A Heart For Business draft 2 Read Online Free Page A

way of repaying you for helping me.  You can’t leave me with this debt on my conscience.” 
    “Okay.” Vanessa said with a playful smile.
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    Vanessa and Carter spent the whole afternoon together via their cell phones, as Carter led her from one terrific place to another.  She’d made sure he had all the medications and food he needed within arm’s reach before heading out into the city, and he made sure she had the time of her life.  He guided her through Manhattan and the Burroughs and showed her the best place to get an Italian soda, watch an off-off Broadway performance, eat the best hot dog, and listen to the best live music.  She hated to admit it, but he really did know a lot about the city.  He led her to places she never would have found on her own, apart from the traditional tourist traps, but still quintessential New York.  It was the most fun she’d had in a long time.
    Carter wasn’t sure, but he thought he might be having an even better time than Vanessa, if that were possible.  It had been years since he’d taken time off just for fun.   He felt like he’d found a kindred spirit in Vanessa.   She was hard-working, driven, and successful; so much so that she had never taken the time to play tourist in the very city where she lived.  It wasn’t uncommon amongst New Yorkers to live their entire lives never enjoying the many sites the city had to offer, it just never occurred to Carter that Vanessa wasn’t a New Yorker.  She was educated, sophisticated, strong, and straight-forward, with just enough of a quirky sense of humor to keep things light.
    He wanted to the tour he sent her on to be as fun and unique as she was, and was pleased that she enjoyed the same things that he did.  He just wished he could have actually been by her side, laughing along with her instead of just hearing it on the phone, although the pictures she was able to send were the next best thing. By the end of the day, they were both exhausted but happy.
    “This day has been great, but I think we’d better call it night.” Vanessa said into her phone, as she emailed Carter an image of herself standing in front of the Brooklyn Bridge with sun setting behind her.  “You sound like you need your rest, and I know I do. I’m going to go home now and soak in a nice hot bath.”
    “Well don’t stop the tradition now. Send me a picture of that too.” Carter joked.  He knew she was right though.  He wasn’t used to so much activity and his healing body was desperate for sleep, even though his heart and mind wanted the day to last forever.
    He could hear Vanessa’s smile over the phone as she quipped “Nice try, but I don’t think our relationship is quite ready for sexting yet.”
    “Yet? So there’s potential that someday it might be?  I’ll take that!” Carter said enthusiastically, and they both laughed.   It felt good to laugh.  It had been a long time since either one of them had felt carefree and able to be silly with someone.  With Trevor, their relationship had been all about him bossing her around and her arguing with him about it.  They’d never had any fun together.  She realized now how much she missed that feeling and didn’t want to let it go now, although she had too.  It would be foolish to let Carter overexert himself now that his body was finally on the mend. 
    “Goodnight Carter.” Vanessa said softly into her cell phone.
    “Will you come over tomorrow?” he asked. His voice sounded desperate even to himself, but he didn’t care. He really wanted to see her again.  It had been a long time since he’d had so much fun too.
    “If you’re a good boy.” Vanessa promised and hung up the phone.
     
    ***
     
    True to her word, Vanessa came to see Carter the next morning, and every day after that too. A true bond of friendship formed between the two of them, and they spent long days together playing board games, watching television, and just plain