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

  When I got the courage up, I returned to online dating. Jared had seemed like a really great guy. But his destiny was on the other side of the country. That didn’t mean I couldn’t find another one like him.

  I sorted through all my matches, but couldn’t remember which ones Carter had commented on. So I ignored them all, not wanting to take advice from him. I had no interest in going on a date with a guy Carter could take credit for. Or hearing I told you so by dating one he’d said to avoid.

  That is, if I ever saw him again.

  One day, I got a message from Nick. He was a few years younger than me, fresh out of college. He had just taken a job working in the mail room at the brokerage firm my grandfathers had started.

  It felt like a good omen.

  He took me out for ice cream one Saturday. And we walked around Central Park. He spent hours telling me about his childhood, his dreams of being a success. Growing up in my family, I’d felt the constant pressure of meeting expectations. So I could relate.

  We went bowling on the next date. And then an afternoon movie. He let me pick a chick flick.

  And that felt like another good sign.

  But when he tried to put his arm around me, I sort of pulled away from him. I saw the look on his face, and suddenly there was this awkwardness between us. Instead of dwelling on it, he asked me out to dinner. A fancy restaurant. The nicest one in town.

  My love life felt like a boomerang.

  I couldn’t tell Nick no, especially after I’d been cold. So I gave him a hug and went back to my apartment. The date was next Friday night, and I hoped Carter wouldn’t be there.

  I sat down on my couch and scrolled through the contacts on my phone. His number was right there. Would it be so terrible if I gave him a call? Or was it worse that I actually wanted to?

  I put my phone down and pushed the thought out of my mind. As painful as it was, Carter and I weren’t going to work. I had to get over it. I had to move on. And right now, Nick was my method of choice.

  HE’D MADE RESERVATIONS. So we were seated right away. But no one came to take our order.

  “Have you been here before?” Nick asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “And do they usually take this long?”

  “No.” I put my menu down. “Let me go find someone.”

  “Thanks, doll.” He was texting someone on his phone when I left.

  Something about the way he’d just said doll rubbed me the wrong way. I’d heard my uncle call my aunt that a thousand times. But Uncle Austin said it differently. Sweeter. With affection. Like a term of endearment.

  And I hadn’t felt any of those things just now.

  I looked for a waiter or waitress I recognized, but the place was so packed. Every table was full, which meant business was going great for Carter. I froze when I saw him watching me from a distance.

  Since there was no one else, I walked up to him. There was a toothpick in his mouth. Kind of like the night we met.

  “Hi,” I said. I had to raise my voice since it was so loud in the place.

  “Hello.” He grabbed my arm to pull me out of the way when a server walked by.

  “How have you been?” I asked. To be polite.

  “Does it matter?” He looked over my shoulder. “I see you brought your new boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” I followed Carter when he walked away. “We’re just dating.”

  “And what does that mean?” He turned around. “Just dating? Is that girl code for somethin’?”

  “Why do you care?” I hated that he felt so different. I hated the distance between us. “You didn’t want me anyway.”

  “Now that is a lie.” He smoldered and disappeared into the kitchen. So I pushed through the doors and went after him.

  “I didn’t come here to argue with you, Carter.”

  “Oh really?” He checked plates with prepared food. “Then what do you want?”

  “No one is waiting on our table. I thought that maybe—”

  “Oh. You think I’d hold it against you?” He stared into my eyes. “Which table?”

  I walked out to the dining area to show him.

  “He looks like a scumbag,” he said.

  “What?” I hissed. “You’d say that about any guy I dated.”

  “Not true.” He put the toothpick back in his mouth. “Watch.”

  I looked at Carter, not understanding him. But something in my gut told me to listen.

  Standing beside Carter, I gazed across the restaurant at Nick. He was staring at a woman’s breasts. And then he took a picture of them with his phone. She noticed, but instead of being offended, she gave him her number. And he typed her digits into his phone with a smile.

  I felt so stupid. But when I looked back at Carter, he was gone.

  I went to the bathroom and put a cool cloth on the back of my neck. Then I looked in the mirror and sighed. What was I doing here with that guy? He wasn’t the one for me. And he clearly wasn’t the kind of gentleman I was looking for. I had to break it off with him. And I had to do it tonight.

  “Did you talk to someone?” Nick put his phone down when I came back to the table.

  “Yeah.” I took a sip of water and looked at the menu. I didn’t feel very hungry. And I really didn’t want to be on this date anymore. But I wasn’t going to let him know that he’d been caught. I’d rather just end it so we could both move on.

  “And?”

  I searched his brown eyes. When we first met, I’d thought they were pretty. Almost amber in the sunlight. But now I couldn’t think of a single thing about him that was attractive.

  “I guess they’re working on it.” I looked around at all the waiters and waitresses, going from table to table. It’s not like they weren’t trying. They were incredibly busy tonight. It wasn’t their fault.

  “Well, this is getting ridiculous,” Nick grumbled. “I’m not spending this much money to—”

  “My name is Carter and I’ll be your server this evening.”

  My cheeks burned at the sound of his voice.

  “What can I start you off with?”

  Nick ordered first, not even bothering to see if I was ready. Then he looked at his phone. Again.

  “And for you, miss?”

  I lowered my voice and looked into his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s a madhouse tonight. So...” He held my gaze. “All hands on deck. That sort of thing.”

  “Carter...”

  “Wait.” Nick shifted his focus to us. Which was a shocker. “You two know each other?”

  “Not really.” Carter smoldered. “Miss. Your order?”

  “I’ll just have the Caesar salad. Thank you.”

  He took my menu. “I guess you didn’t like the flowers.”

  I furrowed my brow as he stormed off to the back.

  “Hey,” Nick said. “Who was that guy? An old boyfriend of yours?”

  “No. We never dated.”

  He nodded. “So listen... about tonight.”

  “What about tonight?” I asked.

  “After dinner, you should come back to my place.”

  “For what?”

  “Netflix and chill.” He smirked, and I felt sick to my stomach.

  “Has Netflix and chill ever actually meant Netflix and chill?”

  “Huh?” He checked his phone again. “What are you talking about?”

  “Look, Nick. That’s just a little too fast for me. Okay?”

  “Too fast for you? We’ve been on how many dates? Four?”

  “So?”

  “So you haven’t even let me kiss you yet,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes. “We just met. And I like to take things slow.”

  “Well, you need to pick up the pace if you want to be with me.”

  Carter put my salad on the table and left Nick a beer. As he started to walk away, I said, “I’m not going home with you tonight.” Carter was standing behind Nick and he turned. I knew he’d
heard me.

  Nick shook his head with a smile. “Who knew Benjamin Lewis’s daughter was such a freakin’ prude?”

  “I don’t think we should see each other anymore,” I said.

  Nick stood up and leaned over the table. “You’re breaking up with me?”

  “We want different things. I don’t think we’re compatible.”

  Nick looked very angry. I’d never seen this side of him before.

  “Do you know how much this dinner is costing me tonight?” he asked.

  “I can pay for my own dinner, thank you very much,” I seethed.

  “Yeah, I’ll bet you can. With Daddy’s money.”

  “Sir.” Carter touched his shoulder. “I’d like to ask you to leave.”

  “Excuse me?” Nick was pissed. “And who are you? Just a dumb waiter.”

  I stayed in my seat and tried to remain calm, so grateful for Carter.

  “He asked you nicely,” I said.

  Nick glared. “Are you screwing him? Is that why you won’t screw me?”

  “All right, that’s it.” Carter grabbed him by the collar. “You’re out of here.”

  Nick was shorter than Carter. But that didn’t stop him from throwing the first punch.

  Carter stepped back and touched his face. And that’s when I threw a bucket of ice water on Nick.

  The entire restaurant had gone from boisterous to dead silent. News of the incident would probably make the front page tomorrow. But I didn’t care. I stood beside Carter as Nick breathed heavily.

  Carter approached him and tightened his hand into a fist. “Get out of my restaurant.”

  When he didn’t move, two big bartenders kicked him out. For a minute or so, you could hear a pin drop. But then customers resumed conversation and the night carried on. I felt like fainting.

  “Are you okay?” Carter asked, taking my hand.

  I grabbed my purse and fled the restaurant, running to my shop as fast as my feet would carry me. When I got there, I locked the door and went to the back, sinking down to the floor.

  And that’s when I hung my head and cried.

  Chapter 7

  Carter

  I missed her. God, I missed her.

  It had only been a day, but it felt like I was dying.

  All of this was my fault. I never should have let her get close to me. Because I was always going to want more. But I couldn’t give her what she needed. I could hardly take care of myself.

  I called Beth and told her everything. I knew she would understand. And tell me the truth.

  So I made the decision to stop hiding. Life is short. You’d think I ought to know that by now.

  Being with Bailey had shown me what love can do for a man.

  She was the first person I thought about when I woke up every day. I’d never thought I had a bright future ahead. Especially one with a beautiful woman who actually wanted to be with me.

  I needed to fess up, tell her everything. And if it was meant to be, she’d understand. She wouldn’t hold it against me the way I’d been holding it against myself. I’d been in purgatory for five years.

  Maybe it was time to forgive Carter Boudreaux.

  Everything Bailey had said at lunch rang true. I wanted her. And I couldn’t believe she felt the same way. I’d only been putting her at arm’s length to protect us both. But why didn’t I deserve a happily ever after? Beth’s words, not mine. Hadn’t five years of self-loathing been enough?

  I sent flowers to Bailey’s shop as a way to atone for pushing her away. I’d have to go through a groveling period to win her back. But it would be worth it. I’d do anything to make her mine.

  I felt terrible about sending her all of these mixed signals. I’d resisted her from the start, because I didn’t think I deserved her. If she only knew how I felt. I’d worship her if she’d let me. But how?

  I’d clearly hurt the poor girl. I had to be a man and show her how much I truly cared. But she probably didn’t even want to talk to me anymore. So I thought about sending a note with the flowers. And then she could decide if I deserved a second chance.

  I wrote a million things. That’s how it felt at least. But I tossed them all away.

  When I finally found the right words, the note said:

  I’m sorry about everything.

  The truth is, I’m crazy about you.

  I was afraid. But I’m not anymore.

  Please call me if you still feel the same way.

  Love, Carter

  I never wore my heart on my sleeve. So it was a huge risk for me to send her a note like this. But it was easier than telling her face to face. If she wanted me the way I’d been yearning for her, then nothing would stop her from picking up the phone.

  A few days passed, and I hadn’t heard a word. I called the flower company to make sure her roses had been delivered. I’d ordered a dozen. And they said a messenger had dropped them off at her store.

  I waited a couple more days before it sank in. She didn’t want me anymore. It was too late.

  But I kept my hopes up. Until I saw her out with someone new. A guy I didn’t recognize.

  They were walking and talking. She laughed. And I knew I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.

  I thought about calling Beth. Just to have someone to talk to. But what was the point?

  It was my first shot at a real relationship in five years. And my sister would’ve been disappointed.

  To cope with not having Bailey in my life, I did what I always do. Work.

  Sometimes, it was like a drug. The only way I could numb it out. Whatever I was feeling.

  So I nurtured my inner workaholic and deprived myself of sleep. At least when my head hit the pillow at night, I wouldn’t be thinking about her. As much. Because I was pushing myself to pure exhaustion.

  And then tonight, I saw her come in with that same guy. I guess he was her boyfriend now.

  I’d royally screwed it up with her. But I was also mad at myself for writing her that note. If I’d known she was just going to flush it down the toilet and stomp on my heart, I never would have sent her flowers.

  But then her new jerk boyfriend said something that made my skin crawl. I wasn’t going to put up with him treating Bailey like that. Especially in my restaurant. He punched me in the face. And the only reason I didn’t swing back was because of the damage it would do to the restaurant.

  When Bailey threw a bucket of water on him, I couldn’t believe it. She was like an angel.

  Because if she’d been a second late, I probably would’ve ruined my reputation.

  After we kicked him out, Bailey bolted. Just like she had that day at the gym. I hoped it wasn’t because of me. Maybe my note had made her feel weird. But her date had been treating her like crap.

  I decided to check on her either way. And if she really didn’t want to see me, then I’d leave.

  But if that jerk had been the reason why she’d fled, then maybe she would let me stay.

  I closed down the restaurant and locked up. Then I went to her apartment, but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t answering her phone either. Maybe she didn’t want to talk to me. But I had to see her. I had to know she was okay. And if she’d been avoiding me on purpose, at least I’d know the truth.

  I stopped by her shop, because it was the last place I could think of where she might be. If she wasn’t there, I didn’t know how I’d find her. Perhaps it was a sign that she didn’t want me to.

  I peeked in the shop window when no one came. The lights were still on, and I knew she had to be in there. After the scene at the restaurant, I wondered how she was holding up.

  I wanted her to be okay.

  She appeared from the back and looked surprised to see me.

  “Hey,” she said once she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

  “Just wanted to check up on you.” I handed her a to-go box. “You hardly touched your food.”

  “Yeah.” She blinked at the memory. “I’m not really that
hungry.”

  “Well, why don’t you take it anyway? Put it in the fridge. You might change your mind.”

  Bailey looked up at me and reconsidered. “Thanks.”

  We stood there and stared at each other for a solid minute.

  “I’m sorry.” She stepped back. “Come in.”

  “Thank you.” I walked inside and looked around. She shut the door behind me and locked it.

  I turned back to her. “You know, this is a really nice—”

  “Carter,” she gasped. “Your face.”

  “Oh, yeah.” I touched the budding shiner. “Just another day on the job.”

  She shook her head and grabbed my hand. “Come with me.”

  She led me into the back and flicked the lights on in the bathroom. I watched her as she rifled through a first aid kit. There were smudges of mascara beneath her eyes. Like she’d been crying.

  “I’m so sorry I left you there,” she said. “I should’ve made sure you were okay.”

  She soaked a cloth in cold water and then gently pressed it against my cheek.

  I touched her forearm and looked into her eyes. “You are.”

  She swallowed and pulled away, looking into the kit. “You probably need some ice on that.”

  “I’ll take care of it when I get home.” I kept staring at her. She must have felt my gaze.

  “Carter, I’m really sorry about tonight. I had no idea he was going to—”

  “Hey.” I rubbed her arms. “It’s not your fault. Okay? He’s a jerk.”

  She nodded. “I just wish I’d known that before. I’ve only known him a few weeks.”

  “Someone who treats you like that doesn’t deserve you.”

  She looked into my eyes and reached out. But then she caught herself and crossed her arms.

  “I umm...” She took a deep breath. “I’ve missed you. Just talking and hanging out. I know that I—”

  “I’ve missed you, too.” I wanted her so badly that I was about to combust. She felt so close.

  She gazed at me with a small smile. “Really?”

  “Like crazy.”

  She lowered her eyes and started to cry. And I wouldn’t have any of that. Not on my watch.

  So I wrapped her in my arms and petted her hair. She put her head on my chest and squeezed my body with everything in her. And while I had no idea what was going to happen between us, I knew I didn’t want the night to end.