Chapter 4
Carter
I’m so happy she agreed to stay. I don’t know what I would’ve done if she’d refused. I always thought I was above kidnapping or anything like that, but I’m realizing I’d do anything to have Scout.
“So, this is my place. I’ll give you a tour, and then you can make yourself at home,” I tell Scout as she steps inside.
“It’s nice. Very… minimalist,” she says.
I laugh. “Yeah, I don’t have much. I meant to go furniture shopping but never got around to making the drive over to Maple Creek. Maybe we can go in a few days. You can help me pick out some stuff.”
“Maybe,” she says softly.
I know she’s worried about being spotted. I hate that she’s scared. I hate that her dad, someone who’s supposed to protect her and keep her safe, is the one who’s put her in this position. If those men were here right now, I’d snap all of their necks.
I need to show her that I’ll always be there to keep her safe. I want her to feel secure and relaxed when she’s with me. She doesn’t need to worry about a thing because I’ll take care of everything. I’ll keep her protected.
“So, we have the living room,” I say, waving my hand toward the couch as Scout toes off her heels. “There’s a bathroom here and then the kitchen. Back here is a room I’m using for storage right now.”
Scout follows me silently as I head for the stairs.
“Here’s a bedroom, another bedroom, a bathroom, and then my room.” I push open my bedroom door.
She steps inside, and my chest eases. It feels so right to have her here. It feels like she’s the missing piece I’ve been looking for. Suddenly, I want to make plans for the future instead of remaining in limbo.
“Will I be in one of the guest rooms?” she asks.
I give her a sheepish look. “There’s no furniture in them yet. You can take the bed. I can sleep on the couch downstairs.”
She eyes me skeptically. “You won’t fit on the couch downstairs.”
I grin. “I can squeeze in.”
“I don’t want to steal your bed. You’re already being so generous with fixing my car and letting me stay here.”
“I think that you’d be safer up here. If they were to track you down, they’d get to you faster down there in the living room. I mean, the couch is right next to the front door, and those big windows. It’s a tactical nightmare.”
She pales at my words, and I hate that I’ve scared her.
“We can share. It’s a big bed. I’ll stick to my side,” I promise.
Her eyes drift to the bed, and her cheeks flush pink. I would give anything to know what she’s thinking about right now. Is she imagining the two of us, naked and tangled up in the sheets like I am?
I clear my throat, reaching down to adjust myself discreetly.
“Okay,” she says softly.
“Let me grab you a shirt,” I say, crossing to the dresser and pulling out a plain black T-shirt from the drawer. “Or you can help yourself to whatever. There’s stuff in the dresser and the closet.”
“Thanks.” She takes the shirt.
I tip my head toward the bathroom. “Shower is through there. I’m going to look at your car, make sure there isn’t a tracker or anything on it. Then I’ll get started on dinner. You can meet me downstairs whenever you’re ready.”
She nods, giving me a faint smile. “Thanks, Carter.”
“It’s my pleasure,” I tell her honestly.
I back out of the room and pause, waiting until I hear the shower turn on before I jog down the stairs. I’m almost to the door when Scout calls my name.
“Hey, Carter?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you help me get out of this stupid dress? I think the zipper is jammed or something.”
My heart races at the thought of peeling my girl out of a wedding dress. My cock is stiff and aching in my jeans, and I close my eyes, praying for strength as I turn and jog back upstairs.
“Let’s see what’s going on,” I say, trying to sound calm and in control as I step into the steamy bathroom with Scout.
The wedding dress poofs out around her as she turns, showing me the zipper in the back, which is caught in some of the tulle.
I frown as I try to wiggle it down. “Uh, I might have to tear it.”
She shrugs. “I didn’t pick it out. Do what you have to.”
I grip the fabric on either side of the zipper. With one hard tug, I rip the dress, the fabric shredding away from the zipper and tearing down to her waist. My eyes greedily drink in all of her exposed skin. I shake my head, clearing my throat as I turn around to give her some privacy.
“How’s that?” My voice sounds deep and needy even to me.
“I think it’s good now. Thanks.”
“Sure.”
I force myself to walk out of the bathroom before I do something stupid like confess my undying love to the woman I met half an hour ago. It would be true, but I doubt she would believe me. Not yet, anyway.
I head out to the garage and give her car a thorough once-over. I’m relieved not to find a tracker or anything else and go back inside to make dinner.
Scout comes downstairs as I’m plating the food. I almost swallow my tongue when I see her in my shirt. The fabric hits her mid-thigh, and my cock fights against my zipper as I stare at her.
“It smells good,” she says, smiling at me as she climbs up onto one of the barstools.
I catch a flash of her inner thigh and almost come in my pants.
Goddamn, she’s perfection.
“Thanks,” I mumble, setting a plate down in front of her.
I take a minute to get my body under control before joining her at the counter. Scout grabs her fork and digs in, scooping up some of the rice and chicken. I watch as her full red lips wrap around the fork, and when she moans, I bite down on my cheek and look away.
Fuck, I’m seconds away from coming in my fucking boxers like a teenager or pinning her to the nearest surface and making her moan with my hands, mouth, and cock until she’s hoarse.
A primal part of me loves seeing her in my clothes, eating my food, and sitting in my home. I love providing for her.
“This is so good. Where did you learn to cook?” Scout asks, completely oblivious to the rampant desires running through me.
“Uh, when I was in the Marines. I hated the food in the cafeteria, so I got creative. I had a little hot plate in my room and would make my meals there instead.”
She turns toward me. “How long were you in for?”
“Eight years.”
“Didn’t like it?”
“I loved it,” I admit quietly. “The last deployment… Things went wrong. Really wrong.”
“Carter, I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“I was in charge, and I didn’t see them, not until it was too late. I lost two of my men, and I took a bullet. I don’t know. I just couldn’t go back after that. Even if I was medically cleared, I still would have gotten out.”
“You were injured?” she asks in alarm.
“Bullet. Right here.” I pull my shirt up, letting her see the still-angry mark on my chest. Scout looks upset at the sight, so I tug the fabric back down. “It doesn’t hurt. Not anymore,” I assure her.
“That had to be so scary.”
“It’s crazy, but in the moment, I didn’t even think about it. There’s no time for being scared, you know? You’re too focused on other things. It was after, in the hospital, that it hit me.”
“I’m sorry you went through that.”
“That’s what I signed up for,” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
Scout reaches out, her hand resting on mine, and she squeezes it slightly.
“What about you?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Well, I never served,” she says.
I smile. “What did you do?”
“Um, I was in college. I wanted to be a teacher.”
“What happened?”
“I ran out of money. I was working two jobs, trying to save up, but… I don’t know. I never could.”
“Why not?”
“Because my dad is a drunk, degenerate gambler,” she says bitterly. “He would spend his money, and I’d have to use mine to cover his share of the rent or food or everything.”
I swallow hard and let her have a moment.
She sighs after a beat and pushes her food around her plate. “I should have left years ago.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I didn’t want him to go hungry or be evicted. My mom died when I was a baby, and it was only ever the two of us. I guess there was some semblance of family loyalty. Unfortunately for me, it was only ever on my side.”
“He’s an idiot. He should’ve been taking care of you. He should’ve been supporting you and your dreams.”
“Yeah. He was never like that,” she admits.
She seems down and lost in her thoughts. We eat the rest of our dinner in silence, and when I stand to clear the plates, I notice how exhausted she looks. Her eyes droop, and I bet she could fall asleep right here at the counter.
“Why don’t you head up to bed? I’ve got this,” I tell her gently.
“Oh, I can help,” she protests.
I shake my head. “Go get some rest.”
She gives me a grateful smile. I wonder when was the last time someone took care of her.
Did she ever have that? It doesn’t sound like it.
It’s time for me to fix that. Maybe that’s my way to show her that we belong together.
I watch as she heads upstairs, then turn back to the kitchen. Maybe tomorrow we’ll go into town and order the part for her car. It would be better to look at getting her a newer car, one that’s safer and more reliable. I wonder if she would fight me on that. Probably.
I call Hudson as I clean up, but he doesn’t answer. I’m sure he’s busy with Hazel. We can talk tomorrow.
Turning off the lights, I move quietly up the stairs and into the bedroom. Scout is passed out on one side of the bed, her breathing deep and slow. I watch her for a moment, smiling as I study her.
Today was a good start at making her mine. Tomorrow will be even better. It has to. I can’t lose Scout. Not ever.