Jesse gave him a look that told Carter he wasn’t really buying that. “Boring? That’s the last thing I would ever expect to hear you say about the gym.”
“Well, I mean, it’s not that nothing happens, just not anything that’s interesting enough to report. I mean, Mrs. Feldman still flirts with me every chance she gets.” Then, seeing his friend wasn’t totally convinced, he added with a wink, “Maybe you’ve always been the one they were coming for, bro.”
Jesse laughed at that. “Yeah, right.” He moved on to tell Carter about the recent boom in his business. They were well into their second bottle of beer now, and Carter was coming to see that he really missed his friend. Then Jesse leaned in and whispered to him, “Check out your four o’clock. There are two gorgeous chicks there, and I think they’ve been eyeing us since they walked into the bar . . . Okay, more like eyeing you. You wanna give it a shot?”
The minute Carter heard the proposition, his reaction to it was a strong and violent no. He had no desire at all to pursue said avenue, and before he knew it, he found himself conveying his thoughts to Jesse.
“No, definitely not interested in any of them.”
“What, are you kidding me? The one on the right seems to be exactly your type.” Jesse sounded really surprised that Carter was turning down so quickly the potential of hooking up with two good-looking ladies without even considering it first. It wasn’t that Carter was particularly promiscuous, but at least he looked first before deciding he was interested or not, not shooting it down right off the bat.
“Come on, Jesse. I came here to spend some time with you. Not some meaningless hookup,” Carter said, trying to shut down that angle as quickly as possible. And it seemed to work when Jesse smiled and said, “I knew your sorry ass really missed me. So, how’s Alicia?”
They talked till late in the night. Saying their goodbyes, with promises to try to keep in touch more, they departed. As Carter’s taxi took him to his house, he couldn’t help but think back to the moment when Jesse had suggested they hook up with the two ladies at their back. He wasn’t really bothered by the fact that he had refused; it wasn’t the first time Jesse would suggest they hook up with random chicks, and, depending on his mood, Carter either went along or refused. What bothered him was how unappealing the thought of sleeping with anyone had sounded. That, and the fact that Maisy was the first thing that popped into his head immediately after he heard Jesse’s idea.
Apart from a serious relationship he had before he returned to Ashborne, this was the longest Carter had been with just one person. It was true sex with Maisy was amazing, probably the best he’d ever had in his life. And he almost convinced himself that was why he was still doing it. But thinking about it in the back of the taxi, he had to admit it was more than that. He loved talking to her. Could spend hours on things as mundane as what type of frosting she should put on a cake, or just about anything. He loved her spirit, her determination, and the way she came in each day dedicated to her goal of losing weight.
He loved how cute she looked when she had her legs around him, and how exasperated she made him feel when those little doubts started to crop up in her mind. Of course, he also loved spanking her for having those thoughts, which usually led to her making those cute noises, which made him want to do other things to her. The thing was, he was starting to like so many things about her he was scared he was even starting to like her, and not just like-like her. But really, really like her. The kind of like that made a guy want to do things for a woman to make her happy because making her happy made him happy. The kind of like that made a guy start to feel things for said woman.
Carter paid his cab fare and got out in front of his house, taking his key out of his pocket. He was glad he had opted for a house rather than an apartment when he came back to Ashborne, and even though sometimes the mortgage payment was like a noose around his neck, he still loved it. But looking at it today, the first thought that popped into his head was how perfect it would be for a family. And that thought was scary enough that Carter decided it was time. Time to end it with Maisy, because whatever it was that was between them just didn’t seem to lead to anything he wanted in his life right now. Decision made, he got ready for bed and spent the whole night tossing and turning, unable to get even a wink of sleep.
Chapter 17
Maisy wrapped the last batch of cake for the restaurant in foil and placed it along with the rest in the container that would be used to transport it. She carried it out to her car and placed it in the backseat, getting into the driver’s seat and starting the engine. Her plan this morning was to drop off the consignment at Ralph’s, then rush back home and catch a long nap. She had been up most of the night baking, and after her workout in the morning, all she wanted to do was crawl under the covers and zone out. She delivered the treats to Ralph and was on her way into her house when her phone rang. She brought it out of her pocket; checking the display, it was Brittany calling.
“Hey, Brittany! What’s up?”
“Hey, Maisy! Guess what I’m doing now?” Brittany answered with just a little more than her customary cheerfulness, her question baffling Maisy.
“I don’t know. At home doing laundry or maybe working? Wait, don’t tell me. You had too much fun last night and woke up in a stranger’s house?”
“Yeah, right, I wish,” Brittany snorted. “Okay, let me tell you. I’m on my way to Ashborne,” she said and waited for Maisy’s reaction. Then had to take the phone off her ear as the sound of Maisy screaming nearly damaged her eardrum.
“Knew that would get you excited.”
“So, when are you going to get here? Wait a minute, are you driving down?”
“Took a flight down here, but I’m currently in a rental driving. And I would already have been there if this damn GPS hadn’t taken me on a wrong turn. But I’m back on track, and if the damn thing is working well now, I should be there in the next hour or so.”
“Well, just call me as soon as you get close so I can give you directions to my place, okay?” Maisy finished the call, then quickly looked around the house before heading to the kitchen. She needed to prepare something special for her friend.
Maisy stood at the end of the street and began to wave her hand up and down as soon as she saw her friend. Which was kind of unnecessary since she was the only one standing on the road. The car came to a stop, and Maisy quickly ran forward and got into the car, where the screams and laughter of their reunion could be heard all over the street. After a few minutes hugging and gushing about how much they’d missed each other, Brittany pulled into the driveway beside Maisy’s car and got out.
“So, welcome to my house,” Maisy said as she opened the door to usher Brittany in, carrying the small travel bag Brittany had brought with her.
“Whoa, Maisy, it’s way bigger than I imagined it was. I mean, at that price, I was definitely expecting something a lot smaller.”
“Well, I guess I got a great deal. Besides, I think the agent kinda had a thing for me. Come on, let me show you around.”
Maisy took Brittany on a tour around the house as the two of them caught up with the things they missed. Even though they spoke almost every night, they still had a lot to talk about.
“Okay, I have to say something. Look at how much weight you’ve lost! Hell, I can finally wrap my arms around you,” Brittany said and proceeded to do just that, the two women laughing out loud and hugging each other.
“I know, right? Well, you have to thank my trainer for that. Let’s just say he knows several ways to make me lose weight, and I happen to like most of them.”
“I know. I even get mini-orgasms when you tell me about them on the phone,” Brittany said with her arm around Maisy. “But I’m really glad to finally see you doing the one thing you’ve wanted to do all these years.”
“Yep, 210 pounds. That is what I weigh now. I even went bikini-shopping the other day and got those skimpy two-pieces you always tell me to get but I don’t like.”
> “Well, get ready to go to the beach with me then. They have a beach here, right?”
“Yes, they do,” Maisy said, rolling her eyes at her friend who still thought of Ashborne as a really small town.
“So, you’re going to show me what this little town of yours is all about?” Brittany asked as she took a seat beside Maisy on the long couch.
“You would think Ashborne is a small town till you actually get to live in it. I mean, they’ve got everything here; maybe not as much as the big city, though.”
“Well, they also got the number one thing I want to see. That hot piece of gorgeous male that has been scratching your itch these last couple of months.”
Maisy couldn’t help but smile widely at Brittany’s description of Carter. “Well, that gorgeous male hunk has a name, and calling what he does as scratching my itch has to be the biggest understatement of the century.”
For once, Brittany didn’t smile when Maisy made a mention of Carter, but instead had a sort of pensive look on her face.
“What?” Maisy asked, noticing Brittany’s look.
“Nothing, just really want to meet the guy, I guess. So how is that going to happen?” Brittany asked, going to admire one of the paintings Maisy had put on the living room wall.
“Well, we could go to the gym this afternoon and see him. But I already booked us a place at this spa in the mall. And then after that, we’re having dinner at Ralph’s, so maybe we could see him when I go in for my workout tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, and if he’s half as sexy as those badly-shot pictures of him you managed to send me, then I just might stay and have a workout myself.”
Maisy smiled at that. “Then I guess you’d better wear something you can work out in.” They both heard a knock at the door, and Maisy went to check it out. It was Chloe, and she was carrying a small bag with her. Maisy let her in, and they both joined Brittany who had gone to the kitchen to look inside the fridge.
“Hey, Chloe, surprised you’re up this early. I heard you go into your house pretty late last night. This is Brittany,” Maisy introduced the out-of-towner, who popped her head out from inside the fridge to greet Chloe.
“Hi, nice to finally put a face to the name Maisy’s been mentioning all this while. Just thought that since this is Saturday, I could come over, and we could raid your fridge and maybe paint our nails.” Chloe lifted the bag, and Maisy saw it was a makeup bag.
“Well, Brittany just came down from Chicago, and we’re supposed to be leaving for the mall soon,” Maisy said, looking over at Brittany who came out with a plate of cookies from the fridge.
“Well, she could join us,” Brittany suggested. “I mean, if the spa wouldn’t mind us squeezing in one more person.”
Chloe was already shaking her head at the idea. “Nah, you guys should go on without me. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your reunion or anything like that. I mean, you guys have a lot to catch up with already.”
“Nonsense,” Brittany said as she walked up to Chloe. “I may not know you well, but from what Maisy has told me, I can say you’re her closest friend here. Which makes you my friend, too.” She placed an arm around the both them. “So, we’re going to go to the spa and have ourselves a girls’ day, and maybe at night, we can go to the bar, and I can see if I can snag myself a guy as hot as Carter.”
“Carter? Oh, you mean Maisy’s trainer?” Chloe asked as she took a piece of cookie from the plate Brittany pushed towards her.
“Yeah, and her . . .” Brittany paused as she took one look at Maisy and realized Chloe didn’t know about her and Carter.
“Well,” Chloe spoke up, not picking up on the message between Brittany and Maisy. “I can’t say you would find one as hot as Carter, but there are other cute guys here, too.”
“You know, I think I’m starting to like this town,” Brittany said as the three women walked back into the living room, arms around each other.
“You should try the grilled chicken,” Maisy suggested to Brittany as they perused the menu at Ralph’s. After their session at the spa, they had said goodbye to Chloe, who had work to do, and headed to Maisy’s house for what was supposed to be a short nap, but they instead ended up talking for pretty much the whole afternoon. It was now late evening, and they were having dinner alone.
“Well, it had better be good because I’m really hungry, and I know how that sounds considering what we had for lunch, but hey, I missed your cooking. Now I’m almost always eating takeout.”
“Well, if you had listened at any of the million times I tried to teach you, maybe you wouldn’t be having this problem,” Maisy said as she lifted her hand to tell Gina they were finally ready to order.
“Why should I learn how to cook when I had the best damn cook I know living almost right next to me?”
“Well, how’s that working out for you now?” Maisy asked on a laugh.
“Now, I know I like Chinese, and also pizza, and a glass of wine should be added to gourmet menus in restaurants,” Brittany said, then they both gave Gina their order.
“How early are we supposed to be going for this thing in the morning?”
“Around five,” Maisy said, then waited for the shocked expression she knew was coming.
“Five? Work is the only thing I get up that early for. This guy better be worth it, and he has to take his shirt off.”
Maisy was about to say something, then stopped as she felt her heart go bump-bump. The way it always did when she saw him, followed by a smile that was special enough for Brittany to have a pretty good guess who it was that had caused that smile. Maisy waved at Carter till he noticed her and then he sauntered over. It was odd seeing him out of the gym, dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans that didn’t do a thing to dim the sheer sexiness of his ripped body. Maisy so wanted to just reach up and kiss him, not only because she loved the feel of his lips on her own, but so everyone in the restaurant could know he was hers, both male and female, who were looking at him like he was the special on the menu. But not only could she not do that, but he wasn’t even really hers to begin with. This thought was sobering enough that, by the time Carter got to her table, she was able to keep her excitement in check.
“Hi, Maisy,” Carter greeted, an easy smile on his face.
“Hey, Carter, what brings you to Ralph’s?” Maisy asked, eyes only for him.
“Well, I heard the food is great here, and eating is something I’ve learned I need to survive. So here I am.”
Maisy laughed at his joke, his sense of humor something she always found really amusing. “Very funny, Carter; I thought you guys existed solely on those protein shakes.” Then remembering Brittany by her side, who had stayed quiet all the while, she added, “Carter, I want you to meet Brittany, my best friend.”
“Hi, Brittany; nice to finally put a face to the name.” Carter held out his hand to shake Brittany’s, who took it and then just held it. Then before anyone could do anything, she quickly tried to wrap her hand around his bicep. Carter looked at Maisy as if to say, :Hope your friend isn’t cuckoo.” But Maisy just stood, understanding that sometimes it was best to let Brittany do her thing.
“Look, Maisy, my hand can’t even go around it.” She glanced at her friend, a look of amazement on her face.
“Umm . . .?” Carter asked, looking again at Maisy.
“I’m thinking Maisy doesn’t know how to use a camera. Oh, my god, you’re freakishly hot,” Brittany exclaimed as she let go of his arm and took her seat.
“Thanks?” Carter said, then again looked at Maisy. “I guess I should leave you guys alone to your food then.”
“You here with someone?” Maisy asked, then instantly regretted it. She didn’t want to know if he was here with another woman.
“No, not really. I came alone, something I realize sounds pathetic now that I say it out loud,” Carter replied, a smile on his face that showed he wasn’t bothered at all by that fact.
“Then how about you come eat with us?” Brittany sugges
ted, ignoring the small kick Maisy gave her under the table.
“Nah, I wouldn’t want to ruin whatever stories you guys would definitely have to share. Besides, I already have a table.”
“Then why don’t you let one of those couples waiting at the bar have your table? Besides, I would really love to get to know some of Maisy’s new friends here in Ashborne.”
Seeing no way out of it, Carter agreed to sit with them. Maisy shifted for him, and he took a seat beside her. Then the three of them sat looking at each other for a few moments before Brittany finally broke the ice. “So, Carter, exactly what magic did you do to get Maisy to lose all that weight?"
“Today was really fun, wasn’t it?” Maisy said as she and Brittany walked into the house after their dinner at the restaurant. “I really miss you, you know that?”
“I miss you, too, hon,” Brittany answered as she walked in behind Maisy.
“So, now that we’re alone, what do you think about Carter?” Maisy asked, taking off her shoes and letting out a sigh as the tension in her calves was eased a little.
“Well, he’s way hotter than I thought he would be; the guy sure knows what to say and how to say it.”
“Right,” Maisy said on a laugh, glad Brittany liked him, although she wasn’t exactly sure why that was important. Personally, dinner was the most fun she had ever had with Carter. Maybe it was because this was the first time she had ever been with him in a social setting, the first time they had really sat down to talk. And even though she already liked his sense of humor, the way he talked and the things he said from their conversation on the phone, it was different watching him smile as he said those things, and the way he looked at her when he wanted to tell her something, as if she was the only one in the room. And in those moments, he was the only one in her world.
“Maisy,” Brittany called her, and she glanced over at her friend, wondering how long she had spent fantasizing.
Training Maisy Page 9