Business Not As Usual, page 17
She hadn’t heard from him since the night of his party, except for when he’d texted her the next morning. He told her to stop by and pick up a few things she had left at his place. She texted back and told him to throw whatever it was in a dumpster and jump in after it. Dreamy hadn’t heard from him since.
So why was he reaching out now? She debated deleting the message without reading it first, but went ahead and skimmed it.
Thinking about you. Give me a call.
She cursed under her breath, and started typing, Go to hell, but stopped short of sending the text. Instead, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of responding. After deleting the words, she blocked his number.
Was a text from Brandon the universe’s way of reminding her about the vow she had made to herself? She was supposed to be staying away from men and focusing on herself. Not only did she break the vow, she obliterated it by falling for someone like Karter.
It had been heartbreaking when Brandon kicked her to the curb, but Dreamy had gotten over him fairly quickly. But with Karter? What she felt for him was so much more intense than anything she ever felt for Brandon. That made a relationship with Karter that much more dangerous.
Were they moving too fast?
Would he turn out to be a jerk like Brandon?
Or worse, would he make her fall in love with him, then dump her?
“Dreamy?”
Dreamy startled, and her head jerked up to meet Karter’s concerned eyes. “Huh?”
“Everything okay?” He slipped off the robe and tossed it on the bench at the foot of the bed. All the while his attention stayed on her.
Her heart leaped at the sight of his naked body. The man’s physique was truly a work of art.
With her gaze following him back to the bed, she said, “No, everything is perfect.” You’re perfect, she wanted to add, but didn’t. She had to figure out how to continue getting to know Karter without totally losing herself in the process.
For now, she would just enjoy the time they had together.
Dreamy shot off a quick text to Jordyn, who was probably still up studying, and then she remembered to check the lottery numbers. The Powerball jackpot was up to $230 million, more than enough to take care of her family for the rest of their lives and start the nonprofit.
Dreamy sighed after a quick Google search revealed that they didn’t even get one number. She tried not to let that fact get her down, but hopelessness lodged in her chest. She needed a break. Her family needed a break. Even with the raise that Gordon gave her, things were still tight.
Don’t give up. Your day is coming. She just had to hang on to that thought. My day is coming.
Disappointed, Dreamy set the phone on the bedside table closest to her.
She needed a win. Her family needed a win.
“You sure you’re okay?” Karter asked again.
She nodded, refusing to let anything get her down. “I’m here with you. What more could a girl want?”
After one of the best dates she’d ever had, and sex that had her toes curling, she had nothing to be down about. Everything always worked itself out. She just had to stay positive. Stay encouraged.
“Since you’re still awake, we can head upstairs and sleep in my bedroom if you’d like. The bed is bigger and it would probably be more comfortable.”
“Unless that’s what you prefer, but I’m fine here. This mattress feels like I’m stretched out on a fluffy cloud, and it’s perfectly comfortable.” Truth was, she didn’t think her bone-weary legs would carry her up all of the stairs.
“Wherever you are works for me.”
Karter sat on the edge of the bed and opened one of the bottles of water and passed it to Dreamy.
She didn’t realize how thirsty she was until she demolished three-quarters of it before handing the bottle back to Karter. Apparently, he was just as thirsty since he had already drained his.
After turning off the lamp on the bedside table and plunging the room into darkness, he wrapped his strong, hard body around her. Dreamy snuggled closer, laying her head on his chest and her arm across his waist.
It had been a long time since she’d shared a bed with a man, especially all night. She kind of liked it. No, actually, she loved it, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was right where she was supposed to be.
“Karter?”
“Yeah, baby,” he said, and his sleep-filled voice was deep and sexy.
“Just so you know, I don’t usually . . . I’m not easy. Sleeping with a man on the first date is not something I normally do.”
“I didn’t think you did, and in case you’re wondering, this was not a one-night stand or a one and done, or whatever the hell people call it these days.”
“Then what was it?” she asked, though she had already decided that it wasn’t a one-night stand. What they shared had been spectacular and special. It felt . . . real. It felt . . . permanent.
There was a long hesitation before he spoke again. “This is you and me dating.”
Dreamy couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across her face. She didn’t know what she expected him to say, but that wasn’t it. They had moved faster than she was accustomed to, but as long as their connection felt right, she planned to roll with whatever came next.
“That would make me your girlfriend. Are you sure you’re ready for that type of commitment?”
“Considering I ruined a couple’s meal tonight, almost burned off my arm, and might’ve destroyed your cousin’s dress, I think I should be asking you that instead. Do you think you’re ready?”
“Yes,” Dreamy said without a second thought. “But if Morgan wasn’t able to fix Jordyn’s dress, you better get ready to deal with your girlfriend’s cousin.”
Karter placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. “I’m up for any challenge when it comes to you.”
“Yeah, just keep telling yourself that.”
* * *
• • •
Dreamy slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the sunlight peeking through the slats of the blinds covering the only window in the bedroom. She wasn’t sure what time it was, but whatever the time, it was too early to be awake on a Sunday.
Without turning to see if Karter was still asleep, she patted her hand on the mattress where he should’ve been. Cold. Meaning he’d probably been up for a while.
Part of her wanted to get up and go in search of him. The other part, though, wanted to lie there and pretend she had the luxury of doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.
That would be nice.
Normally an early riser, she just didn’t have it in her to move. Her body, and every muscle attached to it, was wonderfully worn out, and she wasn’t sure if she could move even if she wanted to.
But her bladder was making the decision for her.
Dreamy climbed out of bed and slipped into the robe that Karter had left on the bench. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she stumbled to the attached bathroom. Maybe she could get a little more sleep before she had Karter take her home.
Instead of turning on the light, she let the sunlight streaming through the rectangular windows near the ceiling guide her way. She quickly relieved herself and padded to the sink. It wasn’t until she washed her hands that she flipped on the overhead lights and gasped.
Her hair, resembling an eagle’s nest, was going to be a pain to comb through. Long strands stuck out every which way, while the right side of her hair was matted down.
She quickly ran her fingers through it, trying to make it look halfway decent. Normally, after getting it done at the salon, she’d wrap it or braid it before going to sleep to keep it from tangling. Last night—actually this morning—she had been too exhausted to even think about her hair.
The one time I need a wig . . . Guess it’ll be a ponytail kind of day.
As Dreamy stood in front of the mirror, trying to wrangle her hair, she marveled at the luxury of the space. Like everything else in the house, the bathroom was large and painted in a soft yellow. The highlight was the soaker tub for two. If she had time, she wouldn’t mind going for a swim in it, but she feared she’d love it too much.
Even planning to win the lottery, Dreamy struggled to imagine what it would be like to live in luxury. Would money change her? Would she become a snob and start treating people like second-class citizens?
God, she hoped not. Karter and Morgan were born into wealth, and they didn’t act as if they were better than everyone else. Hopefully, that would be the same for her.
“I won’t change,” she mumbled to herself.
Once her hair looked halfway decent, she glanced to her right, near the other sink, surprised to see a colorful cosmetic bag. A handwritten note was attached to it.
Thought you’d probably need some of these items. Morgan.
PS I had some clothes dropped off for you. If you’re reading this note, they should be nearby.
Dreamy glanced around the bathroom but didn’t see any clothes.
She read the rest of the note.
PPS The dress is fixed. Yay! It’ll be back from the cleaners before you leave. Now your cousin won’t kill you. Oh, that means I saved your life! You’re welcome. Xoxo
Dreamy laughed and reread the last part of the note again.
Morgan had the dress cleaned? How? When? What the hell time was it anyway?
Dreamy padded back to the bedroom and glanced at the clock that was on Karter’s side of the bed.
Eight fifteen.
How was it possible that she found a cleaners that opened so early in the morning?
She turned to go back into the bathroom, but pulled up short when she spotted a shopping bag. The name of a high-end store was stamped on the front of it.
She walked across the room, assuming those were the clothes that Morgan mentioned. Excitement bubbled inside of her as she started pulling items out. An orange T-shirt with Boss Lady stamped on the front of it immediately caught her attention.
“Aww, this is too cute and perfect.”
Next were art deco leggings that were made with her in mind and contained every color under the sun.
As Dreamy kept digging through the bag, she also found underwear. All of the items still had the tags on them, and her eyes bugged out at the prices.
Good Lord. There was no way she could afford this stuff.
At the bottom of the bag was a box. Converse. Another wave of excitement charged through her body as she hurried and opened the narrow box.
“Un-frickin’-believable,” she murmured, holding up the orange Chucks. And they were the right size too.
“I see you found the clothes,” Karter said as he entered the bedroom with a tray of food. He nudged the door closed and strolled over to the bench at the foot of the bed.
Dressed in a blue tank top that fit loose on his body but showed off his large biceps and a pair of running shorts and shoes, he appeared more relaxed than she’d ever seen him.
“Who are you people?” Dreamy asked, holding up the shoes in one hand and the clothes in the other. “How in the world did you guys accomplish this before eight a.m.?”
“I can’t take credit. Morgan is a master shopper, and her connections stem all the way to Paris. When she says she knows people? She really does.”
“So your sister did all of this here, fixed a dress, and is having it dry cleaned all before eight a.m.?”
Karter shrugged. “I guess she’s like the Army, does more before eight a.m. than most people do all day.”
“Funny, but seriously. This is too much. I just hoped the dress could be fixed. I didn’t expect her to do all of this.” Dreamy looked at everything again before returning her attention to Karter, who moved the tray from the bench to the bed.
“And you . . .” she started, eyeing all of the food, coffee, and orange juice. “I knew you were special, but since we’ve met, you’ve treated me . . .”
She didn’t have the words. The last twenty-four hours felt like a dream. A beautiful, magnificent, unbelievable dream.
“I know you guys have money, but I guess I just didn’t realize just how much . . . influence you have with money.”
“It’s not just about having money, Dreamy. It’s also about building relationships. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have connections and strong relationships, all you have is . . . money. Money alone is not always enough.”
She snorted. “Only a rich person would say something like that. Trust me, if I had money, it would be enough.”
He pulled her into his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his midsection before they shared a sweet kiss.
“Okay, if I had money and you, that would be enough.”
Karter laughed. “Glad I made the cut. Now, let’s eat.”
He led her to the bed and they climbed on, each sitting on either side of the tray.
Dreamy shook her head. “This looks amazing.” She bit into one of the croissants, and her attention drifted back over to the clothes. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay Morgan for all she did.”
Karter’s brows dipped into a severe V. “She would never take your money.” When Dreamy started to speak, he lifted his hands to stop her. “Not because you and I are dating, but because she’s one of the most generous people you’ll ever meet. She loves doing stuff like this, especially for those she likes. Besides, being a stylist is basically in her blood.”
“Still . . .” Dreamy said, looking at the items. “Not only did she get the sizes right, she also nailed my color scheme.”
“I might’ve told her you like bright colors, but she figured out everything else herself. I’m telling you, next to my mother, she’s a super shopper. Add that to her fashion expertise, and you have a woman who could dress anyone and nail it on the first try.”
“And yet, she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life. Interesting.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Karter said.
As they ate, Dreamy thought about him and his family, and how much she enjoyed meeting them. They were turning out to be nothing like she expected.
“You probably guessed this, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I always thought most rich people were snotty, rude, and acted as if they’re better than everyone else,” she said.
Karter brushed back a strand of her hair and wrapped it around his finger. “Some are, and I know a few of them, but I’ve learned that you can’t generalize people like that. I know it suits many people, but it would be like assuming every secretary only wants to be a secretary, and we both know that’s not true. Because soon, you’re going to be a badass boss lady running a nonprofit that’s going to change the life of many women.”
Dreamy nodded. “Good point, and that’s true. No more assuming.”
“You have nice hair. I always thought women wore wigs because something was wrong with their hair or that they didn’t have hair. That’s not the case with you.”
“Well, you know what they say about assuming,” she cracked.
Karter grinned at her. “I do, and though you look sexy as hell in your wigs, I prefer your natural hair. But,” he said quickly when she started to speak, “that’s not to say you shouldn’t wear wigs. I have no problem with them. Hell, I even chase them down when I have to, but I’m just saying I like being able to run my fingers through your hair.”
Dreamy’s eyes drifted closed as he massaged her scalp. “That feels so good. If you keep that up, I might want you to massage a few other areas on my body.”
“Hmm . . . I love it when you talk dirty.”
Dreamy sputtered a laugh and looked at him. “How was that talking dirty? I was talking about massages.”
Karter moved the tray and inched closer to her. “Well, what I heard is that you wanted to pick up where we left off a few hours ago.”
“Well, we need to get your hearing checked, old man.”
“Old man? I’ll show you who’s an old man.”
Before Dreamy could think her next thought, Karter had her flat on her back and had covered her body with his. Old man . . . had she said ‘old man’? What she should’ve said was hot, sexy, virile man who already knew her body better than she did.
How the heck was she going to protect her heart when he was turning out to be everything she’d ever wanted in a man?
Don’t think. Just go with the flow.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Are you sure you don’t want to come in?” Dreamy asked when Karter walked her to the door of her house.
“I would love to, but it’s already hard leaving you here when what I really want is for you to spend another night with me.”
The night turned into day, and they ended up spending much of the time lounging around in his bed and hanging out on the back deck playing with Melvin. Well, she played with Mel-Mel while Karter just looked at him. Actually, now that Dreamy thought about it, Melvin looked at his human in much the same way. It was as if they were still feeling each other out.
All Dreamy knew was that the time with them had turned out to be one of the most relaxing weekends she’d ever had. One night and a day with Karter, and she was hooked.
Holding the dress and shoes in one hand, Dreamy wrapped her other arm around his waist and reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. “I’ll see you Tuesday evening, right?” He had agreed to help her more on her business plan. Dreamy just hoped they’d be able to focus on work. It was becoming clear that it was impossible for them to keep their hands off each other.
“Yeah, but that’s, like, two days away. What am I going to do with myself until then?” he asked, frowning as if he really didn’t know.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe close a million-dollar deal. Help a small business turn a profit for the first time since they opened their doors. Or, maybe you can take another couple of days off because rumor has it, you work too much.”
