Precious Lace(16)

"Later." The corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. I heaved a giant sigh.

Carter walked around the car and opened the door, helping me out, and then walked with my hand firmly locked in his to the front steps of his parent's home. He opened the heavy black door and all of a sudden we were bombarded.

His sister, Emma, sprinted up first. She threw her arms around Carter's neck and stood on her tiptoes to hug him.

"I’m so glad you guys are here!" she squealed and then turned to me and enveloped me in a tight hug. My eyes widened for a minute in surprise before I put my arms around her small frame and gave her a light hug.

"It's so great to meet you! Carter has told me so much!" Her bright eyes shown back at me.

"It's great to meet you, too." I smiled at her genuinely. Her bubbly attitude was infectious and made me feel a little more at ease.

Carter's mom walked up behind Emma and embraced Carter warmly, kissing his cheek.

"We're so glad you could come, Evangeline." She turned and wrapped me in a soft hug. I awkwardly placed my arms around her; hugging was not something we did often in my family, but it did make me feel welcome.

Carter's brother and dad trailed behind the women of the house and nodded and exchanged friendly greetings.

"Everyone. This is Evangeline. Evangeline, this is everyone—my mom Kara, Emma, Derek, and my dad James." Carter squeezed my hand.

"Hi," I said softly.

"Let's head out to the deck. Food is nearly ready." Carter's mom placed a hand on Emma’s shoulder and hustled everyone through the foyer and towards the French doors on the opposite end of the house.

"Can I help with anything?" I offered.

"Not at all, Evangeline." Carter's mom smiled as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Just make sure that boy of mine gets you something to drink."

"What do you want, love?" Carter wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pressed a kiss on the top of my head. Kara's eyes flickered in delight.

"Whatever you're having?" I looked up at him.

"A beer?"

I scrunched my nose and shook my head.

"We have wine or lemonade," Kara offered.

"Wine would be good." I smiled up at Carter.

"Sure thing. I'll bring it out to you." He guided me out the French doors to the patio. I sat down next to Emma and she immediately asked me about my job. I knew from Carter that she was interested in fashion so I wasn't surprised.

"Carter says you’re a fashion editor."

"Yes, I work at Trend29."

"Oh, I love that website! I'm a bit of a shopaholic. Carter said we'll get along great!"

I laughed at her exuberance. We chatted for a while about fashion and her future. She was enrolled at Boston University for marketing and hoped to own a boutique someday. I told her Cate was a designer, and surprisingly she had heard of her. Emma was more up on the fashion scene than I’d thought.

Carter set a glass of red wine in front of me as his dad pulled steak and seafood kabobs off the grill. Carter's mom brought an assortment of sides to the table and everything was served family style.

The weather had just the slightest chill in the air but was still warm enough to enjoy the last fall days before winter slipped in. Carter's mom asked us how we'd met then about the charity ball that Carter and I had attended. She explained that she was involved with that charity so Carter was a generous supporter. Everything was delicious and the wine had loosened me up enough to enjoy the conversation.

Carter's family gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling; they were exactly the kind of family I’d always dreamed of having. While things weren't ever bad in my own family, I was often lonely as an only child and my parents were more reserved. Not the sort of family that overflowed with love and affection as Carter's seemed to be.

Carter's hand caressed my thigh under the table and he shot me sexy glances every once in a while. The love shown in his eyes—he looked like the happy, carefree Carter I'd seen in the photo on his desk in Aspen. When conversation turned to the Red Sox, Carter leaned over and whispered in my ear.

"Let me give you a tour." His breath washed over my skin and my nerve endings tingled. He gripped my hand and we stood and walked through the house. He took me straight to the stairs off the foyer and I arched an eyebrow.

"What about the living room? Or the kitchen?" I giggled.

"I really just wanted to show you my bedroom," he said. Those few words sent shock waves straight between my legs. Arousal throbbed through my veins and had my head buzzing in anticipation. The wine no doubt had my body teetering on the edge of lust.

He led me up the stairs and down the long hallway to the last room on the left. He opened the door and we walked into a tasteful navy blue bedroom with pale wood floors and white trim.