Steel and Lace (Lace Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

announced and we made our way to a large room overlooking the river. We were seated in groups of eight, and Carter introduced me to everyone at the table. One woman, not much older than Carter, held my gaze and appraised me thoughtfully when he introduced me. She had shiny, long dark hair with almond-shaped eyes, and wore a sexy navy blue cocktail dress.
    "Evangeline, this is John Davis and Madeleine Snow." A small smile played on the woman's lips. I glanced at Carter to gauge his reaction to her, but he showed none. I nodded to each of them with a smile, and began fidgeting with my hands under the table. Carter noticed, and took his warm hand in mind, holding it in his lap. I sighed and willed my heart to stop thumping.
    Conversation at the table was lively throughout dinner and I smiled and nodded when appropriate. Carter hardly spoke to me, but he kept a firm grip on my hand. When I tried to pull away, he only held it tighter. By the time dessert had arrived I was bored and ready for the night to end. Clearly I had only been invited to be arm candy, Carter had hardly addressed me all tonight.
    "Problem, Evangeline?" Carter leaned over and whispered in my ear. My eyes darted to his with a look of irritation.
    "I think it's time for me to go," I tried to pull my hand from Carter's.
    "That's a shame, Evangeline," his eyes sparked dangerously as he slid my hand up his thigh and made contact with his very obvious arousal. "I’ve been quite excited to be by your side all night," his gaze bore into mine. My breathing hitched and tingles immediately surged through my body. I bit my lip and pulled my hand back into my lap. He placed his hand on my upper thigh and gently rubbed back and forth, creeping a little higher with each pass. Carter returned to the conversation at the table as if he weren't driving me wild beneath the tablecloth. I tried to adjust my lower body to deter Carter from continuing, but it seemed to only excite him as his fingertips ghosted higher up my thigh. He continued to rub back and forth where the top of my thigh met my torso. I couldn’t take another minute of his torture.
    "Excuse me," I stood and smiled at the table. Carter stood and grasped my hand. "I’m going to the restroom," I whispered to him. A dangerous look flashed in his eyes when I dropped his hand and stepped away. I made my way out of the dining room and headed for the double doors. I sucked a deep breath of fresh night air into my lungs and slumped against the brick wall. I had half a mind to call Cate and have her come and get me.
    "Having fun with Carter?" Madeleine Snow approached me with a cold smile on her face. "You know he's not someone that you build your dreams on.”
    "Thanks for the warning," my eyes gazed out into the cold Boston night.
    "Carter breaks hearts. Once you fuck him he'll drop you." I without a doubt should have called Cate to come get me. I wasn't interested in being Carter's arm candy, or allowing some vicious woman who thought she had a claim on him to sharpen her claws on me.
    "Trust me, Evangeline. Once he's gotten what he wants he moves on to the next," with that she turned on her heel and headed back in the doors. I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone to text Cate.
    "What's with the disappearing act?" Carter walked out of the doors of the building with a confident gate.
    "I needed air," I averted my eyes from his gaze.
    "Let's go," he put his arm around my hip and the air crackled with energy between us. "I made an appearance. And I can’t stop thinking about getting you out of that dress," he pressed his body to mine to show me just how aroused he was. My breathing hitched and my hand came up to the back of his neck. I inhaled his fresh, cool water scent and I think my body swayed with arousal. I was hopelessly drawn to him like a moth to a flame, it didn't matter what Madeleine said. I had a feeling I would get burned by Carter Morgan, but I didn't care. 
    He pressed his lips to mine and ran his