Nodding, I wound my arms tighter and surged upwards. My chest was pressed against his and he wound an arm around my back. Lifting me in the air, he carried me out of the bar. We must’ve looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. The need for him would never lessen. It grew with each day and as soon as we were outside, Carter placed me into the car. He was right behind. I was barely aware of anything else. His lips covered mine and that was all I needed.

The world melted away.

CHAPTER THIRTY

A week later we were back in that car, but instead of leaving a work event we were heading towards one. It was The Richmond’s Christmas party. Noah had opened three more Richmonds across the nation so each hotel across the nation and a few internationally were sending employees to our corporate headquarters. In short, this party was a big deal.

Carter was dressed in a tuxedo and I wore the white dress Theresa had once forced me to wear. The fabric was sheer and shimmery. It was layered so nothing could see through, and the two lengths were tied around my neck again. The ends were long enough so they were draped over my shoulders and decorated with diamonds. My hair was another matter. I had tackled the dress on my own without difficulty, but Amanda insisted on doing my hair. So we had all been picked up from their apartment. Noah was already at the party, but my friends were dressed to impress.

Their eyes got big when Carter came to the front lobby. Even Amanda seemed to have held her breath for a second.

I couldn’t blame them. He was dashing.

I wasn’t sure if it was the rich lines from the tuxedo that molded over his lean physique or it was his eyes. An extra amount of chill was in them that evening. They seemed ready to tear into anyone, which emphasized the aura of danger that always clung to Carter.

I patted his hand once in the car and asked in soft voice, “Are you okay?”

A soft kiss to my cheek was my reward. He patted my hand back. “I am fine. You look ravishing.”

His answer didn’t appease me, but I sighed. This would have to wait. I knew Carter well enough to know when he was lying to me. No one else would be able to tell, but I also knew that he wasn’t going to confide in me with my friends in the same car. And I couldn’t stop remembering a phone conversation that he had. He’d been in his office at home, but the door was open. I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but when Franco’s name had been said, every alarm went on full alert in me. I hadn’t heard much, but I knew enough to know that Carter was keeping something from me and that it was related to Franco.

After the night when he was supposed to have been killed, I never heard actual confirmation. I didn’t know if I should’ve. Carter pulled most of the guards around me so I assumed everything was fine, but I couldn’t ignore the knot in my stomach. Maybe things hadn’t ended as well as I had assumed?

“Emma, did you hear about Tamra?”

I lifted my head and turned to Theresa. She was even more beautiful than normal. Her dark blonde hair had been swept up into multiple tiny braids. Amanda worked miracles with them as well. The same diamonds that had been added to my dress were also in Theresa’s braids. They matched the shimmery gold dress she wore.

Giving her a smile, I forced those nagging thoughts to the back of my mind. They’d have to be dealt with on another night. “What about Tamra?”

“She got promoted. She’s going to a branch in Minnesota to head it up.” Theresa giggled, her cheeks were flushed from the wine we had in their apartment. “I think she’s pissed. She wanted your old job, under Mr. Hudson, but her supervisor booted her ass. Can you believe that?”

I grinned. It was karma. Tamra had been one of the queen bitches who froze me out awhile ago. I wondered what she had done to piss off her supervisor. A transfer to Minnesota wasn’t really a promotion. Everyone would’ve preferred to work their way up the ladder in our corporate headquarters. That was here, not there.

Amanda frowned. “Weren’t you friends with her, Emma? Didn’t she come out once with us...” And she faded because this was the awkward moment. Tamra had gone bowling with us. Ben, Mallory, and the current boyfriend had been there as well.

Theresa grimaced. “Speaking of the dead…”

“Theresa!”

“What?” She shrugged her shoulder and ignored her roommate. “You guys never talk about her. It’s been long enough. I don’t think Mallory would’ve wanted you to never talk about her. One night of bawling over her doesn’t cut it. It’s good to reminisce about old times. You’re honoring her memory.”

Amanda grew red in the face and she turned towards her window.

Theresa rolled her eyes. “I know what I’m talking about. My parents are dead, remember?”

Carter looked over then. He’d been content to be quiet and stay in the background, as much as possible for him. His eyes narrowed now. “Everyone grieves differently. I doubt you were laughing about your parents five months after they were ground into cement.”

“Carter,” I murmured.

Theresa paled. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

“Their friend was gutted. The other was killed by Emma.” His wolf-like eyes grew in hostility. “Sometimes silence is being sensitive.” Then he turned away again. It was obvious the conversation was done.

Frowning, I watched Theresa to see how she would handle that efficient dressing-down. Her head went down and her hands folded together in her lap. Her shoulders drooped as well. I exhaled a soft breath. It wouldn’t help for my one of only two friends to remember her previous disdain for Carter.

But when we got to the party and stepped out, Theresa stopped both of us. She looked from Amanda to me. “I’m sorry, guys. Sometimes I speak before I think.”

Amanda threw her arms around her roommate. “Oh, we know!”

Both laughed and pulled me in for the hug.

“You guys are some hot mamas. Let’s party!”

Biting her lip, Amanda’s cheeks grew rosy again, but I caught the surprise in her gaze. I agreed with Theresa. My oldest friend was a serene vision. She wore a very soft pink dress. It was a strapless A-line, hanging down to her toes. She resembled a Greek goddess.

Remembering the cop who wanted to date her, I kissed her cheek and whispered, “It’s your turn.”

Her eyes held mine and a promise passed between us. It was her turn to be happy. She knew what I meant without another word of explanation. Theresa and Noah would eventually figure it out. They had to. They loved each other and I had Carter. It was Amanda’s time now.