Falling for Carrick (Working Class Billionaires Book 1)

by Erica Breyer

  “How’s your mom doing today?” he asked, flicking the indicator to turn in to her street.

  “She says she’s okay,” Kelly replied. “Though I think the first day of the new treatment took it out of her. I heard her up last night. But my mother’s not the type to ever complain.”

  “Yeah, she seems like a trooper,” he smiled as he pulled to a stop at her house and got out to open her door. It was a quaint gesture, but she’d come to expect it of him now. “A lot like you,” he added.

  “Carrick!” a voice called from the doorway, snagging his attention as she got out the truck.

  “Hello, Mrs…Bonnie,” he called back. Bonnie was in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel, Chloé sitting beside her. She set the towel on the small table beside the door and walked down the path towards them, straightening her skirt. There was something girlish in her expression, and Kelly couldn’t help noticing how lovely she was. Her heart swelled a little.

  “Thanks for giving Kelly a lift again.” Bonnie smiled warmly at Carrick. She reached up and gave him a hug, a gesture that seemed to leave him a little flustered. “I saw you helped her in the rain last night,” she continued. “So kind of you.” Bonnie glanced at Kelly and gave her an odd little smile. “I do hope you’ll be staying for dinner tonight?”

  Boom! Kelly should have known her mother had something up her sleeve.

  “Pizza Night?” Carrick responded, looking over at Kelly, who knew it would be wise not to object. She lifted her lips in a tight smile. “Well…I guess…”

  “Oh, you must say yes! I insist,” Bonnie said firmly, slipping her hand through the crook of his elbow and guiding him toward the house. She threw a look over her shoulder at her daughter. “Come on, darling, what are you waiting for?”

  Kelly heaved a sigh and complied. There was no point in arguing. And anyway, what harm could one dinner do?

  In the house, Bonnie quickly eased Carrick’s initial awkwardness with a constant stream of lighthearted conversation that Kelly knew came from years of practice. Her mother loved company, and setting people at ease was one of her talents.

  “Jarrod,” she called as they walked towards the kitchen, “Darling, we have company.”

  “Yo!” Jarrod’s voice rang out from the sitting room. Kelly was pretty sure he had no plans to join them, but her mother was having none of it. She popped her head around the doorway and fixed him with a steely stare.

  “This is Kelly’s friend from work. Carrick, this is my son, Jarrod. Jarrod, meet Carrick. He’s joining us for Pizza Night. And I know you’ll be happy to get him a drink.” It wasn’t a suggestion, and Jarrod knew his mother well enough to take the hint.

  “S’up, dude,” he said to Carrick, clambering off the couch and reaching out a hand, though not before he’d sent a longing look at the gaming console he’d left on the armrest.

  “Good to meet you, Jarrod,” Carrick replied, taking the younger man’s hand in a firm grip.

  “So, can I get you a brew?” Jarrod asked, taking his mother’s instructions to heart. Carrick nodded and followed Kelly’s brother into the kitchen. He stood in the doorway as Jarrod reached into the refrigerator and Kelly noticed how his broad shoulders filled the small space. She’d never realized how small and humble their home was before, but he seemed quite comfortable. Bonnie bustled past him, chattering as she went.

  “I’ll be making my world-famous pizza bases, and then you can choose your own topping,” she explained. Carrick popped the top off his beer and clinked bottle necks with Jarrod as he nodded.

  “Sounds good to me, Bonnie,” he said, heading towards the little round kitchen table, then glancing around the room. Getting his bearings, Kelly realized, when he reached for a drawer and pulled out a couple of serrated knives as if he’d known they’d be there.

  “Come on, Kelly, look lively, darling,” her mother prompted, “you can get started with the cheese.”

  “She’s probably still recovering from her week under the whip,” Jarrod said. Bonnie gave a laugh.

  “You’re right, the poor thing,” Bonnie agreed. “How was work this week, Kelly? Still dealing with all those ridiculous notes?”

  Kelly pulled a face. “Thankfully not,” she answered, pouring herself a glass of white wine.

  “Notes?” said Carrick, looking over at Kelly.

  “Oh, she’s had a heck of a time there,” Bonnie elaborated. “Her boss seems like a real taskmaster! Do you know, he had her arranging the office plants alphabetically? Now, why on earth would he need her to do that?”

  “Maybe because he’s an ass!” Jarrod chipped in, then turned to Carrick. “Bro! Catch!” he said, tossing an apron in his direction. Carrick caught it deftly and tied it around his waist. It was one she’d made for Bonnie while still in junior school; pink with large yellow daisies stitched to the front. It looked ridiculous over his jeans and t-shirt, but his expression remained solemn.

  “Right, what should I start with?” he asked. Bonnie passed him a bowl of mushrooms and a couple of peppers.

  “Slice those thinly, and then you can start with the onions,” she instructed. Kelly was busy at the kitchen counter with the cheese-grater, creating a mound of mozzarella ribbons.

  “I’ve got the salami,” announced Jarrod, taking up a spot across the table from Carrick, who was wielding his knife with practiced ease. “You handle that like a pro, dude!” he commented as Carrick’s pile of peppers grew rapidly.

  “Yip,” he answered, “from my days as a Michelin chef.”

  Jarrod’s eyes widened. “Really?” he asked.

  Carrick burst out laughing. “No! I’m joking, bud!”

  Bonnie giggled. “I imagine your folks taught you well, then,” she commented, stretching and kneading the pizza dough expertly.

  Carrick’s face darkened for a moment. He reached for his beer and took a quick swig. “No, ma’am,” he answered. “My folks weren’t partial to spending time in the kitchen.” Kelly kept grating but aimed a surreptitious look in his direction. He’d definitely stiffened at the change in subject, and she sensed a tension about him, which she knew her mother would never allow to pass unnoticed.

  “Really, dear?” Bonnie asked, still kneading. “I imagine you spent your family time elsewhere then?” Carrick shook his head, his brow furrowed as he turned his attention to the knife in his hand.

  “We weren’t much for...family time,” he murmured, reaching for an onion and skinning it quickly. He set it on the chopping board and sliced it in half with one clean sweep.

  “None at all?” Bonnie pressed. “That’s unfortunate. Were they very busy? Your parents?”

  “Yip,” Carrick answered briefly. “My father worked most of the time. My mother...traveled.” His knife was moving in quick strokes through the onion, and he frowned, then brushed his cheek. “Aww, nuts,” he muttered, lifting his shoulder to wipe his cheek against it.

  “Oh, no, dear!” Bonnie laughed. “Did you forget to rinse the onion first?” Carrick’s eyes were tearing up, and he stepped away from the board, lifting the back of his wrist to his face. “No! Don’t wipe your eyes with your hands,” Bonnie warned, “You’ll make it worse!” She turned to face Kelly. “Darling, get a damp cloth for Carrick, won’t you?”

  Kelly quickly reached into a drawer and extracted a clean washcloth, soaking it in water before standing in front of Carrick. His eyes were bloodshot, and tears streamed down his cheeks. She reached up to wipe his face gently, and his hand closed over hers as she dabbed at his eyes. Kelly’s breath caught in her throat.

  “You should always rinse the onion before you cut it,” Bonnie said from behind them, seemingly oblivious to the taut silence between the two. Kelly knew better. Her mother was loving this.

  “Oh, go on, Kelly, admit it! You made Carrick cry!” chirped Jarrod from the sidelines.

  “Yes,” Carrick murmured. “You made me cry.” His eyes weren’t watering anymore, though. They were fixed firmly on Kelly’s, and she st
ood, frozen.

  “Have you finished with the cheese yet, Kelly?” Bonnie asked. She’d created several large pizza rounds and was setting them out on trays.

  “No, she’s too busy wiping Carrick’s face right off his head,” quipped Jarrod. Carrick still hadn’t released Kelly’s hand, and she pulled it free of his grasp, completely at a loss for words. Carrick turned back to his chopping board and winked at Jarrod.

  “You’re a fine one to talk, buddy,” he said, ‘you’ve eaten more of that salami than you’ve sliced.”

  Bonnie gave an exaggerated sigh. “Oh, you kids! At this rate, we’re never going to eat!” Her words lacked real weight, though; her face was alight with amusement.

  It wasn’t long before the pizzas were ready, and the group had gathered around the dining room table. The lively banter continued, with Jarrod telling Carrick about his gaming career plans and Carrick updating them on the antics of the site crew.

  Kelly felt herself pulled along with the lightness of the conversation. The good mood that had begun that afternoon developed into a warm sense of contentment. She turned and looked at her mother, who had been joining in the laughter. Bonnie’s blue eyes danced, and her cheeks were flushed. Kelly felt an answering warmth to see how happy her mother was.

  Chapter 8

  Kelly kept Carrick waiting when he arrived to collect her on Monday. Bonnie hadn’t had a good night, and Kelly spent time getting her comfortable that morning.

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said as they headed to work.

  “Your mom not doing well?” he asked. Kelly shook her head. “I’m assuming it’s not necessary to opt for surgery now?” he asked.

  “I think it might actually be a better way to deal with the tumor,” Kelly admitted, “but the doctor is worried about going that route. It’s a really tricky procedure, and he’s worried it might go wrong. My mom…might not wake up.” She swallowed. “Or she might suffer permanent brain damage.”

  “Is he worried that he’s not skilled enough?” Carrick asked bluntly. Kelly blinked. It was something she’d researched but hadn’t had the nerve to raise with her mother’s team.

  “Actually, I’ve heard about a specialist who does this type of thing,” she replied. “He’s incredibly skilled, but…” She didn’t go on.

  “But?” Carrick asked.

  “We can’t afford him,” she whispered.

  He was silent for several minutes as they drove.

  “Is there…” he faltered then continued. “Is there anything I could do to help?”

  Kelly shot him a slightly startled glance. He kept his focus studiously on the road ahead.

  “Oh, Carrick…I…” She cleared her throat.

  “I don’t know how much you need, but I’ve got some…savings…and I’d be happy to do whatever I could to help,” he went on. “I don’t have a very close family. What you have with your mom… What you have is so special.” He stopped, clearly collecting his thoughts. Kelly was speechless for a second, then found her voice.

  “Thank you…thank you for your offer. I’m so incredibly touched,” she reached out and rested a hand on his arm. The hard muscle shifted smoothly beneath her fingers as he gripped the steering wheel more firmly. She shook her mind off the thoughts of how good those muscles felt. This really wasn’t the most appropriate time for that. His offer had been so unexpected. “I know you mean well, and I really appreciate your gesture,” she continued. “But I think this is the sort of thing that is going to take some hefty resources.” She grimaced. “I’m going to investigate our insurance a little more. I’m sure that there is something we can do.” She was pretty sure there wasn’t, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

  Carrick nodded curtly, not wanting her to feel like he was intruding into her personal problems. He could tell she had a strong sense of pride, and he admired it. Although it was probably something she might have to set aside in this instance. He racked his brain as to how he could assist without making her uncomfortable.

  “I understand,” he kept his voice neutral, “but if you need anything – I can run errands, help with things around the house…I know you’re not happy with your mom working in the garden…” He trailed off, not quite believing he’d just offered to do her yard work. ‘Sheesh, Carrick, WTF?’ he thought to himself.

  “Thank you,” Kelly smiled, “that’s really sweet. I’ll definitely keep your offer in mind.”

  Carrick nodded again, almost relieved that they’d pulled into the parking bay at the site. He got out of the car and opened her door. “Well, I’ll see you later,” he mumbled, then turned and headed over to join the rest of the team, leaving Kelly staring after him.

  ∞∞∞

  Kelly had been engrossed in work for several hours when her phone rang.

  “Yo, sis!” Jarrod’s voice rang across the line. “Great news!”

  “Really?” replied Kelly. She’d stopped expecting to hear great news when she answered the phone these days. “What’s up?”

  “Mom’s car is ready,” he answered. “We can collect it this afternoon.”

  “Oh, thank heavens!” Kelly heaved a sigh. “That is good news.”

  “And on top of it, they said the deposit you put down covers most of the repairs. Mom’s insurance will cover the difference,” he went on.

  For a moment, Kelly almost felt light-headed with relief. “Well, this just gets better and better!” she said. “Do we need to go through there together when I get home from work?”

  “Nope,” Jarrod answered, sounding pleased with himself. “I organized a lift with Bax. I figured you wouldn’t wanna be driving around after you got home.”

  “Um…thanks, Jarrod,” said Kelly. Her gratitude was tempered with the fact that she’d had a brief fling with Jarrod’s friend, Baxter, the previous year, and didn’t relish the idea of bumping into him again. He may have been a few years older than her brother, but it hadn’t given him the benefit of maturity.

  She’d called it quits when it became clear that he was more interested in his gaming console than anything else. Kelly had broken the news to him during an eight-hour Fortnite marathon that had caused him to forget their weekend plans for the fifth time in as many weeks. He’d seemed upset about her announcement, but not enough to put down his controller. Kelly remembered hearing his voice calling after her as she headed out the door, but he hadn’t got up to follow her. She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts. Jarrod was finally taking control of things, and she didn’t want to spoil the moment.

  “So I’ll see you later, sis,” Jarrod’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “Yip, thanks, Jazz,” she added, telling herself she probably wouldn’t have to deal with Baxter anyway. “See you at home.” She ended the call just as a knock sounded on the door, and Carrick’s head bobbed outside the window.

  “Hey, Carrick,” she called out, watching as the door swung open. “Is it that time already?” she glanced at her wristwatch. Carrick gave a nod. As usual, he’d caught a shower and changed after his day on site. The scent of his cologne wafted in with him. Sandalwood. Lemon. Man. Kelly inhaled appreciatively, then caught herself.

  “Need some help getting your stuff together?” he asked. Kelly shook her head and snapped her laptop shut. Taneka had left earlier for a meeting, and she was alone in the office, so she locked up, then trotted down the stairs behind Carrick. She settled into the front seat of the pickup after he opened the door for her, and she gave him a small smile of thanks.

  “You’ll be glad to know that you can get out of your taxi duties from tomorrow,” she told him as he turned the key in the ignition. “My mom’s car’s ready at the shop. Jarrod’s collecting it right now.”

  Carrick paused for a moment, then nodded and gave her a tight smile. “That’s good news,” he said. “I’m glad things are working out.”

  Kelly heaved a sigh. “Well, that remains to be seen, but I have to admit, it feels good to know I’ll have my independence back.�
�� She pulled a face, hoping he wouldn’t think she was being ungrateful, but his next smile was broader and seemed more genuine.

  “I can imagine that’s been a big issue,” he acknowledged. “Have you made any progress with your mom’s medical insurance situation yet?”

  Kelly rubbed the back of her neck and shook her head. “No news yet,” she said. “I spoke to someone at the insurance company. They asked me to send a mail with details of her condition and a breakdown of expenses. I need to source a lot of that from her specialist, so it’s taking a bit of time.”

  “Yeah...the admin can be a killer,” Carrick answered. “I gave Head Office a call to follow up on a staff policy I heard about a while back,” he went on, causing Kelly to fix him with a hard look. “I hope you don’t mind, I don’t want to interfere, but I was pretty sure I’d heard that there’s an employee benefit program to deal with situations like this.”

  “I… Gosh, I don’t know what to say,” Kelly said, not sure if she should feel thankful or annoyed. She couldn’t figure out why he was being so helpful. “What did you find out?” She decided to go with thankful. After all, her mother’s life was on the line.

  “Well, if you can show that you’re facing an untenable situation and you have no other recourse, the company will provide a loan for your requirements,” Carrick explained.

  “Wow, that’s pretty generous,” said Kelly. “I don’t know a lot of companies that would do that.”

  “Yeah, well, Cross Construction is groundbreaking in a lot of ways,” he smiled. “Of course, you do have to pay it back. I imagine.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way!” Kelly said, feeling her spirits lifting. “I’d do anything to help my mom through this. Anything!” She felt her cheeks heat when he raised an eyebrow and grinned at her wickedly.

  “Anything?” he asked.

  “Well, within reason,” she shot back quickly.

  “How about…” he cleared his throat, “dinner? This week. With me.”

  Kelly’s eyes widened. “Um…dinner? This week? With you?” She heard herself repeating his words and felt like a complete dork. “Um…I…” They were pulling up outside her house, and she could see her mother standing in the doorway. “Let me think about it, okay?” she blurted.