My world slowly shifts over the following weeks as Carter becomes my boyfriend in every sense of the word. He's the first face I see in the morning and the last face I kiss goodnight. He takes out my trash on Thursday nights and retrieves my newspapers when they knock against my front door. He handles all my car related malfunctions, kisses me good-bye sweetly in front of the modeling studio, and ravages my body and soul under the duvet on my new bed.

Tonight, I've invited him to Mom and Daddy's for dinner. While I'm sure they would have chosen someone else for me to settle down with, someone like Barrington Wade, I'll give them points for being hesitantly accepting of my new life... and love.

"You look perfect." Carter kisses my cheek when I open the front door to let him in.

"You clean up nice yourself, hotshot."

He scrunches his face up and looks down at his clothes, uncertainty heavy in the line of his brow. "Are you sure? I really had no idea what to wear. I even consulted Daisy. And FaceTimed Evie."

Laughter bubbles up from my chest at his admission. Meeting the parents is always hard; meeting my parents with Carter’s background and MC involvement borders on hopeless.

But I don't say any of that.

Because it doesn't matter. The fact that Carter is here, right now, is enough. And if my parents can't accept that, can't accept him, then, I'm fine with that, too.

I don't need everyone's approval the way I once thought I did. Now, I just need my own.

"You look incredible. So good, in fact, I could cancel dinner." I wave my cell phone at him.

He swipes it from my hand, slipping it into the back pocket of his pressed grey trousers. "No way! I'd like for your parents to like me, or at least be open to liking me, which means no cancelling. You ready?" He tilts his head toward his SUV and I nod, placing my hand in his and tugging the door closed behind me.

We walk together to his ride and when he releases my fingers to open my car door, I sense the loss of his touch immediately. Breathing him in, cedar and soap, he closes the door behind me and jogs around the front of his SUV to climb behind the wheel. Once he buckles his seatbelt and flips on the ignition, his hand finds my thigh and stays there.

I shake my head, hiding the grin on my face. It's ridiculous really, but it's almost as if there is an invisible string pulling us together all the time. As if Carter and I need to be touching, need to have the contact of each other as some type of reassurance.

I never thought I would feel like this about anyone. Sure, I always hoped for it but to actually have it, to be able to reach out and hold on with two hands to Carter Kane is the greatest feeling in the entire world.

When Carter parks in front of my parents’ home, my hands dampen with nerves. Old habits die hard, and although I am proud of myself for embracing more independence, I still want my parents to like Carter. As more than just a guy I'm dating, as part of the family.

Carter offers me a lopsided grin as he opens my SUV door and helps me step down. His fingertips rest on the small of my back, a reassuring weight that continues to connect us and reminds me that we're in this together. We're in all of it together.

I rap lightly against the door before pushing it open and entering the foyer.

"Mom? Daddy?" I call out, straining to hear where in the house my parents may be.

"In here, darling." Mom's voice floats to us, and moments later she appears, smiling graciously. She's wearing a simple emerald wrap dress with nude sling-back heels.

"Mom, you cut your hair?"

She turns her head to the side and fluffs her new bob. "Do you like it?"

"I love it!" I hug her tightly and pull back to study her new look. "It really suits you."

"Thank you, Taylor. Hello, Carter. It's lovely to meet you." She steps out of my embrace and pulls Carter into a hug.

Watching the exchange, I hide my giggle behind my hand as Carter's eyebrows raise, his face in complete shock at Mom's warmth. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised too, but I'm going with it.

"Carter." Daddy's rich voice calls out as he enters the foyer. "Welcome." He shakes Carter's hand firmly. "Come on in. I'm sure the girls want to spend a few moments catching up. Want to join me in the study for a scotch?"

"That would be great, sir."

"You can still call me Joe." Dad gestures to Carter to follow him, and they both disappear down the hall.

"What’s that about?" I ask Mom under my breath, confusion coloring my tone.

She shrugs, picking a piece of lint off the waistline of my navy frock. "Daddy knows what Carter did for him. He knows about the paid debt. He wants to thank Carter. He’s going to pay him back. You know, we want you to be happy, Taylor. And Carter, well, he's a good man. Maybe not the one we pictured you with, but maybe the one we should have. Now that Barrington is running most of Clarke Enterprises, I can see how some of his qualities would have rubbed you the wrong way."

“You think?”

“Yes. He’s a bit arrogant, isn’t he?”

I laugh, nodding. “He really is.”

"Oh, Taylor." She pulls me close for another hug. "I really am so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Come on, I have some of that cheese you like waiting with your favorite wine."

"Oh, well, by all means, please lead the way."

Following Mom into the kitchen where a cheese board waits and a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio sits, my heart feels full.