Drive Me Crazy (10 page)

Breaking their kiss, he caressed the side of her face and smiled. “Feeling a little better now?” he asked.

Returning his smile, she glanced up and then back at him. “Just a little,” she said with a wink.

“
About tonight?” He traced the outline of his racing number on her sleeve. “I’m thinking along with the dirty, we should do something not-so-dirty.”

“
Golden Girls
marathon?”

Laughing, he rose to his feet. She knew him so well. “Followed by
Glee
.”

“
Betty White and spontaneous singing all on the same night?” She placed a hand over her heart. “A man after my own heart.”

“
That’s not all I’m after.”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “Men. You can’t just stop at the heart-melting stuff.”

Tires crunching over gravel had him checking the window of his office. A silver BMW slid in beside Melanie’s Honda.

What the hell was April doing here? The driver and passenger doors opened; April and mother getting out simultaneously. He clenched his jaw. Now that was his mother’s doing, not his ex.

“
I’ll be right back.”

“
Be nice,” Melanie called after him.

He met the two women in the middle of the garage, right beside Chase Montgomery’s Mustang. April leaned against it, the heavy chains on her purse dragging against it.

“
Off the car, April,” he said and she slowly moved away, her nose in the air. He inspected the paint, relived to find it scratch free.

Leah’s eyes rounded. “That’s not how you greet visitors.”

“
Neither one of you are visitors,” he pointed out, then crossed his arms. “What can I help you with? Oil change, tire rotation.”

Beau eyed them, his gaze returning to April again and again. Carter shook his head at the kid and motioned to the four foot tall shelf of endless drawers filled with nuts and bolts that Beau hadn’t finished sorting. With a roll of his eyes, he shoved a hand through messy bright green hair and returned to his work.

“
Dinner—tonight, since you haven’t bothered showing up for dinner in forever,” his mother said. “‘No’ is not an option.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Melanie come to the door. His number across her chest, hot as hell shorts and boots that made him want to do very good bad things to her.

April cleared her throat. She shook her plastic cup of iced coffee. “I need a refill.” She stalked to his office, brushing past Melanie. Melanie stumbled back, catching herself on the door.

“
I’ll be expecting you at six, Carter.” Leah hoisted her purse higher on her shoulder. “And I’ll expect you to be civil to April.”

“
Just civil?”

“
As a matter of fact, I’d like for the two of you to work things out.” Glancing around the garage, she lowered her voice. “I’m not getting any younger, and I would like to enjoy some grandchildren before y’all ship me off to the nursing home.”

He loved his mother. He really did, but this interference, this maneuver and attempt at manipulation? It didn’t sit well with him, and he knew he wasn’t the only one Leah did this to. Every one of the Ambrose siblings had to deal with her wants and wishes.

“
No one’s shipping you off to the nursing home, Momma.”

She smiled, one full of win. “Such a sweet—”

“
We’ll take you out back and put you out of your misery first,” he teased.

Stunned, Leah’s jaw dropped. “Carter Mason Ambrose! I—”

A woman’s squeal of surprise caught their attention, and they turned in time to find Melanie’s outfit covered in iced coffee. April stood beside her, a fake horrified look on her face.

Beau raced to Melanie with a clean towel in his hand. She flashed him a smile and began to wipe at the ever-spreading wet spot.

“
I am soo sorry, Myrtle.” April threw her cup into the trash. “I’m sure Carter can buy you another shirt and maybe Goodwill has another pair of those unfortunate shorts.”

Melanie’s face turned bright red. He knew for a fact that she shopped at Goodwill. Hell, he still remembered all the times she would come over to his house to share her finds with his sister, making a big deal over second hand clothes, because she couldn’t afford Wal-Mart.

“
Doubtful,” Melanie muttered, eyes downcast.

Carter stood there, not sure exactly what to say or do. He couldn’t yell at April, because he wasn’t sure if it was an accident, and Beau had beaten him to the punch with the towel.

Finally his mother spoke. “Melanie, you bring those to my house and I’ll get the stains out for you. No sense in throwing out good clothes.”

“
If that doesn’t work, I’m sure April will be happy to replace them,” Carter said, with a pointed look at his ex. He walked to Melanie, not giving a shit what his April or his mother thought. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“
It’s not your fault.” Eyes glistening, she dried off her hands and threw the towel on a nearby counter. “I’m fine. The coffee wasn’t hot.”

“
I’ll do my best, but those hips of yours, Marsha...”April tsked and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “It’ll be hard to find that size where I shop.”

“
God, I want to punch her,” Melanie muttered, which only made Carter feel worse.

He raised his brows at his ex and pointed at the door. “Out. Don’t come back either.”

“
You can’t make—”

“
Let’s go, April,” Leah said, her dark blue eyes narrowing. “I have errands to run.”

Stopping his mother as she turned, he said, “I’m not coming to dinner, not while
she’s
there. Understand me?” God he hated taking such a sharp tone with his mother, but this—this was unacceptable.

“
Fine.” With that, Leah marched out of his garage, April on her heels.

“
I’m going home.” Melanie disappeared into his office, reappearing two seconds later with her purse and keys.

He strode to her, blocking her path. “Are we still on for tonight?” His eyes dropped to her breasts, her nipples were hard against the wet material. “Looks like you got the dirty part all covered.”

She shot him a look of disbelief. “Are you serious?”

Letting his head fall back, he counted to ten. “I was teasing.”

“
Yeah, well, I’m not in the mood.”

“
For anything,” she added as she skirted around him.

***

Nothing like coming home to a cold, empty house. Louis must have forgotten to pay the propane bill. Again.

Sighing, Melanie pulled on her robe and headed to the kitchen in search of chocolate.

Her phone rang and she answered it. There was lots of yelling in the background and the sound of slot machines being played.

“
Melanie.”

“
Hey Daddy. Did you forget to pay—”

“
Our luck has change, sugar. I won big tonight!” A woman laughed, low and husky over the phone. “Must be the good luck charm that came with me.”

She froze, standing in the middle of the living room. “Is Raylene with you?”

“
Now don’t get all preachy on me.”

“
Answer me.”

Louis paused. “Yeah.”

Why couldn’t she catch a break? Of all the women in Holland Springs, he had to pick the one married to Carter’s uncle. It was like God had it out for her.

“
But the real question you should be asking is how much.”

Again, Louis put her between a rock and a hard place. Pretty soon, she wouldn’t have any breathing room. “How much?”

“
Twelve grand. I’m on a roll!” Another whoop in the background.

“
Guess you’re not going to cash out and come home, are you?”

“
I can double this, sugar. Pay you back and help get you out of that trailer faster. Do right by your momma. I can feel it.”

Tears pricked at her eyes. She bit her lip, then forced a smile. Why? She had no idea, because it wasn’t like Louis could see her tears or her smile. “That’s good, Daddy.”

“
Wish me luck, before I have to go.”

“
Good luck,” she whispered.

“
Be back on Monday.”

She ended their call, made her legs work again and tossed her phone on the counter. It landed with a thud. She needed more than chocolate; she needed a drink.

Someone pounded on the door just as she opened the freezer. “Be right there!” Ms. White had mentioned bringing back Louis’ shears once she got off of work.

Before she could do an about face, the knock turned into a consistent pounding. “Hold your horses. I’m coming.” The pounding grew louder. That couldn’t be Ms. White. Stopping by the only window in the living room, she peeked out and saw Carter standing at her door.

Her heart bungeed-jumped into her throat.

For a moment she considered letting him stay out in the cold, but the pounding started up again and she had no desire to listen to Mrs. Gregory lecture her about being a loose woman.

Never mind that Mrs. Gregory entertained three different men during the week. And by entertain, she meant sex. That little trailer, a camper really, would rock so hard that Melanie was sure it would fall on its side.

Unlocking the door, she shoved it open, almost smacking Carter in the face. “Can I help you?”

“
Damn, woman. You could’ve reminded me that your door didn’t open like normal.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Sorry, our doors don’t open the way people with real houses—”

“
Be quiet.” Carter pushed past her, practically barreling his way into her house and shut the door behind him. “Louis home?”

“
Thought you wanted me to be quiet?”

He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I didn’t come here to fight.”

“
No, you came here to get your rocks off,” she said turning to face him. “And I remember telling you that I wasn’t in the mood.”

“
Planned on getting you in the mood.” He leaned into her, his dark green eyes smoldering. “Planned to do something with your rocks, too.”

A cross between a laugh and a snort left her. “Oh you sweet talker, you. Now I know why April still wants to be with you.”

The smirk that kicked up the corners up his sexy lips made her stomach drop to her toes. “You sure are cute when you’re jealous, Miss Smith.”

Her jaw worked. “Go home, Carter. I’m sure April’s waiting for you, wedding dress at the ready.”

“
Don’t want April.” Tugging on the sash of her robe, he crooked a finger at her. “Come here and let me apologize for being an insensitive man.”

Telling herself that she was only walking closer to him so that her sash wouldn’t give way and flash him, she found herself practically pressed against him. “Not gonna happen.”

He dipped his head, minty breathy invading her space. “I’m a sure thing, baby. And I’m sorry for not doing whatever you need me to. Maybe I need some lessons. I’m a fast learner.” The sash to her robe gave and the material parted, the throbbing, heated part of her making itself known. A cold hand slipped inside, cupping her breast and making her gasp. Her nipple beaded against his palm. “Damn, but your skin is nice and hot, better than any pair of gloves.”

“
If you put another cold hand on me, Carter Mason Ambrose, I’ll knee you in the balls,” she all but growled at him.

But that sexy jerk did nothing but laugh and wiggle his fingers at her. Just as he attempted to slide his other hand inside, her knee came up. He stopped her with a twist of his hips. “What if I warm it up first, then I can touch you?” The hand cupping her breast moved lower, allowing his thumb to brush her nipple. Desire sparked, flaming higher and hotter with each lazy pass. “Thing is, sweetheart, you’re so damn hot that there’s no way I’d ever be warm enough to touch you.”