“The soul never gets old. We just forget to be children. Another saying of my dad’s.”
I was surprised at how much fun Carter was having, as if he’d been waiting for an opportunity to unleash his inner kid too. We returned to the shore late in the evening, and I was absolutely not ready for the day to end.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Carter offered once we were on land. April’s group was a few feet away, waiting for their parents to pick them up.
“No, it’s okay. I parked close.”
Carter studied me, and as I took the first step back, he said, “Val, have dinner with me.”
“Oh!”
“You sound surprised. In case it’s not obvious, I’m crazy attracted to you.”
I smiled. “Well, that part is obvious.” My heart rate picked up, and the frantic beats were making it hard to think straight.
“When are you free next week?”
“No clue, but I’ll check my calendar and let you know.”
“Monday at breakfast?” he pressed, his gaze hard and determined. I nodded. He inched closer, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The brush of his fingers on my earlobe felt intimate. I shuddered with my entire body. Carter didn’t miss my reaction, and his lips curled into a seductive smile.
“Have a great evening, Valentina.”
Chapter Thirteen
Val
On Monday morning, I woke up so late that I had no choice but to forego both my yoga and the coffee shop. I shot Carter a quick message to let him know I couldn’t make it before darting directly into my office. I had to answer a few emails before heading to the sampling room.
My stomach was rumbling, and I needed breakfast. Otherwise I’d end up vetoing all of the samples.
I was just about to ask my assistant to buy me a sandwich and a coffee when someone knocked at my open door. It was one of the girls who worked at Walter’s. Marcy sometimes did the deliveries. I’d ordered a few times, which was why Marcy knew her way around the office. She was holding a takeout bag.
“Marcy, what are you doing here?” Had I placed an order and forgotten about it?
“A certain gentleman you’ve been hanging out with sent these.”
“Ohhhhh. Thank you.”
I tried not to smile too broadly as Marcy placed the bag on my desk.
“He’d been sitting at your usual table, then came up to the counter all sexy and cute, asking if we could deliver your favorites.”
“Sexy and cute?” I repeated.
“Yep. He’s been making everyone’s mornings. We don’t get too many guys looking like him around here. They all hang out on the other side of the town.”
I chuckled, agreeing with her one hundred percent. Carter looked like the stars who graced the Beverly Hills area. I gave her a tip, and the second she left, I opened the bag. My stomach rumbled louder as the smell of freshly made pancakes wafted out of the bag. I took a bite, and then a sip of coffee. It was my favorite indeed.
I shot him a text.
Val: Thanks for breakfast. Great timing.
I didn’t know what else to write, so I sent it like that, not expecting an answer. But I received one in a matter of seconds.
Carter: Saw you barreling down the street and directly into your office. Thought you might need reinforcements before you knocked someone over.
The man had great instincts. I’d almost knocked an elderly woman over this morning. My sensory perception wasn’t great this early in the day.