Read Online Carter's Treasure by Amy Gregory - Free Book Online

don’t you think?”
    “Why’s that?” He stroked her back. “You’re not scared of me, are you?”
    “No, no, not at all. It’s this . I mean, twelve hours ago life was very different. I was missing home and my family and I wasn’t ready to be gone for four months.”
    She couldn’t help the sickening feeling she just had. James. Ugh. She’d thrown the equivalent of a temper tantrum before they’d left town. She had just gotten home from one contract job to find out that two days later she had to leave for another. And this was a long one. When he found out she not only wasn’t mad anymore, but that she was excited about being here—God, he’d never let her live it down. Then he’d lecture her on men.
    She had that one memorized, probably because she’d heard it regularly since she was fourteen years old. She only mimicked it verbatim when his back was turned. She loved the man with all her heart, but she had to admit she was a teensy bit worried about how he’d take the news of Carter. Well, more than a teensy bit. She was more like scared to death for Carter’s safety. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep the smile under control. She didn’t want to scare the man off by explaining what was going through her mind at that moment, especially since he’d stuck out the panic attack.
    “But now?” he asked in his low, sexy voice, hugging her to him.
    He continued to rub her back and rested his cheek on the top of her head. He didn’t know it, but his voice was such a comfort to her. When he lowered it like that, it could almost slip her into a peaceful trance.
    “But now, I want time to stand still.” She pulled in a breath of his cologne, his scent like a magnet.
    “Me too.”
    “We’re moving really fast, Carter.”
    She knew it was one kiss, a hell of a kiss, but —one kiss. But combined with other comments he’d slipped in here and there? She knew what he meant when he said she was the one . He was talking about something much bigger than just a weekend fling. She wouldn’t have done that anyway, but he was making this into more . Way more.
    Plus, if she had to be honest, he deserved points. Most men would have run like their ass was on fire when they saw her in a heap of tears on the floor. He hadn’t. He’d been sweet, nurturing, and if she wasn’t mistaken, scared to death. He also hadn’t pushed her. He hadn’t made her feel bad when she denied his earlier kiss, he hadn’t pushed her to talk when she wasn’t ready, and he wasn’t pushing for more right now. He seemed happy to go at the pace she was setting.
     
     
    “Fast is relative. When its right, you don’t measure it, and we aren’t teenagers.” He laughed lightly. “You can’t even consider us young adults anymore, Gorgeous. And look at the thousands of people who go to bed together the first night they meet or have one night stands.”
    “That’s not me,” she said softly, then shut her eyes.
    “I know, baby.” He had figured out that she was only confident and out-spoken around their big group. When he was alone with her, she was quiet, sweet, and vulnerable. He grinned to himself, completely in love with both sides of her already, but also proud that she trusted him. Seeing first-hand how fast she could throw a wall up against men that wanted to be with her.
    “Carter, I have never really had a boyfriend before.” She took a deep breath at her admission.
    “Never? I find that hard to believe.”
    “No. There was never anyone worth the effort of a long distance relationship. We grew up on the road. Hell, I’m still on the road a lot. You live the same way, you know what it’s like. So why bother? I have been on a few dates over the last few years, but just a date and usually just once. It doesn’t take long to figure out that they’re all just the same. But here…tonight…with you? I’ve been acting like a ditzy, flirty girl. I’ve been hanging on you all night. Uh…your friends are going to think