Finding Carson Lee (Oh Captan, My Captain #3) (8 page)

Neither do I, Kinley.

Well, where bets are concerned at least. I can’t really say I don’t lose, seeing my current situation and all. I press the button to go ahead and put my phone to sleep before sticking it back in my pocket. Finishing my drink off, I decide to go home and enjoy my peace and quiet and aloneness while I can before this trip.

Kinley

I push my hand through my blonde hair. When I was in college, no one ever told me I would be hauling boxes in my high heels. However, right now, that is exactly what I am doing. LSMP’s fall line is starting to roll in. We only get a few samples of each set of clothes, and those are for the models and
friends
of the company.

I fill my car with the three, very heavy boxes and quickly jump in to crank up the air conditioning. It’s May, and it’s already hot. I grab a tissue from my purse and pat the small beads of sweat around my brow, careful not to smear my makeup.

I hate to say it, but I have to take these items to Carson’s house. For whatever reason, he couldn’t come to my office where we have a fitting room. I’m sure it’s because of a girl, or maybe he’s hungover.

I push the button for the gate, and I’m buzzed in. I park my car close to the door, so I don’t have to carry the boxes so far.

“
Well, good morning, Kinley,” Carson calls out from the front door. Of course, he’s in a pair of boxer briefs, looking hot.

“
Shut up and help me,” I yell at him. I can hear him chuckling all the way from the door. However, he does come out and help me.

Once we get all the boxes inside, Carson hands me a bottle of water. I say thanks and rip open the first box. I pull out eight shirts, five sweater vests, and ten ties. The next box has all the jackets and accessories in it. The last box holds all the pants. I didn’t bring the shoes because that’s an easy part. I lay it all out on his long couch and on the chair.

“
Is this all of it?” He stands next to me observing the clothes.

“
Yep, what do you think?”

He doesn’t answer because a gaggle of giggles comes from down the stairs. It’s two very large breasted girls. One has red hair and is very thin. The other has black hair and is just as small.

“
I thought I told you two to leave,” Carson barks at them.

“
We thought,” the red head starts.

“
Well, you thought wrong. Leave. I have work to do.” He uses the same tone.

“
Well, I hope you’re not doing her because I didn’t think you were into fat girls,” the other girl says, giggling with her friend.

My mouth drops for a second, and I’m about to lay into her, but Carson is quicker. “Get the fuck out of my house now. I don’t know who you think you are, but you don’t insult my guest.”

The girls don’t say anything else. Instead, they leave.

“
You didn’t have to do that, you know. I could have handled it myself.”

“
I have no doubt that you could, but no one is going to insult you in front of me, especially not in my own house.”

“
Well, thanks.” I slightly smirk and turn my head.

“
Wait, is that...a smile?”

“
No,” I quickly say. “It’s a twitch, there’s a difference. May we now get to the clothes?”

“
Let’s play dress up,” he jokes.

After three hours and taking numerous photos of the clothes on Carson, I make a note of a few measurements changes, and then we’re done. Even though I had to haul all of this across town, it’s my favorite part of my job. It’s the clothes that I love. The feel of the material, trying it on, and seeing how someone lights up when they see themselves for the first time. I know how I feel when I shop; the rush is always the best high.

“
Hungry?”

“
Nah, I’ll just head back to the city and get this stuff off to the seamstress.”

“
Come on,” he somewhat whines. “You know you want food. We’ve been at this for a while, and I’m starving.”

I hate to admit it, but I am a little bit hungry. “Okay, fine,” I give in.

He nods and goes to order some food. When he comes back, he helps me pack up all the clothes and load them into my car. By the time we finish, the food arrives. Of course he orders pizza, he’s such a bachelor.

We sit at his kitchen table, and he uses paper plates. To have all of this money, a nice house, and even a hockey rink, he still acts like a college kid.

“
How’s Elliott doing on your addition? I figured he would be here today.” I had mentally prepared myself in case I saw him today.

“
I told them to have the day off with you coming and all. Figured you’d both rather not have a repeat of last time.” He folds his pizza slice and almost devours the whole thing.

“
Elliott’s not a bad guy. It’s my fault we’re divorced,” I reveal to him. “But thank you for that.”

He looks at me every few seconds, chewing all the food in his mouth. “The details aren’t any of my business, but you’re welcome. And for what it’s worth, I think if it takes two people to make a relationship, then it probably takes two to end one. Even if it’s mostly one person’s fault, I think there’s still fault in the other also.”

“
I’m impressed. I didn’t know you were so wise.” I’m not joking either. It’s nice to think that someone might understand my situation. “However, it was me that ruined it all. Elliott wanted a wife, kids, and the white picket fence dream. I thought I wanted that, long ago, but once I graduated college and started at LSMP, everything changed for me. Elliott paid the price.” I sound like a sad Lifetime movie, but it’s the truth. I know how much Elliott wanted all of that, but I’m not the one who could’ve given it to him.

“
You mean your job, right?”

I nod.

“
So you don’t want kids at all? Or he wanted you at home with the kids and not working with kids?”

Poor Carson. He doesn’t understand traditions down here. It’s like we’re in a different world. “Us southern girls are raised to know our place is at home with our kids and working in the community and church. That’s what my mom did. That’s what every female I know does. However, times have changed. I don’t want that right now. Do I want kids? Maybe. I’m twenty-seven. I have time to worry about that later.” I can’t believe I said all that to him. I need to get the focus off of me. “What about you, Yankee? You want the perfect housewife and kids?”

“
You had me until you added wife and kids. I want the perfect house though. So, where did you go to college?” he inhales another piece of pizza.

“
Are you serious?” I stare at him.
Yankee
. “This is Alabama. There’s only one school you go to, and that’s the University of Alabama. Roll Tide,
sweetheart
.” I smirk at him.

“
Roll tide?” He thinks about it for a quick moment. “What’s that exactly?”

“
You’ve been here how long?” I shake my head at him. “It’s our saying. It’s our battle cry. It sort of means to fight on and don’t give up. You really need to go to a football game.”

“
You had the chance to possibly take me, but you turned it down.” He winks, reminding me of our bet. “There’s no hope for me going now.”

“
Figures.” I roll my eyes. “So, Carson Lee, what’s it like to be a yankee in the south?”

“
I like it here. Mostly good people, good weather, and plenty of space for all my stuff.”

“
It’s your offseason. Do you have big plans with your parents? Do you have any siblings? I’m sure you figured out that I’m an only child.”

“
Me too.” I catch a sad expression on his face, but he wipes it away with the napkin. “My offseason usually includes a vacation and then back to preparing for next season, but someone’s dragging me out to Utah, so…” he trails off.

“
Well, it sucks that I’m taking you away from your family time.” I hate to do that to him. Everyone needs to spend time with loved ones. “My parents and I take at least one vacation together. Even though my mom nags me a lot, we’re very close. Are y’all close?”

“
Let’s just say I’ve never had a family vacation.”

“
Well, I guess every family is different.” I get the impression that his family and him aren’t close as I pictured. I guess the name
Gracie
on his arm isn’t his mother or sister. “Now, didn’t I read that you went to college? Did you major in girls, partying, or hockey?” I didn’t want to bring him down anymore.

“
All three.” He puts on his tough guy smirk again. “And maybe finance too, so I could handle my money myself.”

“
You handle all your money?” I had read that his
empire
was large. He’s one of the highest paid hockey players ever. Plus, that doesn’t include his endorsements. “I’m surprised by that. I can barely balance my checkbook half the time. Is there a reason for that, or do you do it to make sure you know where it is?”

“
I do it because I trust myself more than anyone else. Plus, it ensures I know what’s going on. There’s no middleman, I guess is one way to put it.”

I look down and see that I still haven’t eaten my one slice of pizza, but Carson has polished off the rest. I guess talking to him made me forget that I was hungry.

“
Well, I guess you do have a point.” I push the plate away. “So, I think we’re done. I need to get this all back. I’m going to email you in a few days when I finalize the schedule. We are going to shoot three commercials instead of two, and we have a short amount of time to do all this in. I need you to be on top of your game,” I point my finger right into his chest, “and try not to get anyone pregnant while we’re there, okay?”

“
No worries about that, sweetheart. Hey, who is the photographer for this?”

“
Well, the first guy pulled out because of your
temper
, but I was able to convince my best friend, Cassie, to do it. She’s amazing, and I think they’ll be great.” Cassie has a lot of talent, and I know this shoot is going to be the best ever.

“
Is she single? And you know, not uptight like you are?” He waves his hand at me.

“
Stay away from her,” I growl at him. “She’s a sweet girl, and I don’t need you to corrupt her with your testosterone.”

“
So the answer to my questions is yes? Good to know.”

“
We’re done, Carson Lee.” I stand, gathering my purse. “Watch for my emails. And I’ll see you in Utah.”

“
Hey, Kinley, before you go, I’m curious about something.”

I put my hands on my hips. Like I haven’t already told him my whole life story. “What?”

“
Have you ever had a threesome?”

“
Carson Lee!” I gasp. What the hell kind of question is that? “I can’t believe you would even ask me a question like that?”

“
Is that a yes?” His sly smile appears. I know he’s trying to bait me into a bickering match. “Because I didn’t hear a no or a denial of any kind.”

He obviously doesn’t know who he is messing with. I lean close to his ear, taking in his clean smell. I lightly whisper in his ear, making his breath catch. “A good sorority girl never tells her secrets. See you in Utah.”

Carson

I have no clue why, but I can’t stop thinking about Kinley’s answer about having a threesome. She didn’t say no, but she didn’t say yes either. I’ve been trying to figure out if Kinley could even be the type of person that would, but I’m not sure. Sometimes, it seems likely, but then again, probably not likely in the least.