton

  "Well, it is Halloween season. You have to get in the spirit."

  She rolled her eyes, but clicked on the movie. At least it was a classic and one she'd seen before, so none of the upcoming carnage would come as a surprise to her.

  "Popcorn?" she asked.

  He smiled at her. "Sure. Want me to help you?"

  "No. It's microwave popcorn, so it'll only take a minute. I'll bring drinks for us, too."

  She hopped up and went into the kitchen, put the popcorn in the microwave, then poured sodas. She brought the sodas in and went back for the popcorn, retaking her seat next to him.

  "You missed two murders while you were gone," he said.

  She laughed and grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Imagine that. Good thing I've seen this movie before."

  "So, you're a fan of horror movies, too."

  "I didn't say that. I said I've seen this one before. More than once."

  "Which makes you a fan." He tossed a kernel of popcorn at her.

  She picked it up and stuffed it down his shirt.

  He grabbed her wrists and gave her a warning glare, laced with amusement. "You don't want to start a fight you can't win."

  Now that was a challenge she couldn't back down from. "Good point."

  After he released her hands, she took a handful of popcorn, seemingly ready to put it in her mouth. When Carter turned his attention back to the movie, she stuffed the popcorn down the back of his shirt.

  He jerked and grabbed the bowl, thrusting his hand in and grasping a bunch of popcorn, then shoving it under her shirt. She squealed, then immediately silenced herself, though by now she was laughing and there was popcorn all over the floor. It was a good thing Pokey, her parents' dog, slept in her mom's room, because he'd be having a feast otherwise.

  Carter reached under her shirt and pushed the popcorn higher, making her laugh even more.

  "Shh," he said. "You're going to wake your parents."

  She tried to stifle her laugh, but she couldn't stop herself. "Then stop shoving popcorn down my bra."

  "Okay." Instead, his hand moved, ever higher, cupping her breast over her bra. "Is this better?"

  She stilled, her body warming to his touch. "Much."

  He pushed her up the sofa so her head rested on the cushioned arm, then covered her body with his. His lips met hers and popcorn wars were forgotten as she wrapped her arms around him and met his kiss with equal fervor.

  The last time it was slow and easy, but now, she forgot everything, even the popcorn, as he crushed her lips and took her mouth with a passion that was overwhelming, heating her body to intense levels. She arched against him, feeling desire and Carter's erection pressing against her, heightening her own need.

  She wanted him. Right here, right now, and nothing was going to get in her way. She tangled her fingers in his hair, rewarded with his groan. Desire ratcheted up to unbearable levels.

  Until Carter rose up and looked down at her, the desire etched across his face matching what she felt.

  "You do know we're in your parents' living room."

  It took her a few seconds to catch her breath, to realize he had his hand under her shirt, cupping her breast, his thumb still sweeping back and forth across her nipple. Her heart was beating a crazy, out of control rhythm against the palm of his hand.

  She swallowed to coat her desert-dry throat. "Well, now I do. I kind of forgot there for a minute."

  Carter heaved a sigh, adjusting against her, letting her feel the rock-hard proof of his need rubbing against her hip.

  "So did I." He sat up, then grasped her hand and pulled her to a sitting position.

  Popcorn fell from her shirt, and several kernels landed in his lap, drawing her attention to his . . . situation.

  She snorted out a laugh.

  "Hey, now. You started this," he said, scooping up the popcorn and dumping it into the bowl.

  "I did. Unfortunately, we can't finish it. Not here, anyway."

  "Yeah. That part sucks."

  With a reluctant sigh, she stood.

  They picked up all the popcorn, including the pieces inside their shirts, which made each of them laugh. She took the bowl into the kitchen and dumped the contents into the trash and washed her hands.

  "I think it's time I left," Carter said, placing his hands on either side of her hips where she rested against the kitchen counter. "Before we get in trouble again."

  She sighed. "It's like being a teenager again. Living with my parents. Having to be quiet at night after they go to bed."

  "Not being able to have sex whenever you want to?" Carter added.

  "Yes. Exactly that. Only I'm not seventeen anymore. And I've been independent for years, so this living at home thing is hard for me."

  He smoothed his hand over her hair. "I can't even imagine what it must be like for you. I'm sorry."

  She shrugged. "I'm here for my mom, and it's temporary. It's not like I'm suffering or anything."

  "Well, I'm suffering right now because of you."

  He looked down, and so did she. She laughed. "I think you'll survive."

  "I don't know. I might die from this."

  "Hardly." She pressed on his chest. "Time for you to go."

  He cocked a grin, then pushed off the counter. She walked him to the front door, then stepped outside, lightly shutting the door behind her.

  "Thanks for stopping by tonight, and helping me with the pumpkins."

  "Thanks for the popcorn."

  "Yes. I need to take a shower now and wash all the buttered popcorn and kernels off my body."

  He grabbed her shirt and pulled her closer. "Think how much more fun that would be if I were in the shower with you?"

  "You are not helping my dilemma."

  "Hey, if I have to suffer, so do you." He tipped her chin, then brushed his lips across hers.

  She sighed into his salty, buttery-tasting kiss, then sagged against him, not wanting him to go, but having no other choice.

  When he pulled away, his eyes were filled with the same regret.

  "I'm going to think about you tonight when I'm taking my shower."

  Her body trembled. "You do that. And I'll do the same."

  His lips quirked into a half smile. "Good night, Molly."

  "See you later, Carter."

  She headed into the house and turned off all the lights, then went into the bathroom. She pulled off her shirt, and there, nestled between her breasts, was a piece of popcorn.

  She couldn't help but laugh.

  Chapter 19

  "I'M SO GLAD we have some time together," Emma said as they strolled through the mall.

  "Me, too." Molly had invited Emma to go shopping with her tonight so they could have some sister time. She'd been so wrapped up with Mom and Carter, and with Emma being off on her honeymoon that she hadn't spent enough time with her sister. The only way to do that was to force the time together.

  There was a football game on, so Luke brought the dogs over, and he and Molly's dad were spending the evening together watching football--one of Mom's favorite sports--and having pizza, keeping their mother company.

  Mom said she was sad not to be able to go shopping with her and Emma, since shopping was another of Mom's favorite sports.

  "Maybe we should pick up something for Mom while we're out," Emma said. "Maybe a new pair of pajamas?"

  "I like that idea." She linked her arm with Emma's and they headed to one of the stores, bickering with each other over which pair of pajamas their mother would like best. They finally settled on a cute lime green set they both agreed Mom would love. Emma bought a pair of cognac-colored boots, and when they passed the lingerie store, Molly paused at the window as something caught her eye.

  "Really?" Emma asked, cocking a brow. "That's uh . . . wow, Molls."

  "I know, ridiculous, right? I shouldn't." She started to walk away, but Emma grabbed her arm.

  "Oh, I think you should, as long as you tell me all about you and Carter."

  "
How do you know I want that outfit for a guy? And why would you think it was Carter?"

  Emma laughed. "Honey, no woman buys a getup like that just for herself. That's an outfit a man takes off of you. And as far as it being Carter? Please. I'm not blind."

  Leave it to her sister to read signals like they were a flashing beacon. "Okay, you're right."

  Emma stood there, arms crossed. "So? Are we getting the outfit?"

  "We are not getting the outfit. I'm pondering the ridiculousness of why I'm even considering it."

  "Why is it ridiculous? It's sexy. He'll go crazy seeing you in it."

  "We're not even dating."

  "Dating is an antiquated word, at least according to Chelsea. And besides, you stopped at the window, and you thought about Carter when you saw the outfit, didn't you?"

  She had thought about Carter, about wearing that outfit for him, surprising him. She'd surprised herself, too. But things between the two of them were . . .

  What? She didn't know what they were. They had gotten through the uneasiness, had developed a sort of friendship . . . with benefits. She knew she wasn't staying in Hope, but she liked having sex with him. Things could have been complicated, but so far, they weren't. She knew Carter, better than any man she'd ever known.

  So why not continue the fun?

  "Okay. I'll try it on."

  "Great. Let's do that."

  She ended up buying the outfit, and then it was off to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, where she ordered a magnificent plate of pasta.

  "So tell me about you and Carter," Emma said as she dug into her fish. "I know you two dated in high school, then it was just . . . over, I guess?"

  "I don't know, Em. It's a difficult situation with him."

  "What do you mean by difficult?"

  Molly looked around. It wasn't crowded tonight, and only a server or two hustled by now and then. She hadn't wanted to have this conversation with her sister in public, but she didn't want to have it at her parents' house, either, so she supposed now was as good a time as any to just tell her.

  "I got pregnant."

  Emma laid her fork down on the plate. "What? When?"

  "Senior year."

  "Oh my God, Molly. Why didn't you tell me? Do Mom and Dad know?"

  She shook her head. "It all happened so fast. Carter and I were stunned. We were careful, you know. Or at least we thought we were being careful, but I guess not careful enough. So when it happened, we weren't prepared. We started to make plans for the baby--for the future. Carter was going to delay college. I'd have the baby. We were going to get married. We were figuring things out for our future, you know? Then a week later, I miscarried."

  "Oh, honey." Emma reached across the table and squeezed Molly's hand. "I'm so sorry."

  "Me, too. I was devastated. It might have been unplanned, and we were so young, but God, Em, I wanted that baby so much."

  "I can't even imagine how awful that must have been for you."

  "It was a bad time. The worst time. To compound things, Carter seemed to retreat from me. He almost seemed . . . relieved."

  "No."

  "Yes. He said he knew I was upset about the baby, and he was, too, but since the miscarriage happened, things could go on the way we had originally planned. He'd go to college, I'd go to college, and we'd have the future we had always wanted together."

  "Oh." Emma pursed her lips. "That was so insensitive of him."

  "Yeah. I didn't handle it well. I accused him of not wanting our baby, of not wanting me. I was so hurt. He was hurt. I don't know. I was an emotional wreck, and we ended things badly."

  Emma studied her for a few seconds. "That's when you left Hope."

  "Yes."

  "Molly, why didn't you talk to me? Or Mom."

  She studied her plate. "I don't know, Em. I was so full of pain and anguish and anger at the time. I bottled it all up inside and just ran like hell. The only thing that made me feel better was getting away."

  She lifted her gaze to her sister's. "I spent three years madly in love with a boy who wasn't what I thought he was. And in an instant, everything changed for me. I had to figure out who I was without Carter. Without my family, and without Hope. I had to become my own person. I might not have done it the right way, but I did it the best way I could."

  Emma took a long swallow of her tea, then set it down. "I don't think anyone can tell you what's the right way. You had a deep emotional trauma. Something--and someone--hurt you, Molly. I'm sorry you didn't feel like you could share that with me, or with Mom and Dad, but I understand you dealt with it in a way that made sense to you. I know how that is, how you have to figure out who you are without anyone else's help. I just wished I could have been there for you."

  Emma understood, and that gave Molly more relief than she'd ever thought possible.

  "I've missed you all these years, Moll. I wish you had told me sooner."

  She felt her sister's pain from across the table. "I've missed you, too. I was just a mess for so long and I had to figure myself out. Plus, I've harbored all this anger and resentment for Carter."

  "And now?"

  She shrugged. "We talked it out the night of your wedding. Or I yelled at him and told him how I felt. But it just seemed like I was rehashing old hurts. I had to let it go. I can't do over the past and make it turn out differently, and he feels like shit over what happened. Neither of us are the same people we were back then."

  "Carter's a good guy, Molly."

  "Yeah, so I've noticed since I've been back. I had this image of him in my head all these years--the image was of the boy who hurt me. It's like I froze him in time in that one moment, making him this awful person. That's not who he is and I had to leave that Carter in the past."

  Emma pushed her plate to the side, and waited while their waitress came by and refilled their glasses.

  "And now?" Emma asked. "It seems like you're spending some time with Carter."

  "I am. He's still the fun, romantic, sexy guy I used to know, and I'm getting to know the man he's become."

  "You like him."

  "Yes."

  "And you're obviously having sex with him."

  Such a weird conversation to have with her big sister. "Well, yes."

  Emma grinned. "So you put the past behind you, and you're enjoying the now."

  "That's it exactly," she said, then took a sip of her own iced tea. "I'm living in the moment, having some fun with him."

  "Is that all there is? Just the now?"

  "I can't have a future with him, Emma. I'm not staying in Hope. Once Mom is back on her feet, I'm out of here again."

  Emma's smile disappeared. "Why?"

  She shrugged. "Because I like the travel and the opportunities I can have when I move around."

  "That sounds like a line from a brochure, not how you really feel, Moll. Maybe you should listen to your heart, and give Carter--and Hope--another chance. You might fall in love all over again."

  That wasn't going to happen. She'd loved Carter once, and he'd broken her heart. She'd never open her heart to him again.

  Fun and sex was one thing.

  Love? Never again.

  Chapter 20

  IT WAS HALLOWEEN, one of Carter's favorite days of the year. And even better, it was on a Saturday, so he spent the day prepping the house. He'd e-mailed and texted invites to the party he was having tonight and had shopped for all the booze and food he was going to need. Now all that was left was the prep.

  He'd cleaned the house from top to bottom and he'd bought candy for the kid portion of the night, which would take place early. After nine, the adult portion would start, though whoever wanted to come over early and help hand out candy could do that. He hoped people would show up early. The more people around to share Halloween with the kids, the more fun it would be.

  Bash wasn't going to be able to make it since he was running the bar tonight. Too bad for him, because Carter could throw one hell of a party. He'd done these every year,
and while the weeknight ones were fun, the weekend ones were legendary.

  When the doorbell rang, he grabbed a paper towel to wipe his hands, then went to the door.

  Molly being there surprised him, since she'd told him earlier in the week she wasn't sure she was going to be able to make it until much later in the evening. Since it was only two in the afternoon, it was a shock to see her on his doorstep.

  "Hey," he said. "What are you doing here?"

  "I've been given a reprieve. Emma and Luke showed up at the house after Emma got off work. She wants to cook for Mom and Dad tonight and help them hand out candy."

  "So you get a night off?"

  She gave him a smile. "I do. So I hope you don't mind, but I hightailed it out of there before she changed her mind. Luke said to tell you they'll be over after the candy portion at Mom and Dad's."

  "Okay."

  "I thought you might need some help for the party tonight."

  "I'm glad you're here. I hope you brought your costume with you."

  She held up a bag. "Wouldn't leave home without it."

  "Care to give me a hint as to what you're wearing?"

  She pulled the bag close to her chest. "Not a chance. You'll have to wait for tonight to see it."

  He grinned. "All right, then." He eyed the bag. "But now you've got me curious."

  "Do I? Good." She came inside. "Where can I set this stuff down?"

  "You can have the master bedroom to get ready, so put your things in there."

  She was hoping he'd say that, because she had plans for him for later, and it involved his bedroom. She went in there and laid her purse and bag down, then came back to find him in the kitchen making of all things a cheese ball.

  "Aren't you all domestic?"

  He looked up. "I don't know about that, but I can read a recipe."

  She went to the sink to wash her hands, then rolled up her sleeves. "What can I do to help?"

  "Slice some celery and carrots, and then make dip?"

  "Sounds like a plan."

  Positioned side by side, they prepared the snacks for the party. She enjoyed being with him in his kitchen, and he was obviously one of those rare men who didn't mind cooking. He finished an incredible cheese ball, then prepped a few other appetizers. Molly knew a lot of men who would have just propped their feet up and watched football, then presented their guests with bags of chips and some salsa.

  Though he did have a game on in the living room, so they watched while they worked.

  "That kid who plays quarterback for Texas is killing it," she said while she made artichoke dip.