by Amy Gregory
“You did that?” she asked simply.
Dylan nodded, apparently proud of himself. “Gotta see how many it takes, don’t we? He’ll thank me later, I’m sure.”
“So…these…are all for me?”
“Na, babe, I’ll match you,” he said with a cocky smirk on his face.
She stared unblinking at Dylan for several long minutes. “You’ll only be able to handle one.” She gave him a daring look, feeling Carter squeeze her thigh.
Dylan cocked his head to the side. “I can handle my liquor, sweetheart.”
She shook her head. “It’ll only take one. I promise you.” Molly nodded at the tray. “You drink first.”
“Why?”
“You’ll want to leave after I do mine. You might as well get one in.”
Dylan stared at her for a minute. Then he picked up a shot and raised the glass to Molly. He shot it, made a face as it burned going down, then turned the empty shot glass upside down on the table. “I believe it’s your turn, babe,” he said with pure arrogance in his voice.
She could feel the testosterone all around her. Between her brother and Carter, there was bound to be something more than just Dylan’s nose broken tonight. She would do her best to finish him herself first.
She could play his game and win. There was absolutely no question in her mind. As much as she wanted to be herself around Carter and his friends, the sweet side of her had to take a backseat this time. James didn’t raise a doormat. Molly looked straight at Dylan for several moments, feeling the other’s eyes on her. She shrugged, daring him to stay. When he did, she smiled sweetly up at Carter, as she picked up his hand off her thigh.
“May I?”
“I’m all yours, Gorgeous.”
Molly gave Dylan an icy stare to make sure he was watching her. “Eli, may I have the salt please, handsome?” Eli kissed her cheek as he handed the salt shaker to her. “Thanks, E.” The sickeningly sweet smile she flashed Eli was purposeful, then her expression went cold again as soon as her eyes locked back on Dylan. As much as she wanted to laugh in his face, she couldn’t. She had him right where she wanted him.
She turned Carter’s wrist over and placed a slice of lime in his palm. With her eyes still on Dylan and making sure to make all her motions slow and deliberate, she started. Licking her lips, she brought his wrist to her mouth and slowly kissed it. She picked up the salt shaker and causally sprinkled a little salt on the spot she’d wet. She ran her hand through her hair slowly, sweeping her bangs off her face. Ready to go, she winked at Dylan.
Like a well thought out scene, she used all the drama and sex she could muster. Using her tongue to very seductively lick the salt off Carter’s wrist, she shot the tequila, and then brought his palm close to her mouth to pick up the lime. She sucked out the juice from the lime and put it in the empty shot glass, then looked at Dylan as she licked her lips again. Molly kissed Carter’s palm first, then his wrist, then batted her eyes twice at Dylan.
“Thanks for the shot. I’m sure Carter enjoyed it as much as I did. I’d have him tell you if it worked or not tomorrow, but I don’t think he’s the kind to kiss and tell.” She gave Dylan a little cocky shrug. “Sorry.”
Dylan glared at her. “Fuck you.”
Molly did everything she could to keep her patience in check and her breathing slow, showing nothing but steel to her rival. With her eyes still locked on his, a full poker face and a voice that was knife’s edge sharp, she left not a trace of uncertainty. “You already know that’s never going to happen.”
“I’m outta here.” Dylan’s chair scrapped across the floor as he pushed himself back.
Her calmness was apparently unnerving to him, she held in the smirk as she capitalized on his weakness. “After only one?” she asked in a cute, coy voice. She couldn’t help but play with him like a cat with a mouse. And after two days of the asshole, it was oh so fun.
“You’re a bitch.”
Her arm instinctively went across Carter’s chest again, but without breaking eye contact with Dylan. “Maybe…“ She held stone still, at the last second she threw up a shoulder and winked. “But…I was right.”
Molly threw him a little smartass wave as he and his two buddies turned to leave. She waited until they got out the door, then cringed and grabbed the nearest water, which happened to be Jesse’s, and through gritted teeth, she hissed, “Oh my God, that shit burns.”
Their table exploded. Carter shook his head, laughing as he watched her drink half the glass of water. “It does burn. How’d you fake that it didn’t?”
“I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him know it hurt.” Molly laughed. “Sorry, cowboy.”
Jesse laughed even louder than he already was. “Oh, honey, that’s all right. That was too awesome, I’m just glad I got to witness it. I’d never of believed it otherwise.”
Molly winked back.
“So am I to assume you’ve nicknamed me?” Jesse’s warm smile crinkled his eyes.
“Yep. You wear the boots, you’ve got the accent. So yeah, cowboy, I did.”
“Do you think he’s ever going to learn not to mess with you? Cause at some point, I’m just going to take him out, just warning you all now.” Joey started passing out the rest of the shots to everyone else. “And that asshole better have already paid for these. And you…” He pointed at Carter as he spoke. “You’re damn lucky she held you back. I have a feeling George wouldn’t be so kind if you pummeled that jackass. I think you got a free pass the other night. Let me take him, I’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Thanks, Joey, but I don’t give a shit. No one’s going to mess with her,” Carter said.
Joey stared a moment, then nodded.
Eli brought her knuckles to his mouth for a sweet peck. “Thanks for letting me be a part of that, even if it wasn’t as good a role as Sterling’s.”
Brody’s gaze narrowed in on her. “What…in…the hell…was that?”
“What?”
He slapped the table. “The whole sex kitten act. What the hell? Where did you learn…that?”
“Brod, I’m a big girl now.” She answered nicely—on purpose.
“You aren’t that big. Dad would shit.”
“Then don’t tell him.” At this point, she was about to go off like a rocket. Her insides felt like a damn pinball machine. Between sitting close enough that only clothes separated her from Carter all night, this last battle with Dylan, and now Brody back on her ass, all she needed was the spark to set her off. And God help the person that lit that match.
“That is not what he meant by not knowing how to do a real shot! You lick the salt, shoot, and suck the lime. That’s it.”
“You’re right, Brod…it’s all in the lick…and the suck.”
Carter slapped his hand over his own mouth and was about to die as Erin finally lost it.
“You! You taught her that didn’t you?” Brody looked at Erin with the tears running down her face. “I’m going to kick both your asses, then laugh when Dad does it again. You should be ashamed of yourself, Erin.”
Brody’s outburst only made Erin laugh harder.
“Be nice to her, Brody, you big bully,” Molly scolded.
The entire group was laughing hysterically, drawing attention from other people in the bar. Molly glanced around them, then back to her brother. She leaned closer over the table like she had a big secret. “Hey, Brod, we didn’t practice body shots if that makes you feel better.”
His jaw dropped back open.
“You think you’re cute. Wait till Dad hears about this little stunt. Then we’ll see who’s laughing.” He turned to Erin. “You quit laughing, you’re just making it worse.”
Brody felt the sharp pain in his forehead. The same one he got when he realized his jaw was clenched so tight he couldn’t pass water through his teeth if he wanted to. He breathed in a slow breath through his nose and shook his head at his sister. She sat there smiling, just as pleased as punch. In any other instance this would have been funny. Hell,
it would have been hysterical, but not when it was his freaking sister.
Chapter Seven
Carter’s laughter finally calmed down from rolling hysterics to just inside of insane. He scooted out of the booth and held his hand out for her to follow suit. “Oh Gorgeous, you are so awesome. I love you.”
Molly’s eyes went big and she glanced at her brother. His eyes were as wide as hers and his jaw was on the table. Yeah. He’d heard the last three words fall from Carter’s mouth too. Shit. Her head was spinning. Those three tiny words were weightless individually. But combined? Those little words held the weight of the world, and yet, Carter was acting if he didn’t even know they’d slipped out.
He continued to laugh while pulling her close. “Okay, you’re mine. I think you owe me a dance. Besides, I think with that evil glimmer in your eye and what’s going on between you and Brody, there’s no stopping until there’s bloodshed.”
Oh, there was going to be bloodshed all right. Did Carter not feel the X that Brody had just put on his back? He should feel it. Molly could sure as hell see it from a mile away.
Eli grabbed her arm as she and Carter slid out of the booth. “Hey. He didn’t ask, either. Aren’t you going to give him shit too?”
She grinned and kissed Eli’s cheek before she slid the rest of the way out of the booth. She let his good humor and teasing bring her back from the ledge. One more step and she’d be freaking out about what Carter said.
As they made their way to the small dance floor, she waffled at least eleven times, going back and forth as she wondered if she should ask Carter whether or not he had said I love you on purpose. She hated not knowing what was going on if it involved her. There was a tiny piece of her that was a control freak. Eh? Maybe a little more than a tiny piece. Not knowing if Carter meant to say those words, or if he said it accidentally, or what if…Oh God. What if he said that and now he was waiting on her response? Crap. Maybe that was it. And she hadn’t said anything.
She said I love you to all her close friends and family all the time. It was no big deal. But it was Carter and this was such a big deal. What if he was upset she hadn’t said anything? Oh, God. She didn’t want to have hurt his feelings. Did she love him? Maybe? Yes. Definitely—maybe yes.
Right before she was sure the men in white coats were going to come busting through the doors, Carter took her in his arms and pulled her close. Okay, maybe he wasn’t mad she hadn’t replied. She just wished she knew what was going through his head.
“So, you having fun?” He smiled down at her.
“I am.”
The warmth he felt when she looked up at him with those deep blue eyes was hands down the best feeling he’d ever had. She was amazing. He could get lost staring at her.
“Okay, I have to tell you…you have no idea how hard it was to watch and feel you doing that shot and not just take you right then and there.” He couldn’t help the mischief in his teasing. “I’m talking, one arm swipe across the table, knocking glasses and bottles off, lay you down in front of God and everybody—and take you.”
He knew he would embarrass her by admitting that, and he couldn’t help but love the pink that flashed in her cheeks. But damn, the girl had just about killed him. It had been fifteen minutes and he was still hurting. He winked down at her smiling face.
“I’m sorry, it just couldn’t be helped. But thanks for being a willing participant.” She reached up on her tip toes to kiss his lips.
It was just a peck, as sweet as could be. But he wanted so much more. He took a sharp breath in, feeling the heated stare of her brother from across the room. The tension between the two of them had been palpable when they’d first walked in the bar tonight. And although Brody had laughed a few times and had even teased Molly, Carter could still feel the rift between them. With all his heart, he hated to be the cause of something between them. It was obvious they loved each other dearly, but as selfish as it may be, he couldn’t walk away.
He hugged her close and she laid her head against his chest. “I know this is moving fast, but I just can’t imagine a day without you.” He kissed the top of her head and continued to rub her back while they danced to the music.
The pain in her eyes when she looked back up at him tore at his heart.
“I know.”
“What’s the sad look for?”
“Well, you realize how fast Sunday is coming, right?”
“I know.” He sighed. “I’m trying not to think about it.”
She smiled sweetly up at him. “So?”
He could tell she was nervous about her question. “So… what?”
“Well…”
“What happens next?” He let her off the hook and finished for her.
She bit her lip nervously. “You can read my mind, huh?”
He leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips. “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” He leaned down to kiss her again, but more possessively than before. Her lips slowly parted and he took full advantage, his tongue slipping inside over hers, exploring her for several moments. His heart pounding, he finally pulled back to look in her eyes. “And, well, I think I’ve made myself very clear. So, Gorgeous, what happens next, is really…up to you.”
It warmed his heart the way her face lit up; he could see the relief in her eyes, as if she really had anything to worry about. As far as he was concerned, she was his.
“So if I want us to continue on the way we are, then we just meet up again next Thursday in Houston?”
“It’ll be a long three days, but that’s my thought, yeah.”
He cupped her face and started to kiss her, forgetting, or maybe just not caring that they were out on a dance floor surrounded by people, with their friends close and watching. He just needed her. He finally broke the kiss to look at her. “So?”
“Yeah?”
“You want to get out of here a little early? I can walk you back and we can talk for awhile, just the two of us.”
She looked at him nervously. “All right.”
“You can trust me, I’ll behave.”
She stared up at him. “I trust you completely.”
“Hey cutie, want to dance?” Jesse asked as he ambled up to them.
“Just one, Frost, we’re cutting out early.” He reluctantly let go of her, allowing Jesse to take her in his arms. He walked back to the table, alone.
Carter blinked a couple of times, trying to clear his mind. There was something eating at him he just couldn’t shake. He had a deep-seated need to watch over his heart, the one still laughing out on the dance floor with Jesse. He glanced back, watching for a minute as Jesse twirled her in a circle, her long, blonde hair flying as she laughed in Jesse’s embrace.
He thought back to previous comments she, Brody, and the others in her group had made about James and his over-protectiveness. He couldn’t fault the man. She had grabbed his heart in a vise barely over a day ago. He couldn’t imagine how her father felt after twenty-six years.
Wait.
Brody said she moved in with them when she was fourteen. They referred to each other as brother and sister, but they weren’t related. Not by blood anyway. She said there was history.
Eli pulled Carter out of his own thoughts as he slid back in the booth. “Looks like you lost your girl.”
“What? Oh, she’s on loan.” He grinned then took a drink of her almost full beer. “Oh, that’s nasty.”
“You’ve been out there over twenty minutes. What do you expect? They got hot,” Brody sneered. “Hey,” he nudged Erin, who had her head on his shoulder. “You ready? I know you’re tired.” He glanced up at Carter. “I know it’s still early, but Erin isn’t feeling well. I need to get her back. Would you please see to it my sister makes it back to my motorhome, and sooner, rather than later?”
Carter understood the “you may be older, but I’m the big brother” look he received from Brody. It was loud and clear. He was also smart enough to know he’d better not screw this up. Brody had extend
ed an olive branch, granted it was a forced hand due to Erin, but it was there. He also knew Molly well enough to know there was no way Brody was going to force her to leave before she was ready. Brody was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Carter wanted to laugh so badly he could hardly stand it. But he’d be the bigger person, if for no other reason than he got to spend more time with Molly and without her overbearing brother watching his every move.
“Yeah…we’re actually going to leave pretty quick, too.”
Carter held in the snort as he watched Brody silently signal for Joey to watch Carter and Molly. He held out a hand and waited patiently as Brody reluctantly shook it, then he waved goodnight to Erin before they turned to leave.
Carter stood back up when Jesse came walking back, chatting with Molly. “Thanks for dancing with me, D.”
“Anytime, cowboy.”
Carter watched the realization come across her face as she scrunched her eyebrows and pert, little nose up. He couldn’t help but smile down at her.
“D?”
Jesse chuckled. “I’m not the only one with a new nickname around here. Hunter gave you one too.”
“Oh yeah?” Molly raised an eyebrow at Eli. “You nicknamed me? Is it bad?”
Eli just smiled proudly as he stood to hug her goodnight. “Nope. You’re our own little SuperCross Darling, D for short.” Eli leaned to kiss her cheek and then squeezed her tight.
“Cute,” Joey replied sarcastically. “Well, at least you’re somebody’s darling. You’re just my big pain in the ass.”
Molly stuck her tongue out at Joey playfully.
~
Once again, Carter deliberately walked slowly, this time toward the stadium. He wanted to be alone with her and wasn’t ready for her to call it a night. He was afraid that once they got close to the pits, her nerves would kick in and she would make a beeline for her motorhome.
“Did you have a good time tonight?”
She squeezed his hand. “Yeah, but I have to admit, I just like being with you. It doesn’t really matter what we’re doing.”