So what happens now? I know the studio—Biff told me which one it is. I could turn up and confront him, demand he tells me the truth like I did on Saturday at the wedding, or I could just let him be. He clearly wants to keep his two lives separate, and who am I to force his hand? He’s happy. Or is he? The only reason Carter appeared tonight is because something’s going on.
I ask myself again. Do I turn up? Try to see him and find out what’s going on? Then the image of Carter standing before me tonight with his top off appears, telling me that ‘what you see is what you get’, and I change my mind.
He has no way of finding me. Well, he has Biff, if he goes against my demand not to say anything.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. My head spins with everything, and I fear that only a very large amount of wine is going to slow it down.
What I do know is that I never should have slept with him tonight. I shouldn’t have turned up to that date after his warning that he had something he needed to tell me, and I shouldn’t have answered Biff’s door tonight, let alone let him in and allow him to get his hands on me.
My skin prickles as I remember just how good it felt. I bite down on my bottom lip as I vividly recall how his lips felt against mine, brushing over my breasts, kissing my pussy.
Heat heads south as I think about his tongue, and I squeeze my thighs together. Shit, I shouldn’t have been turned on with him in front of me, let alone now when all I have is memories. He shouldn’t hold that kind of power over me.
I talk myself in circles about what I should do from here, but by the time my wine is empty and the water is cold, I’m still no closer to having any answers.
All I do know is that Carter James Wright is not my type. Should our paths cross again, I need to stay as far away from him as possible.
It might have been a month now since the night I try to forget, but he’s still just as under my skin as he was the moment he stepped inside Biff’s flat.
Tonight is Zach’s birthday meal that’s been organised by our mum and Biff, who’s now officially Zach’s girlfriend. Is it weird that my best friend is banging my brother? Yes, very. Biff and I have shared everything since we bonded at uni a few years ago, but that’s had to come to an abrupt end because I really, really don’t need all the sordid details of how things are with my brother. Watching them kiss openly in front of me is weird enough. I do not need to know about anything else they do behind closed doors.
Thankfully, Biff’s been totally preoccupied with him since the truth came out about what sent him into hiding: Dad’s illegitimate daughter. While everyone else was shocked by Zach’s announcement about him owning a very successful chain of tattoo studios, the other one that came out that same day rocked me to my very core. It seems the perfect relationship Mum and Dad have had all these years hasn’t always been quite so. I guess we all have skeletons hiding in our closets, and it’s best to remember that the people we look up to aren’t always perfect. Things aren’t always as they seem.
That final thought takes me back to Carter. Was he right when he claimed that he didn’t lie to deceive me but to find something different? And if that is the case, could I ever overlook it to give him a chance?
No. No, you can’t. He’s not your type, remember?
My hands tremble as I lift the zip on the back of my dress for tonight. I’ve not asked for details of who’s going to be there, but I overheard Mum telling Summer that she and Biff were arranging to bring both of Zach’s families together: his real one as well as his work one. So there is a very good chance that he’s going to be there. I tell myself that he’s not the reason I spend an inordinate amount of time ensuring my hair is perfectly straight or that my make-up is flawless, or the reason why, when I chose my underwear for the night, I pulled out the tiniest, sexiest set I own. It’s for confidence, I try convincing myself, but I’ve always been a shit liar.
Happy with how I look, I sneak a shot of vodka to steady my nerves before heading up to Harrison and Summer’s house for a lift to the restaurant Mum has chosen.
My stomach is in knots as I trail behind the rest of my family to find our table. I’ve no idea if we’re first or last, and to be honest, I’d rather not know. Mostly, I just want to run home and hide. I can only imagine it’s going to be hard enough to ignore him if he’s here, let alone try to appear unfazed by him, when in reality I’m not sure if I want to hate him or fuck him.
I’m a strong, independent woman. I always have been. So this tattooed bad boy being able to unnerve me so much is unsettling to say the least.
I don’t want him. He’s not my type. He tricked me. That should be the end of it. I don’t do liars or cheats. That’s my one hard limit when it comes to men, and that’s exactly how this started, so there’s no way there can be anything else between us. No way, no chanc— The moment my parents part, our table comes into view, along with one very amused pair of green eyes. I don’t need to look down to his lips to know he’s smiling as our eyes lock, although I don’t miss the confusion that fills them.
Something sits heavy in my stomach. I want to say it’s dread that I’ve got to spend the evening in his company, but I fear the reality of it is very different.
Movement finally makes my eyes drop, and when they do, I find him suggestively running his tongue along his bottom lip. My thighs clench as the memory of what that tongue can do hits me full force.
I’ve no idea how much time passes, but the next thing I know, Biff is beside me as everyone stands to greet the birthday boy. He does a round of introductions, but apparently that’s not enough for Biff, who insists I get to know everyone better.
“Danni, come and meet the guys,” Biff says, winking at me, telling me that she didn’t miss what just happened between me and Carter. She wraps her hand around my upper arm and squeezes just to nail home the point. “This is D, he’s the sensible one who keeps everyone in line.”
“Hey,” Zach shouts from behind us. “The boss keeps everyone in line, I’ll have you know.”
“Whatever you say,” Biff mutters with a roll of her eyes. “This is Spike,” she says, gesturing to the guy sitting beside Carter. He smiles and nods politely. “And this is Titch, but I think you two already know each other, right?”
“Something like that.” I risk a glance in his direction, seeing as it’s the polite thing to do when being introduced.
“Guys, this is Danni. Zach’s little sister.” Carter’s—or Titch’s, as he seems to be known—chin drops in shock. That one move tells me a lot about him. His shock means that he’s not had a conversation with Biff, much like I haven’t, about what was obviously off between us that night in her flat. I’ve only managed to achieve that by mostly avoiding her since the event. It’s not been all that hard seeing as she’s been preoccupied by Zach.
I can see the curiosity in her eyes every time she so much as looks at me—how he’s managed not to get a grilling from her god only knows.
“Zach’s little sister? Whoa,” Carter says, openly checking me out.
“And that’s code for keep your eyes to your fucking self, dickhead,” Zach snaps, coming to stand beside me and staring daggers at Carter.