Carter pressed his forehead against hers. “I kinda love you too.”
Chapter 14
Elaina settled Charlotte into one of her guest bedrooms. Irritated, she plopped down on the sofa, trying to figure out her next move. Watching Carter and Harlem act like a couple in her kitchen made Elaina want to burn the whole place down. Elaina threw her head back, covered her mouth with a pillow, and silently screamed. Every time she made significant progress with Carter, Harlem was somewhere in the background messing it up. We would be together if it wasn’t for her.
Elaina replaced the decorative pillow on the sofa and began to aggressively rub her forehead out of frustration. She hadn’t known that Carter and Charlotte were so estranged. Of course, she knew they weren’t close. Carter didn’t have a single picture of his family in his entire home. He never discussed them. A person didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. Still, Elaina would not have guessed this level of tension. She blew out an exaggerated breath. How useful is Charlotte? Elaina hadn’t quite decided. If Charlotte couldn’t be helpful in her case to win Carter, there was no need to keep her around. “Is there anything I can leverage out of this relationship?” She spoke quietly to herself.
Elaina could hear Charlotte leave her room and walk toward the living room. She worked to straighten her demeanor.
Charlotte appeared wearing a much-practiced grin that spread wide across her face. “Thank you so much for your hospitality.” I can’t believe I’m staying in this little dump. If I didn’t have to watch every penny, I would have stayed at the hotel. Charlotte looked around before complimenting Elaina. “You have such a lovely home.”
“You are so very welcome!” Elaina lied. “Anything for Carter’s mom and the grandmother of my child.”
Charlotte cringed at the word. She couldn’t imagine being anyone’s grandmother. Time had stolen her youth, but she fought tooth and nail against it, as evidenced by her toned and slim five-foot-eight frame. Her Pilate’s instructor should be proud. Not only did Charlotte not feel old enough to be someone’s grandparent, she knew she didn’t necessarily look like one. Her friends had a different opinion about aging gracefully, and she would not take that ridiculous advice. Charlotte refused to let wrinkles reveal her truth. Her latest face-lift had taken at least ten years off of her sixty-eight-year-old self. It was the same for her hair. Charlotte would never be caught dead allowing it to gray. Absolutely not. She’d probably single-handedly put her colorist’s children through college. The woman was amazing at keeping her shiny blonde tresses styled in the same vein as top-dollar fashion models.
“Please, have a seat.” Elaina didn’t know what last name to call Charlotte. Did she call her Mrs. Owens? Mrs. DuMont? Mrs. Tillis? Elaina opted to just leave it alone and pasted on a bright smile.
“Thank you.” Charlotte took a seat next to Elaina. “This was an interesting morning.”
“Quite.”
Charlotte turned all-knowing blue eyes toward Elaina. “I might have been much more useful if you had leveled with me. I don’t like being used without my permission.”
“I’m sorry?” Elaina pretended to be confused.
Charlotte sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “This ain’t my first time at this rodeo, darlin’. You’re trying to catch a man that’s already been caught. That man is my son.”
Elaina appreciated her honesty. She dropped all pretenses and figured a little truth-telling was in order too. “First, why would you help me? And secondly, how do you think you can? It doesn’t seem as if you and Carter have a warm and fuzzy relationship.”
“It’s no secret that Carter and my relationship is strained. It always has been. One day, he will realize that he owes his success to me.” Charlotte tapped a finger on her chest. “I made sure Carter had the best of everything. For years, I even put up with his father openly cheating. Douglas’s disrespect and appetite for women were voracious. I might have had a bit too much to drink to cope. But no mother has sacrificed more than I have for my son.” Her face tightened in defiance. “I downright refuse to apologize for what I sacrificed to secure his future.”
Elaina pondered her words. “Since we are being brutally honest, what about my second question. Why would you help me? What’s in it for you?”
I can control you. “I need an ally, and you’re a smart woman. I’m sure you’ve figured out I’m used to living a certain type of lifestyle. Carter is willing to provide a small monthly stipend out of obligation. He could do more. He should do more. I’m his mother, for God’s sake. The money he gives barely covers the bills. Men my age want women your age. Who knows what the future holds for another husband who can treat me the way I deserve. Since we seem to both be cut from the same cloth, I figured you could help.”
“We might be cut from the same cloth, but I’m not after Carter’s money,” Elaina said.
“Maybe not. But, you’ll stop at nothing to get my son. However, mimicking Harlem is not the way to go about it.”
Her words cut Elaina like a knife. Her
