Accidental Heartbreak (The Accidental Series, Book 2) Read online

  “He didn’t ask me to fall in love with her.”

  “So the answer to my question is yes, then. You are going to let her leave?” Jackie asked, her voice cracking.

  Carter sensed her sadness. His aunt had grown attached to Shayla like she’d instantly become a part of the family. And he was the one tearing that family apart. It was Shayla who reunited Jacqueline with Carter again and now she was going away. “You thought it was a good idea for me to let her go before, Jackie. Why are you changing your mind now?”

  “Because I know you love her. And I know she loves you just as much. It would be a shame if you two didn’t work this out.” Jacqueline dabbed tears from the corner of her eyes. “At least talk to her before she heads out of town.”

  Carter diverted his attention to an Outlook alarm on his computer, signaling he had a meeting in five minutes. “Ah’ight, Jackie. I have to go. Maybe I’ll talk to her…”

  “You should, and before I let you go, I wanted to mention something else she said that’s been bothering me. She made a comment that you weren’t thinking about her because you probably done had plenty of women since she left.”

  Carter grimaced like the words had physically assaulted him. “She said that?”

  “Yeah. She also said she wasn’t surprised you didn’t want her because nobody else in her life wanted her. Said her parents didn’t want her and she said Jacob didn’t want her either. So please make an effort to talk to her.”

  “Okay. I will,” he replied, though he wasn’t sure what he would do at the moment.

  “Aw-right, Carter. Bye.”

  He set the phone on his desk and ran his fingers over his head. He blew a breath, sighed heavily then headed to the conference room.

  Chapter 4

  Fifteen minutes before Carter knew the flower shop would be closing, he left his office. He had to see Shayla today, especially after finding out she was leaving. And did she really think he was out having one-night stands and carrying on since she moved out? In the past maybe, in the pre-Shayla days of his life, but he hadn’t been with a woman since he met her. Whether he liked it or not, he was emotionally attached to Shayla and if he didn’t want to lose her, he needed to do something about it.

  He parked next to her car, watching Shayla walk out of the building with Rebecca, locking up the shop for the day. He got out of his truck and began to walk towards them.

  Shayla looked up and saw him walking in her direction. Was this an apparition or was he really there? She hadn’t laid eyes on him in so long, something about the distance between them made him that much more appealing. Eye candy at its best. He was deliciously fine, walking towards her with a swag only he could pull off, and as he sauntered her way, all six-feet, two inches of him, all she could think about was their last communication – a heated argument that left things sour between them. And what information had Jacqueline told him? It was no coincidence that after two months of not seeing or hearing from him, he showed up two days after she had dinner with Jacqueline. Did he know she was leaving? Is that the only reason he bothered to seek her out? After eight long weeks?

  “Wonder what he wants…” Shayla nervously whispered to Rebecca, feeling her stomach form into so many knots, she could barely stand up straight.

  “You know what he wants,” Rebecca hissed.

  Carter took a few more steps towards Shayla and stopping directly in front of her he said, “Hi.”

  “Hi,” Shayla told him feeling nerves tingle throughout her body. The scent of his cologne made her remember certain beautiful moments they shared. And he looked even more gorgeous than she remembered. His curly hair was fuller and tapered. His light brown eyes were tantalizing.

  He looked her over a moment more, getting reacquainted with her face – the face he found so beautiful. He noticed she had her hair straightened, which showed the true length of it, falling down to her chest and mid-back. With the added touch of copper highlights, she looked like she just came from the salon. She wore makeup too, had some peach blush on her cheeks and pink gloss on her lips that attracted the heat of his eyes. Jacqueline was right. She did look different. She was stunning.

  “I’ll see you later, girl,” Rebecca waved to Shayla.

  “Okay,” Shayla replied, smiling weakly.

  Rebecca gave Carter half smile and continued the walk to her car.

  Shayla never took her eyes off Carter, feeling her heart yearn for him, but knew she couldn’t have him. What a horrible feeling it was to want someone so badly while knowing they were out of your reach. Out of your league.

  “I was hoping we could talk,” Carter said, sliding his hands in the pockets of his slacks. If he didn’t, he was certain to touch her face with them.

  Shayla remembered Jacqueline saying Carter was angry. Standing in front of her, he didn’t come across that way. But then again, he always had one heck of a poker face. Either way, she didn’t want to have a conversation with him. What was done was done and there was no need in rehashing the past.

  “I’m tired,” Shayla told him. “I’ve been standing on my feet all day.”

  “Then let me buy you dinner,” he asserted. “We can sit and talk for a while.”

  Buy you dinner…even the way he said it sounded smug. “Carter, I just—”

  “We need to talk. Don’t you agree?” he asked, coaching her with his eyes.

  Shayla looked down at the keys in her hand. Of course they needed to talk. The note she’d written him – that she was moving out – got her point across while showing her desire for independence, but it didn’t express any real feelings. Could a person really understand what another person’s true feelings were in written format? The reader could misconstrue words, add exclamation marks in their mind that the writer didn’t intend. Face-to-face interaction was the only way to guarantee understanding without assumptions. But why now after two months?

  Shayla looked up at him, staring in his eyes, feeling nauseous. The thought of actually sitting down and having dinner with him was unnerving. What was there to talk about anyway? The theater showdown between the two? Her upcoming move to Virginia? What did he want?

  “How about you follow me to Carrabba’s?” he suggested.

  Shayla looked at him intently when he said the name of the restaurant – the first restaurant he’d taken her for dinner. The restaurant where they’d literally had a breakthrough, moments that will forever bond them even if they never spoke another word to each other. As she stared at him and watched a few cars whiz by, she knew there was no way she could sit through dinner with him. No way.

  So taking a deep breath and bracing herself for what he might say in response, she said, “No. I can’t do dinner. I’m tired and I—” Shayla threw her hands up in the air, running out of excuses. She stepped around him and walked away out of frustration. If she could only get to the car…

  Carter walked quickly to catch up to her before she was able to. He touched both of her arms, prompting her to look at him.

  It worked, because Shayla looked into his eyes, feeling her temperature rise. It seemed as if his hands had branded themselves onto her skin.

  “What have I ever asked of you, Shayla?” he said, staring deep into her eyes, putting her under his spell. His body language said he would make her make time, no matter what she said to turn him down. He wouldn’t leave without getting his way. “All I want is to talk. That’s it. Why can’t we do that?”

  Shayla swallowed hard, looking up at him. “Why now? Why do we need to talk this instant?”

  “Because we need to.”

  So Jackie must have told him I was moving. That’s why he came here. To torture me before I leave. Shayla rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, okay,” just to mollify him, knowing from experience that he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted. Besides, she was leaving Charlotte in a few weeks and after tonight, she never had to see him again. Never had to succumb to his charm and authority.

  * * *

  At the restau
rant, she trailed him in and they sat in a booth – she sitting opposite of him. And while Shayla sat there avoiding his eyes, Carter took a moment to read her, trying to understand her feelings and emotions for him, all the while thinking about what he’d learned from his aunt – the most important thing being that Shayla was leaving for a new job in Norfolk soon.

  “So, how have you been?” he asked extremely casual, interlocking his large, strong hands and giving her his complete and undivided attention.

  “I’ve been okay,” she said, looking down at the menu. The knots in her stomach were making her sick.

  “Just okay?” He stared at her hard as if trying to read her thoughts.

  Shayla nodded.

  The waitress brought over two glasses of water. Carter ordered chicken parmesan. Shayla didn’t order a thing. She couldn’t keep food down even if she wanted to. The man of her dreams was sitting across from her…still didn’t change the fact that she was upset with him and needed to get away as soon as possible. There was no sense in hanging on to hope that he would eventually see her as a woman worthy of having a relationship with. And she was at a disadvantage, because she still had to rely on him. She was still driving the man’s car…

  When the waitress walked away, Carter locked his eyes on her again. “You’re not hungry?”

  “No.” She was too nervous to eat. Plus breaking bread with him would make it seem like all was forgiven when the reality was, her heart was broken and he was the one who did the damage.

  Carter tapped his fingertips on the table. He had to admit to himself that the only reason he wanted to talk to her so urgently was because of his conversation with Jacqueline. Shayla was moving away and he wasn’t okay with that. He wondered if Shayla would tell him about her relocation or did she deem it none of his business. “How are things at the shop?”

  “Fine,” she said, staring out the window.

  Carter studied her again. “You know at some point in our conversation, you’re gonna have to look at me.”

  Do I have to, Shayla thought. Looking at him had the same effect kryptonite had on Superman – it made her weak.

  “Shayla?”

  Shayla looked at him now, feeling her heart beat faster.

  “That’s better,” he said with a half smile, feeling an urge to reach across the table to hold her hand, touch her arm…something that would connect them while simultaneously relaxing her. “So it’s been eight weeks since we last spoke. How are you physically?”

  Like you really care? If that was the case, it would not have taken you eight weeks to ask. “I’m fine.”

  “Good,” he said, inhaling deeply and feeling a slight bit of relief that she was well. “So I spoke with Jacqueline this morning.”

  “That’s nice.” Shayla took a sip of water. Seemed as if her body temperature rose at least ten degrees.

  “She said you were leaving the shop for another job.”

  And how is that any of your business? Shayla inhaled a deep breath. “Yeah, I am.”

  “So where will you be working?”

  Why do you care? That’s what she wanted to say, but instead said, “At a tech firm.”

  “Does this tech firm have a name?” he asked, shooting her a penetrating look.

  “You probably wouldn’t know it, so—”

  “Try me.”

  “Zenadel Electronics.”

  “Oh.” He nodded like he was familiar with the place. He remembered one of his fraternity brothers taking a position at that very same company and he wondered if he still worked there. “What side of town is that on?”

  “It’s not in Charlotte,” Shayla said, though she had a suspicion he already knew that.

  “Where is it?”

  “It’s in Norfolk.”

  “Virginia?” he said, trying to hide the frown in his forehead but to no avail.

  “Yes.”

  “So you’re moving to Virginia?”

  “Yep.”

  Her short answers were driving him insane. The woman he loved was moving away. The least she could do was have a conversation with him.

  “Wow,” he said, shocked. His aunt had been right. She was moving. “That’s a big move for you.”

  Shayla snapped her head back. What’s that supposed to mean? He said it in a way that insinuated she couldn’t handle it by herself and that irritated her. “Yeah, that’s what I need in my life. A big move. It will be good for me.”

  Carter frowned, then quickly removed the disturbance from his forehead before she saw it. “You know anyone there?”

  “No.”

  “So where will you be staying?”

  “In an extended stay hotel until I can find a suitable apartment.”

  Carter didn’t like that one bit. If they were still on good terms, she’d be still living in his home. Now she was moving to a new city where she didn’t know anyone and would be living out of a hotel room. “Well, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I didn’t want things to end like they did between us,” he said devoid of emotion. He stated it matter of factly.

  Didn’t want things to end like they did between us, Shayla tossed around in her mind. He said it like they were once in an exclusive relationship that didn’t work out. But there was no actual relationship, so what thing did he not want to end? A friendship? “Well things did end,” she said looking at him. “And I realize now that it was for the best. I’m not doing bad on my own.”

  Her casual response incensed him. “Really, ‘cause you’re going to be living in a hotel, Shayla,” he erupted, not able to hide his frustration any longer.

  Shayla kept her cool. “It’s only temporary. I’ll find an apartment soon enough.”

  With a tightened jaw, he glanced out the window to process it. Her living in a hotel was a step backwards. A few more steps in the wrong direction and she would be homeless again. “I noticed you haven’t been using the money I put into that account for you. There’s about four thousand dollars in there? Why don’t you use that to get a place?”

  “No.” Shayla unzipped her purse, removed the bank card from her wallet and placed it on the table in front of him. “Rebecca has been paying me for my work at the shop. I’ll get a place when I earn enough money to afford one.”

  “Shayla—”

  “I don’t want your money, Carter,” she said irritated. “I’d rather live in a hotel than take another dime from you.”

  Carter swallowed hard, feeling anger build up in his heart.

  Shayla continued, “And I know I still have stuff at your house. I’ll stop by and pick it up as soon as I have time. Then I’ll give you your house and car keys back.”

  Dismissing everything she said, Carter asked, “What happened to us?”

  “Us?” Shayla chuckled. Was this man losing it or what? “There was ever an us.”

  “There was and you know it,” Carter bellowed. “We were close. I’ve shared things with you that I’ve never told anyone. You confided in me about your life, your struggles, your past. We had a strong friendship and out of the blue you decide to end it all with a note.”

  “I ended it all? Really?” she asked, with raised brows.

  Glaring, Carter replied, “You’re the one who moved out so yeah, Shayla. You ended it.”

  A few of the patrons sitting closest to them were looking now to see where all the loud talk and arguing was coming from, but neither Carter, nor Shayla gave two cents about the attention they were drawing. They were focused on making their point. He didn’t back down and neither would she.

  “I moved out because we weren’t getting along,” Shayla exclaimed. “Plus you told me to leave.”

  “No I didn’t.”

  “Yes, you did, Carter. You don’t remember that day at the movie theater when you practically bit my freakin’ head off telling me all the things you did for me. You said I could get my stuff and leave. You don’t remember that?”

  “Yeah, but you have to understand I said that only after
you had already made it clear to me you wanted to go. You made the first move, not me.”

  “Well, I don’t get why this is still relevant,” Shayla told him. “It’s been eight weeks and I honestly don’t know why you wanted to have dinner with me tonight.”

  Carter wanted to tell her that he missed her, that he was lonely in that big house without her there and he was sorry for the way things ended. Instead, he said, “I just wanted to see you.”

  “Okay, well now that you’ve seen me, I’m gonna go.” She stood and threw her purse strap over her shoulders.

  “Shayla.”

  “What?”

  Carter’s heart wanted him to say things his mind wouldn’t let him. After all, this was the woman who left him by writing a mere note, the woman who was moving away in a few weeks. And it was going against everything he’d ever known to actually tell a woman that he loved her.

  “What?” she asked again, frowning.

  Carter could see she was anxious to leave, so instead of making the conversation deeper he said, “If I don’t see you again before you leave, I want you to know that…” He paused. Those three words, I love you, were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t say it, even though he knew, without a shadow of doubt that he loved her. “I just want you to know that if you need me for anything, you can call me.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll find a way to make it work on my own.” With that, Shayla walked away.

  Carter couldn’t find justification in chasing her. He never chased any woman before and he had no rights to her. Maybe her moving away was what they both needed but still it bothered him, having come to that conclusion.

  Chapter 5