I’m not sure which dress to wear, Barbi.” Sadie held up a powder blue cocktail dress first, then a simple but elegant black one. She always packed the right kind of clothing for her business trips, but nothing could have prepared her for choosing the right I-want-to-show-Carson-how-sexy-I-am-still dress but not wanting to seduce him at the same time.
“I love Skype,” Barbi said. “Let me see the blue one again.”
This time Sadie rested it against her body. The crisscross bodice style would accentuate her breasts well.
“That one.” Barbi smiled. “Black is too boring—give Carson a splash of color.”
“What are you talking about?” Sadie had purposely left out the little detail about wanting to impress Carson.
“Sadie May Reynolds,” her best friend tsked. “We’ve known each other since third grade, remember? I’ve watched you mature into a successful woman. However, some things never change. The only man that’s ever made you question your fashion sense is Carson.”
Sadie smiled inwardly, not ready to give her best friend the satisfaction of knowing how right she was. “I can see your point, Barbi.” She laid the dress aside, then picked up her laptop and sat on the edge of the bed. “This dinner is purely professional.”
“Then I’d have to say that little blue dress isn’t an option. It’s too revealing.”
“Fine.” Sadie gave up. “Maybe I want to tease him a little bit.”
Barbi laughed. “Pretty sure you could wear a garbage bag with cutouts for your arms and he’d still trip over his tongue.”
Sadie sighed. “It would be easier if you were here.”
“Are you asking me to come to Mobile?”
“Yes.”
“I have a better idea…”
“What?”
“Come down here.”
At the mention of going home, Sadie’s stomach knotted. There was nothing left for her in Fairhope. Yes, Barbi and Erika lived there. But they’d always agreed to meet on neutral ground to spare Sadie’s anxiety.
“I…can’t” Sadie finished lamely.
“Yes, you can. Even Matthew agrees you need to face your fears.”
“You’ve been talking to Matthew about me?”
“Um, that started at the retreat, remember?”
Sadie felt like a case study. “Just talking about coming back makes me want to puke.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Barbi’s tone softened. “Everyone has moved on, Sadie.”
She wanted to believe it and didn’t blame her best friend for not completely understanding. Sadie hadn’t disclosed the depth of harassment she’d received after breaking up with Carson. The media had followed Carson’s high school career, and senior year, when all the college scouts invaded Fairhope, she’d been forced to appear on television with him and had participated in several online interviews. Carson credited her for many things, including his 3.7 GPA.
The added pressure of being the hometown football star’s “perfect” girlfriend had been a hard thing for her to live with. Not that she begrudged Carson his success. He’d earned every bit of it. She just couldn’t handle the attention and wanted more privacy.
Admittedly, the timing of the breakup was horrible. She could have waited until they both reported for college at the end of summer. Instead, she let her emotions get the better of her when she overheard Carson discussing their futures with one of his coaches—how he didn’t think she’d make it through four years of college in New England without him. How he hoped she’d quit school there and transfer to Florida. She’d had enough. And Carson vehemently refused to accept the breakup. Another reason she ran as far away as she could get. The man was relentless—even now.
In order to deal with the pain, Carson partied—drinking more and acting irresponsibly. When he nearly got a DUI a week after she broke up with him, Sadie ended up leaving Fairhope early, Carson’s downward spiral more than she could handle.
“I hope everyone has moved on,” Sadie replied nonchalantly.
“Except for you,” Barbi added.
She shrugged, suddenly not knowing what to say. “Kind of hard to recover when everywhere I’ve looked these past seven years there’s been constant reminders of Carson Savage. He’s in the papers, on TV, online…”
“You knew he was meant for greater things when you started dating him, Sadie. Everyone did. He was born with a football in his right hand.”
Sadie snorted. “Yeah, and a big ego and outdated expectations about women.”
“He was raised by traditional Southern parents. And had single-minded focus back then, Sadie. Can you blame him?”
“Yeah, I can.”
“Weren’t you just as ambitious when it came to your studies and landing a full scholarship to a fancy college?”
Why was her best friend suddenly defending Carson? “Yes,” she admitted.
“Well he was just as ambitious about football. And he’s changed so much since then. Losing you and playing pro sports has opened up his mind. I think he now understands the importance of respecting your dreams as much as his own. And from what you’re telling me, he still wants you. That’s more than most women get!”
“I’m not complaining.”
“And that ass shot…” Barbi made a silly face.
Sadie’s cheeks heated. “Oh. My. God. Barbi. That’s not helping.”
Barbie only laughed. Sadie couldn’t get upset with Barbi for being like every other hot-blooded woman. Carson was the all-American boy every father wanted for his son and every woman wanted in her bed. “I’ll get over him, eventually. When I’m back home in South Carolina waiting for my next project. Preferably an assignment on another continent.”
“Listen, girlie. Forget about all this stuff for the night. Have fun for once. Treat Carson like he’s an old friend. Share a good meal, have a few drinks, and don’t be afraid to reminisce about the old days. It’s normal and healthy. If you feel uncomfortable, call a cab.”
“Okay. Love you.” Sadie blew her best friend a parting kiss.
Carson checked his watch for a third time in fifteen minutes. It wasn’t like Sadie to be late, not even fashionably. Not in the mood to deal with the public, he chose a seat in the corner of the hotel lobby behind a potted fern where he could keep an eye on the elevators. If she didn’t hurry up, he’d head upstairs and drag her out of her room.
Was Sadie testing him? Trying to drive him crazy? Or just letting him know on no uncertain terms that she didn’t want anything to do with him?
Just then, the elevator doors opened and Sadie stepped into the lobby. He stood up abruptly, his gaze locking on her. As if sensing his presence, she looked in his direction. Those wide, green eyes and lush lips made him weak-kneed. And that blue dress, he bit down on his lip, stopping the animalistic growl he naturally wanted to make. Sadie had never looked more beautiful. And Carson couldn’t remember a moment when he wanted her more.
Meeting her near the front doors, he greeted her with a smile. “You look gorgeous, Kitty Kat.” Though she’d demanded he stop using her pet name, he refused to give up that right. How many men could say they fell in love with a girl stuck in a tree with a kitten? He chuckled out loud.
“Hello, Carson. What’s so entertaining?”
Placing his hand on the small of her back, he didn’t answer her question but guided her through the front doors, the sultry evening air made his skin tingle.
Within seconds, the valet delivered Carson’s new black Dodge Viper VooDoo II Edition ACR, tossing Carson the keys with a shit-eating grin on his face. “How many of these were made, Mr. Savage?”
“Thirty-one. How’d she handle?”
“Tight,” the valet answered.
Carson tipped the valet a twenty and then opened the passenger-side door for Sadie.
She gawked at the car before she slid inside. “Jesus, Carson, can’t you drive something more practical?”
He rolled his eyes as he walked around to his side. “And what do you drive? Let me guess, a hybrid?” He revved the engine, all 645 horsepower, showing her exactly what he loved about it. “Some things aren’t meant to be practical, Sadie.” He peeled out of the parking lot, merging safely with traffic.
“Sorry to disappoint you. I drive a Mercedes-Benz GLA.”
“Quite the utilitarian, aren’t you?” he teased. “But can your little GLA do this?” He whipped into the far left lane, finding enough open road to speed up. He guessed it was accidental, but she smiled like she used to when he’d take her for long, fast rides in his Corvette after a Friday night game in Fairhope. “Some things never change, Kitty Kat.” He gazed at her, hoping to keep that smile on her face.
Much to his surprise, it grew wider, and her eyes lit up. “I can’t believe you own a Viper!”
“One of my little indulgences.”
“Little?”
“Compared to my Lamborghini…”
“Now you’re just showboating.”
He held up his thumb and index finger, indicating an inch. “Maybe. But really, I consider my collection an investment.”
“Do you still ride a motorcycle?”
“Every chance I get.”
“I miss…” she stopped midsentence.
Unable to resist the chance to make a real connection with her, Carson rested his palm lightly on her exposed knee. Her skin was smooth and soft. “What do you miss, Kitty Kat?” he asked quietly.
“Nothing,” she said, her body rigid.
Even though she acted like she didn’t want to be touched, Carson could feel the electricity between them. He casually removed his hand and shifted gears. “Did you enjoy breakfast?”
Sadie huffed out a breath and stared out the passenger window. “Three dozen roses? Pancakes and bacon? Are you trying to get me fat, Carson?” She looked at him.
“Um…” He knew there was no right answer to that question.
She drummed her fingernails on the dashboard. “Kitty Kat got your tongue?” She arched a brow.
Sonofabitch. If she gave him a chance, she’d get more than his tongue.
Then she laughed, which made Carson chuckle, too. “Relax, superstar,” she teased, using one of the many names she called him in high school. “Thank you for the flowers and the amazing food. But I don’t usually eat breakfast during the week.”
“Consider it the beginning of our new friendship,” he said, knowing he intended to get that damned kiss before the night ended.
“Friends?” she asked, sounding doubtful.
“Why not?”
“Because I know you too well, Carson Savage.”
He laughed and weaved in and out of traffic, burning off some of the building tension inside him by going faster. “You’ll know a lot more before our date ends, Kitty Kat. That’s a promise.”