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Her phone rang and she answered it There was lots of yelling in the background and the sound of slotplayed

"Melanie"

"Hey Daddy Did you forget to pay--"

"Our luck has change, sugar I won big tonight!" A woood luck char in therooet all preachy on me"

"Answer me"

Louis paused "Yeah"

Why couldn’t she catch a break? Of all the wos, he had to pick the one married to Carter’s uncle It was like God had it out for her

"But the real question you should be asking is how ain, Louis put her between a rock and a hard place Pretty soon, she wouldn’t have any breathing roorand I’round

"Guess you’re not going to cash out and coar Pay you back and help get you out of that trailer faster Do right by your momma I can feel it"

Tears pricked at her eyes She bit her lip, then forced a smile Why? She had no idea, because it wasn’t like Louis could see her tears or her sood, Daddy"

"Wish o"

"Good luck," she whispered

"Be back on Monday"

She ended their call, ain and tossed her phone on the counter It landed with a thud She needed more than chocolate; she needed a drink

Someone pounded on the door just as she opened the freezer "Be right there!" Ms White had ot off of work

Before she could do an about face, the knock turned into a consistent pounding "Hold your horses I’rew louder That couldn’t be Ms White Stopping by the onlyin the living roo at her door

Her heart bungeed-ju hiain and she had no desire to listen to Mrs Gregory lecture her about being a loose woory entertained three differentthe week And by entertain, she meant sex That little trailer, a camper really, would rock so hard that Melanie was sure it would fall on its side

Unlocking the door, she shoved it open, al Carter in the face "Can I help you?"

"Damn, woman You could’ve reminded me that your door didn’t open like norlared at him "Sorry, our doors don’t open the way people with real houses--"

"Be quiet" Carter pushed past her, practically barreling his way into her house and shut the door behind hiht you wanted h his dark hair "I didn’t coet your rocks off," she said turning to face hi you that I wasn’t in theyou in the"Planned to do soh and a snort left her "Oh you sweet talker, you Now I knohy April still wants to be with you"

The smirk that kicked up the corners up his sexy lips made her stomach drop to her toes "You sure are cute when you’re jealous, Miss Smith"

Her jaorked "Go ho dress at the ready"

"Don’t want April" Tugging on the sash of her robe, he crooked a finger at her "Co an insensitivecloser to hiive way and flash hionna happen"

He dipped his head, , baby And I’ whatever you need me to Maybe I need soave and theitself known A cold hand slipped inside, cupping her breast and ainst his palm "Daloves"

"If you put another cold hand on me, Carter Mason Arowled at hile his fingers at her Just as he attempted to slide his other hand inside, her knee came up He stopped her with a twist of his hips "What if I war her breasthis thuher and hotter with each lazy pass "Thing is, sweetheart, you’re so dah to touch you"

She felt herself softening, giving into hiendary charive it a try anyway" He vigorously rubbed his hand up and down the outside of his thigh "Let’s see if I got it right"

Breathing became hard to do as his hand hovered in the air Her lashes fluttered as he gently touched her neck, his warue trace the base of her throat His soft hair brushed the side of her face

"Carter," she whispered "I’m still upset with you"

"Did all the coffee coet you out of the hot seat"

His tongue touched the lobe of her ear, then his teeth nibbled on the flesh"No place I’d rather be than in your hot seat"

"Oh God," she moaned