Falling For An Inmate

CHAPTER 19

Arya Crawford

"I stole your file."

I had expected shouting, cursing, walking away, angry glares and the like but all I received was an unwavering, expressionless stare. He was silent as a grave.

I grew nervous under his intense grey gaze and started to fidget with the hem of my shirt. Carter stared at me silently for exactly ten seconds. And then he spoke in the calmest manner imaginable.

Which is when I picked up that when Carter was furious beyond belief, he didn't go wild. Instead, he became eerily quiet.

"You stole my file." Statement not question. "Why?"

"To show to Charlie. She's a criminal defence attorney..."

I trailed off as I saw the muscle in his jaw twitch at the clenching of his teeth.

"I told you I wasn't interested."

"But-"

My mouth fell shut before I could finish the rest of my sentence when I glanced at his ice-cold eyes and hard-set jaw. I lowered my eyes to my lap and remained quiet like when a teacher was scolding a student.

"Look, I know you want to get behind bars to be around me all the time but you do know that there are separate prisons for women. You wouldn't be in here with me for stealing confidential information."

My head shot up and I searched his features for a hint of humor or amusement to match his teasing statement but all I saw was a serious expression. Until that is, he sighed and his eyes softened.

"You are so stupid, Arya. You're gonna get screwed."

The rigidity in my frame vanished and I relaxed as I saw that he wasn't as angry as he had been a few moments ago.

"No no, I wont. Its all been taken care of. Don't worry about me. Just agree to meet with Charlie?"

"Arya, I don't-"

"Please?" I pleaded, attempting to execute the puppy dog eyes.

Carter closed his eyes, dragged a hand over his face and sighed.

"I'll meet with her once-"

I squealed so loud in delight that a couple of heads turned to look at us from the other tables.

"I'll meet with her once, but if I still think its pointless then we drop it. No further discussion on the matter. Deal?"

I bobbed my head up and down fervently with a grin splitting my face. Carter smiled and shook his head in amusement.

Just as this matter was settled and the air between us wasn't thick with wishes about me being dead in that moment, we fell into casual and comfortable conversation.

We talked about any and everything. He joked. I laughed. He flirted. I made a face. He laughed. I was endlessly happy in his company, not having a care in the world. Spending time with Carter never failed to lift my spirits and I never not found him fascinating. He had this quick wit about him that always left me thinking that this was what I needed in my life, for the rest of my life.

Several times after heated arguments about something trivial or inappropriate jokes, we'd fall into a comfortable silence.

We'd both place our chins on our arms folded on the table and just look at each other, without uttering a word. It was never awkward and I felt so much at peace that I was sure I did need this in my life. It wasn't a question.