Second Chances

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Casey never got a chance to see much of Carter's hangover the day after he celebrated with Thao. Jon's crying finally woke her that morning, and by the time she had fed and changed the baby, Carter had already gotten up and was in the shower. She briefly debated joining him, but then decided that she should probably take a more *subtle* approach the first time they made love.

She was trading jokes with Thomas in the kitchen when Carter walked in, dressed in one of his most conservative pin-stripe business suits. "Good morning," she said, failing to hide the surprise in her voice. "You look......nice."

"Thanks." He allowed himself a shy smile at her compliment, but then he turned to Thomas. "I won't be able to stick around for breakfast, Thomas. Can I just get some strong black coffee in a travel mug?"

Casey finally noticed his briefcase and overnight bag on the floor next to the kitchen door. "You're leaving?"

Carter nodded, inhaling the scent of the coffee like it was ambrosia. "I got a phone call while you were taking care of Jon this morning. Things are falling into place fast with our project, and I need to go to Washington to make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed with the bureaucrats." He took a sip of coffee from a cup as Thomas poured more into a lidded mug.

"So....you'll be back tonight?"

He blew on the coffee in the cup and shook his head. "Nope. I've got to attend some kind of legal circus called Hart-Scott-Rodino hearings, and then I've got to put on a dog-and-pony show at the SEC to convince them they don't need to stick their noses in it." He glanced up at her as he took another sip of coffee. "No stock involved – no SEC."

Casey tried to sound blasé. "And you're going.....alone?"

She was surprised when Carter took a disgusted breath and ran a hand through his hair. "This isn't a pleasure trip, Casey. I'll be on the go to meetings constantly, conferring with Thao on the phone at all hours of the day and night, catching a meal where I can – not a single five-star restaurants on my itinerary......."

"OK, OK!" She held up both hands and walked around to the other side of the kitchen counter. Casey stared at a cuticle on her left hand and shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "......I was just curious.....I mean, I didn't know if ...... well, if you were the only one going or if ......well, if Miranda was......"

She heard Carter's sigh of embarrassment and when she looked up, he was leaning against the counter at the hip and shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Casey. I shouldn't have blown up at you. It's just that you always used to....." His face got even redder when Thomas gave him a stern look that reminded him of the way his mother looked at him when he flushed her favorite gloves down the toilet as a child. ".....I mean, you used to get really angry when......" Casey heard Thomas's in-drawn breath behind her, and when she turned to look at him, she thought she was seeing the volcano god in her own kitchen. But before she could question it, Carter's touch on her hand brought her back to their conversation. "To answer your question properly – yes, I'll be going alone."

"And you'll be coming back here – we won't be going back to LA yet?"

Carter laughed out loud. "I only *wish* this project was that close to being a wrap." He sighed and went to pick up his briefcase, grabbing the travel-mug of coffee along the way. "Hopefully I can wrap this up in two day' time – three max."

Casey followed him as he juggled the coffee and briefcase while trying to pick up his overnight bag. "Here," she offered, "I can at least help carry something to the car for you."

But just as she made the offer, one of the house-boys showed up and raised an eyebrow at Carter. He nodded quickly and the boy grabbed the overnight bag and headed towards the front door. Carter turned back to her with a soft smile. "Thanks for the offer, Casey, but I wouldn't let you carry anything that heavy anyway."