An Agreement (Summer in New York Book 3) Read online

  “I’m sorry I made you wait,” he said. “I’ll never do that again.”

  I ran my fingers down his naked back. “I just want you to be okay.”

  He kissed my forehead and held me in his embrace. “I’m better when I’m with you.”

  I’d never admitted it to myself, but it was true. “I am too.”

  “Did you like the ice cream?”

  “Yeah,” I smiled.

  “Do you want some more?”

  “No.” I squeezed his bicep. “I want some more of this.”

  He chuckled and buried his face in my neck. It tickled my skin, because of his scruff. But I liked it.

  We talked into the night and eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms. I never imagined I could have such a wonderful time in a guy’s bed. We hadn’t even had sex, but I felt bonded to him.

  Maybe my knight in shining armor was real after all.

  Chapter 11

  Carter

  I loved this girl. Maybe more than I’d ever loved anyone.

  She was broken, damaged. Just like me.

  She fell asleep in my arms, but I stayed awake for hours watching her. She looked serene, like an angel. And I couldn’t believe that she was here. Of all the eligible men in the city, she had chosen me.

  Something troubled her from the past. And while I had no room to talk, it worried me. Someone had hurt her. I just didn’t know who or in what way. It made me want to protect her even more.

  I took her home in the morning and watched her get ready for work. I’d never imagined a woman as good as her had been living here all this time. Right under my nose. Then again, I’d never made much of an effort to look for one. She’d fallen in my lap, and I’d almost blown it more than once. But that was never going to happen again. If Bailey wanted to end things, she’d have to break up with me.

  Because there was no way I was letting her go.

  That weekend, I went to her place for dinner. We had better luck staying in than going out. I liked the privacy, and it gave us a chance to really talk. The more I learned about her, the more I liked her.

  We cooked together in her kitchen. And it was the most fun I’d had in years. I opened a bottle of merlot from the restaurant and we drank a glass or two with dinner. Sitting at the table, I reached over and held her hand. She blushed and gave me that adorable little smile.

  Being a man, I was dying to touch her. But I wasn’t going to rush things. When Bailey was ready, she would let me know. And I’d be honored to even have the right to hold her in my arms.

  A knock on the door interrupted our quiet evening alone.

  “Who’s that?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” She got up to check.

  “Were you expecting someone?”

  “No.” She gazed through the peephole. “Oh. It’s my sister.”

  Bailey hadn’t introduced me to her family yet. Which was fine by me, because then I wouldn’t be obligated to introduce her to mine. But her sister was no problem. She’d already met mine.

  She opened the door and a tall brunette dove into her arms. She was crying.

  “Penny.” Bailey rubbed her back. “What’s wrong?”

  “Daddy and I got into this huge fight. And I just couldn’t stand it at home.” She sniffled and coughed, having a mini-breakdown. “Can I stay with you tonight?”

  “Of course.” Bailey took a step back. “Come in.”

  Penny had a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. “I called a cab. I just had to get out of there. I thought about staying with Josh. But he could have some woman over there so I...” She froze when she saw me. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” Bailey grinned and steered Penny towards the table. “This is Carter Boudreaux. My boyfriend.”

  “Hi.” Penny stuck out her hand, and I shook it. She had bangs across the top of her forehead and eyes just like Bailey. They were a pair of good looking girls. And one of them was mine.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said.

  “Penny is my kid sister. This fall she’ll be starting college at Harvard just like our parents.”

  “Wow. Harvard. That’s great. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” she smiled. But she’d turned shy as soon as she realized I was in the room.

  “Have you eaten yet?” Bailey asked. “Carter grilled some steaks for us.”

  “No, I haven’t.” Penny put her bag on the couch and sat down.

  Bailey brought her a plate with steak, roasted potatoes and green vegetables.

  “Thanks,” Penny said. “This looks great.”

  “Would you like a biscuit?”

  “Sure.” Penny took one from the bowl. “I didn’t know you made biscuits.”

  “Well, I didn’t make them.” Bailey stood behind me and rubbed my shoulders. “Turns out we have another Southern chef on our hands.” She kissed my cheek.

  “Like Uncle Austin?” Penny sounded excited.

  “Yeah, like Uncle Austin. Carter runs his own restaurant, too.”

  “Really?” Penny’s eyes lit up the way Bailey’s did. “Which one?”

  Bailey sat down across from me. “Why don’t you tell her all about it?”

  For the next hour, I talked about learning to cook in Louisiana and then getting into restaurant management in New York. As the night wore on, Penny and I got more comfortable with each other. I’d been so relaxed before she knocked on the door, because I’d expected to have the night alone with Bailey. But Penny was a sweet girl. And she seemed to really love her sister.

  “I’m sorry to just barge in like this. If I’d known you had someone over—”

  “It’s okay.” Bailey took a sip of wine. “Don’t worry about it. So what happened with Dad?”

  Penny shot a cool glance at her sister.

  “Why don’t I take off?” I got out of my chair. “I’m sure you girls have a lot of catching up to do.”

  “Carter, wait.” Bailey stopped me at the door. “You don’t have to go. It’s just Penny.”

  I looked over her shoulder at Penny. She was looking at her phone, giving us a moment of privacy.

  “I don’t know.” I scratched my head. “I don’t want to interrupt your sister bonding time.”

  She grabbed my hand and led me into her bedroom, shutting the door behind us. “I thought you were spending the night?”

  “I know but—”

  “Penny will be out of here first thing in the morning.”

  I looked at her and sighed. “Are you sure I won’t be in the way?”

  “Yes. I promise.”

  I put my arms around her waist and looked down at her. “Okay.”

  She kissed me on the mouth and curled her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”

  My chest filled with warmth, like it always did when she was around. I wanted her forever.

  “Let me make sure Penny has everything she needs,” she said.

  “I think I’ll jump in the shower.”

  “Okay.” She kissed me again and then went back to Penny in the living room.

  I watched her go and cracked the door. Then I grabbed the small overnight bag I’d brought with me and opened the door to her bathroom. It was nice and private, tucked in the corner of her bedroom.

  When we’d made dinner plans this week, she asked if I wanted to spend the night. Part of me thought she was trying to tell me something. It’s not like she was being forward. She’d been sleeping in my bed for the past two nights. But this was the first time she’d ever given me an invitation to sleep in hers.

  In the shower, I saw her shampoo and conditioner. There was a bottle of pink body wash. I picked it up and unscrewed the lid. It smelled sweet and floral. It smelled like her.

  I thought about having her in here with me. I’d bottled everything up for the past five years. But I had so much love to give. I wanted to show her how much I needed her, how happy she made me.

  I got out of the shower and pulled
on a new pair of boxers. Then I walked around in her bedroom and finished drying my hair with a towel. I heard the girls talking in the living room and stopped to listen.

  “I’m just surprised,” Penny said. “You never date anyone.”

  “That’s because I’m always so busy with work.”

  “But what, now you suddenly have all this free time?”

  Bailey didn’t say anything. And then they were giggling.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Penny asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Is it serious?”

  “Yeah,” Bailey sighed. “It is.”

  “Aww... I’m so happy for you!”

  “Thanks. He’s really important to me.”

  “He’s really good looking,” Penny said.

  “He’s mine.”

  Penny laughed. “Down, girl. I didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t planning on stealing him from you!”

  “I know,” Bailey said. “I’m just kidding.”

  “You really like him. Don’t you?”

  I didn’t hear Bailey say anything, which meant she must have given her a look.

  “You should invite him to the Hamptons for July Fourth.”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t even introduced him to Mom and Dad yet. I don’t want to overwhelm him with the whole Lewis clan at once.”

  “Why not? He looks like a real man to me. I’m sure he can handle it.”

  I hung my towel up and put a pair of sweats on. Then I pulled a shirt over my head and opened the door.

  “Hey.” Bailey looked back. “Did you have a nice shower?”

  “Yeah.” I sat down on the couch and pulled her into my lap.

  “Carter,” Penny said.

  “Yeah?” I wrapped my arms around Bailey and put my chin on her shoulder.

  “Our family goes to the Hamptons every summer for July Fourth.”

  Bailey tensed up. I felt the sudden stiffness in her body.

  “I was just telling Bailey that you should come with us.”

  “Penny, stop,” Bailey said. “He might already have plans.”

  “I don’t have any plans.” I kissed her on the cheek.

  Penny grinned ear to ear, making eye contact with Bailey.

  “Well. Do you want to go to the Hamptons and meet my whole crazy family?”

  “Hey!” Penny slapped Bailey’s arm playfully. They were both smiling.

  “I wasn’t talking about you,” Bailey said.

  “Yeah.” I turned her body so she was facing me. “I’d love to.”

  “Okay.” She put her arm around my back and kissed me. “Thank you.”

  Penny’s phone went off. “I should take this. It’s Daddy.”

  “Okay,” Bailey said. “I put fresh towels for you in the guest room.”

  “Thanks.” Penny stood up. “Wish me good luck.”

  “Good luck,” I said, watching her go. She went into the guest room and closed the door.

  “I’m sorry about all this,” Bailey said. “This isn’t exactly how I pictured tonight going.”

  “Really?” I kissed her lips.

  “Really.”

  I planted kisses on her jawline. “How did you picture it?”

  She closed her eyes and ran her fingers through my hair. “With no interruptions.”

  I kissed her neck and pulled her into me. She sat up in my lap and bit her lip, cupping my face in her hands. She stared into my eyes for a few seconds and then kissed me until our torsos were flush.

  “I think we should stop,” she gasped, stroking my beard.

  “Are you sure?” I cradled her hips in my hands.

  “Yeah.” She kissed my cheek. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”

  “Okay.” I finished my glass of wine and loaded the dishwasher. Then I turned all the lights off and made sure the front door was locked. On my way to the bedroom, I heard Penny yelling on the phone.

  I found Bailey and shut the door. She was brushing her teeth in the bathroom.

  “Is she still on the phone with your dad?”

  “Yeah.” She spit in the sink. “He’s pretty strict. And Penny is the baby of the family.”

  I remembered her mentioning that she was one of four. Penny was the youngest.

  “So do they not get along or...”

  Bailey rinsed her mouth out and smiled. “You’re not intimidated by my dad are you?”

  I grabbed my toothbrush and went in the bathroom. “Should I be?”

  She leaned against the wall and flossed her teeth. “No. He’s just a little overprotective.”

  The whole time I was brushing my teeth, I watched her in the mirror. She was wearing a skimpy little nightgown which confirmed my early suspicion. Tonight was supposed to be our first time.

  I finished in the bathroom and snuck up behind her. She giggled as I touched her stomach and trailed kisses down her neck. “That tickles,” she whispered, holding on to my arm.

  I wanted her tonight. Badly. But I wasn’t about to go there unless she was really into it.

  The last thing I wanted was too push her into something she wasn’t ready for.

  She turned around and pulled at the back of my neck. I felt a smile on her lips when she kissed me.

  “Are you tired?” she breathed.

  I leaned back and looked into her eyes. She was eager and excited. It was written all over her face.

  “No.” But I wasn’t smiling. Because this was serious to me. If I made love to Bailey, it wouldn’t just be some hot romp in the sheets. It would be the real deal. And I would map my future around her.

  She put her lips on mine and moved my hands down her back. Her nightgown was super short.

  “Where did you get that thing?” I asked.

  “What thing?”

  I slid my finger beneath one of the straps. “This thing.”

  She touched my face and whispered in my ear, “It’s a secret.”

  I laughed and molded my mouth with hers, walking her backwards until we reached the bed. She lay across the mattress and I picked her up in my arms, so her head would fall on the pillow. She reached back and adjusted it beneath her, getting cozy.

  “You always make sure my head is on the pillow,” she said.

  “I want you to be comfortable.”

  She pulled my collar until I was above her. “I am.”

  I slid my hands along the curves of her waist and kissed her everywhere. Her lips. Her cheeks. Her neck.

  She closed her eyes and tossed her head to the side, grabbing my arm. I watched her face before I went any further. Her little black night gown was tight, hugging her body like a glove. It made her look bustier than normal, not that she was lacking in that department. But my desire grew at the sight.

  “Say something if you want me to stop,” I said.

  “No.” She shook her head. “Keep going.”

  I kept kissing her until she slid her hands under my shirt. Then I leaned back and pulled it off, holding my body above hers. She raised her arms and I grinned, tugging the night gown over her head. She was wearing black lingerie underneath. Lacy and sheer.

  “Do you like it?” she asked.

  I was speechless, so I nodded. She was unbelievably sexy. A goddess.

  “I bought it for you.”

  I swept my thumb against her cheek. “You look amazing.” I looked into her eyes. “You’re beautiful.”

  She smiled, staring up at me with all the innocence in the world.

  “I’ll take care of you,” I said. “I promise.”

  I kissed the end of her nose and then her chest. Her hands ran down my back as I pressed my mouth against her ribcage. She was breathing slowly. I wanted to help her relax, so she wouldn’t freak out like she had last time. She whimpered and grabbed my hair, pulling my face back to hers.

  “Are you okay?” I whispered.

  “Yeah.” She hugged me and put her head in the crook of my neck. “I want to be with you.”

  Someone
knocked on the door. “Bailey? Daddy wants to talk to you.”

  I sighed. “I don’t think your father likes me.”

  Bailey groaned. “Okay! I’m coming.”

  I lay on my back as she put a robe on. Penny may have been a sweet girl. And I hated to hear that she and her father had been in an argument. But I was starting to wish she would just leave already.

  Bailey sat down on the bed and gave me a lingering kiss. “I’ll be right back.”

  She left and shut the door behind her. But she didn’t come right back. I heard her raise her voice a few times over the next hour. And by the second one, Penny was screaming and in tears. It sounded like Mr. Lewis was on speaker phone, so they could tag team him. But I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

  Eventually, I gave up and closed my eyes. Sulking had done nothing to get her in here faster. And to be honest, I was no longer in the mood. It felt like Baily was teasing me, even though I knew she wasn’t.

  Bailey had no control over these things. It wasn’t her fault.

  But I was still mad.

  When they got off the phone, I heard Penny crying. Bailey stayed in there and talked to her forever. And while I was empathetic towards the situation, whatever it was, I wished someone would be empathetic towards mine. But admitting that would be selfish. So I quit pouting and drifted off to sleep.

  It felt like a few minutes had gone by when Bailey slipped into bed beside me. I rolled over and peeked up at her in the dark. She took off her robe and pulled the covers up, snuggling against me.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

  “What time is it?” I yawned.

  “You don’t want to know.” She put her head on my chest and draped her arm over my stomach.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I’ll tell you about it in the morning.”

  “Okay.” I rubbed her back.

  “I’m so tired,” she said.

  “I know. Me too.”

  “I love my sister. But the minute she leaves, we’re having a party.”

  I chuckled. “Sounds good to me.”

  She was out in seconds. Despite my frustration, it felt good to just hold her.

  I had faith that—when the time was right— everything else would fall into place.

  I WOKE UP WITH A JERK. The girls were in the kitchen talking. And they weren’t exactly quiet.