"You believe him?" She asked.
"Yes. I have no reason not to. He's controlling and moody, but he's never given me a reason not to trust him."
"I hope you know what you're doing." Cate frowned.
"Don't worry, Cate."
"Like that's possible." She rolled her eyes.
"In other news, I have to go to New York for a few days. There's an event for fashion bloggers they want everyone to attend."
"That's fun; wish I could come," Cate pouted.
"You can't make it work?" Cate and I always had the best time in the city.
"Not this time, I’m in the middle of the new collection. You'll distract me in the big city." She giggled.
"Right, I'll distract you." I pushed her playfully and headed back to my bedroom to shower before Carter picked me up for lunch.
"You smell delicious." Carter's eyes twinkled when I slid into the back of the Bentley.
"Mmm, so do you," I whispered as I nuzzled into the crook of his neck. There wasn't a scent on earth I craved more than Carter's fresh, masculine scent.
"So how was your conference call?" Carter kissed along the curve of my neck as the car pulled away from the curb.
"Good." I giggled before pressing my lips to his in a long kiss. Carter wrapped his palm around the back of my neck and held me close to him.
"I missed you so much," he breathed and pressed his forehead to mine.
"It's only been a few hours." I kissed his lips and smoothed my thumbs over his thick eyebrows.
"I can't stand when you're away." He held me tightly.
"Me either." I smiled and placed my head on his shoulder.
The car slowed and then came to a stop. Carter and I sat cuddled for a few more precious moments before I slipped off his lap and he opened the door. We headed for one of the only open tables in the sushi place and placed our order with the waiter.
"I have to go to New York." I took a sip of my water, watching him through my eyelashes.
"What? When?"
"Tomorrow morning. There's a fashion thing Wednesday night, then I’ll be in the office Thursday and Friday."
"You'll be gone for three days?" Anger flashed in Carter's eyes.
"Yeah, it's not the first time I’ve had to go to New York. Standard stuff." I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don’t want you to go." Carter glared at me.
"What? Why?" His reaction took me by surprise.
"I just got you back, Eva, and now you're leaving again?"
"For a work thing." Was this how it would always be? Opposition at every turn? Carter Morgan was nothing short of exhausting.
"I don't want you to go," his voice lowered. I looked up into his eyes and saw that he was serious. Just then the waiter came with our sushi rolls. I thanked him and waited until he was out of earshot to address Carter's ridiculous request.
"Well..." I picked up my chopsticks. "That's too bad, because I'm going." I looked him straight in the eye. He gritted his teeth together. I may have a stubborn streak, but this man was not going to trample all over my career. He took a deep breath and I maintained eye contact with him to let him know this wasn't up for negotiation.
"Fine," he huffed and grabbed his chopsticks and dug into his salmon roll. "You can stay at my place in the city."
"You've got a place in the city?" My eyebrows shot up.
"I have to go there for business a lot." He shrugged.
"Well, it's ok, the company has me set up somewhere."
"Don't be silly. You're staying at my place. In fact I’ll send Parker with you. Then you can avoid taxis and he can help you with anything you need. "
"Absolutely not."
"What do yo mean absolutely not?"
"You're not sending Parker to babysit me. I don't need an escort, this isn't my first time in the big city." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Then at least stay at my place." he glared at me.
"Fine." I hesitated. "It will be lonely without you."
Carter gave me a saucy smile. "Going to miss me?"
"Yes." I rubbed my foot along his leg. A dark look crossed his eyes.
"Do that again and I’m taking you home with me, and I’ll lock you up so you can't go to New York."
Was it wrong that something about what he said sparked lust in the pit of my stomach?
"That's an enticing idea." My eyes sparkled in amusement. His eyebrows shot up and a wicked smile spread across his face. I grinned and snagged a piece of sushi off his plate and popped it in my mouth.
Eight
"So are you seeing anyone, dear?"
"Mom." I groaned. They'd driven down into the city to meet me for lunch before I had to go to the fashion event later that night. It'd been a busy morning at the main office; since I was based in Boston and didn't come to New York often, they always jam packed my schedule when I was here.