Chapter 125 Carter the Charmer
It was a joyful time when Teddy and his family arrived for a visit.
After being stuck on the farm, the teens enjoyed discovering everything the big city had to offer, while Teddy and his wife seemed grateful and happy just to be together.
Just as Byron had expected, Teddy did want to see Sylvia while he was in town, and he tried to arrange it in a way that would be acceptable for all concerned. Emily liked his idea of having a lot of people over so that everyone could mingle and Sylvia would not get too snippy.
“How about we invite Carter?” Emily said.
She was sitting at the kitchen table opposite Byron as they made up a list of guests to invite for their house party. Byron’s expression told her, not surprisingly, that he was not too pleased with the idea.
“You know he thinks of you as more than a friend?” he asked.
“Yeah, but he’ll get over it eventually. And he invited me to go wall-climbing with him a few days ago. Maybe it would be more ‘proper’ for me to ask him to come to the party instead, where you can keep an eye on him.”
“Well, I do prefer it to you and him going wall-climbing together…” Byron mused, frowning in a handsome and alluring way. “But are we really going to have my mother and Carter at the same party?”
Emily couldn't resist the mental picture that created, the sophisticated older lady meeting the rebellious biker. “Yeah, it’ll be funny.”
“You’re right,” Byron said, chuckling, “let’s do it.”
They both decided to invite some friends and colleagues from work so as to fill up the party even more with different types of people. This way, Sylvia would be comfortable seeing her ex there.
Emily wore a deep red A-line dress for the party. She noticed quite a few men staring at her since the dress was ridiculously eye-catching, but she wore it only with one man in mind.
The party started in a lively way, music with a good beat playing, and people laughing as they gathered in small groups all over the living room. The house was decorated with yellow and red autumn leaves for the occasion, the only problem being that the two dogs tried to jump up and chomp on these hanging targets.
Emily just laughed, saying, “They’re practicing they’re hunting skills, it’s all good.”
“My cat does exactly the same thing,” Sylvia remarked as she shrugged off her jacket in the entrance hall. “I can’t have any decorations anymore, but I adore him, and he knows he can get away with it.”
“I’d recognize that voice anywhere,” Teddy said, coming over from across the room.
“Still alive, Teddy?” Sylvia said with a sassy smile.
“Ha ha, it was a close one, though,” he replied good-naturedly. “You’re looking good as ever, Sylvia.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you’re still with us,” she replied, “And who is this fine young gentleman? He reminds me of a modern-day Tarzan.”
To Emily’s horror and amusement, Sylvia was heading straight for Carter. She exchanged looks with Byron, who wore a mystified expression.
“This is my friend Carter Jacks,” Emily said with a touch of pride. She wondered whether Byron would be terribly annoyed if his mother actually got on well with Carter.
“You don’t see a lot of men with long hair these days,” Sylvia said in a velvety, seductive voice. “And yours is so shiny.”
“I use coconut oil to condition it,” Carter bragged.
“My ex-husband had long, flowing hair when we met back in the early ‘80s. It looked so sexy.”
Byron looked like he couldn’t handle the sight of his mother bonding with Carter anymore, and he went to refill his drink. Emily thought this was more enjoyable than she had ever imagined. Carter seemed to be liking the attention, as he always did.
“I wonder if Carter is into older women,” Emily said, grinning wickedly at Byron.
“This can’t be happening,” he said, blinking hard in disbelief. “Oh good, mom is getting distracted by my star employee, Brandon.”
“And here I thought Carter could be your new stepfather,” Emily teased.
Meanwhile, Carter too was distracted by a young woman who made her entrance to the party wearing a light pink chiffon dress that suited her lean figure perfectly. It was Emily’s protégé, Katie. Carter stood there open-mouthed just staring at her.
Emily went to greet Katie and her parents. She thought the party would be a good occasion for her to get to know Katie’s family. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Carter continue to stare.
Katie’s parents told Emily how much they appreciated her being a mentor to their daughter, and she felt extremely flattered. Katie traipsed off to find a snack, with Carter still watching her, though now he had perhaps composed himself.
After pouring some drinks for Katie’s parents, Emily joined Byron, who was also observing Carter’s prowling ways.
“He’s literally hitting on every woman in the room,” Emily whispered.
“As long as he’s not hitting on my mom anymore,” Byron whispered back.
“I think it was more a case of your mom hitting on him,” Emily replied.
Finally, it seemed Carter pulled himself together enough to talk to Katie while she raided the snack table.
“Is heaven missing one of its angels?” he said.
“Seriously, that’s his line?” Byron rolled his eyes.
Emily snickered, doubting that Katie would be impressed by a guy like Carter. He was not exactly the wealthy, sophisticated billionaire the young woman aspired to.
But Katie let out a surprised tinkling laugh and said, “That’s a cute line. Does it usually work?”
“Enough to break the ice,” Carter said. “Hi, I’m Carter.”
“Very nice to meet you, Carter,” Katie said.
