“You look sexy as hell in that dress, Melanie.”

“Thank you.” She wouldn’t let his compliment sway her. “Too bad you lost your chance to go home with me.”

“Too bad for you, too.” Carter’s head dipped to hers, his mouth dangerously close. “Don’t go home with anyone but my sister.”

“Or what? You’ll cause a scene, maybe kick some good ol’ boy’s butt, just to show that redneck in you hasn’t been completely driven out?”

“All that and more.” His green eyes bore into hers. “I’m feeling mighty proprietary towards you, Miss Smith.”

“Big words suppose to impress me? In case you forgot, I’m a beauty school drop-out,” she said, but her heart wasn’t in it. In fact her heart thrilled at the thought of him feeling so possessive of her.

A soft smile pushed up the corners of his sexy mouth. He brushed an invisible strand of hair away from her face. “You just haven’t found the career that interests you enough, but when you do—watch out Holland Springs. Hell, watch out world.”

“You really think all that about me?” It was true she flitted from job to job, trying to discover exactly what she wanted to do, or be. So far, the only thing that interested her cost too much to invest in, and her camera, the one she’d inherited from her momma, had stopped working two years ago.

“I do.” He searched her face. “I think you’re gorgeous, sexy, smart—” She rolled her eyes. –“smart and thoughtful. Too good for a dumbass jerk like me.”

Tears gathered in her throat. “Stop teasing me.”

“I’m dead serious. Sometimes, my mouth shifts to fifth while my brain stalls in first, and it’s your job to call me out on it.”

The things he said to her. She sighed. “I’ll think on it.”

The song ended, but they kept moving. Carter seemed no more inclined to leave her than she did him. Out of the corner of her eye, the band walked back onto the stage.

“Song’s over.” Lifting her chin, he gazed down at her. Closing her eyes, she waited for the inevitable. For him to kiss her, for her to forgive him and for them to end up hot and sweaty, and tangled up in each other in his bed.

“Carter,” she breathed.

“Thank you for the dance, Melanie,” he said and her eyes popped open. “I’ll be at the bar until you leave with Zoe.”

She gasped. “Of all the high-handed—“

“Still your choice.” He touched her cheek, then walked away, leaving her wanting more.

Zoe sidled up to her. “Carter’s not leaving until we do, is he?”

“Nope.”

Carter sat down on an empty bar stool and lifted his glass in salute.

“And you’re okay with that?”

Unable to lie to herself or her best friend, Melanie sighed. “Yep.” Then she grinned at Zoe. “Doesn’t mean I’m leaving anytime soon. Let’s dance.”

Chapter Eleven

After staying until closing time and watching Carter watch her, Melanie made it to work five minutes before nine.

Of course he was already there. The damn man rose with the sun. She didn’t know how he did it, because being a non-morning person meant that ten o’clock felt like five a.m..

“Morning,” she said, come to a halt in the doorway of his office. She blinked. There were roses everywhere. Pink, purple, white and blush. “What’s all this?”

Carter ambled to her, one hand in his pocket and biting the side of his lip. “Part of my apology. I know it’s pretty standard, but—”

“It’s not standard with me.” She walked inside, brushing past him and lifting the closest vase. “These smell so good.”

“You like?” He stood behind her, so close that she could feel the heat his body threw off. In that moment all she wanted to do was touch and kiss him. His hands crept around her waist, pulling her back against his front. “Forgive me?”

“It’s a step in the right direction.”

“It’s nine o’clock.” His hands fell away. “Time for work.”

Eyes opening, she set down the vase and whirled to face him. “Thank you for the roses.”

He grinned. “Welcome.”

“Aren’t you exhausted?” she asked, her voice cracking on a yawn.

“I’m used to going all night.”

Oh dear God. There was so much promise in his words that she was ready to call it quitting time and drag him upstairs. “Can you get that for me?” she asked, pointing to a box on a top shelf on the far wall. “I need to go through those files.”

“Sure thing, Miss Smith,” he said, coming up behind her. His large, lean body pressed against her as he grabbed the box. He set the box right in front of her, his arms around her but not touching. “This good for you?”

Was it good for her? She wanted to whimper at the ache he’d started between her thighs. “Y-yes,” she said, scooting away from him. She could hear him walking behind him and her heart sped up. Thankfully, just as she put the box down on the table by the file cabinet, her phone rang.

“Feel free to answer that. I don’t have a no cell phone policy,” he said from behind her. “Besides it could be your dad.”

“Hope not, because my dad only calls me for two reasons: He’s in jail, or he needs me to come pick him up from Poor Boys.” She answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Ms. Smith?”

This couldn’t be good. No phone call that started with a Ms. Anything was ever good. “Yes?”

“This is Jane Ellen, calling from Holland Springs Bank. You had two debits that overdrew your account. Since this is the first time a situation like this has ever occurred during your time with us, we paid the bills anyway.”

Her brow furrowed. Needing privacy, she mouthed, “Be right back” at Carter and headed out the door. “That was really nice of you, but I don’t understand why my account would be overdrawn. I have almost forty-five hundred dollars in there.” And the only two bills she had were car insurance and cell phone, which totaled no where near that amount.

“As of two p.m. you had a balance of twenty five dollars. That is, until the debits hit. “

“I don’t understand. I haven’t taken out any money.” A feeling of dread washed over her. She closed her eyes and leaned against her car, bracing for the bad news.

There was an audible breath, then a throat cleared. “Your daddy came in here this morning and withdrew four thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars from your account. LeeAnne waited on him, like usual. “

She let her head hit the piece of metal above the window. LeeAnne Parks was sweet on her dad, but he never gave her the time of day, due to her being available and not in need of a white knight. “But he didn’t have my permission.”

“He’s listed on your account.”

“That’s because I opened it when I was twelve, remember? You were the one who waited on me.”

“I realize that, but since then, you could have had him removed.”

Yeah, she could have, but she never dreamed Louis would steal from her. Taking a steadying breath, she counted to ten. “Is there anything I can do to get it back?”

“I’m sorry, Melanie. There’s nothing I or anyone else here can do. Why don’t you talk to Louis? In the meantime, we’ll have to hold-off on closing on your loan next month.”

“Thanks.” For nothing, she wanted to add. Melanie hung up and fisted her hand around her phone. “Damn you, Louis Smith.”

“Everything okay?” Carter asked as Melanie appeared in his office again, her face red and her brown eyes glittering.

“No, everything is not okay.” She marched back to the table by the file cabinet and jerked the lid off of the helpless box. “The bank’s basically told me I’m a deadbeat and my dad’s run off with all my money.” Turning, she shook her head and gave him a brittle smile. “I was supposed to close on my house next month. Looks like that will never happen.”

Jumping up from his chair, he joined her at the table, taking away the file she’d just pulled out. “What can I do to help?” Hunting Louis down and beating the crap out of him for putting Melanie in this position was high on his list, but he didn’t think she’d like that too much. And he didn’t relish the thought of going to jail for assault.

“Nothing.” Lifting her chin, she took the file back and held it to her chest. “I’m never getting out of that trailer park.”

“I know you wanted the house, Melanie, but there’s not a thing wrong with living in a trailer park.”

Her expression turned sour. “Says the man that owns three houses and a condo.” Then she smacked both hands over her mouth, letting the file fall to the floor. “I’m so sorry. That was—”

“No need to apologize. We all say and do things we don’t mean, or at least we don’t mean once cooler heads prevail.”

She dropped to the floor, picking up the scattered papers. He joined her, handing her the ones that had slid under the table. “Thanks.” Replacing them, she set the folder on the table. “I don’t think I’m any good to you today.”

“Understandable.” Biting the side of his lip, he lifted his brows. “How would you feel about us taking a trip together—strictly business, of course—to Charlotte? I’ll pay for your expenses.”

“Is this the same trip you’d invited me on yesterday?” Her brown eyes had gone all soft and dewy.

He gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah, but I really do need you to come with me. I have three business meetings with possible investors, and I’ll need someone to help me keep everything straight. Maybe take some notes.”

“Don’t you have lawyers for that?”

“Yeah, but those investors always have an assistant and I can’t walk in there looking all wet behind the ears.” He had no idea if that was true or not, since his manager and agent had always handled things of that nature. But for this, his own start-up, he wanted to be the one to handle it. Even if it meant he fell flat on his face. He always did like to learn the hard way.

“Beats staying here and moping around,” she said with a shrug and a sigh.

“Gee thanks.”

“It’s not an insult.”

“Don’t explain yourself. Everyone needs to get away.” Warmth coursed through his veins as her expression of utter hopelessness eased a tiny bit. He knew the smallest distance gained could win the entire race. “Go home and pack, then I’ll be by to pick you up at five thirty.”

“Are we driving?”

“Flying. Wieland Airlines was a sponsor of mine and we’re still on good terms.” Actually, he’d decided to go that route, because he couldn’t ride in a car with Melanie for five hours and not keep his hands off of her.

***

The flight was uneventful and quick. Just the kind he liked. A limo picked them out front of Charlotte Douglas International, whisking them away to the Marquis. After checking in, the valet showed them to Melanie’s room.

Carter tipped the woman and shut the door behind her, then turned to face Melanie. She stood at the windows, peering out at the Charlotte skyline. The lights of the Carolina Panthers’ stadium were visible from this high up.

“Feel free to order room service, movies and gorge yourself on the mini-bar.” He smiled as she whirled to face him. “Jump on the bed and prank call the room next door.” All those things she had done with his sister the last time they’d come out to Charlotte to visit him, before he bought his house. But there was no way he could take Melanie to his house. He didn’t trust himself.

“Not much fun to do without a friend,” she said, moving to the bed. Her hand trailed over the covers. “This is a huge bed for just one person.”

Yeah and he’d like nothing more than to join her in it. His dick was on board with his plan, too. Jesus, he had to get out of there. “If you don’t need anything, I’ll be going.” He turned, moving to the door.

“Carter, wait!” Her coconut scent reached him before she did.

Hand on the door knob, he closed his eyes as her arms came around him. This is was okay. She’d always given him hugs, except when he’d gotten engaged, then she’d avoided him like he had the plague. Her breasts flattened against his back. He stiffened.

“I’m glad you brought me with you. I needed this.”

“Me, too.” Then he opened the door and stepped out of her embrace.

***

The three meetings he had scheduled went two for three in his favor. Two major investors not only wanted to help him get started, but had a list of clients that would be interested in his services.

Only problem was that one of the investors was a close friend of the governor and Carter wasn’t completely sure that they were there for the potential to make money. Since he’d removed his manager and agent from the equation, he needed someone to bounce off ideas. someone that wouldn’t bullshit him or break his balls.

Someone like Jake Henley.

After texting his friend and former teammate, Carter checked in on Melanie.

How’s it going?

Swimmingly. 

?

She texted him a picture of the pool on the fiftieth floor. Good thing it was heated, else her cute ass would be freezing right about now. He had to force himself to not ask Melanie to text him a picture of herself, wearing one of those tiny bikinis she favored.