Strong (Kindred #1) (7 page)

“I think I can cope with that.”

“I thought you’d have gone with your Mum and Dad?”

“I was going to, but they’re leaving today and I know you’re planning to stay an extra day here so I thought we could… Spend some time together, then drive back tomorrow?”

“I like the sound of that.” she smiles and I have to fight the urge to pull her closer to me.

“You’re going back to London? Or somewhere else?”

“Yeah, Mum and Dad live just outside London, not far from Megan’s parents, so I can take you wherever you need to go.”

“Thanks.” I smile, not sure what to say next.

I don’t have to worry for long though because Harry and Megan come down the stairs then and give us both something else to focus on. I’m getting a night with Carmen and a six hour drive, is it really sad that I’m ridiculously excited about that? Everyone else arrives and the next five minutes are spent debating who is going with who. Abigail asks if she can go in Uncle Harry’s car and squeals in delight when her Dad tells her she can. While Doug puts the car seat into Harry’s car, Carmen and Megan stand chatting, they’re both laughing and look so happy.

“Right, we’re ready to go,” Doug announces as he comes back in. “Who’s coming with us?”

“There’s one space with us.” Harry says.

“We have three now Abs is going with you.” Sophie says.

“And we have one space but it’s sandwiched between the two of them,” Jonathan laughs. “Not sure anyone wants that.” he tickles Harriet making her squeal.

“Carmen?” Abigail looks up at her and tugs on her hand, she kneels down to her level and smiles at the little girl.

“Yes?”

“Can you come with us?”

“Of course I can.” she smiles.

“That leaves Carter with us then.” Sophie tells everyone.

“We’ll see you there.” Harry winks at me as he heads out to the car with Megs, Carmen and Abigail.

Well shit, I just got blocked by the cutest little girl.

“Come on you,” Doug laughs, patting my shoulder. “You get to sit with the twins.”

“This is not the situation I’d ever thought would accompany those words.” I laugh.

“It’s not far and we can work out a way to piss Harry off on the way.” he tells me.

“Now that, I like the sound of.”

“Can we please move, it’s freaking me out.” Megan frowns hiding her face in Harry’s chest.

“Why?” Jonathan laughs looking at the octopus.

“It just is, I don’t like it.”

“It is freaky looking,” I agree. “And it says it has special glass because it’s super intelligent and can escape.” I whisper to Carmen.

“Don’t say that.” Megan cries, burying her face further into Harry.

“Super intelligent, I guess you’re right Hazza,” Doug grins, pulling Sophie into his arms. “I am an octopus.” he kisses her neck and Harry shudders.

“Stop that,” he tells them. “I don’t want to see it and I’m sure your children don’t either.”

“They’re used to it.” he shrugs.

“Poor fuckers will be scarred for life.” he laughs, walking Megan away from the octopus.

“Language!” Miley scolds him, slapping him around the head.

Being around this group is hilarious, they all have this teasing thing going on yet you can see how much they love each other and you know that whatever happens to them, they are always there for each other. I watch Carmen with Abigail, who hasn’t left her side since they arrived. Carmen kneels down beside her to hear something she’s saying and grins, nodding her head.

“Smitten?”

“What?” I turn around and see Miley standing next to me.

“With Carmen, are you or are you not interested?” she nods in Carmen’s direction.

“She’s beautiful.”

“And you’re interested. She flies back in a couple of days, are you planning to explore Australia now?”

“No, the plan is still to be here for a few weeks then fly back home.” I tell her.

That is the plan and it hasn’t changed just because I’ve met Carmen.

Has it?

I walk through to find the others and soon find them over by the rays. Harry is holding Vivien up so she can put her hand into the water. Noah looks a little unsure but Harriet is wriggling in her Dad’s arms. We spend the morning walking around and seeing the different fish they have. When we get to the underwater tunnel, Abigail lays on the floor and spends over half an hour just watching them, watching her reaction is more fascinating than any of the fish swimming overhead.

“Abs, we need to go now.” Doug tells her, kneeling down next to her.

“But Daddy, look…” she pulls on his hand until he is laying down with her. “It’s like being under the sea.”

“I know it is, and we can come again another day, but right now, we all need to have lunch and Auntie Megan needs to sit down.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she nods, standing and pressing her hand to the glass. “I’ll come back soon fishes!” she grins.

We all head to the cafe and Harry announces the food is shit and we aren’t eating there. Laughing, Doug agrees and we head out to find some lunch. After everyone has eaten, Megan decides to go back for a sleep and Carmen agrees to go with them. She waves as they drive away and I wonder when I’ll get a chance to talk to her.

W
hen I get back from the aquarium, my head is pounding and I feel sick. I head upstairs and as soon as I’m inside the safety of my room, strip out of everything I’m wearing, open the window and slip under the sheets. I reach over and grab my eye mask knowing only complete darkness is going to help. Before I settle myself into bed for a sleep, I drink a big glass of water, take two painkillers and text Carter to let him know I feel horrendous and that I’m going for a rest, then I switch my phone to silent and lay back gently on the pillows. I pull my mask over my eyes and try and relax, knowing if I can sleep, I’ll feel heaps better. When I wake up, my head feels delicate and my stomach feels empty. I remove my eye mask and see that I’ve slept for three hours. I look at my phone and see a message from Carter.

Carter:
Will you let me know if you need anything? I’m sorry you feel bad. Get some rest, I hope you feel better when you wake up. xC

Carter is proving to be a surprise, first he spends the night with me talking, then he spends the day running around with the children and now he wants to know if I need anything? I’ve been led to believe that Carter is a playboy, the guy who isn’t interested in being serious, wants to play around and enjoys being single. So why then, is he acting like this? Am I misreading him? Or is it Jack who has it wrong?

I head for a shower hoping the steam will help a little, it does thankfully. I get dressed and grab my bag before knocking on Carter’s door, he takes a few minutes to answer and when he does I see why. He’s fresh from the shower, his hair is wet and sticking up in every direction possible. He only has a pair of jeans on which hang low on his hips, showing off all of his delicious torso and that toned V guys have, the V that makes my mouth go dry and my heart rate pick up a little.

“Hey,” he smiles. “Are you feeling better?”

“Erm, yeah, I think so.” I mumble stupidly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, yes I do. I just need food, I wondered if you’d like to join me?”

“Dinner? Sure. Can you wait while I grab a shirt?” he smiles. “Not sure anywhere will want me going like this.”

I don’t know,
I think,
I’d be happy to have dinner with you like that.

I don’t say it, I just nod and stand outside his room.

“Come in, I’ll only be a minute.” he leaves the door open and walks into his room.

I follow him in and I’m immediately assaulted with the smell of Carter, the steam slowly sneaking under the bathroom door smells deliciously of him and I inhale deeply, trying to take in as much of the scent as I can. His room looks much like mine and is surprisingly neat. I watch as he walks over to the wardrobe and selects a blue and white checked shirt and grabs a brown leather jacket, slipping his feet into a pair of navy Converse. He walks over to the mirror, checks his hair and sprays on some delicious smelling cologne. I make a mental note to find out what the scent is because it’s mouthwateringly delicious.

“Ready?” he grins, turning to face me.

“Ready.” I nod.

We’re both walking to the door when he stops and turns to look at me, he steps forward and boxes me in between the door and the wall. It takes all my willpower not to lean into him and press my lips to his.

“I don’t know whether you meant we were having dinner with everyone else or not, Carmen. But I’d really like it to just be the two of us.”

I swallow hard, not sure why his words are having such an effect on me; my heart is racing again, my legs feel weak and there is a slow, persistent throbbing between my legs. I look into his chocolate brown eyes and I swear everything stops, nothing else exists while I’m looking into them.

“I meant just the two of us, Carter.” I whisper.

“Good.” he nods, leaning a little closer to me and resting his nose just under my ear. “You smell amazing.” he breathes against my neck.

“So do you.” I murmur, closing my eyes and just letting my body absorb everything this man makes me feel.

When I open them again, he’s looking at me, a small smile on his lips. He holds out his hand, which I take, and opens the door. He leads us both down the hallway and we’re at the front door before he lets go, and only then to hold the door open for me. We step out into the early evening sun and he stops, turning to face me.

“Where do you want to go?” he asks.

“Honestly? I don’t mind, wherever will be perfect, I’m sure.”

We walk a few minutes down the street until we reach a small, romantic looking Italian restaurant. Carter stops outside and raises his eyebrow in question, I nod, more than happy to eat here. We step inside and are soon greeted by a small lady asking if we want a table for two, to which Carter tells her yes. We’re shown to a booth in the window and we take our seats. We’re handed the menu and asked what we’d like to drink. I order a diet coke and Carter orders a beer.

“What are you in the mood for?” he asks, looking up from his menu.

“Everything, Italian is my absolute favourite.”

“Well, we can order a little of everything and totally pig out if you want, we’re close enough to the hotel that we can roll back if we eat too much.” he grins cheekily at me.

“That sounds like a great plan.” I laugh.

“Okay then, ready to get fat?”