Carson's Pov
Carrie Kent woke me up in the morning. She was the twins Nanny and a neighbor in the little nosy town Cable set Carson Gibbs up in.
I picked up the phone, weighing the option of picking up against the option of not picking up but if she was calling about the infants then I had no other option.
"Hey, Carrie. Is everything okay?" I asked her. "The twins okay?"
"The babies are alright but Carson. What in the world is all this I'm seeing online? The whole town is buzzing. Are you really married to that… that Vanderbilt heiress?"
Oh, boy. Here we go. This type of nosiness is why needed a someone desperate enough to not ask questions to look after the infants.
"Mrs. Kent? You're breaking up… bad connection… I'll see you soon!" I said, talking quickly before hanging up. I tossed the phone onto the couch like it was on fire.
I turned around and nearly jumped out of my skin.
Emmy was standing there, watching me. Her hair was a mess and she was swimming in my shirt, and she'd never looked more beautiful.
"Good morning," I said, my voice a little rough.
She just stared for a few seconds, those big brown eyes taking me in. "Good morning."
"Hope I didn't wake you."
"It's hard to sleep after… everything that happened yesterday," she said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
I nodded. Right. The mess. The interview. "The interview," I said, understanding. "The one Preston gave."
She looked away, a pretty pink blush spreading across her cheeks. "Sure. Yeah. Exactly what I spent the whole night thinking about. Preston's interview." She waved a hand. "It wasn't like it was the… kiss or whatever."
I tilted my head. She was acting funny. All flustered. It was… cute.
"I'm gonna take a shower," I said, grabbing my towel. "Unless you want to go first?"
"No! You go right ahead," she said a little too quickly.
I just smiled and left her standing there.
**
An hour later, we were packed and ready. I led her downstairs to where her car was parked, her luggage already safe in the trunk.
She stopped, her eyes wide. "When did you have time to pick up my car?"
"Yesterday," I said, leaning against the driver's side door.
She took a step closer to me, a smile playing on her lips. I don't see this side of hers very often. The side that smiles.
"So let me get this straight," she said, her voice low and teasing. "I tried to buy you off like a… well, like a cheap whore. And you, I stormed out, angrily I might add…to pick up my car and my luggage?"
I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to look casual. "Yes. I guess I did."
She laughed. "Carson Gibbs," she said, shaking her head. "You big old softie."
I realized something, I loved watching her laugh. She had a pretty smile.
"Not a softie," I argued, but I couldn't stop my own smile. "Just productive."
I opened her car door for her. But she hesitated, biting her lip. She glanced around the empty parking lot.
"Maybe… we should kiss? You know. In case there are paparazzi hiding out."
I looked around pointedly at the completely empty lot. "Where would they hide? In the trash can?" But I played along. I leaned in, aiming for her cheek, and pressed a soft, quick kiss there.
The second my lips touched her skin, her smile vanished. It was just for a flash, a tiny frown of… disappointment, maybe? But she covered it up instantly with a bright, fake smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Right. Okay," she said, and quickly slid into the car.
I quietly closed the door for her, my mind racing. "Just follow behind me, okay?"
She gave me a tight nod and then I think it dawned on her that she hadn't asked where the hell I was taking her to. It was cute to watch her eyes light up in confusion as she propped her head out of her car window to ask "Carson?"
"Yeah?"
"Where the hell are we going?"
"Home, love" I answered.
I saw her hesitant a little and I added. "I need childcare and you have nowhere to go. We are practically made for each other"
I saw her think about it for a few seconds before she said. "Where's home?"
"Willows Cove." I entered the truck and shut the door. Taking my head out, I yelled as I started the car "You are going to hate it. I know I do!"
Few seconds after, we drove off... My mind wandered to the incident earlier.
I was completely confused about what happened. One minute she was calling me a softie and laughing, the next she was pulling away from a kiss on the cheek. What did I do wrong?