by SJ McCoy
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.
He let out a little chuckle. “I guess neither of us can help being who we are, can we?”
She shook her head. “I guess not.” Her stomach chose that moment to let out a loud gurgle.
Carter laughed. “And I guess we can’t help being hungry either.” He gave the cat an apologetic look. “You’re going to have to manage by yourself for a minute while I get the oven going, kitty.”
The cat seemed to understand his words and gave a frightened little mew.
“How about you stay here with her and I’ll go put the pizza in?”
“You don’t mind?” he asked.
“Of course I don’t.” It seemed as though the cat was already attached to Carter and was looking to him for reassurance. Summer was happy to make herself useful in the kitchen. She had to smile as Carter squatted down on the floor and the cat rubbed her head against him. He was so gentle for such a big guy. “I’ll be back,” she said.
She looked around the kitchen. It was well laid out, neat and well organized. She’d always thought a kitchen told a lot about a person. This one said that Carter was no slob. She turned on the oven to preheat and checked the cabinets for a cookie sheet. She had to smile. Apparently he was no cook either. She found a cookie sheet, along with a whole set of pans and bakeware that looked as though they’d never been used. They were, however, neatly stacked.
Once the oven was ready, she slid the pizza in and set the timer, then made her way back to the laundry room. She smiled at the sight of Carter sitting on the floor leaning back against the washer as he sipped his wine. He looked up when she came in.
“I think she’s nearly ready.”
As if to confirm his assessment, the cat meowed and started to push. Summer watched in amazement as the first kitten came into the world. She felt tears sting her eyes as she watched the new mother lick her tiny baby clean and it wriggled blindly against her.
Carter looked up at her—it seemed his eyes were shining, too. “Wow!” was all he said.
Summer grinned at him. “Wow, is right!”
He reached up to take hold of her hand and she sat down on the floor beside him.
“Doc said it could be up to half an hour between each kitten.”
Summer looked at the cat who seemed to be getting to ready to go again. She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think it’ll take that long for this one.”
She was right. Within a few minutes the second kitten appeared. She grinned up at Carter and he grinned back. She loved that he seemed as awestruck as she felt. They were witnessing one of life’s miracles and she was so glad they got to share it. She watched the cat lick her second baby clean. “What’s her name?”
Carter shook his head. “I’m sure she doesn’t have one. I’ve never seen her around before tonight. What do you think we should call her?”
Summer looked at her. She was a dark tabby. “I don’t know. I want to call her hero right now. But that’s not really a girl’s name, is it?”
Carter smiled. “It should be. I think it suits her.”
The cat looked up at him and meowed.
“What do you think then, Hero?”
She meowed again.
“I guess she likes it,” said Summer. “Hero it is.”
The timer on the oven dinged.
“I’ll go get it,” she said. “Should I just bring it in here?”
“Yes, please. I’m starving, but I don’t want to leave her. I have no idea how many more kittens there are to come.”
Summer sliced the pizza and brought the whole thing in. She put the plate up on top of the washer and handed Carter a slice wrapped in a paper towel.
“Thanks.”
They munched in silence, watching Hero with her two babies. After a while, Carter turned to her with a rueful smile. “Some first date, huh?”
Summer laughed. “It’s certainly an unusual first date. I’ve never had one quite like this before.”
He looked sad. “There I go, falling below standard as usual. I’ll make it up to you.”
She smiled up at him. “This isn’t below standard! This is so much better! There’s nothing to make up for.”
He didn’t look convinced.
“Oh, I think there may be another one coming!” They both watched as Hero crouched again. “How many do you think there are?”
“I don’t know,” replied Carter. “Doc Lee said a standard litter is maybe three to five kittens.” He shrugged. “I don’t know the first thing about her. How old she is or if this is her first litter. I guess we just have to wait and see.”
This time seemed more difficult. Hero mewled and panted and seemed to be pushing, but nothing was happening. Summer gave Carter a worried look. “Do you think we need to do anything?”
He shook his head. “Give her time. She’ll get there.”
Summer felt bad for the poor thing as she continued to pant and heave. After what seemed like ages, a third kitten appeared.
“Thank goodness!” she smiled up at Carter, but he still looked concerned.
She watched as the little thing lay there—still. Hero didn’t immediately go to lick it. Oh, no! She looked up at Carter again. He shook his head and held a hand out to stop her as Summer went to reach out. “Give her a minute.”
Summer held her breath. Hero lay still, panting and showing no interest in her latest arrival. Surely they had to do something. She let her breath out in a big sigh when Carter got up and washed his hands. He gently scooped up the lifeless little body and removed the membrane that still covered its face. Summer and Hero both watched him. The kitten still showed no sign of life. He shook his head sadly and sat back down. Summer watched through a blur of tears as he held the little thing face down and ran a finger over its chest. It seemed to sputter and a tiny trickle of liquid came out of its nose. Then it let out a little mew. That sparked Hero’s interest. Carter placed the kitten beside her and she began to lick it.
Summer wiped her eyes and grinned at Carter. “Now you’re the hero!”
His eyes were glistening as he grinned back. “Thank God for that!”
She nodded. “Thank Carter for that. You saved it!”
He nodded and looked at Hero who was now nursing her little ones. “I just helped. I hope that’s all of them.”
Summer nodded. So did she. She didn’t think her nerves could take that again. They sat there for a long while watching the new momma clean herself and her babies up. She looked to be done.
Carter looked at Summer. “What do you think, shall we leave her to it?”
She nodded. “I guess.” She looked at the forgotten pizza sitting on top of the washer. “Do you want me to reheat that while you wash up?”
“Please.” He held up his empty glass. “And I think we both deserve more wine, don’t you?”
“I do.”
A little while later they settled in the living room. Summer sipped her wine and watched Carter eat his pizza. He stopped and looked up at her. “Is everything okay?”
“Couldn’t be better. I’m just thinking how wonderful you are.”
He grinned. “Thanks. But why?”
She laughed. “Because you are. What you did tonight.”
“You would have done it if I wasn’t there.”
“I don’t just mean with that last kitten. I mean bringing her into the house in the first place. Being prepared to cancel our date.”
He shrugged. “I had to do that. If you didn’t understand, then there wouldn’t be a lot of point in us seeing each other at all, would there?”
She knew what he meant. “No, there wouldn’t. But you were worried I might not understand, weren’t you?”
He nodded. “I guess I was. But what matters is that you did understand. We took care of her, and now there are three new little kittens in the world.”
Summer raised her glass. “There are. Here’s to three little kittens.”
Carter chinked his glass against hers. “Three little kittens.”
When they’d finished eating they went to check on them. Summer peered around the door and smiled. The babies were sleeping nestled into their momma. She raised her head and looked up at them. She looked exhausted.
Carter put a bowl of food a little ways away from her and pulled the door most of the way closed. “I guess what they need now is rest.” He looked at Summer. “I guess we do, too.”
Summer looked at the
kitchen clock. It was almost midnight. “I should go.”
He cocked his head to one side and gave her a knowing smile. “You’re not going anywhere. You know full well I wouldn’t let you drive home at this hour, especially not with a couple of glasses of wine in you.”
She smiled. She’d said it automatically, but she had no intention of getting behind the wheel of a car tonight. “Do you mind if I stay?”
He smiled. “I don’t mind at all. I want you to.”
Her smile grew wider. Now, they were getting somewhere. “I have to admit I have a bag in the car.”
He shook his head at her. “Well then why don’t you go get it? I’ll see you upstairs.”
Summer almost skipped on her way to collect her bag. She wanted him so badly! And it seemed he wasn’t going to offer any more resistance. He was waiting for her upstairs. She grabbed her bag and had to stop herself from running up the stairs to find him.
“In here,” he called when she reached the landing. She followed the sound of his voice. His bedroom was cozy. The furniture was made of logs, there was a fireplace in the corner, and he’d been setting a fire there. How romantic!
He grinned at her. “I wanted to make sure it was comfy in here for you.”
“It’s lovely. Thank you.” She stepped toward him, but he backed away.
“I’ll be across the landing.”
She frowned, not sure she understood.
“In the spare room.”
“Oh!”
He chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that. I told you, we’re not going to rush it. I’m not the kind to sleep with someone on a first date—and we haven’t even been on our first date yet.”
“But…” She was disappointed, but not really surprised. She gave him a rueful smile. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning, I guess.”
He put his big hands on her shoulders and dropped a sweet kiss on her lips. “You will. Good night, Summer.”
“Good night.” She sighed as he closed the door behind him.
Chapter Eight
The next morning Carter tried not to make too much noise while he fixed the coffee. He’d had a restless night to say the least. After he’d said good night to Summer he’d gone to bed in the spare room, but hadn’t been able to go to sleep. He’d lain there staring up at the ceiling wondering if he was crazy. He’d passed up on a date with her in order to deliver kittens, and then he’d let her stay the night, in his bed, and he’d let her sleep alone. She was lying feet away from him. He’d put money on him being the only guy in the world who wouldn’t be in bed with her. He’d tossed and turned and eventually got up and gone down to check on Hero and her babies. She’d looked up at him with an expression on her face that looked a lot like gratitude. Maybe he was just kidding himself, but it sure looked like it. He hated to think what would have happened if he had gone out and left her to deliver by herself. He was pretty sure there would only be two kittens lying beside her.
