Carter Reed

with.” She pulled me in for another hug.
    I was too touched to respond. The cynical side would’ve joked when had she turned into a hallmark card, but the sentimental side was too moved to even speak. It meant a lot, especially through all we’d been together. This was a friendship I didn’t want to lose.
    “Okay.” She pressed her hand against my arm again. “Do you think I could get a ride home?”
    My hand took hold of her arm before she could venture far. I pulled her back and shook my head. “You’re better off staying here.”
    “Why?”
    “I am pretty sure Theresa’s not home alone.”
    “Oh. You’re right.” She sighed. “They can get loud. Alright. Can I sleep in a room this time?”
    Laughing, I showed her to a guest bedroom on the second floor before returning back to the kitchen. The doctor was finishing up his assessment. He lectured as I drew clearer, “You need rest, lots of it. That means no nothing, Carter. No sex. No fighting. No nothing. If you can work from home, I’d recommend it. And I mean it about the sex. Don’t think I didn’t see that cute honey standing looking all concerned before. No sex.”
    Carter pushed him back a little. “Don’t start, Doc.”
    “Don’t start,” he sniffed. “Don’t start he says. He only woke me up, had his men come and transport me here, and now he says ‘don’t start.’ I’ll start all I want. You have a broken rib. It needs to heal!”
    “Yeah. And it will.”
    I turned the last corner. The doctor saw me and graced me with a smile. He lifted his notepad in my direction. “Make sure he rests and don’t have sex with him. Even if you’re doing all the work, it’ll still strain his ribs.” He clapped Carter on the shoulder, giving both of us a polite salute of the hand before he picked up his bag again. “And now I’m hoping that same transport will take me home?”
    Carter waved his guys to do his bidding.
    Later, as I helped Carter into bed and curled up next to him, I asked over a yawn, “Is everything done now?”
    He pulled me closer to him, tucking his head into the crook of my shoulder and neck. His hand went to breast and simply held it. “Yeah. I think so.”
    I nodded, my eyelids already drowsy. “Good.”
    He kissed my neck where he was nuzzling me. “Good?”
    Reaching up, I laced my fingers with his and breathed out a deep breath. Everything was how it should be. Amanda’s words. Franco’s death. Carter beside me. I knew that no matter what came at us, things would be fine. I breathed again in relief, feeling the first flutter of peace in my chest. My lips curved up as I rested my head against his. “Yeah. Everything’s good.”
    “Good.” He pressed his lips to my neck again, one last time.
    It wasn’t long until I heard his deep breathing and knew he’d fallen asleep. Then I closed my eyes. Everything would be fine. I’d make sure of it, no matter what challenges came at us.
    Everything was perfect.

    For more information about this author, please go to Tijan’s Books on Facebook .
    https://www.facebook.com/TijansBooks

    Other books by this author:
    (Click on the links for samples and/or buy links)

    Fallen Crest High
    Fallen Crest Family
    Fallen Crest Public (soon to be released, end of December 2013)

    The BS Series:
    Broken and Screwed
    Broken and Screwed 2
    Braille (to be released)
    Elijah (to be released)

Oh boy. I’ve got a list here. Lisa Jordan, you’re so great to work with and I’m so glad I snatched this cover up as soon as I saw it! Obviously, I need to give a big hug to Amanda and Jocelyn for helping to edit this monster. A huge thank you to Cami Hesnault and the Crazies R Us Book Blog. They are organizing this blog tour, but Cami’s been amazing and so helpful to me! I know you’re a super busy woman too! Other big thanks to Megan Smith for being a beta and big congrats on your huge success! Another thanks to Jean Love, Maura Murphy, and Keara O’Neil. These ladies have been always willing to do a quick read for me. I’d like to send some love to Mari Brown at the Keepin’ It Real Book Blog, Stacey at the Stay Blu Reads, and also Tamsyn Bester at The Secret Book Brat Blog, author of Beneath Your Beautiful . And lastly, to my sister in law, Mandy. Thanks for the support. Truly means a TON to me. I already dedicated this book to my other half, but I’ll still mention him here. Tough times and good times, he’s stuck with me. That means more than I can ever write here.