Carter (Remington Ranch Book 3) (6 page)

“Do you mind if I say something?”

She smiled back. “Well, I won’t know until you say it, will I? So you’d probably best just go ahead.”

He nodded. “I’m not one to interfere in other people’s lives. That’s not my intention here at all…”

As he searched for his next words, Summer thought she knew what was coming. She was right.

“Carter. I think you know his history?”

She nodded. “I do.”

Beau looked uncomfortable. “I don’t think you’d ever hurt him on purpose, but please be careful.”

She nodded again. “I will. I am. I wouldn’t.”

She stared up at him and they both started to laugh.

“So, you do know what I mean, then. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you did. We’re going to take it slowly and just see what happens.”

Beau’s expression told her he was surprised. It made her wonder whether she shouldn’t have said anything at all, but it was too late now.

He nodded. “I’m glad. I was worried he might just go to ground and avoid you now you’re back.”

She smiled. “So was I.”

They arrived in front of the gallery and stopped. “I guess I’ll see you around,” said Beau.

Summer nodded. She hoped so. She liked Beau. She wondered what Shane meant when he’d said he worried about him. “I’m thinking about having everyone over to dinner once I get settled back in. I hope you’ll come?”

“Thank you.” He looked so different when he smiled. “I’d like that. And don’t worry. I’ll come alone. I feel really bad about what Angie did.”

“Please don’t. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known.”

He shrugged. “I shouldn’t have brought her. I just didn’t want to come by myself.”

That surprised Summer. Beau seemed so confident, she wouldn’t have thought he’d care about going to a dinner party alone, or what anyone would think of him not having a date. “Well, you bring someone if you want to, or you’re more than welcome to come by yourself. Either way is fine. I just hope you’ll come.”

“Thanks. I will. And if there’s anything you need—anything with the house—don’t hesitate to call me.”

“Thanks.”

She turned at the sound of the gallery door opening. Cassidy poked her head out. “Why don’t you both come on in?”

Beau shook his head. “I have to get going. I just didn’t like Summer walking here by herself.” He smiled at Cassidy, then at Summer. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

“I’ll call you,” said Summer.

“Yeah, see ya,” said Cassidy.

Once he’d gone Summer followed Cassidy inside. “What was that about?”

“What was what?”

Cassidy grinned. “I thought you and Carter were just getting started. What’s with you calling Beau?”

Summer laughed. “About having everyone over for dinner, silly!”

“You want to invite him again after what happened last time?”

“That wasn’t his fault! He’s a nice guy. I feel a bit sorry for him; it seems like he’s the outcast of the family.”

Cassidy frowned. “I wouldn’t go that far. He’s not exactly an outcast, he’s just not as close as the other three are. But it strikes me that that’s by his choice, not anyone else’s.”

Summer shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t think he’s as bad as everyone makes him out to be.”

Cassidy laughed. “There goes my little bleeding heart, Summer. You’re too soft. Anyway, enough about Beau. It’s Carter I want to hear about. What happened last night? Come on through to the back and you can tell me all about it.”

Chapter Six

Carter looked up at the sound of a truck approaching. Mason. What was he doing here? He walked around the house to meet his brother as he pulled up.

“How’s it going?” asked Mason as he got out of the truck.

Carter nodded. “It’s going well. We’re just getting finished up here. Should have everything finished by the end of the week. I’m sure Cassidy will be glad to have us out of her hair finally.”

Mason looked around. “You’ve done a great job on the place.”

Carter nodded. “I can’t take much credit for this one. Old Mr. Allen had already drawn up what he wanted to do with the place before he sold it to Cassidy. She liked what he’d come up with and added a few touches of her own. I just did the grunt work.”

Mason smiled and shook his head. “Nah, sorry, Carter. I’m not buying it. Mr. Allen drew up his plans under your guidance and Cassidy sought your advice on everything she wanted. You can say what you like, but I can tell, this place is one of your designs. It’s got your name written all over it.”

Carter dropped his gaze and toed the gravel.

“Don’t be so modest.” Mason grasped his shoulder. “Own your genius.”

Carter had to laugh at that. “I’d hardly call it genius. I’m just good at knowing what to plant where. It’s not exactly rocket science.”

Mason gave his shoulder a gentle shake. “There are different kinds of smart, you know. I could never do what you do. Hell, I bet there aren’t any rocket scientists who could.”

Carter had to laugh at that. “Thanks, Mase. But I’m fine with who I am. You don’t need to build me up every time we talk.”

Mason let go of his shoulder and punched his arm. “Who says I’m trying to build you up? If you must know, I was trying to sweeten you up, since I have a favor to ask.”

“Well, you don’t need to sweeten me up for that. Of course I’ll help. What do you need?”

Mason laughed. “Don’t you think you should find out what I need
before
you say you’ll help? You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for. You might hate the idea.”

Carter shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, I want to help.” It was true. Helping his brother and taking care of his family was more important than any inconvenience it might cause to himself.

“I wondered if you could give me a hand this weekend. I’ve been training some horses for the McLellan Ranch. They said they didn’t need them out there until the end of the month, but now they need them back next weekend. They’re pretty much ready to go, but I want to put them through a final bombproofing this weekend. Make sure none of them have any spook left in ’em.”

Carter nodded slowly. He’d helped Mason out with the horses many a time in the past. He enjoyed riding them through scenarios that might frighten them. Mason trained them to cross water, pass fire, pass waving flags, all kinds of things. He liked to bombproof them, as he called it, before the ranches trusted them to take visitors out on the trails. The only problem was Carter had been planning on spending as much time as he could with Summer this weekend.

Mason studied his face. “Problem?”

“No, no problem. When do you need me?”

Mason made a face. “For the weekend, if you can?”

Carter nodded again. “Okay.”

Mason laughed. “You can say no, you know.”

Carter shook his head. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to. He wouldn’t let his brother down when he needed his help. “It’s fine. I’ll be there.”

“Thanks.” Mason looked puzzled. “Are you sure? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s just fine.” Carter grinned at his brother. “But if you’re done. I need to get back to work. I want to get this place finished up once and for all.”

“Sure,” said Mason. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Carter watched him drive away. He’d still be able to see Summer. Who said she’d want to spend the whole weekend with him anyway? He walked back around the house. He needed to get the last of the aspens planted, then put the final touches on the patio and his work here would be done. He might even get finished up early enough that he could hit the gym. He’d like to fit in a workout before he saw Summer tonight. He should call her. He didn’t know if she wanted to go out to dinner, or if she’d rather keep a low profile. Part of him hoped she did want to go out. That’d make it easier to stick with his plan of taking it slow. He wasn’t sure he could make it through another night of making out on the sofa with her without taking it further. He shook his head. He really needed to get to the gym and work off the frustration building up in his body!

Just as he got started back on the aspens, his phone rang in his back pocket. He pulled it out.

“Hey, Beau. Is everything all right?”

Beau laughed. “Yes, dammit! Have I ever called you because it’s not?”

Carter shrugged. He needed to find another way to answer his phone, but he did worry. “Sorry. What is it?”

“Nothing. I mean. I just wanted to check in with you.”

Carter frowned. That wasn’t like Beau. He might not call because something was wrong, but he sure as hell never called just to shoot the shit either. “About what?”

“Okay. You got me. I ran into Summer in town.”

“And?”

“And as much as you all think I’m an asshole, I care about you, okay? What are you thinking? What’s happening with the two of you?”

Carter had to laugh. Mason was the one who, as the eldest, normally looked out for his brothers. Beau was generally oblivious to what was going on in the others’ lives. Today it seemed the roles were reversed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It just tickles me to know you care. Thanks, Beau. Don’t worry though. It’s all good.”

“I hope so.”

“Why? What makes you think it wouldn’t be?”

“Nothing. I like Summer. She seems like a decent person. It’s just you. This is the first time I’ve seen you interested in anyone since Trisha, and it’s not exactly a straightforward situation is it?”

Carter sighed. Beau was right, of course. It wasn’t. “I know, but what can I do? It’s just my luck that the only woman who’s caught my eye happens to be a country music superstar who’s only going to be in my life for three months before she leaves and breaks my heart!”

Beau was quiet for a long moment.

“Hey, come on. It is what it is. I’m not as stupid as I make out. I know the score. I was going to try to stay away from her, but that’s really not an option. So, I’m choosing to make the most of the time that she’s here. It’s better to have loved and lost and all that, right?”

“Are you sure?” asked Beau. “I remember you saying you’d rather never have loved at all after Trisha.”

Carter sighed. He remembered saying that, too. “I know. But that was different. I thought me and Trisha were forever. I was totally blindsided by what she did. It’s not like that with Summer, is it?”

“I guess not. If the two of you don’t work out it will be because of circumstances, because of life.”

“Yep, and I’m old enough and wise enough to get that now. I’m making a choice, and part of that is understanding the consequences and accepting that I’ll have to live with them.”

Beau sighed. “Sounds as though you’ve got your head screwed on right.”

Carter laughed. “Thanks, I think.”

“I’m here for you, okay?”

Carter smiled to himself. That meant the world to him, especially coming from Beau. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, okay, well I’m going.” He laughed. “And don’t you breathe a word of this conversation to anyone else, will you? I’ve got my reputation as an asshole to think about. I wouldn’t want you blowing that. See ya.”

Carter chuckled himself as he hung up. Beau was no more an asshole than any of them. He was just a bit uptight about things that didn’t matter to the others. His heart was in the right place and
that
was what really mattered.

He decided he may as well call Summer while he had his phone out. Hopefully then he’d be able to get finished with Cassidy’s yard without any more interruptions. He dialed the number and waited while it rang.

“Hi, Carter.”

He smiled at the sound of her voice and at the realization that she must have his number saved. “Hey.” He kept on smiling to himself, then remembered that he might need to actually say something. “I said I’d call.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“Have you decided what you’d like to do later?”

“I was thinking I could make you dinner.”

He took a deep breath. That would mean spending the evening at her house again. Did it also mean that she didn’t want to be seen out with him?

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s great. Do you want me to bring anything?”

“Just yourself.”

He pursed his lips. He knew what she wanted to do with him, too! “What time?”

“As soon as you can get there.”

“Okay. I’ll call you when I’m leaving my place.”

“Great. See you later.”

“Bye.” He hung up and wiped his sleeve over his eyes. He really needed to get to the gym! Maybe he could take her out for a walk down by the river. He’d have to do something. He closed his eyes and pictured her the way she’d been this morning in that cute, sexy night shirt. Damn! He wanted a fast forward button so he could hurry up and take his time!

Summer hung up and smiled to herself. She wasn’t at all worried about going out in public with Carter. She just wanted him all to herself!

Cassidy gave her a knowing look. “Got your evening planned then, have you?”

She nodded. “I do. I’m going to cook for him.”

Cassidy laughed. “Yeah, right. You just don’t want to let him take any more time!”

“Well, there is that, too!”

“Poor guy. He’s trying to do the decent thing and take it slow and you’re planning on ravishing him!”

Summer laughed. “It’s true! But I can’t help it. I’ve wanted to ravish him since the first time I laid eyes on him. I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s gorgeous! He’s so damned sexy.”

Cassidy laughed. “Well, don’t force him. It might do you good to take it slow.”

Summer sighed and looked around. They were sitting in the back room of the gallery. Cassidy had gone for sandwiches from the coffee shop and brought them back here. She hadn’t been so much worried about Summer going out in public as she was interested in being able to have a private conversation about Carter. “You’re probably right. I keep thinking that myself. And he’s so sweet. He even said you only get one first time and he wants it to be special. I do too, but I just don’t want to wait!”

“Aww, he’s a sweetheart,” said Cassidy. “Don’t rush him. Let him take his time and make it special.”

Summer nodded. “I know. I should. But at the same time, I keep thinking if we’re only going to have three months, I want us to make the most of every moment we can. Why wait?”

Cassidy gave her a long hard look. “Because the best things in life are worth waiting for, that’s why.”

Summer stuck her tongue out. “I bet you and Shane didn’t wait.”

Cassidy laughed. “As a matter of fact we did. I made him wait. I sent him home all horny and desperate.”

“I find that hard to believe. How
long
did you make him wait?”

“Okay, so he was back at six o’clock the next morning. Still horny and…yeah.”

Summer laughed. “Yeah. That’s more like it.”

“Still, though. Carter’s different.”

Summer smiled. Yes, he was—very different. Very special. “I know. I’ll try to be good.”

Cassidy looked up at the sound of the buzzer signaling someone had come into the gallery. “I’d better go see to them,” she said.

Summer ate her sandwich while she waited. She couldn’t help smiling to herself at the thought of her evening ahead. She should get going soon. She wanted to go to the grocery store to get stocked up and get everything she’d need for dinner. She loved to cook, and she was looking forward to cooking for Carter. She smiled as she wondered what she should make for dessert. Whipped cream would be good! No. She needed to stop thinking like that. She should let Carter go at his own pace.

Cassidy came back in.

“That was quick.”

“Yeah, it was just one of the ladies from my seniors’ art class. We’ve invited them to our engagement bash.” Cassidy chuckled to herself. “They’re a hoot and they did play a part in bringing me and Shane together.”

Summer made a face. “So you’ve invited them, but not me?”

“Oh, shit! I didn’t even think! We did all the planning last week. Of course you’re invited. That goes without saying.”

Summer laughed. “Don’t worry. I was only teasing. I’m just surprised that I hadn’t even heard mention of it. What are you doing? When is it?”

“A week from Saturday. We’ve booked one of the function rooms up at Chico.”

“Great. I’ve never been there.”

“You’ll love it. It’s really cool. It’s like a little resort. There’s the hot springs and a lodge and guest cabins and then the saloon, and the restaurant is fabulous. Get this! They call it the dining room!”