Just a Little Hope Read Online Free

Seb and Tori laughing until they cried.
    The bathroom door swung open.
    â€œWhat’s so funny? Wait… What are you doing here?”
    Startled, Tori looked up. No! Blue eyes twinkled at her.
    â€œYou again?”

    ****

    Carter shook his head. It seemed the same girl showed up everywhere he went these days. Not that he minded. She was a cute little thing with her fiery red hair. And the way her green eyes flashed, he couldn’t help but sense an immediate attraction spike through his body.
    â€œOkay. You are without a doubt stalking me.”
    Carter’s eyes grew round. “Me stalking you? I believe I was here first. Much like the parking garage and the car dealership. You’ve got a totally warped way of thinking, Jessica.”
    He chuckled to himself when she narrowed her eyes at the use of the nickname. He pushed her a bit further. “So, what are you doing here? You need some help getting more papers out from under cars or perhaps my bumper needs another dent?”
    Pax’s voice interrupted their staring contest. “Wait? What? What is he talking about? Have you two met each other? And why is he calling you Jessica?”
    Carter didn’t move but kept his eyes on Tori, watching for her reaction.
    Tori held his gaze for another moment and then cut her eyes over to the bed toward Pax and Seb. “Remember when I brought you the papers the other day and they were a little worse for wear because they scattered all over the parking garage and someone helped me get them?”
    â€œYes. You mentioned a Mr. Blue Eyes saved the day.”
    At this, Carter swung his head around to Pax. “Mr. Blue Eyes, you say?” His question caused the redhead to squirm and only made him want to see how far he could take this little competition. “Yes, Jessica . Tell them about Mr. Blue Eyes. I’d like to hear about him myself.”
    A smile tugged at his lips when Tori’s cheeks flamed to the same color as her hair.
    Her emerald eyes continued to pierce his in an apparent refusal to speak. Okay. A standoff? No problem .
    â€œCarter, I think she’s not gonna admit anything to you.”
    Carter’s shoulders started to shake as he tried to control his laughter. Turning toward Seb, he pointed a thumb in Tori’s direction. “I didn’t know she referred to the person who helped her out as Mr. Blue Eyes. But if that’s the case, I know him well. Quite well, actually. Jessica is evidently someone we know who might sacrifice comfort for fashion a little too much.”
    Tori stomped her foot on the floor and muttered under her breath.
    Seb leaned over in Tori’s direction. “What? I don’t think we heard you?”
    Carter loved the fact Sebastian wanted to play along. He chuckled when Tori spun abruptly in Seb’s direction, quaking in apparent frustration.
    â€œOkay. Yes. This…man is the one who retrieved an elusive paper for me in the parking garage the other day. He’s also the one whose car I might have grazed at the dealership this morning. Therefore, he is Mr. Blue Eyes. Are you happy?”
    Tori’s face reddened more than her hair. Though Carter registered an inkling of sympathy for her plight, he still couldn’t refrain from joining in when Pax and Seb started laughing.
    â€œOh sure. Laugh at me. Laugh it up! Why is it these things happen to me?”
    To his surprise, she swiveled on her pretty pink high heels and stomped out of the room.
    Their laughter died down, and Pax looked at Seb. “Oh my! I better try and talk to her. Help me down off the bed. There’s got to be a wheelchair around here somewhere.”
    â€œHey there. No way, sweetheart. You are in no condition to be running or wheeling after her right now. She’ll cool off. She’s just embarrassed. Let me go talk to her.”
    Carter reached out and pressed his hand to Seb’s shoulder. “Wait. I’ll go talk to her. I knew I