Carter (Remington Ranch Book 3) (7 page)

Summer smiled. “It sounds awesome. And the restaurant is good?”

Cassidy nodded. “The food’s great and they have a wonderful wine cellar.”

Summer nodded thoughtfully. “And it’s open during the week?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Maybe Carter and I should go there tonight. Going out for dinner might make it easier for me to resist temptation. I think I’ll be tempted to trip him up and beat him to the floor if we spend the whole evening at my place.”

Cassidy laughed. “If you’re that horny, then maybe the two of you
should
go out.”

Summer nodded. Maybe they should. She jumped as the back door opened behind her.

“Hey, G,” said Cassidy. “Look who’s here.”

Gina came in and smiled at Summer. “Hi! I’m glad you’re back. How are you feeling? How’s your voice?”

Summer nodded. “I’m great thanks, glad to be back. And now that I think about it, my voice is doing surprisingly well.” She looked at Cassidy. “You haven’t told me to shut up once today.”

“You’re right. I hadn’t noticed till now, but you haven’t croaked at all!”

Gina laughed. “Well, I guess that’s good then.”

“It’s great,” said Summer.

“Just don’t go overdoing it,” said Cassidy.

Summer rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom!”

Cassidy shook her head. “Don’t give me that! Just because I’m the responsible one and I care.”

“You do make a good mom, though,” said Gina. “Are you practicing for the real thing?”

Summer looked at her in surprise. Joking aside, she’d never thought of Cassidy as the maternal type. Her getting engaged to Shane was wonderful, but the thought of them having babies was a little surprising, to say the least.

Cassidy shook her head. “Not yet. Jesus, Gina, we’re only just planning our engagement party. What about you? You’re getting married in a couple of months, any baby plans for you?”

Gina shook her head. “No, not for a long while yet.”

“When are you getting married?” asked Summer. “I’m behind on all the news. I only just found out about
her
engagement party.” She jerked her head toward Cassidy. “She forgot to invite me.”

“Well, you’re invited to our wedding,” said Gina. “I wouldn’t forget you. Will you still be here by the end of August?”

Cassidy gave her a pointed look. “What do you think, will you be?”

Summer didn’t know. Three months from now would take her to the middle of August. She didn’t have to leave as soon as the time was up, but she also knew Cassidy’s question was bigger than that. She was asking if Summer planned to return to her career at all. She didn’t know the answer to that yet. “It doesn’t matter either way. I’ll come to the wedding no matter what.”

“Good,” said Gina. “We’d love you to be there.”

Cassidy held Summer’s gaze for a moment longer. She obviously had more to say, but to Summer’s relief, she let it go. Who knew how things would stand by the end of August? So much could happen between now and then.

“I will be. Thanks for inviting me.”

Gina smiled.

“Hadn’t you better get going?” asked Cassidy. “You’re not going to have much time if you want to get groceries and get home before your hot date tonight.”

Summer nodded. “I’d better get going.”

Gina raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you seeing Carter?”

“I am.” She couldn’t help the big smile that spread across her face as she said it.

Gina grinned back. “That’s wonderful! I hope you have a great time.”

“Thanks. I’m sure I will. I’ll see you ladies soon.” Her voice cracked halfway through and she finished on a whisper.

Cassidy shook her head. “You might want to see if you and Carter can do something that doesn’t involve too much talking.”

Summer laughed. “I’d love to. It’s him you need to convince; not me!”

Gina laughed. “Don’t hold your breath! You can expect a full and proper courtship from Carter. He’s not the kind to rush you into bed.”

Summer rolled her eyes. “So, I’m finding out! But what if
I
want to rush
him
into bed?”

Gina’s expression sobered quickly. “I think you’d be better taking your time, Summer.”

She nodded. She already knew it. She’d hate to scare him away by being too forward.

“Get going!” said Cassidy. “The only rushing you need to be doing right now is to the grocery store!”

“Okay, I’m going. See you soon.”

Chapter Seven

Carter finished up his workout and headed for the locker room. He felt great. He’d almost skipped the gym so that he could head back down to Summer’s place early, but the way his body kept reacting to the thought of a whole evening alone with her let him know that he had to burn off some energy somehow. He was startled when Melanie stepped out in front of him.

“Hi, Carter.”

“Hello.” Man, he could do without stopping to talk to her. She stood there smiling at him expectantly. What did she want? Then he remembered. She’d asked if he wanted to go out with her sometime and said he could take some time to think it over. Shit! He didn’t know what to say.

“How are you?”

Damn, he didn’t want to drag this out. “I’m good, thanks, but I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

She looked so disappointed, he felt bad, but not bad enough to hang around. He darted for the locker room door and heaved a sigh of relief when it closed behind him. That had been pretty shitty of him, he thought as he collected his bag. He should have told her that he wasn’t interested. It wasn’t right of him to leave her hanging like that. He’d have to tell her straight away the next time he saw her. For now, he hurried to his truck because he wanted to see Summer—not because he wanted to escape from Melanie!

When he got home, he went out back to check on the cats. Buster was holding court in the shed with four of his buddies. They all came to rub around his legs in greeting. He smiled. He viewed them as his guilty secret—he could just imagine Beau’s face if he knew he took such good care of a bunch of strays. He made a fuss over each of them before filling the food and water bowls he left out. He turned at the sound of mewing just outside the broken board. Squatting down to peer out, he saw a cat he didn’t recognize. He went to open the door. As she came toward him, it was obvious why she hadn’t come in the way the others did. She was heavily pregnant and wouldn’t have fit through the door. He held the door for her to come in. She just stood there and mewed up at him, but wouldn’t come inside.

Damn. He couldn’t leave her out. She looked like she could have her kittens at any minute. He came out and closed the door. She followed him across the yard back to the house. Great. She didn’t want to have her kittens out in the shed, but she was happy to come into the house. He held the door open and she came inside. She sniffed around cautiously and then made her way to the laundry room. Carter followed and watched as she began to knead at the pile of towels on the floor. She lay down and purred up at him gratefully. Great! What was he supposed to do now? Call Summer and tell her he couldn’t see her tonight because he needed to play midwife to a cat? He let out a little chuckle. Apparently he was going to have to do just that. He didn’t see himself driving away and leaving this girl to do her thing in the laundry room all by herself. He’d never forgive himself if something went wrong. He fished his phone out of his back pocket while he went into the kitchen and brought a bowl of water. He dialed the number and waited.

“Hey, are you on the way?” asked Summer. Her voice sounded scratchy.

“Sorry, but I’m not.”

“Oh.” He couldn’t help but smile. She sounded disappointed! “Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine so far, but I need to stick around here to make sure that it stays that way.”

“Why, what’s going on?” She sounded genuinely concerned.

Even to his own ears, his laugh sounded embarrassed. “Umm, I don’t know what you’re going to make of this, but I have cats. Well, I don’t really have cats, they just kind of live around here, and I take care of them…”

“I love cats!”

He smiled. That was something, he supposed. Maybe she’d understand, then. “Well, you see, one of them has decided that tonight is the night she needs to have her kittens. She’s made herself a nest in my laundry room. I don’t want to leave her in case she needs me. I’m sorry.”

There was a long silence before she spoke. Carter was starting to think he’d blown it. She must think he was an idiot! What kind of guy would pass up a date with Summer just so he could be there for a stray cat? When she eventually spoke, her words warmed his heart.

“Oh, Carter! That’s awesome!”

“It is?” He wasn’t totally sure whether she meant it. Maybe she was being sarcastic?

“It is! That’s so sweet of you! Can I come? Can I help? Do you want me to bring anything?”

Carter grinned. That wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting, it was so much better than he’d dared hope for! “I’d love you to come, if you want to. I don’t know that there’s anything we can do. I’m sure she knows what she’s doing. I just can’t bring myself to leave her, in case she hits any problems.”

“Of course not. Listen, I went to the grocery today. How about I bring a frozen pizza and a bottle of wine? We can still have dinner and we’ll be there for her if she needs us.”

“That sounds great. If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind at all! I’m on my way!”

“Okay, well drive safely. Watch out for deer.”

“I will. See you soon.”

Carter hung up and looked down at the cat who had curled up on top of the towels. “Okay, lady. I hope you know what you’re doing, because I’m not sure I do.” He didn’t just mean that he’d never delivered kittens before. He also wondered what he was doing letting Summer come over to join him—with a bottle of wine—which meant she wouldn’t be driving home tonight.

He’d worry about that when she got here. For now he wanted to make sure that he had everything he might need on hand. For a moment he stood and looked around the little laundry room. The cat looked as though she might be getting close. She was crouched on top of the pile of towels panting. He had no idea how long a labor might last. He took his phone back out. He was going to have to call Doc Lee. The old guy would no doubt be surprised to get a call about a cat, but he’d taken care of all the Remingtons’ animals for as long as Carter could remember.

Once he hung up with the vet he smiled. He shouldn’t have worried. Of course Doc Lee had told him everything he needed to know, everything he needed to look for, and when to call him if it looked like there were problems. He might be more used to assisting with breached calves or foals, but he cared just as much about little stray kittens. Carter busied himself in the kitchen making sure he’d have everything he needed, just in case. From what the Doc said, as long as things went well, the kitty would take care of everything herself.

He looked around, wondering what Summer would make of his place. It wasn’t exactly a palace or even anything like the place she was staying in, but if it was enough to put her off him, then it was better that they both find that out now.

~ ~ ~

Summer was glad she’d bought one of those insulated bags that kept things frozen at the grocery store this afternoon. She slid the pizza inside along with a bottle of wine and a tub of ice cream. They had been her supplies for a quiet night at home; she would never have guessed that she’d be taking them up to Carter’s place tonight. She also would never have guessed that her plans for the evening would have evolved from having Carter over to dinner, to going out with him to Chico, to this—heading up to his place with frozen pizza, and intending to assist in the delivery of kittens. She grinned as she grabbed the car keys and headed out the door. Just the thought of Carter—big, burly Carter—being so concerned about a momma kitty melted her insides. The fact that he would have stood her up in order to help a cat, made her grin like a crazy person. She hadn’t really dated much over the last few years. It was hard. She never knew if guys were really interested in her or just interested in being seen with a country singer. None of the guys she had dated would have stood her up for a cat; she was pretty sure of that! It just added to Carter’s charm. He was a one of a kind without a doubt!

She threw the bag into the car and set out up the valley. As she drove, she couldn’t stop smiling to herself. She might be thirty miles from town, but it was such a beautiful drive. She already loved this place. She loved the kind of life she got to live here. It felt so free, so real. Her smile faded. She’d love to make it last. To make this her real life. She’d love to trade her apartment in Nashville for the house on the river. Trade the concerts and studio sessions for nights out with Cassidy and her friends—and nights in with Carter! She shouldn’t be thinking like that though. Tonight wouldn’t be about a night in with him. It would be about taking care of a momma cat and her new kittens. How could she be thinking about sleeping with Carter? How could she not?

Half an hour later, she slowed as she crossed the river and came to the outskirts of town. She knew Carter’s nursery was right there; she’d driven past it enough times. She turned into the driveway that led past the nursery itself and around to the house at the back. She’d never been able to see it properly from the road, sheltered as it was by a line of spruce. It was beautiful. A little wooden cottage. It looked as though it should be tucked away in the woods somewhere. She parked the car out front and sat there for a moment. This was Carter’s home. It suited him. It looked functional and wasn’t anything fancy, but it held a certain charm. She got out of the car and pulled the bag with the pizza out. She felt a little guilty as she looked at the other bag sitting on the passenger seat. It was a little overnight bag—just a change of clothes and her toothbrush, that was all. He hadn’t invited her to stay; in fact, he hadn’t invited her at all. She’d invited herself. But she couldn’t exactly drive back down the valley at who-knew-what-time of night. Especially if they were going to get through that bottle of wine she’d brought. She decided to leave the bag there for now. It might seem a little presumptuous to show up on his doorstep with it.

She went up the steps to the front door and knocked. She looked around as she waited. There were planter boxes everywhere, of course. The front door opened and she caught her breath at the sight of him. He was shirtless! Again.

She grinned as she looked him over. “Well, hello!”

He chuckled. “Hello yourself. Sorry. Come on in. I had to get a quick shower before you got here. Come on through. I’ll just go grab a shirt.”

She smiled. “No hurry. I kind of like it.”

He shook his head. “You must be getting used to it by now. I was bare chested this morning, same again now.”

She laughed. “If I didn’t know better I might think you were determined to show off all those muscles of yours!”

He smiled, but a hint of color touched his cheeks and he looked away. “Well, you do know better.”

She touched his arm. “Yes, I do. And I’m sorry, but I can’t hide it. I love seeing you like that.”

He lifted his head and smiled. “I’m glad, but let’s not stand here talking about it.” He led her through to the kitchen. “Do you need to put anything in the fridge?”

She nodded. “Yeah, let me sort out what I brought while you go grab a shirt.”

He gave her a grateful smile and disappeared upstairs.

Summer smiled as a little shiver ran through her. She couldn’t help hoping that she’d be going up there with him later and helping him take the shirt back off... After pulling herself together, she put the ice cream in the freezer and stood the wine and the pizza on the counter. She looked at the oven, wondering whether she should turn it on to preheat. She decided not. First priority should be the cat—not her rumbling tummy. Instead she opened the drawers to look for a corkscrew. She was definitely ready for a glass of wine.

She poured two glasses and turned at the sound of Carter coming back downstairs. He stopped in the kitchen doorway and smiled at her. God, he was gorgeous! She smiled back and held out a glass to him.

“Thanks,” he said as he took it. “Do you want to come meet our momma-to-be?”

“Yes, please. I didn’t want to go and disturb her.”

He led her down the hallway and held open the door to the laundry room. Summer peered around it and then smiled up at him. “She looks like she’s nearly ready.”

He nodded and stepped inside. “Doc Lee said to leave her to it as much as possible. I don’t want to interfere. I just wanted to be here in case she needs us.”

Summer nodded. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

The cat looked up and mewled between her panting.

Summer squatted down beside her. “You’re going to be fine, little lady. You can do this, we’re here.” She reached her hand out for the cat to sniff. She did and then head butted her gently. “See,” said Summer. “We’re friends. We’re here if you need us.”

She looked up at Carter. The way he was looking at her made her breath catch in her chest. “What?”

He shook his head slowly. “When I called you to say I couldn’t come, I thought you might be mad at me for putting a cat ahead of you. I had no need to worry, did I?”

She smiled. “None at all!”

“I thought you might think less of me.”

Summer got to her feet and came to stand before him. “Then you don’t know me very well, do you? I would have thought a hell of a lot less of you if you’d left her here by herself just so you could come see me.”

He smiled. “I can see that now. Thank you.”

“For what?”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Just for being who you are.”

That made her insides turn mushy. This gorgeous man was standing there, smiling down at her, his hand on her shoulder sending ripples of desire coursing through her, and he was thanking her just for being her! Did it get any better than this? “Thank
you
, for being you,” she replied.