Chapter Nine
Carina
Carina must have tried on at least a half-dozen outfits before she settled on a navy blue sundress with brown strappy sandals. She looked put together but casual. Like she wasn’t trying to impress someone in particular…or that she hadn’t spent over an hour getting ready for a backyard barbeque.
Carina rang the doorbell, which prompted an immediate response from Henry. Carina heard a deep bark followed by a whimper. Mia’s yellow Lab was a big sissy trapped in a ninety-five-pound body. The door swung open and if it wasn’t for Paul holding the ball of energy at bay, Henry would have knocked her on her ass. “Tell me you brought your famous dip?” Mia’s handsome boyfriend asked with a smile.
Carina raised the casserole dish in her hand, displaying the creamy and ever-so fattening dip she and Mia had frequently devoured in college. With the right chip or loaf of fresh baked bread, the dip could easily be a college student’s dinner or late-night snack. “She’s going through withdrawal, isn’t she?” Carina feigned concern and stepped into the foyer. Paul gave Henry a piece of rawhide and a playful swat on his rump. With his mouth stuffed to capacity with a treat only a dog could love unconditionally, Henry scurried away to enjoy it in private.
“You could say that. She has made mention of it at least three times today.” Paul reached for her arm and guided her into what looked like an office, just off the living room. Both rooms were vacant, but she could hear voices coming from the deck. He closed the door and reached into his pocket. “If I’d known that dip could make her this happy, I wouldn’t have bought this.” Paul removed the lid to the small box he had apparently been carrying around and flashed the most brilliant diamond she had ever seen. “Think she’ll like it?” Paul was beaming, giddy actually…and smiling so wide that Carina thought he was going to combust.
“Holy shit! You’re proposing? Tonight?” She slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle her excitement.
“Yes, yes and yes. With Henry’s help, of course.”
Carina raised her eyebrow.
“That I’m keeping a secret.” He closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket.
“Who else knows you’re popping the question?” Carina too felt like she was bursting at the seams.
“I told Erin and Chase last night, but Andrew has known since last week. I took a half day off from work and drove to New York to ask for his permission.”
Carina stared at the man in front of her. He was hopelessly in love with Mia and not displaying a sliver of doubt that he had found his other half. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. What did the man of few words say?”
Paul chuckled. “It’s about time.”
“That sounds like Uncle Drew.” Carina had had the pleasure of Andrew’s company a handful of times in college. He would come out to see his niece whenever he could steal some time away from his demanding job. With no children of his own, Mia was like a daughter to him, spoiling her when given the chance, slipping her money when he visited and stocking her fridge and pantry with an obscene amount of food. He had always ended his visit by taking Carina and Mia out to dinner at the restaurant of their choice.
Paul had played this right. Mia might be self-sufficient and a kick-ass shot, but she was a traditional girl at heart. She would have wanted her father to have been asked by the man she loved if he could have his little girl’s hand. Having Uncle Drew’s blessing would mean the world to Mia.
Carina spotted Mia walking toward the office. Before she was within earshot Carina whispered, “Thanks for including me in your secret.”
He smiled, which only made him even more handsome and said, “Of course. You’re one of her dearest friends.”
Mia came running through the door and threw her arms around Carina. “I’m so happy you’re here! Let’s get you a drink and introduce my guests to your famous dip.” Mia swiped the bowl from Carina’s hands and eyed the dip. Carina knew Mia was seconds away from tearing off the plastic wrap and diving right in. “Paul, maybe you should take the dip to the kitchen and set it out for our guests. I may never resurface if you give me that task.”
Paul leaned over and kissed his soon-to-be fiancée on the lips. It was both tender and so achingly beautiful. “Anything for you, baby.” Paul gave Carina a knowing wink and retreated to the kitchen.
Carina smiled at her friend. “My God, your man is perfect. I wish he had a brother.”
Mia giggled but then she turned serious. “Me too.” Mia took Carina’s hand. “Why did you and Eric break up?”
Carina had told her family, Morgan and Mia that her relationship with Eric had come to an end, but she had purposefully refrained from sharing the gruesome details surrounding the abrupt break-up. And thankfully she hadn’t told anyone, including Mia, that Eric had proposed and that she had technically been engaged for twenty hours.
Carina didn’t want to spoil Mia’s glorious mood and what was to come, but Mia deserved the truth. Carina decided to give her a quick and honest answer. Maybe someday she would tell Mia exactly what Eric had done, but not tonight.
Tonight belonged to Mia and Paul.
“Eric cheated on me and that, as you know, is a deal breaker.”
Mia hugged her. “I’m so sorry. Men can be such assholes.”
Carina returned the embrace. A small weight lifted off her chest due to her short and not-so-sweet disclosure. “Thanks. But unfortunately, my particular asshole is now my new boss.”
“Shut the hell up!” Mia exclaimed. Mia backed out of the hug and stared at her in disbelief.
“I shit you not. Our principal of twenty years announced his early retirement over the summer. His health had slowly declined over the past year and working was just not worth it to him anymore. My head must have been in the sand, because I didn’t even catch wind that the vacancy had been filled by Eric. I found out that the lying prick was now taking over the front office of the school I love at our first faculty meeting.”
“Good God! You can’t stay there, Carina. It will be incredibly awkward working under the same roof as him.”
And dangerous, Carina wanted to add, but didn’t.
“I know. I already submitted my résumé to a few schools.”
A smile spread across Mia’s face. “You know, my school is looking for a second grade teacher!”
“Your school was the first school I applied to. Hopefully, I’ll get a call for an interview real soon.”
“Well, I’ll go into work tomorrow and put in such a good word that they’ll have no choice but to make that call.” Mia gave her a quick squeeze. “Are you sure you’re okay? Want me to kick all these people out so we can have a girls’ night in instead?”
Carina knew Mia would do just that if given the green light, but then her sweet boyfriend’s proposal would be ruined. “Some other time.”
Mia took Carina’s hand and led her out of the office. “Alright, but I’m going to hold you to it.”
Carina smiled as she remembered their college days. When they weren’t studying or going out, which was less frequent compared to the rest of their friends, they were hanging out, renting movies and gorging themselves with comfort food. Mia could veg out like no one else and she loved her for it. It was great to see that after all this time, after everything that had happened, Mia could still enjoy a night in, flopped out on the couch and taking in mindless television.
Carina finally was able to get a good look at her surroundings. Paul had whisked her into the office so quickly she hadn’t taken notice of the inviting foyer and décor. Everything screamed Mia, from the warm colors to the lovely but not-over-the-top touches.
“Your home is beautiful, Mia.”
“Thanks.” Mia blushed. “Just don’t go upstairs. There are boxes everywhere.”
“Well, from downstairs you’d have no idea you two just moved in.” Carina stepped onto the deck and scanned Mia and Paul’s guests.
He was here. She could feel it.
Carina recognized the familiar faces from the Phillies game. Erin’s fiancé and Paul appeared to be manning the grill, while Andrew and Sam engaged in a game of horseshoes. But Josh was nowhere to be found.
“Let’s get you a beer,” Mia said, leading them to the tiki bar across the deck.
Yes, please.
“Tell me it isn’t kicked already,” Mia said to the man who was tinkering with the keg.
“Nope, but the spout was acting goofy. Just needed to be adjusted.” The man stood and gave Carina a dazzling smile. She recognized him from the Phillies game, but his name escaped her.
“Rick, you remember Carina, my roommate at college?”
“And she continues to be your friend?” Rick winked at Mia, but she still gave him a playful punch to his shoulder.
Rick extended his hand. “Nice to see you again, Carina.” Carina shook his hand. His eyes locked onto hers. Was it a requirement to be devastatingly handsome to be friends with Mia? Every male Carina had come in contact with so far was a thing of beauty. Chase and Paul looked like they had stepped out of the pages of a magazine. Even Andrew, who was definitely a bit older, emitted charm and a sexy confidence. And then there was Josh. Although Chase, Paul, Andrew and even Rick could make any girl weep, it was Josh who made her panties soaked with desire.
“You, too.” He let go of her hand, but continued to stare at her with his chocolate brown eyes.
“What can I get you?” he asked, his lips forming a playful smirk.
“A beer would be great.”
Rick pumped the keg, released the spout, and handed her a beer.
“Hey, would you mind if I go and check on Henry? I haven’t seen or heard him in ten minutes. And that is never good. He’s probably in my sock drawer as we speak.” Mia had told Carina that her naughty yellow Lab had a sock fetish. To date, he had ingested twenty-one socks…whole.
“No, go ahead.” Carina waved her friend off, signaling she was fine if left alone. “But Mia, is there anything I can do?”
Mia surveyed the food table and frowned. “Looks like I forgot the deviled eggs. Would you mind grabbing them from the fridge?”
“Sure.”
Mia smiled and left in search of most likely a very guilty Henry. “I better go get those eggs,” Carina said. Rick didn’t say anything. He just smiled, displaying perfect white teeth and a chiseled jaw.
Carina didn’t want to sound like a complainer, but there were too many hot men under one roof. Excusing herself, she maneuvered her way to the kitchen. But as she rounded the corner, she heard his voice and stopped short. Carina cowardly backed up against the wall and listened to Josh and Erin’s conversation.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see her. I’m taking her out this weekend,” Josh said.
“Well, give her a big hug from me and tell her that I can’t wait to see her at my wedding. She is coming, right?” Erin asked.
“Absolutely. I can’t imagine anyone else on my arm that night,” Josh said with conviction.
Carina felt her heart fall. She knew she shouldn’t feel hurt, but hell if she wasn’t fit to give Josh a piece of her mind. He had been flirting with her, sent her flowers, even asked her out to lunch and all this time he had a girlfriend? Yes, he had been playing a part, pretending to be her boyfriend, but…
“Hey, Carina,” a voice called from behind.
Carina turned and found herself face-to-face with Chase. Christ, he was beautiful! “Hi, Chase. I was directed to retrieve the deviled eggs.”
“Well, the kitchen is right through here. I’ll take you. I have a feeling that is where my fiancée has been hiding.”
They entered the kitchen. Erin spotted her immediately. She ran over and gave Carina a hug. “I’m so glad you could come tonight,” Erin said. She squeezed Carina tighter and whispered, “He’s going to propose! Can you believe it!”
“I know! Paul just let me in on the secret!” Carina whispered back.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Chase said, giving Erin a smile that was both sexy and sweet.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Erin asked, stepping away from Carina and into Chase’s arms.
“It means you are following the doctor’s orders and eating enough for three.” Erin blushed and nestled into Chase’s chest. Carina looked around the expansive kitchen for the fridge but was immediately distracted. Casually dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, Josh Graham, the man she couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about, was staring at her with such heated interest she’d forgotten why she was there.
“Hello, Carina.” Josh’s voice didn’t waver. He appeared confident, maybe even smug. And why wouldn’t he be? This was just a game to him.
“Mia asked me to grab the deviled eggs while she hunts down Henry.” Carina could feel her face grow warm and she turned away, luckily toward the fridge.
“Oh, I’ll take those outside,” Erin said. Chase released her, allowing Erin to retrieve the eggs. “The pregnant girl has been craving these.”
“Deviled eggs, check.” Chase said. Carina turned and looked questioningly at Chase. “Just taking inventory. I have a feeling that these cravings may continue and I need to know what I must keep on hand at all times.”
Erin glared at him, though it was all a façade. Carina didn’t know Erin or Chase that well, but anyone could see just how in love they were. “Alright, let’s get these out to Mia and Paul’s guests before I pound every last one of them,” Erin said.
Erin and Chase left the kitchen, leaving Carina and Josh alone to fill the uncomfortable silence. She knew that blatantly ignoring him was childish, but she couldn’t help it. Carina was in the doorway when she felt Josh’s hand encase hers. He hustled her into a room off the kitchen. She couldn’t be sure if it was a bedroom or a den, as it was still unfurnished. Regardless, she was alone with him, in the dark.
Breathe, Carina.
He pressed her against the wall and leaned in. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. But when he didn’t, she felt her body growing needy and her heart raced. Carina knew she shouldn’t feel that way. He was taken and more than willing to cheat on his unsuspecting girlfriend. Carina refused to be the girl on the side. She never wanted to be that woman.
“You’re still angry with me?” he asked. His warm, minty breath made her shudder and she ached to taste those full lips. “For what I said at the Reading Terminal?”
“It’s like I said. Don’t worry about me.” Carina knew she shouldn’t look up. She would just get lost in those scorching blues. As if he were reading her mind, he raised her chin with two fingers, forcing her to look at him. He didn’t hide the lust in his eyes, which only made her more irritated…and painfully aroused. Thankfully, her irritation won out. “I don’t think your girlfriend, the girl you can’t wait to see, the girl you’re going to take out this weekend, would appreciate what you’re doing right now.” Although it was dark, she could still detect his smile. So he thought this was amusing? What a prick!
He didn’t answer her right away. He just continued to stare into her eyes as if he were searching for something. And then his body grew tense. “Do I need to be worried, Carina? Does Eric Ross continue to be a problem?” The sexual tension that had been in the air, choking Carina, disappeared.
“I’m handling it.” With more confidence, she said, “Now, please let me go.”
She felt his hand slacken and he stepped back, allowing her to regain her footing. She was surprised and disappointed over how easily he complied. Before she could analyze her feelings or begin to understand why they were all over the map, Carina opened the door and left.