Chapter 30 Carter
Chapter thirty
Carter
It’s been four days since the security breach in Sydney, and its impact still hangs over us, even after an uneventful concert in New Zealand.
Kelsey has been handling the fallout like a pro, but I can see the exhaustion etched into her face.
The kind of exhaustion that’s not just physical, but mental.
She’s been working nonstop trying to get everything back on track, and though she’ll never admit it, I can tell the toll it’s taking on her.
The stress in her eyes, the tightness in her shoulders—it’s all there, even if she tries to hide it.
Tonight, I’m determined to give her a break—and celebrate our first Valentine’s Day together.
I’m in my nicest white button-down and gray slacks when I meet Kelsey in our hotel lobby.
When she sees me, her eyes soften for a moment, a look of someone who just found a temporary shelter in the storm, even if she saw me briefly when she ran into our room to shower and change twenty minutes ago.
If she’s not out on long runs, she’s in the hotel’s business center, the small room now fully turned into her command post.
I give her a soft smile.
“Ready to escape for a bit?” I ask, holding out my arm for her to take.
She raises an eyebrow. “Escape? From what? Our job that we both most certainly still have to do while we’re gone?”
I chuckle. “We’re going to take one night off. You deserve it. No emails, no phone calls. Just dinner and me.”
Her eyes soften again, this time in a way that makes my chest tighten. “I wish I could, Carter, but you know I can’t do that. Can’t we just agree to a dinner that’s interrupted by texts and the occasional phone calls?”
“Normally, yes,” I say, pulling her a little closer.
“But tonight? No. Tonight, it’s just us.
No work. No distractions. And”—I cut her off as she starts to protest—“before you say no, know that I already made Jaxon promise not to leave his room, and I talked Lila into covering everything that would be going through you. Your team knows to route everything through her for the next four hours. Just four.”
She sighs, but there’s a slight twinkle in her eyes as she slides her arm through mine. “Well, as it appears you’ve thought of everything, I guess I’m in.”
“Well, not everything—I may have realized about two minutes ago that men traditionally buy their girlfriends flowers on Valentine’s Day…and I have none.”
“Girlfriend, huh? Are we throwing around labels now?”
“Yes. You are, without a doubt, my girlfriend. I realize we haven’t talked about it, but that’s definitely what I want.”
She offers me a wicked grin, one that makes sparks shoot up and down my body.
“Well, come on, then, boyfriend. Show me what you’ve got planned for tonight.”
The car ride is short, but the city of Buenos Aires is alive with energy. Even on a Thursday night, it never sleeps. The streets are full of people walking, laughing, talking. Even in the backseat, I feel the vibrancy of the city pulsing around us.
We arrive at a classic Argentine steakhouse, the brick building tucked away on a cobblestone street. The moment we walk in, the smell of sizzling meat hits me, and my stomach growls in response. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
We’re led to a small corner table with a view of the grill, the flames licking up as the chefs work their magic. I can see Kelsey’s shoulders relax just a little as she sits down, taking in the ambiance.
The waiter hands us the menus, and I notice Kelsey scanning the options, her eyes narrowing as she reads through them.
“So are you thinking steak…or steak?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “If I’m being honest, I could eat an entire cow right now.”
“Don’t tempt me.” I grin. “We’re here for the experience. Argentina is famous for its beef, so go ham—or go beef, I guess.”
It’s a terrible pun, but Kelsey chuckles anyway.
I study my menu but pull my eyes from the list of cuts of beef when I notice Kelsey stretching her neck. The tension is back in her face.
“It’ll all still be there when you get back,” I say.
Her eyes soften a little. “Yeah. I know. It’s just hard to push the work stuff out of my head.”
I nod, understanding what she means. I don’t want to talk about it, though. Not tonight. We’ve dissected it every which way, and until her team gets a solid lead, there is only so much I can contribute.
Instead, I lean in a little closer. “You can do this—one night off. Just you, me, and some ridiculously good food. Deal?”
She hesitates for a moment but then smiles softly. “Deal.”
I know it’s not easy for her. Kelsey’s the type who doesn’t stop thinking about work, even when she needs to. But she deserves this moment. We both do. So I make a silent vow to keep the conversation light. I’ll make sure tonight is about enjoying each other’s company—nothing else.
We order the parrillada for two, a mix of different cuts of meat, grilled to perfection. The waiter brings over a bottle of Malbec, and Kelsey looks at me expectantly.
“What?” I ask.
“This is the part where you try to convince me you know everything about wine,” she teases, setting her glass down.
I raise an eyebrow, giving her a mischievous grin. “I’m not going to pretend to be a wine expert, but I do know that a Malbec pairs perfectly with a good steak.”
She laughs. “All right, fine. But just so you know, I think red wine pairs perfectly with just about anything.”
“Ah, the side of Kelsey Harper I haven’t yet gotten to experience—the casual adult one. I got to watch the version of you who excelled at everything through school, and now I know professional Kelsey, but I’m so looking forward to getting to know just normal, grown-up Kelsey.”
She snorts but doesn’t respond. I may have been teasing, but I mean every word of it. I am looking forward to getting to know the version of Kelsey who isn’t in professional mode all hours of the day.
The food arrives shortly after, sizzling plates of meat that make my mouth water. Kelsey’s eyes light up when the first bite of steak hits her tongue, and I can’t help but laugh at the contented sigh she lets out.
“Oh my God,” she says, taking another bite. “This is heaven. If there’s one thing I can’t complain about in this entire crazy tour, it’s the food.”
I smile, leaning back in my chair. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
She meets my gaze, her eyes turning a bit hard. “I’m not sure if I’ve earned it, but it feels good to be able to relax for a bit.”
We eat in companionable silence for a few moments, the clinking of silverware and the hum of the restaurant around us. Kelsey’s focused on her food, and for the first time in days, she seems like she might actually be relaxed.
“So,” I say, breaking the silence. “Tell me about something other than work. What do you miss most about home when we’re on the road?”
She leans back in her chair, thoughtfully swirling her wineglass. “Hmm. I think I miss family dinners most of all. It’s the routine and connection and just feeling like I’m back in a time when everything in my life was a bit simpler.”
“How often do you have family dinners?” I ask, so intrigued by the idea of more than just two people sitting down to eat each night.
“We’re not like some TV family with a set dinner every Sunday exactly at five, but we usually get together a few times a month. It used to be more based around Bryn’s work schedule, but now my parents try to time it up when Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are in town.”
I snort, wine threatening to come out my nose. “I can’t believe you call two professional golfers and some of the most famous men in the country that.”
“I don’t know how I got so unlucky to be surrounded by famous people all the time.”
“Ah, I’m starting to see my appeal now,” I joke. “Common is now uncommon.”
She snorts. “Don’t play that game with me.
You might not be as likely to have your face on a magazine cover, but in the right circles?
The ones I happen to be a part of too? You’ve earned quite a name for yourself.
I think military leadership all the way up to the White House wept when you decided to retire to come back to be with your mom. ”
“I never had dreams like that. I just wanted to do the best I could for the other guys in my squad,” I say honestly.
It’s not something I’ve ever really let myself think about—the what-ifs, but I can’t imagine anything else pushing me from the course I was on.
I liked having a purpose. “Plus, I liked it. I was good at it.”
“I’m sorry you had to give it up. Will you try to go back once everything is…figured out with your mom?”
Most people have that pause. The one where they’re not sure what to say when they realize there isn’t a way my mom gets better. Death is what will eventually set me free, and it’s a freedom I don’t want.
“I’m hoping it’s a really long time from now. When I came back, I assumed it was forever. I thought I would have twenty or more years with my mom. Now, well, despite all the integrative care and other treatments we’ve had her in, it’s looking like it might be possible for me to go back after all.”
She squeezes my hand, her eyes meeting mine with an emotion I can’t quite name, but it makes my chest tighten.
“Is that something you’d like to do?” she asks, more timid than Kelsey ever is, and suddenly I realize what she’s asking: Is there a time limit on us?
“No. I think my path is elsewhere now,” I say, hoping the look in my eyes can convey everything my words can’t.
I do want to stay, but if Trent fires me, I may not have an option.
Harper Security has always been my backup plan—assuming I could learn to talk in Kelsey’s presence—but now that I know about her history with her ex-boyfriend, I couldn’t put her in the position of asking.
I smile, pulling myself from the questions and uncertainties. I’m here. With her. And for tonight, that’s enough.
After dinner, we take a stroll along the river, hand in hand. The lights of the city reflect off the water, and Kelsey lets out a contented sigh, her head resting on my shoulder as we walk.
The moment is perfect. The city is buzzing around us, but in this small bubble, everything feels at peace. We stop occasionally to admire the view or simply to share a quiet moment. I feel the connection between us, the ease with which we now exist in each other’s space.
I glance at Kelsey, her face illuminated by the streetlights, her smile brighter than I’ve seen in days. She looks like herself again—no work to distract her, no chaos swirling around us, just the two of us.
“Do you remember that Valentine’s Day in seventh grade when you wore that bright red sweater?” I ask, breaking the quiet between us.
She chuckles softly. “No. Why do you?”
“I ran into you on my way out of the cafeteria line and spilled spaghetti sauce all over it. Instead of yelling at me or crying or something, you just stared at me like it was my last night on earth.”
She laughs. “I do kinda remember that! I’m pretty sure you grunted once and walked away. You were always so gruff and aloof.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “I was mortified that I spilled food on the girl I had a crush on!”
“Liar,” she teases. “You wanted nothing to do with me.”
We stop walking, standing side by side as we gaze out over the river. The sound of the water rippling is the perfect background for the peaceful moment we share. I can feel the weight of the world, just for tonight, lift from my shoulders.
“No. I just didn’t know how to make words come out of my mouth when I was around you,” I say quietly.
“If you say so,” she says, her voice soft. “But either way, I’m glad we’re here now.”
I smile, my heart full as I squeeze her hand. “Me too.”
The night stretches on, the city’s heartbeat matching our own, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be—together, in this moment, and I’ll do anything to make sure we get more nights like these.