Gage, Ronna - Send Her To Me (Siren Publishing Classic) (3 page)

His lips formed a smile. “Not really. I get a kick out of seeing Dex with his uh…fan club.”

Kelli tried to hold back a laugh at the innuendo, but it came out in a snort. Carter gave her a sidelong glance for the unladylike sound. She couldn’t have been anymore embarrassed if she passed gas in front of him. “Do you have a…fan club?”

“No, I don’t play with the team. I’m a businessman.”

Kelli thought she saw a moment of uneasiness in his posture.

“What business are you in?”

“What do you do for a living?” He countered the question with one of his own.

Okay, he changed the subject. He doesn’t want to talk about his job.
Instead of pushing for information, she let it go. “I’m a teacher.”

“Really, what grade?”

“Junior high.”

“Do you like being a teacher?”

“This is my first year. I’ll let you know next summer.”

Carter gave her a roguish grin. “I hope you will.”

The conversation lulled again. Kelli looked around the pool area. “The quick organization of such an undertaking is completely amazing.”

“What do you mean?”

“One minute I’m in bed, the next I’m at a poolside free-for-all party talking with you.”

“I hope that is a good thing.”

“Just a bit of a change for a girl from a small town in west Texas.”

Carter lifted his bottle and tapped it to hers. “Welcome to Fort Worth.”

“Thank you!”

“What brought you out here?”

“I came out here to attend the university. When Tonya found out I was here, she called and asked me to move in with her. She and I have always been close ever since we were kids.”

“So, how do you like the condo?”

“I love it. It has all the amenities I hoped to have for my first apartment—security system, a doorman, manicured lawns, gym, and clubhouse. It’s like living in a hotel suite without room service. But there is no way I could afford it. Not at the price range they go for.”

“Yeah, why not?” Carter asked.

Kelli looked into his eyes and almost saw a softer gaze. She enjoyed the change—it made him look sexier. “I’m a teacher, remember?” She looked past his shoulder to see Tonya waving.
Time to end the conversation. For now
. “Well, thanks for the beer.” She took a step to leave.

“Wait! You’re going to take my beer and leave just like that?”

Kelli smiled. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I thought about doing.” She looked down at the bottle. “Why? You got something better to offer?”

Carter looked at her with a strange leer on his face but said nothing.

Although Kelli felt awkward again, she would be damned if she stayed around waiting for him to get rid of her. He obviously racked his brain coming up with an excuse to let her down easy. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Playmates surrounded him at any given time. She wouldn’t hang around and be today’s boy toy. She turned to leave again.

“Kelli!”

She stopped but didn’t turn around. Instead, she gave a quick look over her shoulder. “Yes?”

Carter stepped in front of her, blocking the path. “What are you doing this evening?”

Kelli saw his discomfort while he waited for her answer. He was definitely out of his element among these celebrities who had the world for the taking in the snap of their fingers. Kelli liked that he was unspoiled just like her.

“Whatever you would like to do…within reason,” she revised.

Carter chuckled. “Now, let’s not eliminate all of the possibilities.”

The burning heat of the sun dried her lips slightly. They cracked under the sun’s blistering effects. She pulled a lip balm out of the pocket of her shorts and smoothed the emollient over her lips.

Carter watched for a second, and then out of nowhere he stepped forward, closing the distance between them again. The touch of his lips on hers was gentle. He eased back, licking his lips. “Cherry, my favorite.”

His teasing made her feel playful and giddy. She had to counter with a good comeback.
Think!
“Plenty more where that came from.” She angled her head to the side.

His eyes blazed with mischief. “I look forward to the treat.”

Kelli realized the double insinuation of the single phrase and knew he bested her with his husky reply.
Damn! I walked right into that one
. Figuring it best to leave the matter alone, she stood quiet.
Why can’t people talk to one another without all the bullshit?
Games people play.

Carter licked his lips. “What time should I pick you up?”

“I’m staying with my cousin. How about we meet in the lobby? Say, around seven?”

Carter folded his arms over his chest. The bulged muscles strained against his muscular arms. “Make it five, and I’m there.”

Suddenly, her suit got wet from the dewiness of her clit. She swallowed hard. “As you wish.”

He shifted his position. “I wish a lot of things. Are you some kind of genie? I just rub your tummy, and my wishes come true? ”

“No, I’m just a simple woman, not a genie. If you rub me the right way, I can make a few wishes come true.”

Carter smiled and lowered his voice so only she heard him, and then he leaned in and whispered, “I’m counting on it.”

Kelli stopped and gave him a sidelong glance but didn’t comment on the innuendo. “I’ll see you at five.” She wasn’t equipped for this game. No matter what she said, he would retort with something that implied sex.

“See you then.”

She walked back to where her cousin sat waiting for her. The thrill of excitement bubbled under the surface of her skin.

“So, how did it go?” Tonya asked.

“We have a date this evening. He’s picking me up at five.”

Tonya looked down at her watch. “That’s doesn’t leave us much time.”

“Nope, not too long.”

“We’ll hang out here for another hour and then go up.”

Kelli nodded. She caught herself watching Carter across the pool. She smiled at the flirtatious, yet annoying, glances he sent her. He even vainly rubbed his stomach like a genie and smirked that wickedly charming grin. Kelli couldn’t wait to meet Carter at five o’clock.
What will our first date be like? Would he be gallant? Would he be more compulsive to make her comfortable and forget he was poor?

“Let’s go on up now.”

Tonya and Kelli walked to the pool entrance. She looked at Carter and sent him a small wave. He gave her a nod. Excitement shot through her body. Inside the apartment, the clock on the mantle showed the time.

“Three o’clock. Just enough time to get ready.”

Chapter Three

The clicking sound of a doorknob announced the arrival of an occupant in the building. Each passing moment spiked Carter’s level of impatience. He paced the length of the lobby several times while he waited for Kelli to come down from the sixth floor. He froze in spot and waited. Every slight sound in the lobby added to the mounting tension.

To his disappointment, the female security guard strolled by while on her rounds. She smiled, and then exited through the door marked “private.” Several minutes later, a door squeaked in the silent foyer. He stopped in his tracks and turned toward it just in case she arrived. The door marked “Fire Exit” opened. Carter’s anxiety level hit an all-time high. His throat suddenly became too small for his neck; jitters filled his stomach, all anticipation worked overtime, and then two cheerleaders entered the room, possibly taking a shortcut to the main clubhouse.

“Hey, Carter!” one of them greeted.

The other winked.

Conditioned to be cool in any situation and out of courtesy, Carter nodded to them in a silent greeting as they walked past. He breathed a sigh of relief when the two women didn’t stop to make small talk. The last thing he wanted was to have Kelli find him talking to other females.
How would she react?
The idea did make him wonder, but tonight wasn’t the night he wanted to find out. Everything had to be perfect.

Why am I so nervous?

Nervous didn’t cover the hell his stomach was going through. To say why he felt edgy he didn’t comprehend, still, every time he thought about Kelli, he wanted her. He’d desired other women, but in his gut, he knew she would be different.

Finally, a loud ding from the elevator echoed in the room and caught his attention. He stood still and watched the numbers creep down at a sloth’s pace to the lobby.
Four…three…two…one
…at the bottom floor, the elevator doors opened. Carter held his breath, keenly aware of the anticipation building up within him. The second Kelli came off the elevator, he froze in place. Her feet padded softly on the marble floor. He chanced a step toward her, but his stiff cock made walking uncomfortable.

I’m so glad I wore loose-fitting jeans.

The peach lace tank dress scooped low enough to reveal her ample, golden, glitter-dusted cleavage. Her legs shone with moisturizer, and the firm, feminine shape of her body showed no flaws. His imagination went wild with visions of those silky legs wrapped around his waist, him rocking strong, steady thrusts into her, filling her with his cock.

She ambled toward him, and his breath caught in his chest for the second time that day. Her sun-kissed, bronzed cheeks glowed.
A woman after satisfied sex couldn’t look any better
.

“Wow!” Carter whispered.

Kelli stopped. “What?” Her smile slipped to a partial frown.

“You look beautiful.”

She blushed. Relief relaxed her features. His compliment meant something to her.

“Thank you. I hope I’m dressed appropriately. We are going somewhere casual, I hope.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

Carter hoped the façade of a cool and collected person remained intact, but deep down his reaction to her awed him and shook him to his core. His mind kept picturing all the ways he wanted to fuck her and leave her with that look of glowing satisfaction caused by him.

“How’s your hand?” She looked down at the bandage. “I see you’re no longer using the hand towel.”

Carter looked down at his hand. He’d forgotten he wrapped it with gauze and tape. “Oh, it’s all right. It’s nothing serious. I got some wonderful emergency care on scene.” He smiled.

The rose tint on her already flushed cheeks spread to cover the rest of her face. She lowered her head a fraction before she spoke. “I’m glad to help, but to be honest, I didn’t do much.”

With gentle hands, he took Kelli’s and lifted it to his lips. “Your tender touch kept the pain away.” He saw the effect his second compliment had on her. It struck a pleasurable nerve. She looked at him with uncertainty. Yet, buried deep in her eyes, he saw lust.

Carter liked her shyness, loved the fact that she blushed at the mere mention of something sexually overt. He wondered a lot about her.
Maybe she’s a virgin or inexperienced at dating
. Her bashful demeanor didn’t reflect that of a woman who fucked around. The notion turned him on. He took Kelli’s elbow in his uninjured hand and guided her to the revolving door.

“Where are we going?” she asked when he opened the door.

Outside, a light haze settled in the air. Unlike the unbearable heat from the afternoon sun, the moon-brightened sky marked a considerable coolness in the atmosphere.

“We’re going gambling.”

Kelli stopped in her tracks and glanced at him. “There isn’t gambling in Texas unless you count…Bingo?”

He chuckled, placed an arm around her waist, and led her to the waiting Corvette. “No, not bingo.”

“But gambling is illegal in Texas,” she stated with conviction. “Isn’t it?”

“What do you think the lottery is?”

“The lottery is for non-cash prizes or private casino parties.”

Carter opened her door and then looked down at her. “You know, I think you’re right.” He waited for her to take her seat. “The lottery is one big state fundraiser.”

Kelli cocked an eyebrow.

He stifled a laugh at her obvious skepticism.

She looked at the black sports car. “Whose car is this?”

“Dex let me borrow it for the night.” Glad he gave her an honest answer and not some put-on short lie.

Without looking, she stepped into the Corvette with her left foot, leaned into the car, and fell into the Corvette’s seat with a shriek.

Carter bit his tongue to keep from laughing at the blunder, but her wide eyes made it almost impossible.

“I’ve heard of falling out of a car, but never have I heard of falling into one,” Kelli murmured.

Carter couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. It rumbled out before he gained control of it. “Nice trip?”

“You’re not helping!” She giggled a second later.

“How’s charm school, Grace?”

“I’ve heard that joke. Grace is supposed to be full of poise. Well, fall on your ass and see how graceful you are.”

Carter roared. By the way she looked at him, he didn’t figure her to have a mean bone in her body. It felt good to laugh. He hadn’t done that in awhile. To let his guard down and enjoy the company of someone that wanted nothing from him. The idea gave him hope. He found himself mesmerized by her green eyes. He inched his way closer until her hands moved and distracted his gaze. She hurried to push the hem of her dress into place but not before he glimpsed the peach-clothed thatch of heat he most wanted. Slowly, he leaned closer to her and took in her scent. The smell of fruit and flowers tantalized his senses. They screamed to breathe in more of her, but her unease was detectable. Her hands clutched the material of her dress close to her thighs. He found her reaction disconcerting. Especially when he looked into her eyes and saw a tiny flash of trepidation.
Does she think I would harm her?
He didn’t know how to react to her hold. The women he usually dated had no problem showing off their bodies to him. They were amateur exhibitionists with enough liquor.