Bad Decision: The Carter Brothers Read online

  Then I think of Max and feel the longing streaming through my body. My breathing intensifies as I see his dark eyes staring at me with the promise of a storm breaking. I know he wanted me - I felt the same. I picture his hard body and run my fingers over my breasts imagining his hands and mouth exploring every inch of my body. I feel the desire pooling between my legs as I imagine him inside me and claiming me forever. My heart beats a little faster as I think about those lips tasting me all over and wonder what he would taste of?

  I already know. He would taste of forbidden fruit and everything I want in life. He would taste of danger and excitement and would become the hardest of drugs to me that I would become addicted to.

  Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, I try to push the image away but all it does is show me more. I see a desperate future as we long for each other but can’t act on it. I see myself sitting beside him at family events craving his touch. I watch myself fight the jealousy that seeing him with another woman will bring. Then I see the trouble it will cause when we give in to this infatuation and wreck the bubble that should protect us.

  Those thoughts and many more keep me company until the dawn breaks on my future. The trouble is, I’m not sure what it will bring? Will I be happy? It’s hard to imagine I ever will be again.

  Aunt Kim is horrified when we fill her in the next day. I feel bad as I see the pain in her eyes and she says in a broken voice, “I can’t believe it. I’m sorry, Summer; I should never have brought you here.”

  Tracey rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry about Summer, mum. Joey was charm personified. I saw the way he looked at her, he was overwhelmed. You forget he’s her father and never even knew she existed. What I saw last night was a man keen to make up for a lifetime of deception. He never stood a chance to be a dad because he never knew. Summer will be looked after and I’m pretty sure he’s the best man to do it.”

  Aunt Kim looks at her with astonishment. “When did you grow up and become smart, young lady?”

  Tracey shrugs and smiles gently at her mother. “You should be happy Summer’s found her father. God knows she needs him more than ever now and I’m pretty sure Aunt Meg will be dancing for joy in Heaven.”

  Aunt Kim groans. “She’ll be booking my ticket to Hell more like. I swore I’d look after and protect Summer if anything ever happened to her. I’m pretty sure this is the last thing she would have wanted.”

  I decide to tune out of the conversation. I have so much on my mind I can’t think straight, anyway. What if Joey’s wife hates the fact I’m here? She might make it difficult and that’s the last thing I want. I don’t want to come between the family because one look at Maxwell’s and Charlie’s faces told me everything I needed to know. It will be difficult and not the cotton candy homecoming I would hope for.

  By the time midday comes I’m a bag of nerves. I feel excited yet worried about what the day will bring. Will Maxwell come to fetch me, or Charlie? On one hand, I hope it’s Charlie because of the two he was the sweetest. I still remember his words when I left them last night. He said so sweetly, “Whatever happens, babe, you’re family now. Just hold that thought and I’ll make sure you know what that means. Max will come around, don’t worry about him.”

  I remember the gratitude I felt at that little speech. Then I think of Max and my heart beats a little faster and the sadistic part of my soul wants it to be him to come and fetch me. I want to test my reaction to him in the cold light of day. Maybe I was mistaken and when I see him again, it will be different.

  The sound of the doorbell shocks me back to the present and my stomach ties itself in knots as I wait for my Aunt to open it.

  She closed the door so we couldn’t hear and I can only imagine what she’s saying out there. It must be ten minutes later the door opens and I’m surprised to see that the person collecting me is my father.

  His eyes fill with emotion as he sees me and says softly, “Hi, Summer, are you all set?”

  I swallow hard and walk toward him on shaking legs. He winks at Tracey and says jovially, “You ok, babe?”

  She nods, apparently tongue-tied for once and he reaches out and takes my hand in his. Then he faces my very worried looking Aunt and says gently. “I’ll look after her, Kim. I know you think only the worst of me and probably with good reason but not this time. Summer’s my daughter and no harm will come to her all the time I’m alive. I’ll have her back in a few hours.”

  Aunt Kim just nods and says, “I know that, Joe. It’s just Summer is all I have left of Meg and I owe it to her memory to do what’s right.”

  Joey nods and says softly, “I’m sorry about Meg, Kim. I never knew and even though it’s been years now, I still remember the beautiful girl I fell in love with. I’ll always regret what happened because I never got the chance to fall out of love with her and when I came home, she’d gone. I learned to forget and hardened my heart until I met Rose who let the light back in. I always loved Meg, you have to know that at least.”

  I feel as if I can’t breathe as my Aunt nods and the tears fall. “I know you did, Joey and for the record, Meg loved you too. She just did what was best for Summer and gave her the best start in life she could. Don’t hate her for that.”

  I feel the emotion in the room taking up every spare ounce of oxygen. It’s hard to breathe among the past and present colliding together and spilling a lifetime of bitter regrets. I try not to think of my mom but she’s all around me here. This was her life, her family. These people made her the woman she became and I can see where she crafted her strength. This side of her was unknown to me, this life and the choices she made. As the grief hits me hard again, I feel the love I hold for my mom giving me the strength to see this through. I’m on a voyage of discovery and much like her, I think it will end badly.

  We head outside to a large black 4x4 that looks expensive. Like a gentleman, Joey opens the door and sees me safely inside before joining me. As we pull away, he says gruffly, “I hope you slept better than me sweetheart because that was some bomb you dropped last night.”

  I nod wearily. “I’m sorry, I never meant to blurt it out like that. I’m not sure what I thought I was going to do, but the opportunity presented itself sooner than I thought and I had to know.”

  He nods grimly. “Yes, the boys told me how you met. I’m just glad they saw what was happening and got to you in time.”

  My heart skips a beat at the mention of what happened last night and then Joey says in a hard voice, “Listen, babe. I came to fetch you for a reason. I wanted to warn you about those boys and one in particular.”

  I think I hold my breath as he says darkly, “They are your brothers and although it’s not by blood, the ties are still as strong. I adopted them and raised them as mine all those years ago and know how they think. I’ll level with you, I’m concerned that one of them may have developed an interest in you outside of the family relationship I want us to share. I think you know who I’m talking about so, I’ll say this only once. Keep away from Maxwell and if he tries anything, let me know. I won’t have anything ruining this family and he’s a hot-blooded male who screws anything that moves. If I know him, he’ll be working out a plan to get what he wants as we speak. Just turn and look the other way for all our sakes.”

  His words crush me for more than one reason. I know he’s right and had to lay it on the line. I should take his words to my heart and carve them on it for posterity. My head agrees wholeheartedly with what he says and yet my heart is singing a different tune. I’m not strong enough to resist something that hit me harder than anything else that happened last night. I found him. Not my father but the man who wakes up the woman in me and sends the heat to her soul. The man who with one look destroyed every defense I have ever set in place and made me realize the power of attraction. Despite his words, I know that given one moment alone with Maxwell would destroy any reasoning within me. If I could have one wish in life, it’s knowing what it feels like to be loved by him.

  We sit in silence f
or a moment and I look at the passing scenery with interest. This place, this country, is so different from what I’m used to. It feels as if I’ve traveled to another planet not halfway across this one.

  I look across and say with concern. “Um… did you tell your wife, was she ok with it? I mean, it must have come as quite a shock.”

  He nods and then smiles proudly. “Rose is an exceptional woman, Summer. You’ll soon find that out for yourself. To answer your question, she was shocked at first but she understood what this means to me. You see, that’s what I want for you, someone who will always put your needs above theirs, even if it means trouble for them. Rose is that woman and is backing me every step of the way. Like me, she has her worries about how it will work out but she’s willing to do anything necessary to make us one big happy family at last.”

  I can tell by the way he speaks of her that Rose is a special woman and I’m glad he found her. Smiling, I say softly, “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  He laughs. “Well, you don’t have to wait because we’re here.”

  Looking out, I see a large house set in beautiful grounds nestling at the end of a sweeping gravel drive. Everything seems clean and immaculate with nothing out of place. I can tell there is money here and my heart beats a little faster as I think about what’s inside. I’m not sure I’m ready for this and swallow hard as I prepare to meet my new family.

  11

  Summer

  Almost before the car stops, I see a small woman rushing out of the huge door and start waving on the steps. Joey laughs softly, “That’s Rose, Summer. Typical of her, she’ll make you welcome, don’t you worry.”

  As I approach her, all my worries evaporate as she races forward and hugs me tightly. “Oh my god, let me look at you.”

  She pulls back and I see the incredulous expression on her face as she gasps, “Oh my god, Joey, it’s uncanny. She’s got your eyes. Blimey, babe, your mum must have been a looker if you’re anything to go by. I mean, thank god you inherited your looks from your mum and not your dad.”

  She winks as she drags me into the house with Joey following close behind.

  I almost don’t have time to register the fine furnishings and pleasant interior before I’m bundled into a large light-filled kitchen and pushed down into a comfortable chair.

  “Sit there and make yourself at home. I’ve put the kettle on and made us some sandwiches. You need to eat, young lady because I can tell you need feeding up.”

  She turns to Joey. “Grief does that to a girl, babe. Look at her, probably hasn’t eaten for weeks. I’ll make us a casserole for dinner, that should help send her on her way.”

  She starts bustling around the kitchen and Joey comes and takes the seat opposite me. He grins and rolls his eyes. “Sorry, Summer. You may as well give in now because she won’t shut up until you do.”

  Rose shrieks, “Stop that, Joe. The girl can make up her own mind and doesn’t need you telling her what to do.”

  She shouts across, “That’s typical of the men in this family, Summer. They don’t think a woman has any brains of their own. Always telling them what to do and expecting them to toe the line. Don’t be that woman, babe because it’ll end in trouble. Stand up for yourself and don’t let a man tell you shit.”

  Her hand flies to her mouth, and she says apologetically, “Oh fuck, I’m sorry, babe. I shouldn’t swear like that.”

  Suddenly, we hear a soft laugh from the doorway and Charlie comes in and says, “Mum, you wouldn’t speak if you tried not to swear. Don’t apologize for something you can’t control.”

  Rose shrugs and throws him a loving look. “There he is, my baby boy.”

  He rolls his eyes and grins as he heads over to give her a hug. “Have you got a cup of tea going, ma, I’m gasping?”

  She smiles sweetly, “Of course, babe. Where’s your brother?”

  At the mention of Max, my heart jumps and I try hard to keep a blank expression. I can feel Joey watching me and so I just look at Charlie and smile.

  He winks and heads over and drops a kiss on my cheek. “Hi, babe. Good to see you here.”

  I relax because Charlie appears the antithesis of Max. Easy going, approachable and good fun. As if on cue, I’m suddenly aware he’s here.

  I don’t even need to look because I see Joey’s expression tighten and Charlie looks worried.

  Rose shouts, “Do you fancy a cuppa, Max?”

  Then I hear that voice that sets my heart on fire and renders me incapable of rational thought.

  “Thanks, mum.”

  I think I hold my breath as Max heads over to kiss his mom. I stare at the man who has made such a first impression because he is looking so hot, he could burst into flames on the spot. He’s dressed in joggers and a tight vest top. The sweat runs like rivers down his body, soaking the vest he wears and highlighting the huge biceps that flex as he moves. I barely register Rose admonishing him for his appearance before he turns and our eyes meet.

  The look he gives me is hard to read. He nods coolly and then says without emotion, “Hey, Summer.”

  I barely manage to croak out ‘hi’ before he grabs a bottle of water from the refrigerator and says over his shoulder, “I’m going for a shower.”

  He leaves the room and I exhale sharply. I’m not sure why but that was intense. It’s as if I’m incapable of thinking of anyone but him when he’s in the room. I couldn’t tear my eyes from his and the sight of that rippling body did something to me that I thought was the stuff of stories. If I could have moaned out loud, I would because that man is something else and the fact he’s forbidden makes me want him a hundred times more.

  Charlie smirks in my direction and I just smile as he says over his shoulder, “I need a shower too. That was some sparring session we just had. Max was on fine form today.”

  He winks as he heads out and his mom shakes her head. “Those boys will be the death of me. Always fighting in one way or another.”

  She comes and sits next to me and sighs. “They’ve always been the same. Started on each other and then on any poor kid who upset them. The boxing was the only thing I could think of to channel their aggression.”

  She smiles at Joey. “Then Joey gave them responsibility at the clubs and they settled down. The trouble is, they worry me on a whole different level now because I’m waiting for them to stop whoring around and settle down. I’m long overdue grandkids and am the only one of my friends without them.”

  Joey looks thoughtful and I don’t miss the look in his eyes. He saw everything that just went down with no words spoken. I can tell he knows exactly how fascinated I am by his son and it makes me squirm with embarrassment.

  The trouble is, I can’t help myself. Maxwell Carter appears the match to my dynamite. Just one taste would be all it takes for us to burn in Hell together.

  12

  Maxwell

  I had to get out of that room for all our sakes. Even a morning sparring in the ring with Charlie did little to distract me. One look at Summer was all it took to conjure up the dirtiest images in my mind. Fuck me, that girl is something else. If I thought she looked good last night nothing compares to how she looks today. Dressed in a pretty white dress with minimal makeup. Her hair was tied to the side which made me imagine gripping it as I held her head in place against my cock. Groaning, I imagine how good it would feel with those sweet ruby lips wrapped around my cock while I give her everything I’ve got. How good would that honey taste between those shapely legs and how tight would it feel as I plunged inside? It would feel fucking amazing like I’d died and gone to heaven. But I know I’d wake up in Hell because just one taste would seal my fate.

  I didn’t miss the careful way Joey watched my every move. He looked for my reaction when I saw her sitting there and I tried to play it cool but he’s good. Joey Carter can read a man from 100 yards out and the fact he’s brought me up means he can read me easier than most. I didn’t miss the anxious look in my mother’s eyes as she sensed the appr
oaching storm.

  Standing under the cold shower, I jerk off like a kid as my fantasies take over where real life can’t go. As I stroke my throbbing shaft, I stare into those baby blues. I see her delicate lips tremble as I bite one between my teeth. I picture her spread out before me like the finest feast that I gorge on until I can take no more. I picture her moans and watch her shiver with lust. I imagine the trail I will leave all over her body as I brand her with my mouth. Then I groan as I imagine her taking me in deep until I reach that part of her no man has ever sampled because as sure as I’m fucked to Hell, that girl is a virgin because I can smell it.

  As the realization hits me, I come so hard I think I’ll never stop. Thank god the shower is fierce because the explosion comes so hard and deep, I need to steady myself with one hand on the shower wall. As the cold-water cleanses away my sin, there’s only one thing on my mind. Summer.

  By the time I’ve showered and changed I’ve managed to get a grip and almost think I can pull this off. I hear her laughter floating along the hallway toward me as I head back to the kitchen.

  Just for a moment, I imagine a time when she was here as mine. No relation to Joey, just a girl that I dated and fell in love with. How amazing would it be to have that comfort? The freedom to hold her in company and to share my life with hers. To set up home together and never leave her side. I imagine her perfect body swelled with the child I planted inside her. A bright future, where we lived a happy life free from drama and trouble.

  As I walk through the door, my heart shatters all over again as I see her laugh at something my mum says. She looks so perfect, every principle I have moves aside for the selfish bastard in me who will not heed the warnings and the first chance I get, make her mine.