Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 40

Briar

Walking down the streets of Divide beside Carter felt both comfortable and weird. He had prompted me into a few stores and I had a bag or two of random clothing. Mostly, jeans, tees, a few random blouses, and a random tank top or two. However, what I needed were basics, socks, underwear, a few bras, and some tennis shoes. Everywhere I went, the inhabitants’ eyes darted from me to Carter. He introduced me to the shop owners briefly, then stood and chatted while I shopped and browsed the stores he led me into. They all seemed nice and friendly, though I kept mostly to myself, giving them a polite thank you as I left, whether I bought anything or not. 

Carter talked about each shop briefly as we passed by them, giving his own two cents about what was what within them. He was rambling on about an artisan bakery when my eyes caught the sight of a thrift shop with biker jackets in the window. My feet carried me in as I barely registered Carter’s ‘Wait’.

My eyes gazed over the racks, as Carter rushed in behind me.

“Carter?” a woman’s voice came from the back of the store as his hand caught my shoulder, and he was tense.

“Miranda,” he said shortly, stepping in front of me, blocking the owner of the voice from my view. Didn’t Grandpa say something about Tucker going after her…oh, she’s the ex. I stepped back further into the store to give them some privacy. My ears, however, couldn’t help but hone in on the conversation as I only half paid attention to my shopping.

“Whatcha doing here?” she purred, as he stepped closer to her but kept a rack of clothes between them.

“Just showing Briar around,” he replied, slipping his hands into his pockets.

I watched Miranda’s brunette head careen over to survey me, as I shopped the racks.

“Oh?” she asked, as Carter blocked her view of me. What was that about?

“Yeah, she's new here. Jake left her his place.” Carter explained, shifting again to block me from view.

“What? Is she your new charge?”

“Back off, Miranda, she’s off limits,” he growled out.

“So you're protecting outsiders now, Car? She won’t last long regardless,” she said, fingering some clothes on the rack.

“Back off, if you know what’s good for you,” he snarled, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper.

Miranda huffed. “Seems like somebody needs to remember who he is,” she growled back, her teeth gritting. I understood why Tucker didn’t like her. Miranda was a B.I.T.C.H.

“I know exactly who and what I am Miranda, you’d do best to remember who you answer to,” Carter bit back. I guess the sweet golden retriever had a bite to him. It made me smile.

“I’ll be outside,” I announced. “Nothing around here peaks my interest,” I said walking out. I didn’t want Carter to have to stay in that environment much longer. Seeing him tense up, raised the hairs on my neck, and I decided Miranda could go fuck herself for making him feel that way. I wanted to get in her face about it, but something told me they needed to deal with this on their own. Carter was a big boy, a very hot, and masculine figure, I might add, who could handle his ex without my involvement. It wasn't my place to intervene. There was more than Tucker's dislike that had gone on between them. Whatever transpired the few moments before he joined me at the bakery, where I had bought a few loaves of bread, because who doesn't like fresh baked bread, was his business. The bakery worker eyed Carter as he sauntered up to me at the counter as she bagged the bread.

“Do we have cheese? I have a hankering for a comfort meal,” I let him know. He seemed relieved I didn’t ask about Miranda, rest assured I was keeping tabs on his interactions now.

“We have some, but we can see if there's something else you want,” he said, glancing up to the worker who was no doubt eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Mandy, this is Briar, she’s Jake's niece,” Carter introduced me, and Mandy blinked a few times before slipping into a too cheerful smile.

“Wow! I wasn’t aware he had a niece! Welcome to Divide!” she said, cheerfully. I didn’t trust her friendliness but I just smiled.

“Thanks!” I replied, collecting my bread, Carter promptly snatched it from me as he had with every other bag of stuff I bought. I narrowed my eyes at him as we walked out. “Ya know, two loaves of bread aren’t going to break me?” I complained. He just shrugged, pointing to a store up the road.

“I'll go get the truck, any other basics you might need will be there.” I nodded, and went into the simple store. It was full of a variety of ready to wear items. I grabbed a basket and headed for the socks and underwear. There weren’t a lot of choices, but I shoved some socks and underwear in my basket before I found a few random tees and pants. Carter joined me a few moments later. 

I side eyed him, he was uneasy, he bristled even. I’d ask him later what that was all about, but right now, all I wanted to do was snap him out of his blatant aggravation.

“Grilled cheese and tomato soup tonight? We can do a salad with the leftover steak or potatoes?” I asked my temporary roommate.

“Maybe, both?” he questioned, and I just nodded, grabbing some concealer off an endcap and heading to the checkout counter. He stood off to the side. He looked like he was fine, but deep down, somehow, I could tell he was uncomfortable. Maybe it was about Miranda, or maybe it was about his friendliness to me in public; where outsiders weren't wanted, but a sneaking suspicion told me it was more than that. I paid and grabbed my bags. The moment we were out of the store, Carter snatched them before taking them to the tuck. 

“You know, I might be a bit broken but I’m not helpless,” I drawled, when he came back. He dipped his head slightly, in acknowledgement.

“I know, but I was raised properly. I understand you are as independent as they come, but you can’t train the chivalry out of me,” he pointed out.

“You said people don't like outsiders. You don't have to tag along if you have something better to do. I'm crimping your style.” I said, playfully bumping my shoulder into his.

He snorted, tossing his arm over my shoulders. “Nah, let them talk and wonder, give them something interesting to gossip about, you're my new best friend, if anything, it will make me more popular,” he said, adjusting his cowboy hat and smirking down at me. 

I shook my head, “Here I am, trying to be inconspicuous and my bestie is hell bent on everyone knowing who I am.”

“Sorry to say, Briar, but I don't think you could be inconspicuous anywhere you went.” He let his arm fall off my shoulders and tugged on my hair.

“I thought about dying it, you know, but it reminds me too much of my mama,” I sighed, as he guided me into a deli.