She arched a brow. "And why would you want to do that?"
I escorted her up into my house and into the sitting room where I had a small bar set up. I poured her favorite drink; a vodka tonic.
"I need to spend more time with Jess, and I figured the best way to do that would be to hire her as my physical therapist," I answered her question as I handed her the drink.
She looked up at me from the wingback chair she sat in. There was a mixture of amusement and concern on her face. "And what happens if she finds out that you’re feigning your injury? Women don't usually like to be duped, even if it's a strange and desperate attempt to prove one's love."
I sat in the chair opposite her. "That’s a chance I have to take. It's really my only option because now that she's about done with dad, there's no other way for me to see her."
"You could ask her on a date. That's usually how it works."
"I tried that, and she didn't want to go except the one time that dad was her chaperone."
She looked down in her drink. "Have you considered that perhaps there's a reason why she doesn't want to go to dinner with you."
"Clearly there is a reason, but I don’t believe that it’s because she isn’t interested in me." The way she fucked me in the SUV was proof of that. God, I hoped I didn't have to tell my grandmother that Jess and I had sex in my SUV.
"This doesn't seem like a great idea, Carter. How do you see this playing out?"
"I'm hoping that spending time with me, whatever is in the way will get resolved, she’ll fall in love with me, and then if she does find out about my fake injury, since she’ll be in love with me, she’ll find my efforts to win her humorous or sweet."
My grandmother shook her head, but her lips twitched up into a slight smile, a sure sign she was amused by me. "Well, for your sake and future happiness, I hope it works.” Then she frowned. "Does your father know you're doing this?"
I shook my head. "No, but I suppose it's only a matter of time because Noah knows I'm doing it, which means eventually Andi will know I'm doing it. You know I'm doing it, so pretty soon the whole world will know it. Except, of course, Jess, I hope."
"I don't understand why you boys make courting and getting married so difficult. And you Carter, of all people who is actually open to falling in love and getting married, even you are making it difficult."
"It's not me Gran. It's Jess making it difficult."
She sipped her drink, but her eyes watched me, and I could tell she thought I was being foolish. But what else could I do? Until Jess flat out told me she didn't like me or gave me a good reason that I shouldn't be with her, I was going to pursue a relationship with her. Having it all blow up in my face was a chance I was willing to take because it was the only way for me to get close enough to Jess to show her how good we could be together, or for her to show me that we couldn't.
18
Jess
I didn't like that Carter believed that I thought there was something wrong with him. The truth was, I didn't think there was a single thing wrong with him. Well, except for the meniscus tear. Just like four years ago, he was sweet and kind and generous. And now he was being $100,000 generous. That money could go a long way to securing Tanner's future. But even as I thought that, I knew that Carter had much more financial resources to secure Tanner's future, and I was keeping that from him.
Once again, I was too much of a coward to tell Carter about Tanner, but maybe now that I was going to help him in his physical therapy, the perfect opportunity would arise.
When I arrived home that evening, I told Reggie and Tanner over dinner about my new client. Tan
ner was upset, and whined during the rest of the dinner that I wouldn't be able to stay home and play with him like I promised. I hated breaking my son's heart, but I just couldn't pass up this opportunity.
That evening after I put Tanner to bed, I poured myself a glass of wine and went to sit in the living room. I decided to read a book instead of watch television because Reggie was over at her desk doing some work.
Just as I was settled, she swiveled around in her chair and looked at me. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"I'm reading a book."
She shook her head. "I mean, this new client. Do you think it's a good idea to work for the guy you've been trying to avoid?"
I sighed and I set my book down on my lap. "I can't pass up the money, Reggie. I'll be able to start a college fund for Tanner and have a nice little nest egg for myself.
Reggie’s brow arched as she studied me. "You're not planning to tell him about Tanner, are you?" I could hear the judgment in her tone. "Because Carter will be able provide him and you with all that."
“I plan to tell him, but that doesn't mean we’ll all end up as a big happy family."
"So, you just want money from him? Somehow taking that money is different than when he tried to give you a car and offer you a job?"