Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I replied.
The large group of us made our way out of the bar and onto Fever Street. Ash, Beau, and Linc were deep in conversation, and I saw Carter saying goodbye to Jace, Dax, Serena, and Elliott. Carter himself didn’t seem to be leaving, though.
I leaned against the building, waiting to see if Carter was going to come and speak to me. When Dax and that group left, he looked over as if asking me, and I nodded, meeting him in the middle.
“Why does Cam call you BB?” It wasn’t what I’d expected him to say.
“It stands for Baby Burke. He has a thing for nicknames.”
“You guys are really close.”
“We are.” I knew I was lucky to have Cam.
“I wasn’t sure how to act in front of everyone, which is weird as fuck for me.”
“I wasn’t sure either,” I admitted. “They can obviously tell we’re…friends, though, so I guess we just be friends.”
“Okay.” He glanced over my shoulder, and I could tell from his look that Ash, Beau, and Linc were still there. “Do you wanna hang out?”
“I can’t. But I want to,” I rushed out so he knew I wasn’t blowing him off.
“We’re out of here,” Beau said. “Catch you guys later.”
We said our goodbyes and they left, finally leaving Carter and me alone.
“I’ll wait with you until your car arrives,” I told him.
“Such a gentleman.” He winked, then pulled up the app on his phone and scheduled his car. “They’re only two minutes away.”
I felt hot all over, wanting to taste him again, so I hooked my finger in his belt loop and tugged him closer. Carter came easily. I backed us up until we leaned against Fever again, then dropped my mouth to his. As always, the kiss ignited something inside me, and I was sucking his tongue and groaning into his mouth. His hands clutched my back, slid up into my hair, and tugged. Someone whistled at us as they walked by, and I knew I should pull away. This wasn’t me, but fuck, did I like kissing Carter James.
“My car’s here,” he said breathlessly, pulling away. “Are you sure you can’t…”
“No. I’ll call you, though.”
Carter nodded and walked toward the car, shaking his ass as he went. He looked over his shoulder and winked at me before climbing inside.
And I was smiling. Fuck, I couldn’t hold back my smile.
“I wouldn’t count on it. He’s having fun for now, yeah, but I don’t believe for a second Fever Falls will hold his attention for long,” Dax’s words came back to haunt me. He was right, and I’d be smart to remember that.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I set off toward Fearless. It was going to be a long night. I had shipments to take care of, which was what I should have been doing earlier, but as soon as I’d heard about Carter’s show, I’d known I had to go.
I’d likely have to pull an all-nighter now, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care.
The night had been worth it.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Carter
I chatted in a small cluster of people near the bar at a fashion show after-party.
When Elliott suggested the idea of hopping on a first-class flight to Paris, I sure as fuck wasn’t going to turn that down. He took on assistants occasionally—mostly temps—but he’d never had a full-timer like me. He’d always considered himself the company’s front man, while Dax and I handled the day-to-day business operations, but I was happy to step in and help him out whenever he needed me, or even when he just wanted a companion at events.
The place was crowded with the usual glam crews dressed in elegant gowns and tuxes. The guests wore bright smiles, their expressions twitching about with judgment as faux pas would catch their eye, and then they’d whisper something surely rude to their nearest companions, only taking a beat to grab a glass of wine or hors d’oeuvre from a passing server.
Ah, all the stuffiness and judgment made me feel so at home.
While Elliott was off discussing details of a possible cosmetics line endorsement deal with one of our top clients, I mingled and schmoozed, networking and collecting contacts the way I typically did at events. I finally needed a moment to refill my drink, and I slipped away, checking my messages once again.
Refresh. Refresh. Refresh.
If I’d been my own friend, I would have told myself, You aren’t hung up on this guy who didn’t even like you a few months ago, are you?
Maybe a little.
More than I should have been, something emphasized by the fact that I’d set aside my chatty ways to desperately hope—practically wish—that he’d text me right then so I could get back to him right away.
Of course, he’d said he had to prepare for some big signing, so even if he hadn’t texted, I more than understood his reasons for being preoccupied.