They held each other tight even after her sobs had eased. The soft, solid weight of her broke the icy numbness, and slowly, heat seeped back into his body. Hours or minutes or seconds later, she tipped her head up.
Carter froze.
The naked longing and need in her luminous eyes rocketed through him. His hands cupped her damp cheeks, his thumb tracing the trembling curve of her lower lip.
Her words wrecked him to his very soul: “I love you, Carter Ross. I know there are a million reasons you don’t believe in it, and you’ll never be able to say it back to me, but it’s the truth, and you deserve to hear it. I love the boy who protected his sister and had the bravery to sacrifice his youth and dreams. I love the man who makes Zoe laugh and writes a letter to the tooth fairy for a stranger. I love the man who spoils his dog, and brings me chocolate croissants, and looks into my eyes when he makes love to me.” Her smile wobbled, but her face was lit with a giving joy that stole his very breath. “So there it is. And you’re just going to have to deal with it. Okay?”
His world shredded and a new path opened before him. A path with thorns and brush leading to an unknown track he’d always avoided. But looking into her face, everything inside him sighed and opened and wanted for the first time. Fear and need warred inside him, battling for dominance.
Carter closed his eyes. This woman had given him everything without expectation. He struggled to say the words in his heart and mind and soul, the same words that had destroyed his father. The words he’d spent his life rejecting to protect himself. The words he hoped and feared were his new truth.
But they died on his lips, unspoken.
He opened his eyes. Gazed down at the woman in his arms. And took her mouth with his. This, he could give. His body could give her everything, and maybe, it would be enough.
He pressed her back into the mattress and spent the next few hours showing her his heart.
Chapter Twenty
“He’ll be right back.”
Lucy stared back at her in dismissal. She whined again and circled by the door, obviously upset that the love of her life had left her with his new squeeze.
Avery sighed, tugging down the shirt she’d borrowed from him, and refilled her coffee mug.
For the past week, Lucy had been making it crystal clear she was unwelcome. When Carter was in the shower, she’d jump up on the bed, curl onto his pillow, and show her teeth in warning when Avery tried to join her. If Avery tried to explain the behavior to Carter, he stared at her in disbelief and asked Lucy if she was being nice.
Yeah. Like the dog could answer him. Even if she could, Avery knew she’d lie.
Yesterday morning, she’d discovered a surprise in her shoe. Lucy’s punishment consisted of a light scolding and an extra walk, peppered with excuses that she hadn’t been walked enough last night. But when Lucy turned back and nailed Avery with a stare, triumph glimmered in her big brown eyes.
She was beginning to understand exactly what Selena had been talking about with Gus. Lucy was out to get her, but she couldn’t let the dog win.
Avery rummaged through the cookie jar, knelt down, and offered her a treat. She planned to kill the dog with kindness until she was finally accepted. After all, since Carter had confessed the truth to her, their relationship had grown stronger. Understanding how he’d gotten twisted in his mind over his ideas of love helped her be patient. In her heart, she knew the man was capable of being a great partner, if only he faced his fears and left the past behind.
But first he needed to heal. Believe. And let himself love.
Was she the woman meant to be part of his journey toward healing, or would she be unable to truly break through?
She pushed the disturbing thoughts away and tried to concentrate on bonding with her nemesis. “Lucy, want a treat?”
She’d watched the dog gobble them up from Carter’s fingers, but now, Lucy just gave an annoyed sigh and plopped her butt down by the door to wait.
Avery dropped the biscuit on the floor and stretched out her legs in front of her. “If someone tried to take away the man I loved, I’d be upset, too,” she said. “But there’s something you need to know. I will never try to get between you. You loved him first, Lucy, and he loved you.”
The dog cocked her head, giving her a sidelong look as if she were listening. Even though Avery felt ridiculous, she continued her speech.
“I just want to make him happy, too. I know you’ll be rid of me in a week when you go back to DC, but is it wrong to hope for more? Can you give me a chance if I promise to never hurt you or try to control your relationship? Because you’re everything to him, and that will never change. I think we can both make him happy. Don’t you?”
Lucy blinked. Considered. Then dropped her head to rest between her delicate paws, as if telling her she needed some time to think about it.
“Fair enough,” Avery said, getting up from the floor. “I guess trust is earned, not given. I’ll work harder.”
The door opened. Lucy jumped with joy, and damned if the man didn’t get straight to his knees to give her love and affection. Avery’s heart mushed and her head spun, and she watched his tenderness with a longing that roared up from her very soul.
When he straightened up, he tossed her a sexy grin and walked over, pressing a hard kiss to her lips. “You look so fucking hot,” he growled, eating her up with his gaze.
“It’s just a shirt,” she teased, cupping his rough cheeks.
“It’s my shirt. I’m all over you. Turns me on.”
She laughed and stepped away, grabbing the bag from his hands. “Everything turns you on, but right now, all I can think of is food.” She pulled the chocolate croissant from the bag and moaned, crossing her legs in ecstasy. “Oh God, it looks so good. How do you keep finding them? Each time I go, they’re all out.”
He grabbed a paper plate and napkins, and slid his own pastry out of the bag. “When I found out how much you love them, I asked Madison’s to keep one to the side every time they baked a batch and text me.” He took a bite. “You’re right. It’s so good.”
The pastry dropped from her fingers. She blinked, staring at him. “What did you say?”
“It’s good.”
“No, about Madison’s.”
He shrugged. “Told them to put one aside. No big deal.”
The knowledge he wanted to please her and had gone out of his way to make her happy struck hard. If only he realized how much he had to give. If only she could help teach him.
She leaned forward, making sure the shirt gaped open and flashed her bare breasts. “After you finish your breakfast, I want you naked. I’m about to show you how grateful I am for being so sweet.”
He stared back, slightly dazed. “I’m done now.”
She laughed and shook her head. “After. Can I give some to Lucy?”
“No, chocolate isn’t good for dogs.”
“I can give her this crunchy end. It’s plain.”
He smiled, glancing back and forth between them. Lucy gave a tiny whine, sensing she was close to the treat. “Sure.”
She offered the bite, but Lucy sat stubbornly, waiting for Carter to give it to her. “Dammit, she’s stubborn.”
He deepened his voice. “Lucy, you can take it from Avery or you get nothing at all. Your choice.”