“But, when the mother of your child reached out to me, I figured this was my chance to make it up to you. She’s a lovely girl. I like her.”
Carter knew damn well Harlem wouldn’t have called his mother. And, of course, Harlem would walk into the kitchen just as his mother finished speaking. He could tell that she had heard at least the tail end of their conversation by the tense smile on her face.
“Hello.” Harlem was about to introduce herself but stopped mid-sentence when Carter’s mother gave her the craziest look.
Charlotte’s smile froze as her head lowered. She zeroed in on Harlem’s stomach. Harlem could see her trying to form thoughts and words. Charlotte opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She blinked a few times at an obviously pregnant Harlem.
Elaina had reached out to her. Harlem knew it with every fiber of her being.
Carter felt a massive-sized migraine coming. “Charlotte, this is Harlem Thomas, and we’re having a baby.” Carter did not want to introduce her to his mother or anyone else in his family. They were nothing like Harlem’s mom and dad. Dysfunctional was too good a word to describe his parents.
As if the situation wasn’t already bad enough, it quickly got worse. “Sorry. It took longer than I expected to park the car.” Elaina strolled into the kitchen through the garage door wearing a smile that would have made Colgate proud. Her happiness was only enhanced by the sight of Harlem.
The unmitigated gall. Harlem wanted to stay out of the gutter, but Elaina was really about to take her there.
Charlotte’s look of confusion as she glanced between Harlem and Elaina would have been comical if the situation hadn’t been so insane. However, her expression couldn’t compare to Carter’s shock at seeing Elaina. She breezed into his house, looking like a carbon copy of Harlem. “What in the entire fuck?”
Carter couldn’t script this sort of crazy. “Elaina?”
Chapter 13
“Good morning, Carter.” Elaina beamed as she walked further into the kitchen. “I hope you like my surprise.”
He sucked in a deep breath to rein in his temper. “Elaina, you cannot continue to show up here unannounced and uninvited.”
Elaina looked like a wide-eyed innocent. “I was invited by your mother, Carter.”
“Let me rephrase.” His jaw clenched. “The next time you show up at my house uninvited, you will be left standing outside.”
Elaina tilted her head to the side. “C’mon, now. You wouldn’t leave the mother of your child in the cold.”
It was her trump card, and clearly, Elaina planned to use it. Harlem had had enough of Elaina’s shenanigans, and she needed to put Elaina in her place.
She was Carter’s woman, and as such, Harlem refused to give Elaina the upper hand. His home could conceivably be considered her house. Treat the witch as a guest. “Well, this is . . . awkward.” Harlem acknowledged the elephant in the room and then moved about the kitchen as if she owned it. “Why don’t I make us all some coffee?” I should put rat poison in Elaina’s shit, but I don’t know Carter’s mother well enough. She might snitch.
Harlem’s reaction was not at all what Carter expected. As she walked past him, she caught his hand in hers and gently squeezed. It was her signal that they were a team. It had only been a few hours since Harlem had committed to their relationship. She wouldn’t allow Elaina or Charlotte to divide them. However, Harlem had to admit, Carter wasn’t lying when he said Elaina would be a pain in his ass for the rest of his life. She had already started, and the baby wasn’t even here.
He was worth it. Harlem was not going to run away when things got hard, and this was a challenging moment.
Carter slid his hands up to Harlem’s rapidly expanding middle and pulled her close before planting a long and lingering kiss against her lips. It was his version of thank you and a clear statement as to who he was in a relationship with.
Elaina was fit to be tied. She was watching all of her hard work go up in flames.
“Carter?” His mother called out to him. “Do you think I can have a word with you in private?”
And leave Elaina and Harlem alone–in the same room? Oh hell, no. He was about to say as much when Harlem pulled away and started walking over to the coffee maker.
“We’ll be fine. Plus, that will give Elaina and me a moment to chat.”
That was not a good idea. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” Harlem said sweetly as she turned eyes that could cut ice over to Elaina.
“I’m sure the ladies will be fine.” Charlotte agreed. “Please, I just need a moment.” She pleaded with him.
Carter looked around the room at each of the women. How the hell did I get caught up like this? Carter was nervous about what his absence might mean. Harlem said she could handle it, but Elaina? Could she? Something was not clicking on all cylinders with her. Hell, Carter wasn’t sure if he wanted to be alone with her. Still, after taking another moment to consider his mother’s request, Carter figured the quickest way to get everyone out of his house was to speak with her. He nodded. “Follow me.”
*****
Carter directed his mother to his library. They went inside, and he closed the door. Carter got right to the point. “You wanted to talk–talk.”
Charlotte glanced around the room. “You have a beautiful home. It’s a shame I’ve never seen it before.” She planned to take her sweet time.
“If it’s not
