Page 67 of Above All Else

I nodded, gave the girl a sidelong glance, then filled the drinks, placed them on the table, and cleared my throat as I sat, my stomach growling.

Carter turned with two bags filled with our foot-long sandwiches and placed mine in front of me.

“What was that about?” Carter sat across from me, his hair falling over his forehead, his forearms braced on the table as his hands hovered over his sandwich bag.

“What was what?” I busied my hands, keeping my eyes on the sandwich as I unwrapped it.

His brow hiked. “Oh, dollface.” A smirk settled on his sensuous lips, causing me to pause unwrapping. “Are you jealous?”

I let out a dry laugh, my arms crossing over my chest. “No. Of course not. Flirt with whoever you want.”

He shrugged with a subtle chortle as he unwrapped his sandwich. “Okay. I will.”

My chest burned, a tight, suffocating ache, while the second hand on the wall clock grew louder, each tick sharpening like kids whispering too loud in a library. “Just not in front of me.”

“But then I can’t flirt with whoever I want.”

My leg bobbed under the table. I unwrapped my sandwich with a slight tremble, my mouth watering. “That’s not my problem.”

“It’s only your problem. I feel bad for all the women out there who envy you.” He bit into his sandwich and chewed, his eyes never leaving mine.

What did he mean by that?

He could have any woman he wanted.

Why would they envy me?

I snorted. “People don’t envy me.” Fire bloomed inmy cheeks as I picked at the end of the soft bread, bringing a piece to my mouth, and nibbled.

“You’d be surprised.”

“That almost sounds a bit egotistical, Carter.”

He took a bite of his sandwich and pocketed it in his cheek. “You’re beautiful, dollface. Or have you forgotten to look in the mirror lately?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” His chewing slowed as I sneered and dug into my sandwich, savoring each bite.

His gaze remained glued on my movements, causing my skin to flush until my wrapper lay crumped on the table with nothing but crumbs, my food baby distending my belly. “That was worth the outdoor shower.”

Carter swiped our trash and plopped it into the waste.

My eyes widened, and my mouth popped open. “How do you stay so fit if you eat like that?”

He crossed his arms on the table and leaned. “A special recipe I like to call genetics.”

My tongue darted across my lips. “I’d like that recipe.”

His eyes following the movement. “I have a room. We can pass them on.”

I let out a sharp burst of laughter. “God, Carter. That was so cheesy.”

His hand darted across the table and cupped my cheek, his thumb caressing. “It made you smile, though.” My hand cupped his, keeping his hold tight against me, his scent sinkinginto my senses, rewriting logic and reason. “I’ll give you every line under the sun if it’ll keep that smile on your face.”

I leaned into his touch, letting his hand cocoon me in warmth. “I might just let you.”

He sucked in his bottom lip, his lids heavy as I drank him in.

I’d be a fool to not let him try.