His slow smile took the starch out of her knees.
He straightened and met her halfway. “Hey, Abs. I missed you.”
And then he caught her up in his arms and kissed her so long and so hard that the clerk at the front desk clapped and cheered, as did a couple of guests.
Abby’s face was on fire when she pulled away. “I missed you, too,” she whispered.
“Where were you headed?”
“Dinner. I’ve been on planes all day, and little packets of peanuts don’t cut it. I need real food.”
“How ’bout I take you to one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall places? It’s quirky, but the food is fantastic.”
She looked into his blue eyes, seeing the genuine pleasure reflected there. His enthusiasm made her feel good. After two somewhat odd visits with her parents, she’d been adrift. Unsettled. Carter’s presence was exactly what she needed.
As he helped her into his car, she sat back and sighed, feeling her bad mood and her gloomy outlook improve. The Caballero Cantina was just as Carter had described. The rough plaster walls inside were yellow and orange and decorated with colorful murals.
The hostess gave Carter a smile that was too flirty for Abby’s peace of mind, but the young woman seated them at a nice table in a corner shielded from view by the high back of an adjacent booth.
Abby’s mouth watered as she perused the Tex-Mex menu. At Carter’s recommendation, she ordered a fajita bowl. While they waited, she ate far too many chips and queso. But hey—what was the point of visiting Texas and not indulging in the local cuisine? The meal, when it came, was incredible.
Carter laughed at her. “You like the food?”
“How come I’ve been here all this time, and you’re just now telling me about this place?”
“I’ve been busy, I guess.”
Her stomach clenched. “I’ll admit, I was surprised to see you tonight.”
“I thought we agreed to touch base when you returned.”
She tilted her head and studied his bland expression, searching for any evidence that he was as calm as he looked. “Touch base? Or go all the way home?”
Carter leaned forward and wiped a tiny drip of cheese from her chin with his fingertip. His crooked smile was sexy and wicked. “I guess that’s up to you.”
Abby considered inviting him back to her hotel room, but something stopped her. She wanted him too much. Her feelings weren’t so hard to decipher. She was falling in love with him, and she knew they were the least likely couple in Royal to make a go of things.
In a last-ditch nod to self-preservation, she forced herself to speak lightly. “I’m sure there will be some base touching. But I’m exhausted, Carter. Rain check? Please?”
His smile faded as his gaze narrowed. “Are you okay, Abs? What happened while you were gone?”
“Nothing really.” Oh, heck. She might as well tell him. “I found out that my mother has a boyfriend. And they’re moving in together.”
He sat back and whistled. “That must have been a shock.”
“You could say that. I didn’t even know she was dating.”
“Will you still feel comfortable living with her?” he asked.
Trust Carter to cut through to the basics of a situation. “Actually, she’s moving in with Bradley. She wants me to keep our apartment, so she’ll have a place to go back to if things don’t work out.”
“That’s pretty cynical.”
She sighed. “You’d have to know my mother. She’s a pragmatist through and through.”
“Should I say, I’m sorry, Abby?”
“That’s just it. I don’t know how to feel. When I was with my dad, I was making a fun little plan for the three of us to hang out in Malibu for Labor Day weekend. He was okay with it. He and my mom are cordial. But I didn’t know about Bradley.”
“You’re gonna have to stop saying his name like that,” he cautioned.
“I know.”
Carter leaned back in his chair and ate another chip. “I have news that might cheer you up.”
Thirteen
“Oh? Tell me.” Abby was instantly intrigued, especially because Carter’s smile was teasing. As if he was eager to spring his surprise on her.
He took a long swig of his drink, drawing out the suspense. “You mentioned camping out to get some shots on Appaloosa Island with the morning light...”
“Yes.”
“Well, I called in a favor. A couple of my college buddies went in together five or six years back and bought one of those fancy-ass houses at the western end of the island. They share it between the families. I checked, and this weekend no one is using it. If you want to, you and I can go out there and spend a night or two. It’s very private. Luxurious. What do you think?”
She thought about the camping gear she’d had shipped to the hotel. But when she balanced that against spending a romantic weekend with Carter, it was no contest. “I think it sounds great!” She knew what she was agreeing to, and why. This would be one last wonderful rendezvous with Carter. After this weekend, she had to go cold turkey.
“Good.” He grinned. “I’ll tell them we’d like to use the house.”
“Should I offer to pay for it?”
“Nope. I’ll send them each a case of their favorite whiskey, and they’ll be good.”
When the meal was over, Carter drove her back to the hotel. Already, she was second-guessing the fact that she had kept him at bay tonight. She had to get her head on straight. She wasn’t really in love with him, was she?
The fact that she didn’t know for sure made her jittery.
He pulled up under the hotel portico but didn’t get out. “Sleep well, Abby.”
She turned sideways in her seat. “Thank you for dinner. And thank you for working out the Appaloosa Island thing. That will be a whole lot better than sweating in a tent.”
He ran a finger along her chin, his touch arousing her despite its innocence. “I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to make you sweat, but that’s up to you. We can hang out as friends. I don’t expect sexual favors in exchange for our accommodations.”
“I never thought you did.” She reached across the console and kissed him softly on the lips. He went still but didn’t react. “I want you, Carter, but I have a few things to figure out. Give me time.”
“However long you need, Abs.” He twined a strand of her hair around his finger. “I won’t hurt you. I care about you, Abby.”
The stark sincerity in his voice was exactly what she was afraid of... Carter did care about her. She knew that. And she felt the same way about him. But she didn’t want to lose control of the situation. As long as she kept her expectations clear, everything would be okay.
She ignored those last five words he said, mostly because she didn’t know how to respond.
The festival was fast approaching. After that, Abby would be spending a lot of time in LA working on the documentary. When the film was done, she would likely go back to New York. And meet Bradley.
“What time this weekend?” she asked.
“I’ll pick you up Friday at six. We can eat a picnic in the car. Amanda Battle’s diner offers that kind of thing.”
“Sounds perfect. What do I need to bring?”
The uniformed hotel employee kept giving them glances, as if worried they were blocking the drive. This time it was Carter who leaned toward Abby. He put a large warm hand behind her neck and coaxed her closer for a blistering kiss that made her quiver. “The house is fully furnished,” he said huskily. “All you need is a toothbrush and a swimsuit. But on second thought, maybe just the toothbrush.”
When he laughed softly, Abby wanted to forget all about her rules. She wanted to drag him upstairs to her bed. Instead, she exhaled and opened her door. “Good night, Carter. Sweet dreams.”
He got out of the car and rest
ed one arm on top of the door to give her one last smoldering smile. “You, too, Abs. We can compare notes later.”
And then he was gone.
The mirror on one wall of the elevator showed a woman who was weary from a long day of travel, yet also flushed with excitement. Carter did that to her. He made everything a little brighter, a little more vibrant.
That night as she showered and got ready for bed, she pondered the implications of spending the weekend with him. It was a work trip, sure. But with plenty of time for fun. She told herself this was as far as she would let things go.
They hadn’t even known each other a month. Surely this sexual attraction would burn itself out soon. She was a novelty to him.
Furthermore, she could think of at least a dozen reasons why the two of them could never be a real couple.
Bottom line? As much as she liked him, and was maybe even falling for him, she was more like her mother than she realized. Carter wasn’t part of the big picture. He wasn’t Abby’s future.
* * *
Carter went into town Thursday with a list of errands his ranch foreman would have been happy to tackle. But he was hoping to bump into Abby. How pathetic was that? He had resorted to acting like a middle school boy. All hormones and no sense.
He didn’t see Abby at all, but he did run into Lila at the post office. She was in line in front of him. They chatted briefly, but when he exited, she was waiting for him.
“May I speak to you for a minute, Carter?” she asked.
“Of course.” They took advantage of a patch of shade beneath a large tree. “What’s up?”
“It’s Abby,” she said. “I know it’s not my business, but it sounds like the two of you are getting close.”
He tensed. “Once again, Royal’s grapevine is operating on all cylinders.”
“Don’t be mad. I’m just worried about her. She doesn’t know many people here, at least not on a deeper level. And after Madeline, you haven’t dated much.”
“Is there a point to any of this?” he asked impatiently.
“Yes, there is.” She looked him square in the eye. “What’s the deal with Abby? You know she’s not staying. And you know you won’t leave.”
His jaw tightened. “Abby and I are just having fun. And yes, it hasn’t escaped me that she’s too much like Madeline for any kind of long-term relationship. Abby is big-city dreams, and I’m a Royal rancher. It doesn’t get much more different than that.”
“She’s young, Carter.”
“Not that much younger than you.”
“Maybe not. But beneath that big-city polish, I think she’s vulnerable. You could hurt her. Why take the chance?”
“You and Zach are total opposites, too,” Carter pointed out, trying not to reveal his frustration. “But you’re making it work.”
“Because Zach decided he wanted to stay in Royal,” she said.
Lila was giving voice to every reservation Carter had about Abby. “I like her,” he said slowly. “A lot. And I care about her well-being. More than I’ve cared about any woman in a long time. I know this thing between us is temporary. But I haven’t made any promises, and neither has she. You’ll have to trust me on this. Abby and I know what we’re doing.”
The distress on Lila’s face was genuine. “I hope so, Carter. You’re a good man. I know you wouldn’t lie to her. But sometimes we want what we can’t have.”
“I’ll be careful,” he said. “You have nothing to worry about.”
Carter carried Lila’s words like a stone in his shoe for the rest of that day and into Friday. Should he call off the trip to Appaloosa Island? Let Abby go camping alone as she had originally planned? His idea about the house had seemed innocent enough, but now he didn’t know. Was it wrong to take what Abby had to give, knowing it could never be anything more than this moment in time?
By the time he picked her up Friday at six, his gut was in knots. Most of that tension subsided when he saw her. The smile she gave him as she slid into the passenger seat was happy and carefree.
Lila was worrying over nothing.
Abby wasted no time digging into the wicker hamper. “I’m starving,” she said. “Can you eat and drive at the same time?”
“Not a problem.”
He headed out of town and onto the highway that would take them south to Mustang Point. Abby handed him a ham sandwich and opened a bag of chips. “Royal is getting really excited about the festival. People were talking about it everywhere I went today.”
Carter snorted. “Wait until the shops are overrun with tourists and all the garbage cans are spilling over into the streets.”
She opened a can of soda and shook her head slowly. “You really are a Scrooge, Carter Crane. New York has tons of people—tourists, too. But we get along very well.”
“To each his own, I guess,” he grumbled.
“Why don’t we talk about something we can both agree on...books? Movies?”
The trip passed quickly. Abby seemed determined to put aside their differences. That was fine with Carter. He knew how very unalike they were. That was the problem.
Abby had read and reread the Harry Potter books, but also enjoyed political biographies. Carter was a Grisham fan and studied military history. They both agreed that the movie business was relying too much on blockbusters and not branching out enough.
When they finished their meal, Abby tucked the debris back in the hamper and returned it to the back seat. “I have a tiny bit of bad news,” she said.
He shot her a sideways glance, seeing the apologetic look she gave him. “Oh?”
“I know you and I were planning to stay the whole weekend at your friends’ house, but I got an invitation today for a black-tie reception at the Bellamy. It’s a last-minute kickoff event on Saturday night for Soiree on the Bay, VIP only. They’re going to hand out sample schedules, and I think one of the bands is going to play a few songs. I really need to be there.”
“No problem,” he said, refusing to admit he was disappointed. Having Abby naked and willing for an entire weekend had been a tantalizing prospect. “Am I invited?” he asked, tongue in cheek.
She took him seriously. “You probably are, but in any case, you’re my plus-one...if you’re willing.”
He reached out and took her hand, lifting it to his mouth so he could kiss her fingers. “I know how important this documentary is to you. And I want to support you. So yes, I’d be happy to be your date.”
“Great.” Her grin was smug, as if she had talked him into something against his will. Little did she know that he would do almost anything to make her happy. It was a sobering realization for a man who walked through life alone.
He had never wanted to depend on a woman again. Yet here he was, twining his life with hers. What was that old saying? Give a man enough rope and he’ll hang himself? Carter was heading for a calamity of some sort. A dramatic end-of-the-road thing. And probably sooner than later.
By the time they caught the ferry at Mustang Point, crossed the water and then drove to the inhabited western end of the island, the sun was low in the sky. He handed his phone to Abby. “Read me the directions from that text.”
The instructions were simple enough. Soon, they were pulling into the driveway of what could only be described as a seafront villa. The architectural style was Italian.
Even Carter was impressed, and he was used to the immense wealth in Royal. This was over-the-top in every way.
Carter chuckled as they carried their things inside. “You pick a bedroom, Abs. Plenty to choose from.”
He followed her down a hall. “This one,” she said. “Look at the view.”
One entire wall of the master suite was glass. Actually, there were three similar master suites, but this one was the closest to the pool.
They stood at the huge windows and used the binoculars they fo
und on a nightstand. Dolphins gamboled fairly close to shore, probably fishing for their dinner. Sailboats streaked across the bay. Palm trees, planted by landscapers, added drama to the sunset scene.
Unselfconsciously, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Abby rested her head on his shoulder. “What should we do first?” she asked.
His body tightened. What he wanted to say was crude and self-evident to any man with a pulse. But he could wait. Maybe.
“How about a swim? And then an early bedtime? Since you have to be up before dawn.”
She laughed softly. “I hope bedtime is a euphemism for something.”
“Hell, yeah...”
They changed clothes in different bathrooms. Abby still occasionally exhibited a frustrating reticence around him. As if she were guarding some part of herself. Yet the more she held back, the more he wanted to push for more.
They met out at the pool. Abby was wearing a gold bikini that made his heart slug hard in his chest. Her long, toned legs, narrow waist and high, rounded breasts were showcased to perfection.
He cleared his throat. “Nice swimsuit, Abs.”
She pulled her hair into a ponytail and secured it with an elastic band. “Thanks. I picked up a few more clothes when I was in New York. I honestly didn’t know what I would need when I packed the first time.”
He followed her down the shallow stairs into the pool, side by side. “What did you think Texas was going to be like?”
She shrugged as they waded deeper. “I didn’t really know. Except for tales about everything being bigger in Texas.” Without warning, she tweaked the front of his swim trunks. “That part turned out to be true.” Laughing at his look of shock, she did a shallow dive and escaped to the deep end.
He chased her instinctively, energized by the game. But Abby was fast and nimble. Slippery, too. It was several minutes before he had her corralled against the side of the pool. He kissed her, tasting warm woman and anticipation. “You asked me to give you time, Abby. What did you mean by that? Time for what?”
Texas Tough Page 14
