Chapter 8
Darcy was sure Carter was going to kiss her before Derek interrupted them. And she had wanted him to.
A fresh buzz of excitement zapped through Darcy as Carter passed through the gate and held it open for her. She tried to stop
her hands from trembling as they made their way into the backyard, where the guests were gathered around tables to eat cookies
and continue their lively conversations.
Above them, the sun had begun to set, sending a kaleidoscope of colors across the sky. Derek moved from table to table lighting
citronella candles.
“Darcy! Carter!” Haven called from a far table. “Come join us.”
Carter dropped their plates and empty cups into a trash can, and Darcy followed him to the table. They sat in the two empty
seats across from Derek and Haven.
Darcy picked out a chocolate chip cookie from a platter. Nearby, one of Derek’s friends was sharing a story about his camping
mishaps in the mountains last fall, but Darcy couldn’t concentrate on his words. Her mind was whirring, replaying her time
with Carter by the pond.
A tingle went straight to her toes as she recollected the spark in his dark eyes when they leveled on her lips. When he held
her hand, she’d become so lightheaded that she thought she might pass out. He’d been a breath away from kissing her. Why on
earth had Derek chosen that moment to pipe up?
She focused on the blue tablecloth and tried to slow her pulse. When she’d first seen Carter tonight, she’d been certain he wasn’t interested in her. In fact, she had convinced herself he had a girlfriend, but now she was certain he did like her.
Beyond attraction, she felt a strange, special connection with him. She trusted Carter for some reason, which was why she
found herself opening up to him and telling him her deepest secrets about her adoptive parents and her biological mother.
She had the feeling he truly cared about her. It didn’t make sense that a man she’d just met had become so important to her
so quickly.
Surely she was setting herself up for heartache.
“You okay?” Carter had leaned close to whisper into her ear, sending a shockwave of heat rolling through her.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He lifted a light-brown eyebrow.
“I promise I am.”
He helped himself to a macadamia nut cookie. “These look good.”
“They’re all good,” Darcy said. “I picked them up at a local bakery.”
Carter took a bite and made a noise of approval.
When Darcy felt someone watching her, she peeked over at Haven, who had a smug look on her face. “Would you help me carry
some of the empty platters inside?”
“Sure.” Darcy pushed back her chair and followed her friend up the deck steps.
They gathered up the empty platters and bowls and carried them into the kitchen. Haven quickly closed the sliding glass door
behind them.
“All right, Darcy.” Haven stopped at the counter. “Spill it.”
Darcy leaned against the sink and turned on the water. “What do you mean?”
“Please, Darce. You know exactly what I mean. You and Carter were sitting down by the pond for quite a while.”
Darcy set the bowls and platters into the sink while she considered how much to share. “We had a nice talk.”
“And?”
“And I like him a lot.”
“Yay! You were right when you said you could find your own date. You found yourself a boyfriend all on your own.”
“Whoa.” Darcy turned to her and held up her hand. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“But he will be...,” Haven sang while opening the dishwasher.
Darcy shook her head and wiped off the platters before handing them to Haven. “I like him a lot, but I’m nervous.”
“What is there to be nervous about? It’s obvious he likes you a lot too. He’s handsome, and he seems funny and sweet. A total
catch.”
“He is...” Her mouth turned dry as familiar grief seeped through her. Jace. Here she was thinking about moving on when he’d sacrificed everything for her. It seemed too soon, too fast.
The sliding glass door opened with a whoosh, and Carter appeared in the kitchen holding a large pan, tongs, and a spatula.
“Where can I put these?”
“I’ll take them.” Darcy reached for them. “Thanks.”
“There are still a few plates out there, plus some leftover cups and cutlery. I’ll bring them in.”
“You don’t need to clean up, Carter,” Haven said. “We got it.”
“I don’t mind.” He went back outside.
Haven placed her hand on Darcy’s shoulder. “I think he’s perfect.”
“Stop it,” Darcy hissed, but deep down, she agreed. Carter did seem perfect. Was he too good to be true?
For the next several minutes, Darcy, Haven, and Carter cleaned together in the kitchen. Guests came through waving their goodbyes, then headed out into the night. Soon only Derek, Carter, Haven, and Darcy were left in the house.
“Thank you for all your help,” Darcy told Carter when they were done.
Carter shrugged. “You’re welcome.” He shook Derek’s hand. “Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time.”
“I’m glad we’ve reconnected. We need to do this again soon.”
“Definitely.”
As he and Derek chatted a bit longer, Haven nudged Darcy. “Walk him out,” she said under her breath.
Darcy paused, but another nudge from her friend made her say, “I’ll walk you out, Carter. I just need to grab my purse.”
Carter grinned.
She jogged upstairs and fetched her stained blouse from the bathroom before zipping into the guest room for her purse.
When she returned to the hallway, she found Haven standing at the top of the stairs, grinning at her. “He’s crazy about you.”
Darcy shook her head despite the excitement buzzing through her.
Carter’s and Derek’s muffled voices sounded below them.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Darcy admitted, careful to keep her voice soft.
“You may not be, but it’s obvious you two click. Just concentrate on being friends and see what happens. You can never have
too many friends.” She pulled Darcy in for a hug. “Go for it.”
Darcy sighed. She was starting to believe Haven was right. But where did that leave her feelings for Jace? Would Jace understand?
Would he want her to move on? Did she want to?
Haven released her. “And if you don’t hear from him after tonight, maybe you should make the first move.”
“What do you mean?”
“You ask him out. He probably won’t expect it, and I bet he’ll love it. You only live once.”
Darcy considered her best friend’s suggestion as they descended the stairs and met Carter and Derek at the front door.
“Glad you came,” Derek told Darcy.
Darcy shouldered her purse and couldn’t help but glance at Carter. “Me too.”
She and Carter exchanged goodbyes with the couple before walking into the humid night air. The stars above them twinkled in
the dark sky while frogs croaked nearby.
Darcy inhaled the scent of fresh flowers and the pond as they strolled toward the driveway. Her car was parked behind Haven’s
silver Honda CR-V, and Carter’s SUV looked lonely sitting by itself on the side of the road.
She turned around and leaned against the driver’s side door of her sedan. “I had fun tonight.”
“I did too.” He touched her arm, and her heart did a funny little dance. “Would it be okay if I texted you?”
Darcy conjured up a mischievous smile. “That sounds great, but do you have time for me in between all of those reality shows
you watch?”
“Hmm.” He flashed that crooked grin. “You’re right. My schedule is pretty full, but I bet I can make time for you.”
He held his hand out to her, and she hesitated as the urge to hug him overcame her. When her courage fizzled, she accepted
his hand but held on a little longer than necessary.
“Good night, Darcy,” he said.
“Good night.” She opened her car door and dropped her stuff inside. Then she turned her head, unable to resist watching him
walk away.
***
Later that evening, Carter walked into the one-car, detached garage and was greeted by the familiar smells of rubber, plastic,
parts cleaner, and oil. He flipped on the lights, then hopped up on a stool and placed his laptop on the workbench beside
him. Before him sat his grandfather’s orange 1970 Plymouth Road Runner bordered by a row of toolboxes.
Memories of the hours he and his grandfather had spent working on the car together overtook his mind. “Wish you were here,
Grandpa,” he whispered.
Carter could sure use his advice right now while he tried to work through the conundrum of Darcy. He hadn’t felt such a strong
attraction to a woman before. Not even to Gabrielle.
But this was more than just attraction. What he felt for her was something deeper, more meaningful. He was stunned that she
had trusted him with her secrets about wanting to find her biological mother. He trusted her in return, and even felt compelled
to trust her with his heart. An invisible magnet seemed to be pulling them together.
But would he ever be enough for her? And what if his health failed again? Would that tear them apart like it did his relationship
with Gabrielle?
Opening his laptop, Carter began searching for apartments in his price range and found nothing. Due to the cost of his monthly
maintenance medications, he was out of luck until his consolidation loan was paid. He continued scrolling despite the gloom
that filled him.
He was clicking through a page of overpriced one-bedroom places when the door opened with a creak.
Carter gave Gage a wave. “Hey.”
His brother-in-law strolled in and pulled up a stool. “I was surprised when I looked out the window and saw the light on out here. What are you up to?”
“Not a whole lot.”
“Are you finally going to start rebuilding the engine for the Road Runner?” Gage pointed toward the car.
Carter shook his head. “I was looking at apartments.”
“You don’t need to do that, bro.” Gage crossed his arms over his wide chest. “This is your home.”
Carter exhaled and closed the laptop.
“Why do you suddenly want to move out?” Gage’s expression clouded with a frown. “Did we do or say something that upset you?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I feel like I’m in the way.”
Gage scoffed. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you and Shauna don’t have privacy when I’m around. I’m constantly underfoot.” He rubbed his elbow. “I know you want
to start a family, and you don’t need me getting in the way of that.”
“You’re not in the way. You’re our family.”
Carter’s posture drooped. “It doesn’t really matter anyway, because I’m not going anywhere. All I can afford to rent is a
room. Not even a whole place. Why move out of here only to be in someone else’s way somewhere else?”
“Listen,” Gage began, “we want you here. There’s no reason for you to leave.” He smiled. “Besides, if and when we’re blessed
with kids, we’d love to have Uncle Carter around to help.”
“Thanks.” Carter ran his finger along the edge of the workbench.
“Shauna said you went to Derek McGowan’s place for a party tonight.”
Carter rested his elbow on the workbench and his chin on his palm. “That’s right. It was a housewarming party. He bought a place out in Matthews.”
“I remember his dad.” Gage snickered. “I’ve got the speeding tickets in my old Camaro to prove it.”
Carter laughed. “He pulled me over a few times and a bunch of my friends too. I think he thought he was teaching us a lesson,
but we just learned where he liked to sit and run radar so we could avoid those roads.”
“How was the housewarming?”
“Fun.” Carter grinned as a vision of Darcy’s beautiful face filled his mind’s eye.
Gage quirked an eyebrow. “Is that right?”
“It was nice to hang out with friends.” Carter walked over to the front end of the Road Runner. He stared down at the engine,
looking for a way to change the subject.
Gage joined him at the car. “What do you need to get started on this engine?”
“The time and the budget.”
“Maybe I could help you,” Gage offered before suggesting where they would begin.
While his brother-in-law talked on about the car, Carter once again thought of Darcy. He would keep his promise and ask her
out.
He just hoped he could be enough for her.