Carter (Remington Ranch Book 3) (13 page)

“Sounds perfect.” She urged Lola forward and smiled a bright smile, determined to enjoy the day. She’d be crazy not to. No matter what the future might or might not hold, today she was with this beautiful man, in this beautiful place—how could she
not
enjoy that?

Chapter Thirteen

Carter was tired when he got home from work on Monday afternoon. It’d been a great few days, but he hadn’t gotten much sleep. He smiled as he let himself in the back door. He’d never been happier! He peeked into the laundry room where Hero was nursing her kittens. She looked up and blinked at him happily. He was starting to think that Summer was right and he had four new permanent house guests. He couldn’t help but wish that Summer herself would become a permanent feature in his life. He’d loved spending the weekend with her. He’d only left her place this morning and only then because he was starting a new job today. He’d gotten the contract to redo and maintain the grounds of the county offices up in town. He’d needed to be on site for the first day of the job. Things had gone well and his guys had a handle on what he wanted done. He didn’t plan to spend all his time there over the next few weeks.

He set out fresh food and water for Hero and then went to check the shed. Buster was lounging on one of the shelves and came to rub around Carter’s legs in greeting. He butted Carter’s arm as he filled up the food bowl and refreshed the water.

“How’s it going, old fella?”

Buster butted his arm again, but didn’t seem to have much to say for himself as he buried his face in the bowl.

Carter left him to it. He was headed for the gym. He needed to fit in a quick workout before he went back down to see Summer tonight. He wanted to get back to her place as soon as he could, but four days with no gym had him feeling like crap. He wouldn’t stay too long, but he needed to go.

He was almost done with his workout when he spotted Melanie. He sighed and focused on another set of reps. He felt bad that he’d dodged her last week, but he still didn’t feel like talking to her. It seemed he wasn’t going to have a choice about it tonight, though. She came straight over. At least she waited for him to finish his set before she spoke.

“Hey.”

He nodded. “Hi, Melanie.” He decided he needed to just go for it. Tell her he wasn’t interested and get this over with as soon as possible. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you about maybe going out, but…”

She held her hand up with a smile. “That’s okay. I get it. I’ll admit I was a little disappointed at first, but when I ran into Summer at your place, I understood. You could have just told me, you know.”

Carter frowned. Summer hadn’t mentioned running into Melanie, and what was it that he could have just told her. He waited for her to explain.

She looked around before she spoke again, as if to check that no one was listening. “You could have told me that you two were seeing each other.”

Had Summer told her that they were? “We weren’t when you and I talked.”

Melanie smiled. “But you are now! Don’t worry, I didn’t come to give you a hard time. I just wanted to let you know I’m happy for you.” She seemed to mean it.

He shrugged. “Thanks.” He didn’t know what else to say.

Neither did Melanie. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah. See ya.”

~ ~ ~

Summer sat out on the deck. She’d had a lovely peaceful day. She’d spent most of it counting down the hours until Carter would return, but other than that she hadn’t done much at all. Now she sat looking out at the river. Hopefully he’d be here before too long. He’d said he was going to hit the gym first. Summer had wondered whether she should tell him about Melanie. She’d completely forgotten about it on Friday. There didn’t seem much point now though. He’d see her himself. She had to wonder what the history was between the two of them, but had to admit it was none of her business.

She did a double take when she saw movement on the path down by the river. She leaned forward and peered down there, then laughed when she realized it was Cassidy.

“Hola, chica!” she called and waved up at Summer.

“Hi! What on earth are you doing down there?”

Cassidy laughed. “I’m practicing braving the wild!”

“Huh?”

“Hang on. I’m coming up. I’ll tell you when I get there.”

Summer watched as she climbed the steps to the deck and then flopped down in the chair beside her.

“Are you going to offer me a drink?”

Summer grinned. “Let me guess—vino?”

“Yes, please!”

Summer went inside and returned with two glasses of wine. She handed one to Cassidy before taking her seat again.

Cassidy took a sip then smiled. “Ah, sustenance. It’s scary out there you know!”

Summer laughed. “Out where? Where have you been and what are you up to?”

“Like I said, I’m practicing braving the wilderness. You’ll come up against it yourself at some point, if Carter ever leaves your side.”

“Come up against what?”

“The fact that we live in bear and wolf and who knows what else country. It’s all fine and dandy and great to talk about, but what happens when you just want to go for a walk? Do you know where the bears are? Do you know what might leap out and want to eat you?”

Summer laughed. “No, of course I don’t.” She frowned. “And I suppose you’re right. I will come up against it at some point. I’m still just finding my feet here, but what do I do when I want to go hiking?”

“Exactly! I was ashamed to admit it, but I’d been hanging out in my house like it was a little oasis, but I don’t want to do that. I want to go out and explore. I don’t want to be ridiculously naïve about it, but I certainly don’t want to become something’s lunch either. I’ve been asking Shane all kinds of dumb questions, and today I thought it was time to venture out by myself. That little path down by the river from my house to yours seems like just a romantic little walk when you’ve got a big strong Montana man by your side. It looks a whole lot different when you’re by yourself and there’s a hungry critter lurking around every corner!”

Summer had to laugh. “But you braved it anyway, just to come see me?”

“Nah.” Cassidy grinned at her over the rim of her glass. “I came to see you because I was out braving it and needed a drink before I turn around to go back!”

“Thanks! Glad to know I come in handy for something.” Summer stuck her tongue out at her friend.

“You’re welcome. And while I’m here, how are you doing? It’s so different this time. I mean, last time you were here we spent so much time together, but now Shane’s at my place and you seem to be spending every waking moment with Carter.”

It was true. The two of them had hardly had any time together. “I’m doing great.” She smiled. “I’m loving spending time with Carter, and I know you and Shane are all wrapped up in each other.”

“We are, but I want to see you, too. If you can fit me in.”

“You know I can. Did you fix anything up with Chance for this week?”

Cassidy shook her head sadly. “He left for California yesterday. His dad had a stroke.”

“Oh, no! Is he going to be okay?”

Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t know yet. We haven’t heard anything. I want to call him, but Shane says he’ll call us if he wants to.”

“Poor guy. And it must be awful for his sister, just before her wedding.”

Cassidy nodded. “There’s nothing we can do for them though. And since we’re not going to get a night out with everyone, I thought you and I might have a day out.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I thought maybe we could go over to Bozeman one day. Have a girly shopping trip?”

“That sounds great, when?”

Cassidy laughed. “Don’t worry, we can do it on a weekday when Carter would be at work anyway.”

“Thanks.” Summer really did want to spend time with Cassidy, but she was glad she wouldn’t have to give up a day with Carter in order to do so. She shook her head. That wasn’t like her.

“What?” asked Cassidy. “What’s bugging you?”

“Just that, I’m not that girl, you know? The girl who skips out on her friends when there’s a new man on the scene. I’ve never been like that. It’s just that I keep thinking I want to spend as much time with him as I can. If we’re only going to have a short time together, I want to make the most of it.”

Cassidy raised an eyebrow and gave her a stern look. “And have you done any more thinking about whether you are going to have just a short time with him?”

Summer shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. I don’t know what I feel.”

Instead of the sympathy she’d been hoping for from her friend, she just got another stern look. “Well, I think you need to figure out how you feel sooner rather than later. And not just for your own sake. It’s hard watching Carter fall hook, line, and sinker for you. He’s going to be devastated when you leave.”

Summer hung her head. “And you think I’m not?”

Cassidy patted her arm gently. “No, I think you’re going to be just as bad as he is. What I really think is that you should get your act together and admit right now that you don’t want to leave.”

Summer’s head jerked up. It was true, but she didn’t want to admit it even to herself yet. It raised too many questions about how she could stay and would cause too many problems if she did.

Cassidy smiled. “Sorry. I told myself I wasn’t going to push, but I hate watching you do this to yourself—and to Carter.”

Summer nodded sadly. “Life’s not always about what you want though is it? It’s about what you have to do.”

Cassidy shook her head. “See, you’re talking to the wrong girl there. I’d tell you that life is all about what you want to do. The things you
have
to do are just obstacles to be overcome on the way to getting what you want.”

“In your world maybe, but it’s different for me. What about Autumn? What about Clay? I can’t just leave them in the lurch because I want something else.”

Cassidy nodded. “No, you can’t, and you never would; that’s where the obstacle part comes in. You have to find a way not to screw them over, but you can’t use them as an excuse to screw yourself over. And that’s what you’d be doing you know—screwing yourself over.” Cassidy took a long sip of her wine. “Anyways. I talk too much, and it’s up to you to figure out what you’re going to do and how you’re going to get there. It just boils down to, I care about you and I want to see you happy. And I care about Carter, too, and I don’t want to see him get hurt.”

Summer nodded. “Yeah, thanks. I just wish you were coming up with ways to make it all possible.”

“That’s for you to do. I can be a pain in your ass, and I can be your cheerleader, but you’re the one who has to figure it all out.”

Summer took a sip of her own wine and let out a big sigh. “I know.”

“Anyways. On to happier subjects. Have you heard from Autumn? Is she coming next weekend?”

“I don’t know. She hasn’t called me back yet. I’ll try her again in the morning.”

Cassidy nodded. “You know, when she sees you with Carter, she’s going to realize this is big?”

“You think so?” Summer’s voice cracked. It had been holding up so well the last few days, but it seemed that stress made it worse.

“We both know so! So you might want to do some thinking about what you want before she gets here.”

Summer nodded. Cassidy was right. She might want to just live in the moment and enjoy her time with Carter, but that wasn’t going to be fair to anyone around her.

“Sorry,” said Cassidy. “I didn’t mean to come over and pee on your parade, but I’d hate to see you go into ostrich mode and then have it all blow up in your face when you finally get your head out of the sand.”

Summer nodded. “Thanks. I know you’re just looking out for me…” She looked up at the sound of a truck coming down the driveway. It was Carter.

“I’m outta here,” said Cassidy and downed the rest of her wine in a gulp. “Have a great evening, I’ll call you tomorrow about a day out, okay?”

“Okay. You don’t need to go, though. Stick around and say hello.”

Cassidy shook her head. “Nah. It kills me to see the way he looks at you. If you do leave, I’m going to be helping him to pick up the pieces, you know?”

Summer’s heart hurt at that. She didn’t want to be responsible for making him miserable! She didn’t want to think about how miserable she would be either. “Say it like it is, why don’t you?”

Cassidy shrugged. “Always have, always will. You know me. I’m not trying to be a bitch, but you know I’ll always tell you the truth.”

Summer nodded. She did. It was one of things that made Cassidy who she was, and Summer loved her for it. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll talk to you tomorrow then.”

Cassidy was already on her feet and making her way down the steps. “Yep. Say hi to Carter for me. And keep your fingers crossed I don’t run into any hungry wolves on the way home.”

“Do you want me to give you a ride?”

Cassidy shook her head with a grin. “I’ll be fine. It’s the wolves who need to watch out for themselves.”

Summer didn’t doubt it. “Text me when you get home then.”

“Okay, see ya.”

Summer watched her make her way down the path back to the river. She turned and grinned before she disappeared around the stand of cottonwood trees. She’d be fine; Summer wasn’t worried about her at all.