THEY TOOK KAYLA TO a fancy little bistro that Ruth usually couldn’t afford. Carter made sure they got all the best stuff, so it was a real treat for Kayla.
For Ruth too.
It was almost nine when they dropped her off, and Ruth was tired and happy when Carter drove them back to his house.
“Oh,” she said, blinking as she realized where they were. “I guess I need to head back home.”
“Why? Just stay here tonight.”
“But your mom might not—”
“My mom is probably assuming that you’ll be staying here all the time. You’ve got your own room. There’s no pressure or anything. But you look tired, and it’s dark. Just stay here tonight. You can go back home tomorrow if you want.”
She hesitated since it seemed dangerous somehow to give in to something she wanted so much. But there wasn’t any mental argument that could convince her. “Okay. Why not?”
Carter seemed as pleased by that arrangement as she was. They talked to Mrs. Wilson for a while before they headed up to their rooms. Carter said he needed a shower, and that sounded like a good idea to Ruth too. So she took a long, hot shower and changed into the pajamas she’d worn the night before (since they were the only ones she had there).
She was wondering if it would be too bold to knock on the connecting door and announce to Carter that she was ready for sex anytime he was when he knocked instead.
Trying not to snicker, she swung the door open.
He blinked, as if he hadn’t expected her to be standing there. “Hi.”
“Hi,” she said back.
“I wasn’t sure...” He was wearing a clean pair of pajama pants with no shirt. The shirt he’d put on last night to come and talk to her had obviously been for her benefit since he must not sleep in a shirt. “Did you want to...? You said you’d like to have sex again, so if you’d like...”
She burst into laughter, grabbed his hand, and hauled him into her room. “I definitely want more sex. I was about to pound on the door and demand that you service me.”
He arched his eyebrows, trying for a sardonic look, but the corners of his mouth were twitching too much to pull it off. “Service you?”
“Well, something like that.”
“I’m at your service, if you think I’m up for the job.”
Ruth pulled down the covers on the bed and climbed in. “I’m optimistic about the prospects. And we have the two condoms you didn’t use from this morning. I told you that you were overly ambitious.”
Carter got into bed too and climbed over her, smiling down at her with a hot glint in his eyes. “Maybe I can make up for it tonight.”
“We’ll see.”
He leaned down to kiss her. “Yes. We will.”
Seven
RUTH PARKED IN AN EMPTY spot in the parking lot of the Wilson Hotel central offices and stared down at the plastic bag of take-out food in the seat next to her. When Carter had called to cancel their lunch an hour ago, he’d sounded so tired and emotionally stretched that she’d immediately decided to bring the meal to him.
But now she was having second thoughts.
He’d said he’d just grab a snack later on, but maybe he’d already come up with better lunch plans. Maybe he wouldn’t like the salad and bread she’d picked out for him. Maybe he would think it was strange and presumptuous that she would do something like that.
It had been less than a week since they’d started having sex. Maybe he’d think she was already getting too clingy.
She blew out her self-doubts in a series of slow, deep breaths. If he didn’t want the lunch she’d brought him, then he could throw it out or give it away. She had no intentions of sticking around and chatting with him. He was swamped today, after all.
And he’d sounded so exhausted on the phone. She hated the thought of him working in his office, hungry and stressed and alone. So she grabbed her purse and the bag and locked the car doors as she headed for the front entrance.
The place was entirely different during the daytime. It was bustling with activity, everyone rushing through the halls in their business attire with apparently urgent tasks to accomplish. She knew where Carter’s office was, so she headed to the top floor.
Ridiculously, she was slightly nervous as she entered the executive suite. It was quieter than the rest of the building, everyone safely stowed away in their offices except for a polished, middle-aged woman sitting behind a desk in the main room.
“Can I help you?” the woman asked. In a nice way, not an intimidating way.
Relieved, Ruth went over to her with a smile. “Hi there. I’m Ruth Garrison. Carter’s fiancée.”
“Oh, Ms. Garrison!” The woman stood up with a pleased, welcoming look. “It’s so nice to see you. We’ve all been very excited around here about the engagement.”
“I’m pretty excited too, if you want to know the truth.” Ruth set the bag of food she’d brought on the desk. “I know Carter is busy today, so I’m not here to bug him. But would you mind taking this in to him? I’m afraid he’s going to skip lunch entirely.”
“He skips lunch all the time.” The woman shook her head and tsked her tongue. “I’m always reminding him, but the poor thing works so hard. You’re welcome to bring it in to him. He’s just working by himself in his office right now. He could probably use a break.”
“No, no.” Ruth took her hand from the bag, feeling like her charitable mission had been a good decision and was now accomplished. “I don’t want to interrupt him. If you don’t mind taking it in, I’d appreciate it.”
“I definitely will. Thank you. And it was lovely to meet you!”
Ruth waved cheerfully as she left the suite. She’d met with a client this morning, so she was dressed up in a pretty green-and-brown wrap dress and heels. It was a shame Carter hadn’t gotten to see her in her nice outfit.
She’d pressed the Down button and was waiting for the elevator when a voice down the hall called out, “Ruth. Ruth!”
She turned and saw Carter jogging toward her in a dark gray suit.
The elevator opened just then, but she didn’t get on. She turned and went to meet him.
He was breathless when he reached her. He’d obviously run to catch up with her. “Hey,” he said rather raspily.
A smile bubbled up inside her. “Hey.”
“Why didn’t you say hello? You didn’t have to drop the food and run.”
“I didn’t want to bother you. I just wanted to make sure you got some lunch.” She was ridiculously embarrassed. And also kind of pleased with herself. It was the strangest combination of feelings.
“You wouldn’t have bothered me. I was just in there working.”
“I know. That’s what the nice woman I talked to said.”
“Well, she was telling you the truth.” He looked down at the floor and then slanted her the most adorable upward glance. “Thanks for bringing me lunch.”
“You’re welcome.” She could feel her cheeks getting very pink.
“Do you want to come sit with me for a few minutes while I eat?” He looked back toward the executive suite.