Matchmaker Backfire

“I want you so bad,” I groan into her ear, leaning in to kiss her, feeling her breath catch and her body shiver.

But not from the cold.

“We could…” she ventures, but I shake my head.

“Uh uh. Home young lady and then I’m running you a bath, making you something hot to eat and then. Then we’ll see about that,” I command with a slow kiss, wishing I could just yield to my urges, and take her in the front seat of the SUV.

But no.

It’s been awkward enough so far. I want us both somewhere comfortable and alone.

Someplace I know we won’t be disturbed either.

Back on the road, it’s not long before I hear her phone start to chirp, followed closely by my own.

We’re back in range now and it sounds like we’re both getting all her dad’s messages and missed calls.

I puff air out of my cheeks, feeling it again, that one thing left to get through before I know Serena and I can be together in peace.

And none of it can really happen while her dad’s in the dark about how we feel about each other.

“I should call him,” she offers and I agree.

“Tell him we’re nearly home now and your ankles better.” I hear myself say aloud, sounding like a robot, which makes Serena chuckle before she dials her dad’s number.

“It’ll all work out, remember?” she reminds me.

And I nod. “Of course it will.”

I just have to stab my best friend in the heart to make sure I can keep his daughter’s… no problem.

Chapter Twenty-One

Serena

My call goes to dad’s voicemail, which is kind of a relief. I leave a message, telling him what Carter suggested, and let him know I’ll try again once we get home.

Checking through his messages I can tell dad’s busy.

And concerned.

The cold snap we just left in Vermont has spread across a lot of the northern states, seeing a huge demand for the supply of the company’s products.

I know dad will be in his element, loving the challenge though.

But I also know where he’d rather be. It was supposed to be our holiday after all.

I don’t say much to Carter deliberately. I can feel his desire for me but also the wedge of my dad between us, something I know I’ll have to face sooner rather than later if I’m to be Carter’s forever.

I’ll just sit dad down and explain things, tell him how much we love each other and that’ll be that.

We both relax a little once the freeway becomes familiar suburbs and in no time we’re right back where I started just a couple of days ago, wondering how so much could have happened so quickly.

“Well, here we are,” I announce, not wanting to move suddenly once we pull into the driveway, feeling like it’s the end of a date or something.

Like if I open the car door I’ll break the spell.

“Here we are,” Carter parrots, looking up at the house and then back to me.

I look up at the house too. The top floor windows like eyes looking down at us both as we sit like nervous kids in my dad’s SUV.

“Aren’t you gonna invite me in?” Carter says bashfully, hamming it up for my benefit as we both try to dispel this uneasy feeling now that we’re finally here alone.

I didn’t think coming back to my dad’s place would be awkward. It’s home to me, but I can tell it’s having an unwanted effect on Carter on so many levels.

Until he leans over and kisses me that is, then it all makes sense again.

It doesn’t matter where we are or what we’re doing, as long as we’re together.

As soon as he touches me I feel myself wanting him more than ever.

Needing him inside me again.

Unbuckling myself I’m in his arms, not having to lean over too far because he practically fills the whole truck.

Our mouths lock, and his hands move over me, cupping my chest until I moan before one of them moves between my legs and makes me gasp loudly.

His own body catches the steering wheel, setting off the horn which makes us both giggle until I gasp again.

Louder this time, a stifled scream really.

There’s a face pressed against the glass on the driver’s side of the truck, followed by a rapping of knuckles on the glass.

It takes a split second for it to register, but I recognize our elderly neighbor, Mark Shultz.

Sensing my embarrassment, Carter lets go of me and winds the window down on his side, none too happy for the interruption as I feel my own arousal disappear as quickly as it came on.

“Oh, hi Serena,” he says suspiciously. “I was expecting to see your dad. Everything alright?” he asks, taking a step back from the truck once he senses how unhappy Carter is for his interruption.