Holy fucking shit….

Track 6. Breathless (3:49)

I pulled over at a gas station and bit my tongue to prevent myself from screaming. I wasn’t sure how many more runs I could make with Josh and his frat brothers in the backseat, and if I heard him complain about my driving or heard the word “tiki torch” one more time, I was going to lose my mind.

I wasn’t sure why Josh’s fraternity was even attempting to throw another party. Granted, he knew how to throw a really good party, but he also knew how to break every rule in the book: Last year’s “Unforgettable” themed party ended with half of the attendees running from the cops. The year before that—the “Legendary Experience,” ended in a backyard fire, and I didn’t want to even think about what he had on his mind for this year’s “EPIC” event.

I shut the car off as soon as I put it in park and immediately got out, rushing inside the store to cool off. Literally.

Humming, I walked down the aisles and grabbed a bunch of junk since we still had quite a few trips to make. Twizzlers, Cheetos, and a couple of soft drinks for good measure.

Never agree to help Josh with a party again. Never again…

You want anything from inside?

I texted Carter.

Gatorade.

What flavor?

Surprise me.

I grabbed a blue one and walked to the register, setting down my collection. I waited for the attendant to turn around and ring me up, but she didn’t even look at me.

Her gaze was literally fixed on whatever was going on outside and she was mumbling to herself. “Oh my god…He is so perfect.”

I cleared my throat to get her attention. Nothing.

I coughed a few times, even throwing in an “Excuse me?” but I got nothing.

Her manager, another woman, came through a back door and I expected her to say something to me, or at least be kind enough to ring up my stuff, but she joined the attendant’s gaze fest instead.

“Jesus…” she said, making me finally turn around and look at whatever they were gawking at.

I knew it wasn’t Josh. He was on the phone yelling about something that sounded like Jell-O. His fraternity brothers were laughing about something and pumping the gas. They were cute, but nothing drool-worthy, nothing gawk-worthy.

I tapped my chest, preparing to clear my throat again so I could get out of their self-imposed Twilight-Zone, but my eyes suddenly latched onto Carter.

I’d seen him shirtless a million times before, seen his blue eyes gleam in the sunlight many times more, but I’d never felt the slightest bit of attraction. Until now…

And at that moment, it wasn’t “slight” at all…

With his six pack on full display, he was leaning against a different pump—looking off into the distance as beads of sweat trickled down his chest. He was flashing that charming smile he always used on an admirer across from him, but it was working on me from all the way over here.

He ran his hands through his jet black hair and I suddenly envisioned myself helping him with that, envisioned myself running my hands across his abs and lower—down to his perfectly defined “V” that trailed down to—

Oh. My. God…

I immediately looked away.

But then I looked at him again. I couldn’t help myself.

How could I not have noticed this?

“Are you finally ready to check out or are you too busy staring at something out there?” The attendant finally addressed me, literally acting as if she hadn’t been staring at him as well.

“Been ready.” I stole one last glance of Carter and pushed all my stuff across the counter.

When she finished bagging my stuff, I returned to the car and waited for Carter and the other guys to finish stretching.

“Thanks for stopping, Ari.” Josh sounded halfway genuine as he got in.

“No problem…” I said the same to his friends, and when Carter got back into the car, I couldn’t help but take a closer look at him.

He is literally the epitome of sexy…

“You look kind of tired,” he said softly. “Do you need me to drive?”

“No…” I shook my head and faced forward, cranking the engine. “I’m perfectly fine.”

Holy fucking shit…

Track 7. Eyes Open (3:59)

I took a glass mug out of Carter’s cabinet and placed it into a box.

“Is that the last one?” Josh walked over, picking it up.

“Yes, last one,” I said and he immediately turned away and took it outside. Even though I told myself that I would go home after a day of running errands, I decided to stay and help box up Carter’s valuables for the U-Haul truck. (Okay, and I also stayed behind to stare at him a little more so I could figure out what the hell was happening to me and my poor, confused brain.)

I looked over at Carter again and realized he was looking at me, too.

“Do you need me to stay and help with anything else?” I asked.

“I need you to go get some sleep.” He looked concerned. “Everything’s not going to get done tonight. You can come back tomorrow and help.”

“I’m not tired,” I said honestly.

“In that case…” Josh walked back inside at that very moment and pointed to a massive stack of boxes in the corner. “Could you organize all of the alcohol in those boxes by brand and type, please? And then when you get done, could you organize the rest?” He pointed to another stack that was hiding behind the doorframe.”