Page 79 of Pink and Country

When Carter came home earlier, the dark circles under his eyes and his wild hair made it look like he’d spent the last three days in a crack house.

Carter refused to drink alcohol, so I doubted he used crack or any other drug.

Despite what he said, we never had that talk. Instead, we both indulged in each other, unable to resist the lust sizzling between us any longer. I now feared whatever HN wanted us to talk about. The other day, in Nashville, he said he didn’t want us to be a fling. Now I ignored the meaning of what we did or how Carter felt. I was leaving in less than a week, and what we just did could mess everything up.

I grimaced.

I should’ve insisted we talked before having sex. Damn it. Carter’s heated gaze melted all my resolve. How did I keep him at arm’s length for the last three weeks? I’m so screwed.

My stay in Green Mountain had an expiration date, and the thought of leaving unsettled my stomach. Now that Carter Hills touched me, I couldn’t imagine not having his hands on me ever again. I rubbed my hands over my face. Fuck.

No way this would end happily. Carter and I lived in different states, and our lifestyles didn’t match. We both had a lot of baggage from past relationships. It didn’t matter if our bodies fit together like a yin and yang and we understood each other without words, HN and I weren’t meant to be together in the long run.

A lone tear glided down my cheek. I’m destined to end up alone.

My body combusted at the memory of Carter asking me to spread my legs in the shower.

I’d never experienced so much physical pleasure. And the keeping-my-eyes-closed part added some sort of intangible excitement to the already mind-blowing experience.

* * *

Carter never woke up after our intense sex-fest. I checked on him before dinner, and he was sleeping like a baby and snoring like an old man. It did nothing to alter his hotness, though. The sheet barely covered his naked ass. One peek at his muscled bottom, and my insides melted all over again.

Whatever Carter did during those three days exhausted him. Not only physically. But mentally. I could tell.

He put himself through a rough time. Whatever the reason, it took its toll on him. Carter lost weight and looked older, unsure, and somewhat scared.

While snacking on pasta leftovers and chocolate chip cookies, I called June to let her know Carter had returned.

“Thank God. I’ll come check on him,” she said with a heavy sigh.

“He’s sleeping right now. Don’t worry, I’ll tell him to call you tomorrow.”

“I don’t know, April. Riley will ask to see him too.”

“Please, June. Let me do this. If there’s something wrong, I promise to tell you.”

June stayed silent for a long beat.

“Okay, fine. I trust you, April. Keep our boy safe,” she said before hanging up.

I knew nothing about their dynamics, but I could tell June and Riley loved Carter very much and respected him a lot. A knot in my stomach loosened. Carter wouldn’t be alone once I left Green Mountain.

Carter Hills, the country star, was a mystery to me. I knew nothing about him except that he shone onstage. Carter Hills, the man, was addictive, and his smile alone could shatter a glass house.

Sitting cross-legged on the sectional sofa, I spent the evening in the media room, watching a movie while working on my novel. Bernice joined me and curled beside me, her head resting on my thigh.

Saunders called me at eight, and Bernice startled at the sound of the ringtone. She padded away, her tail high, with a loud purr.

“Hey, girl, are you on your way? I’m sad I had to cancel my trip to come see you next weekend.” Saunders pouted. I could hear it in her voice, even over the phone. I huffed and shook my head.

My heart jittered in my chest. I’d never be able to lie to my best friend. A huge grin spread over my face, and I took a deep breath in.

“About that. There’s been a change of plan. I’m still in Green Mountain.”

“You are?”

“It’s a long story.”