The Taste of Mr. Davenport by Jessica Ingro Read Free Book Online Page A

that I matter, but that I’m special. There was no way I couldn’t love you, Carter.”
    Claire rolled out from under him onto her side and willed herself not to cry. She had readily hoped that he would echo her words back to her. She knew it was wishful thinking that he would profess his love to her, but a small part of her truly believed her wishes would come true.
    Several minutes later, Carter rolled into her and drew her tight against his body. He spooned her until she fell asleep and then he carefully extricated himself from bed. Once alone in the kitchen, he poured himself a stiff drink and tried to figure out what he was going to about the naïve girl laying in his bed.
    The sensible side of him knew he should sit her down and break her heart by setting her free. She needed to find someone her own age that shared the same goals for their lives. Someone who could grow with her and would spend his life with her.
    The selfish side of him wanted to rip the head off of whomever that man may end up being. He wanted to claim her like a caveman and keep her with him forever. He wanted to give her whatever her heart desired. Consequences be damned.
    He knew he was a weak man when it came to his affair with Claire. He would do the unthinkable and keep her around for the last two weeks of her vacation, and then he would break her heart. Only after he had as much time with her as possible would he leave her to move on and find someone better suited for her.

Chapter Six
     
    Claire sat on the edge of the couch while Carter was on the floor and Elise on the opposite couch with Bobby. They were all playing Scrabble, and she had to admit it was a touch awkward at times. Elise didn’t know about Claire and her father’s relationship and Carter hated watching Elise’s relationship with Bobby. It made for some tense conversation.
    Claire was trying to pretend in her mind that this was a double date, trying to gauge what future double dates could be like with the foursome. Her imagination was running wild with ideas of Thanksgiving dinners and Saturday night movies together. She really hoped she could make this all work.
    “That isn’t a word!” Elise shouted and punched Bobby’s arm.
    “It sure is.” Bobby rubbed his smarting arm and gloated over his play, which put him in first place.
    “Dad! Tell him it’s not a word,” she demanded. Her face was getting red with anger and Claire so wanted to laugh at her craziness. Claire knew it was a word. She just wasn’t going to get involved unless it was necessary. Sometimes it was best to keep your mouth shut.
    Carter rolled his eyes and picked up his cell phone. “Let me look in the dictionary.” His long fingers worked the screen, and she flushed, remembering that those fingers were inside her just hours ago, making her see stars. She picked up her iced tea and sucked back a healthy amount in an attempt to cool herself down.
    “Looks like Xu is Vietnamese money.” Carter set his phone down and looked at Bobby. “Do I want to know how you knew that?”
    “I play Words with Friends, sir. I learned a thing or two about how to win.” Bobby shrugged, and Claire burst out laughing when Elise stormed out of the room. She could be such a drama queen.
    “I… uh… better follow her.” Bobby quickly walked out the French doors chasing after Elise.
    “That was something,” Claire continued to giggle as Carter settled on the couch next to her. His arm stretched along the back of the couch, and he grabbed a lock of her hair, twirling it around his fingers.
    “You two are handfuls,” he murmured. His low, rough voice glided across her skin and reignited the heat she was feeling earlier.
    “I didn’t do anything,” she whispered back. Her body instinctively started to move closer to his.
    “You just being here is enough to make me lose my mind. I wanted nothing more than to bury myself inside you every time you leaned over and brushed your tits against my arm tonight.