Chapter 6
Carter stared out the big bay window of his family’s winter chalet in the Alps. Outside it was cloudy, and big snowflakes were falling from the sky with a light wind blowing the snow about. He was focused on the beautiful, brown-skinned woman who was currently outside walking around with his mother and trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. He did not know if he should be annoyed or amused that she was acting like a child enjoying the snow falling.
He reached into his slacks, his jaw flexing as he looked down at the three-carat oval diamond ring, the gold and silver band slim and delicate. Zahara had dainty fingers, and he thought that this ring and style would complement her hand. He had gotten this ring especially made for her, a rush order he secured by calling in a favour with Margaret, the woman Zahara had seen him with at the hotel.
Margaret had been happy to accommodate him, as he had signed her on to work with the architects and interior designers to bring her sketches to life at the new hotel in Vegas. He had also picked a new location for a hotel to be built in New York City. He would work in New York, using it as his home base until Zahara finished school. They hadn’t discussed anything, but he knew his soon-to-be bride would want to finish her education, and he liked the fact that her schooling was important to her, even though he was not too happy with her experiments.
“You know, she is going to say no.” He turned as his younger brother Ben approached. Both had the same dark hair and silver eyes, inherited from their father Carter Sr., but that was where the similarities ended. Ben was very quiet and brooding; he didn’t say much but was always observing. Ben mostly kept to himself when he was not with Michael or their friend Ambra. Carter had wondered if that was because Michael always made himself the centre of attention and Ben did not want to compete with that.
He gave his brother a glare before putting the ring back in his pocket.
“How are things between you and Zahara now that she is here?”
Carter’s eyebrows rose—it seemed that Ben was in a chatty mood. Michael had gone out to the slopes that morning in the hopes of meeting a woman he had spoken to the day before, named Summer, when they had all been skiing. He seemed to be smitten, and Carter had to admit that the woman was stunning, with her ice-blond hair, dark-brown eyes, and model figure. But she had turned out to be taken. A man had come up and put his arm around her at the café bar when Michael had approached her for a chat. Michael being Michael, he was determined to pursue her because of the flirting banter between them, which to him suggested that she was not all that serious about the man she was there with.
“We have been talking and getting to know each other better. Keeping everything light for now and discussing the baby and Zahara’s up and coming appointments.”
“Has she heard from her family?”
“Yes, her mom reached out during exams, thinking that she was coming home for Christmas. She was upset when she found out that Zahara had thought she could not come home and would be spending time with us instead. They both cried and then agreed that she would go and be with her family for a couple of days after we celebrate Christmas.”
It was his brother’s turn to raise his eyebrows. “I am assuming you are going to meet the family?”
“Of course, I am going to be her husband and the father of her children. I will be leaving here to go with her when she leaves.”
“Children?” Ben smirked. “So, you are getting serious?”
“Who is getting serious?” They both turned to see Michael move to the other side of the bay window, his gaze now taking in Zahara and their mom making their way back to the chalet.
“He already has a ring,” Ben commented.
“Does he not know she is going to say no?” Michael responded.
“You know Carter, he thinks bulldozing is the answer and everyone will fall in line.”
“Yeah, but my money is on Zahara.” Michael grinned.
“She will not say no. And stop doing that, you know I find it annoying when you both talk to each other as if I am not standing right here with you. It’s annoying.”
They grinned, and then their attention suddenly turned to a Land Rover making its way onto their driveway. Carter watched as Zahara and his mother turned to face the approaching vehicle, which rolled to a stop.
“Ambra made it in good time,” Ben commented.
Carter and Michael turned to him curiously.
“She called and asked if she could come up here early to spend Christmas with us, as her parents decided to go away on a trip and Diamond had plans with her boyfriend. I did not want her spending it alone, so I said yes. We have plenty of room.” He shrugged.
Carter was surprised when he saw Michael stiffen for a second before relaxing and putting his hands in his pockets. He then watched along with them as Zahara and his mother made their way over to the vehicle. The doors opened to reveal Ambra and her sister Diamond exiting the vehicle.
Carter heard Ben’s slight intake of breath and then his curse when the women went to hug each other. You could see a big engagement ring on Diamond’s finger.
Carter knew this was going to be an interesting Christmas, but he was only concerned about one thing—getting Zahara to agree to marry him. He could not understand what the problem was. They could grow together once they got married, and he was sure he would form an attachment to her. Hell, he already did, and they were very good together in bed. More than he could have imagined or asked for. He was going to be a good provider for her and their child, and for now, that should be good enough. But love and the feeling of love...he was shying away from that.
His concentration was broken when he felt eyes on him and saw that all four women were staring at them and shaking their heads as he and his brothers stood watching at the windows.
Then they gestured towards the back of Ambra’s vehicle, and the men moved to get their coats and go outside to help the women bring in the luggage.
They stood stunned, staring at all the luggage the girls had brought.
“Are you staying with us permanently? Because this is a lot of luggage,” Michael said in awe.
Ambra laughed and smacked his arm. “That’s my duffel bag. The rest of the luggage is hers.” She pointed at her sister. “Diamond never travels light and brings everything she owns on trips.”
Diamond shrugged her shoulders. “I never know what I am going to wear or need, besides, that is not everything.” She glared at Ambra.
Carter heard Ben say huskily, “Nice to see you here Diamond.”
“Oh yes, sorry about that. I had plans with my fiancé, but he had to go out of town on an emergency business trip and will not be back till before New Years, so Ambra suggested I come with her, as she was spending Christmas with you guys. I hope it is all right.”
Before Ben could say anything, their mother interrupted and linked her arm with Diamond’s. “Of course you are welcome, both you girls are like family to us.”
Carter watched as Ben winced and had to bite back a chuckle when his gaze fell on Ambra, who was having fun loading down Michael’s arms with her sister’s luggage.
“A little help here,” Michael growled to the rest of them.
“Looks like you have everything covered.” He smirked and took hold of Zahara’s arm, pulling her to his side and guiding her back towards the house.
“You know I don’t need help getting back to the house,” she teased.
“Shush woman, did you see her luggage and how heavy the Louis Vuitton bags looked? No, Ben and Michael can bring those in.”
“You mean just Michael,” Ben quipped behind him. Then he continued as he passed them, “Don’t want to ruin Ambra’s fun at making Michael suffer, and I think Mom needs help with entertaining our guest.”
“My God, was that a full sentence out of Ben?” Zahara stopped and looked at him, stunned.
He pulled her along again. “Yes, sometimes he does do that.”
His mood brightened when he heard her laugh, and he suddenly wanted to hear her do that more with him.
“Are you looking forward to tonight and tomorrow?” Zahara gazed up from looking at the ground, then almost crossed her eyes as she stuck out her tongue to catch a snowflake that was floating close to her mouth.
“It’s nice being able to relax and spend time with my family, but it can be annoying at the same time being in the same household as my brothers,” he admitted. “Especially Michael. He acts like a big kid every time we gather for Christmas and open presents. Why are you doing that?”
She paused with her tongue out and her eyes shot to his, a startled look on her face. A laugh erupted out of him.
“Because it is fun. You should try it.”
He scoffed. “That is just for—”
“You need to loosen up a bit. You are vacationing in a winter wonderland from a postcard, and it is Christmas. Come on. Didn’t you ever do this as a kid? Our child will be doing this.”
“I did not.”
“Of course not, big brother was too busy sprouting out of Mom’s womb, serious and bossy.” Carter glared at his passing brother, who was doing amazingly well considering that he could not see anything in front of him with the mound of luggage.
Ambra moved next to them, holding her duffel bag as she stuck out her tongue and captured a snowflake.
“Come on Carter, try it, it is actually fun, and I haven’t done this in a long time.”
Ambra smiled encouragingly at him, her cute face brightened by her smile, the red toque and jacket complementing her dark ebony skin. She peered up at him over Zahara’s head.
He stood there staring, watching their expressions, especially Zahara’s, who had an excited, expectant look on her face.
This is silly, but oh hell, why not?
A snowflake blew across his lips. He flicked his tongue out but missed, and it melted.
He heard the girls giggle and then saw another snowflake drifting closer. He stuck out his tongue and felt a cold, wet sensation on his tongue.
He froze, not knowing how to react. He had never paid that much attention to the feeling of snow or how it felt on his face, but today and right now, it was as if his senses came alive. He felt the cold, wet substance on his face and he poked his tongue out again, closing his eyes. He felt it all over now—on his face, closed eyes, cheeks, and chin—and he found himself relaxing and just enjoying the moment. He opened his eyes to see Zahara and Ambra doing the same thing, just enjoying themselves out in the snow and letting their cares melt away in that one gesture with nature.