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And what did Carter think?
Isabella Abbott! You've known this man for less than two hours, you've kissed him once, and now you're thinking about how he feels and what he's thinking? What's gotten into you? This isn't like you. This is just for fun, remember that.
Just for fun.
Still, it felt somehow familiar.
Like it was with fiancés.
I pinched my cheek lightly again.
Carter turned to me. His blue eyes bored into my face. For a tiny moment, I thought I saw anger in them. Had he not liked the kiss?
The strange expression on Carter's face vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He smiled at me. My skin began to tingle again. Was it from the look? Or from the alcohol?
"Well, fiancée?" he greeted me now. "Did your car make it here?"
"Of course," I giggled again. The alcohol had now definitely gone to my head. I just couldn't stop laughing. "My car is used to minor collisions."
"Minor collisions..." Carter repeated, looking at me with his magnetic blue eyes that made me alternately hot and cold.
"Isabellaaaaaaaa!!! We're coming!" a chorus of voices sounded behind us.
"Hey! Let go of our Isabella!" Mira and Elly began pulling on Carter's arm at the same time. Judy put a protective arm around my shoulders.
"That was just a joke! She was just supposed to kiss you quickly. Her punishment for being late. She's always late, you know." Judy tried to pull me away from Carter.
"Well, your joke had consequences." Carter grinned at the girls. Had his smile been so slightly crooked before? Or was the alcohol playing tricks on my eyes? Either way, it just looked indecently good.
"Consequences?" Judy cocked her head back flirtatiously and looked at Carter. Her attempt at flirting, however, left him completely cold. He turned his gaze to me.
"May I introduce you to my fiancée? Isabella Abbott." He nodded to Judy, Fiona, Elly, and Mira. "You see, this isn't our first encounter."
"We know that." Fiona pursed her lips. "She totaled your car."
Did she have to emphasize that?
"I wouldn't exactly call it totaled. But Isabella did come into my life with a BANG, that's for sure. She tends to leave an impression, doesn't she?" He grinned around the group now. The girls laughed.
Carter pulled me close to him again. None of the girls objected. I hadn't said anything yet. Thoughts were buzzing around in my head so much that I had trouble following the conversation. Every time I had formulated a clear sentence, Carter and the girls were already a step ahead. But I didn't care. I was enjoying the evening and Carter's proximity.
"Are you celebrating something?" Carter wanted to know.
"Yeeees," everyone answered in unison. This time I joined in too. "Fiona here is getting married soon," I explained, giggling and pointing at Fiona.
"Oh! Well, congratulations," Carter said with a small nod in Fiona's direction. "The groom is to be envied. Though not as much as me. After all, not everyone can get engaged to Isabella."
I giggled again. I liked that Carter was continuing this game. I had no idea why he had introduced me as his fiancée to his conversation partner. I had actually expected him to say goodbye to me now. I shrugged. Let's keep playing then. Since I was enjoying it, I didn't ask any further questions.
"Girls, if you don't mind sharing your evening with a newly engaged man, I'll join you at the bar," Carter suggested at that moment. "And as is customary: The bill for the evening is on me. After all, I have something to celebrate. Or rather, we do."
With these words, Carter looked at me again. And once more, I lost myself in his eyes. How many times would this happen to me tonight?
The girls had wanted to push me out of my shell with this kiss and ensure that I met an attractive man again. They had succeeded more than they could have imagined.
Carter took my face in his hands and leaned down towards me. I closed my eyes expectantly. Carter's mouth met mine. Soon after, I felt his tongue and willingly parted my lips.
Oh yes, baby.