His holiday pact, p.13
His Holiday Pact, page 13
Kayla didn’t even try to stop the tears from streaming down her face. She immediately thought of Carter, her heart breaking at the pain he must be experiencing.
Kayla: Thank you so much, Patty. I’ll be there. Please give everyone my love.
When Saturday arrived, she called the rideshare and showed up to the church, honored to be able to pay respects to the woman whom she’d only known a short time, but who’d raised the man she would always love deep in a corner of her heart.
Entering the church, she saw Carter standing beside Ryan and Patty.
“Hey,” she said, smiling up at him. “I’m so sorry.”
The surprise of her appearance was evident on his face. “Hey,” he said, his smile so tender, causing her heart to melt. “I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Of course, I wanted to come. I told you I’d always be here for you, Carter.”
He surrounded her with his arms, holding her in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Kayla. It’s so amazing that you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
Pulling back, she wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’ve missed you too.”
“Thank you for coming,” Ryan said. She hugged him and then wrapped her arms around Patty.
“Thanks for texting me.”
“Sure thing,” she said, squeezing.
Giving one last smile of support to Carter, Kayla headed down the aisle and sat in the pew.
Once the service was over, she called a rideshare home. Writing a note of support to Carter, she slipped it under his door, knowing he would get it in a few days when he came home.
THE WEEKS FORGED ALONG and Kayla continued to crush it at work. One night in early February, she was working on a brief in her PJs, feet curled under her on the couch, when she heard a knock at the door. Setting her laptop aside, she plodded to the door, pulling it open to find Carter on the other side. He was dressed in a sweater, jeans and loafers and had a goofy grin on his face. Holding up a stack of small papers, he shook them.
“You’re slacking, Summers,” he said.
Elation coursed through her as she reveled in his presence.
“Slacking?” she asked.
“You were slipping notes under my door with a fair amount of regularity, but I haven’t gotten one in days. What gives?”
Throwing back her head, she laughed. “I’ve been really busy. Work has been insane.”
“I live for these notes, Summers. You hold my happiness in your hands.”
“I do?” she asked softly.
His smile was so reverent. “You always have.” His eyes darted over her. “Can I come in?”
“Oh, sure,” she said, stepping back. “I opened some wine. Want some?”
“Sure,” he said, sliding into one of the stools at the counter. She grabbed her wine glass from the table beside the couch and refilled it along with a glass for him. Standing on the other side of the island, she lifted her glass. “To your happiness.”
Laughing, he clinked his glass with hers. “To our happiness.” His gaze bore into her as he sipped, causing butterflies to flutter in her stomach.
“You look nice,” she said, thinking he looked delicious in the semi-casual wear. “Hot date?”
“Not really. I was celebrating with my agent. I got the part, Kayla.”
“The theater role?” she asked. He nodded. “Oh, my god! That’s fantastic, Carter! I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” he said, his grin almost shy. “I didn’t think I had a shot in hell, but my agent said they absolutely adored my audition.”
“Wow. That’s incredible. You’re going to be a famous actor. I can say I knew you when.”
Chuckling, he shrugged. “I’ll never be as amazing as you. How’s the promotion treating you?”
“Good. I’m making gobs of money and really enjoy the different types of cases I’m being given. My lease is up in March and I’m going to finally find an apartment with a damn elevator.”
His face fell and she lifted her shoulders, feeling as if she’d hurt him somehow. “I was going to tell you. Plus, it’s probably easier if I don’t catch you in the hallway with any of your Amazonian supermodels. Jealous ex-fake-girlfriend and all.”
He looked so sad that she reached across and grabbed his wrist. “One of us was bound to move out eventually, Carter. We can still meet up. You can always text me.”
“So, you’re really done with me?” he asked softly.
Kayla swallowed. “I...” she struggled for words. “I thought you were really done with me.”
He sighed, slow and morose, resting his forehead on his fingers. “I was never done with you, Kayla. I was just really fucked up. It was just so much, with my mom and how fast things were moving. I couldn’t handle it and shut down.”
“I completely understand, Carter. I don’t blame you. We were just the product of shitty timing. Who knows? I might still need a fake boyfriend next year. My prospects aren’t exactly vast.”
He blinked, appearing to contemplate his next words. “I changed up my monologue.”
“For the audition?” she asked, confused.
“Yes. I ended up writing my own.”
“Oh, wow. I didn’t know you wrote too.”
“I didn’t. Until you.” Standing, he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. “It’s written here, but I have it memorized. Want to hear it?”
Kayla’s heart thrummed in her chest, and she wondered why she was so nervous. “Sure,” she said, her throat scratchy.
“Come sit over here,” he said, extending his hand. She took it and he led her to the couch. “It’s better if you’re comfortable.”
“Okay,” she said, folding her leg underneath as she cozied into the couch. “Go for it.”
He straightened his spine and inhaled a deep breath. Focusing on the window behind her, he began to speak, his tone practiced and reverent.
“At night, I would call to her, through the wall that separated our rooms. Stroking it with my hand, I would tell her how sorry I was and how much I missed her smile. Finally, I realized that she would never hear my words. Never feel my silent caress as it longed to flow against her skin.”
His gaze fell to hers and Kayla watched him through tear-filled eyes, her chin trembling.
“I understood that she was lost to me and that I’d let go of the one thing that made me whole. While I had been so scared of being broken, I was too blinded by fear to realize she was the one who completed the puzzle. The one who filled the gaps.
“And now, I’ve lost her, as the ancient gods lost Atlantis to the sea, and all I can do is weep soundless tears and wish her well, hoping she finds someone who will fill the brokenness I’ve now created in her soul.”
Kayla pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face in them as she sobbed. His strong arms surrounded her, pulling her into his firm body.
“Don’t cry, baby,” his deep voice said in her ear. “Please. It breaks my heart when you cry.”
“That was so beautiful,” she said, lifting her face to his. “How could you write something so beautiful?”
“Love makes you do some pretty intense things, Summers,” he said, cupping her jaw with his hands and wiping the wetness with the pads of his thumbs.
“Love?” she whispered.
“Yeah,” he said, the corners of his lips curling. “I’m kind of obsessed with you, Kayla. I figured someone as smart as you would’ve realized that by now.”
“But you don’t want a commitment. You love your single life. I don’t want to change you, Carter. You would resent me and that would be worse than forging on without you.”
He shook his head, gazing at her so reverently. “Do you know how many men wish they could fall in love with a woman who doesn’t want to change them? I can name about five of my friends off the top of my head.”
Kayla laughed. “It’s true. I love who you are. I just can’t be in a relationship that has no chance of a future. I need a commitment that we’re building something together.”
“Then I’ll give it to you,” he said, the words so simple they took her breath away. “I’m not ready to promise marriage or kids and, honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be. But I can promise to spend every day putting you first and doing my best to make you happy. And you’re wrong about one thing. I realized that I don’t love being single anymore. The thought of holding anyone else the way I’m holding you now has zero appeal to me. You’ve ruined me, Summers. I should be livid.” He winked.
“Oh, no,” she said, giggling. “Are you mad that I might be the last person you ever sleep with?”
“I was, for a while, until I realized that only a fool wouldn’t be one hundred percent on board with that. As long as we use the vibrator on occasion.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Oh, and I need the red lipstick to be applied during one out of every three blow jobs.”
Laughter burst from her throat. “Done. But I need shirtless Sundays in the house. And every other day too, if I’m being honest.”
His body shook with laughter. Placing his forehead against hers, he said, “I’m sorry it’s not more, but it’s what I can give right now.”
“It’s all I need, Carter. We’ll get there. As long as we love each other, that’s all that matters.”
“Kayla,” he whispered, brushing her lips with his. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry I had to hurt you to get here. I just needed to process it in my own way.”
“I love you too and will probably forgive you,” she said, teasing him. “It will definitely help if you make love to me. Any surface of your choice is appropriate.”
His lips captured hers, moving in sure strokes as he plundered her with his tongue. Gently biting her lip, he said, “I never got to take you from behind. I want to lay you over the couch and cup that gorgeous ass and fuck you from behind.”
Kayla literally gushed in her pants. “Well, someone has a fantasy.”
“About your delectable ass?” he asked, nuzzling her nose with his. “I have about a million. Buckle up, baby. If you’re the only woman I’m with, we’re going to take full advantage.”
Throwing back her head, she laughed. “Oh, Carter, you say the sweetest things.”
“Don’t push me, Summers. I might even write a rom-com next.”
Pressing her lips to his, she sighed. “A girl can only dream.”
There, entwined on the couch, they lost themselves in their tender yet passionate caresses, cementing the first official day of their non-fake-relationship.
Before You Go!
Well, dear readers, I hope you loved Kayla and Carter as much as I did! Want to see them again and see Joy fall in love? You can read her book, Her Valentine Surprise, right now!
Read Her Valentine Surprise now!
Please consider leaving a review on your retailer’s site, BookBub and/or Goodreads. Your reviews help spread the word for indie authors so we can keep writing smokin’ hot books for you to devour. Thanks so much for reading!
About the Author
Ayla Asher is the pen name for a USA Today bestselling author who writes steamy fantasy romance under a different pseudonym. However, she loves a spicy, fast-paced contemporary romance too! Therefore, she's decided to share some of her contemporary stories, hoping to spread a little joy one HEA at a time. She would love to connect with you on social media, where she enjoys making dorky TikToks, FB/IG posts and fun book trailers!
Books by Ayla Asher:
Manhattan Holiday Loves Series
Book 1: His Holiday Pact
Book 2: Her Valentine Surprise
Book 3: Her Patriotic Prince
Ardor Creek Series
Book 1: Hearts Reclaimed
Book 2: Illusions Unveiled
Book 3: Desires Uncovered
Book 4: Resolutions Embraced
Book 5: Passions Fulfilled
Book 6: Futures Entwined
Also available in Audio—narrated by Kai Kennicott & Wen Ross!
Subscribe to Ayla's newsletter for updates on promos, giveaways and new releases!
Did you know Ayla also writes Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance under Rebecca Hefner? You can download the first book in her PNR series FREE on her website. It’s a steamy enemies-to-lovers story. Enjoy!
Don't miss out!
Click the button below and you can sign up to receive emails whenever Ayla Asher publishes a new book. There's no charge and no obligation.
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-XJVS-PEFXB
https://books2read.com/r/B-P-XJVS-PEFXB
Connecting independent readers to independent writers.
Ayla Asher, His Holiday Pact
