Carter looked at me expectantly, only casting his gaze away when Leta stretched out her hand. I noticed her blatant perusal of him, that saucy smile she was flashing him. I looked down into my cup, breathing in and out a few times. My stomach turned into a tight knot. Leta was a flirt, and she was beautiful. I looked up between my lashes, studying Carter’s expression as he shook her hand. I detected politeness, then looked back at my cup. I was afraid to look too close and possibly discover something more.

“I could use a good lawyer,” Leta commented. “Do you have a business card?”

“Not on me, but Val can pass on my contact information.”

“Excellent. I’d love to pick your brain. We should grab dinner sometime. On me, of course.”

My heart was now lodged in my throat. Despite myself, I glanced up. Leta wasn’t looking at Carter as if she wanted to pick his brain. She was looking at him as if she wanted to take off his clothes. What the hell? She’d been all flirty with Jace, and now she was making a move on Carter?

And speaking of Carter, his gaze was on me. His expression was hard. Intense. An awkward moment followed, in which Leta looked at Carter, clearly expecting an answer, but he kept his eyes trained on me.

Eventually, Leta said, “I need to freshen up my makeup before I go. The bathroom is third down the hall, right?”

“Yes.”

After Leta exited the room, I headed to the small table against the wall where I kept the tea.

“Do you want tea? I just bought a delicious herbal mix.”

“No, I can’t stay long. I just wanted to drop by and see you.”

“Oh!” I felt all fuzzy inside.

“Yeah.”

There was a slight tightness in his voice I didn’t like.

“Carter, is something wrong? You’re acting strange.”

I poured more hot water into my cup. I hadn’t even heard Carter move through the room, but now I felt him right behind me. He rested his hands on either side of my hips. He hadn’t answered me, I realized, which meant something was wrong. My heart began to race as we stood completely still. I felt his hot breath tickling my skin.

“You introduced me to Leta as a lawyer and neighbor. As just a neighbor.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize—”

When he spoke next, his lips were on the back of my neck. He was whispering in that low, seductive voice that turned my knees weak.

“I’ve kissed every inch of you. I can make you come in so many ways. Maybe I should remind you of all the ways in which I’m not just a neighbor.”

He moved his hand from my hip around to my front.