Carter's Cowgirl (Quinn Valley Ranch Book 8)

by Melissa McClone

  “Good morning.” She stopped next to the sink. Her stomach grumbled. “Something smells good.”

  “Bacon.” As Carter looked her way, his hazel eyes lit up. “Sleep well?”

  Her gaze traveled straight to his lips. The kiss might still be a big deal to her. Or at least on her mind. Not trusting her voice, she nodded, focusing on his hair.

  “Me, too.” He flipped a pancake. “Though Ruff wanted out before the sun came up.”

  Hearing his name, the dog panted.

  So cute. Like his owner. “I didn’t hear a thing.”

  He stared at Ruff. “We tried to be quiet.”

  “You succeeded.” But the relief flowing through her had nothing to do with not being woken. Her interaction with Carter felt no different from yesterday. Nothing seemed to have changed, except… She focused on the half-empty coffeepot. “Did you go back to bed or stay up?”

  “I couldn’t fall asleep, so I started my day early.”

  “Caffeine fueled.”

  “It works.”

  Thankfully, nothing about this conversation—other than her lapse of staring at his lips—was awkward. She must have read too much into the kiss. Not surprising given her tendency to overreact around Carter.

  “Tired?” she asked.

  “Nope, but ask me again in two hours.” He motioned to an empty cup sitting on the counter. “There’s coffee.”

  Avery poured herself one. “You must have worked up an appetite to need such a big breakfast.”

  “Guilty as charged.” He flipped the pancake onto a plate as if he were being filmed for a cooking show before pouring more batter onto the griddle. “But as they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

  True, except their breakfasts had been scrambled eggs or oatmeal instead of a meal with a brunch-like menu. Not that she was complaining. His extra effort made her feel special. No one went to this much trouble to feed her.

  Was he doing this because of their kiss?

  Avery nearly groaned. What was wrong with her?

  He was hungry and needed food. That was why he was cooking breakfast. No other reason. She needed to stop thinking about kisses and put her attention on something, anything, else.

  As she studied Carter, her belly tingled.

  She focused on the table instead. “Do you need me to do anything?”

  “Take a seat.” He turned off the stovetop. “Breakfast is ready.”

  As she sat, he placed both plates onto the center of the table. The symmetrical stack of pancakes was the perfect golden color. The slices of bacon appeared crisp. The tantalizing aromas tickled her nose, and if she happened to catch a hint of Carter’s earthy scent…?

  She fought the urge to grab a slice of bacon and shove it in her mouth to distract herself. “Everything looks delicious.”

  “Dig in.”

  That was the only invitation she needed. The breakfast tasted as appetizing as it appeared.

  She took a sip of coffee before wiping her mouth with a napkin. “What’s on the agenda today?”

  He set his fork on his plate. “I’ve checked the herd and gathered eggs. I have a few more chores to attend to, and then maybe I’ll head into town. You up for a drive today?”

  The way he asked was so nonchalant she thought he was being polite to include her.

  “I need to do a few things in the greenhouse, but if you want company, I’d like to see Quinn Valley.” Though he hadn’t mentioned the jaunt into town before now. “Do you need to pick up supplies or groceries?”

  His cheeks reddened. “I could grab a couple of things at the market, but I want to show you around. Point out the souvenir store if you want to take home a memento. Grab a bite to eat.”

  That sounded a little—a lot—like he was inviting her on a date, but she didn’t want to assume anything. That had gotten her in trouble at her other jobs when she thought everything was going well. And she’d been going overboard thinking about their kiss.

  “Yes, please.” That was easy enough to say.

  His posture relaxed. “Eat up, cowgirl, so we can get busy.”

  Hearing him call her the nickname brought a little thrill. It was as if they shared a secret. Aside from Mercury, she had no one to do that with.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.” She noticed his fork sitting on his nearly full plate. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  Carter startled. “I was just thinking.”

  “That’s the second time in two days,” she teased.

  His dimple deepened. “The hot springs are a big attraction in Quinn Valley. Do you want to check them out?”

  That got her attention. She straightened. “Check them out as in take a quick peek or soak in the waters?”

  “Whichever you want.”

  She didn’t have to think long to know what she wanted to do. Relaxing in the hot springs had been on her to-do list since she’d heard about them from the mechanic. “I want to try them out. Our muscles might thank us.”

  “They will.”

  He’d probably been there many times before, and she wondered who he’d brought with him. Not that it was any of her business. Speaking of business… “Is it okay to leave the farm with a storm moving in?”

  “According to the forecast, the snow won’t hit until early tomorrow morning. I closed the gates earlier so the herd will be closer to the shelters. Besides, we’ve been working long hours since you arrived.” The words flowed easily from his mouth as if he’d prepared himself for any objections she might have. “A break will be good for us.”

  Us.

  Was there an us? For some reason, that appealed to her in a way she’d never imagined. Silly, because he was probably using the pronoun in the general sense.

  No probably about it.

  He was.

  Last night’s kiss hadn’t been mentioned or alluded to this morning. No lingering glances or accidental touches, and there’d been plenty of opportunity for those at the breakfast table. Carter acted the same as usual other than inviting her to town. Which was fine.

  F-I-N-E.

  The way it should be.

  She picked up her coffee mug. “It is Saturday.”

  He nodded. “Everyone deserves time off during the weekend.”

  That was something else he hadn’t mentioned before. If anything, he seemed to do the same amount of work seven days a week. “Do you normally do that on Saturdays?”

  Carter half-laughed. “Not as much as I should, but it’s a new year. Might as well try to incorporate new habits.”

  “Try?”

  “Practical farmer, remember?” he joked.

  “I remember.” Except Carter didn’t seem so practical this morning, and he hadn’t last night. “But playing hooky from the farm isn’t all that practical, even if it is the weekend.”

  “Old dogs can learn new tricks.” Carter tossed Ruff a piece of bacon as if to emphasize his point. “That’s one reason I hired you.”

  Hired you.

  Client and consultant.

  She blew out a breath.

  Carter might as well have picked up a permanent marker and drawn a line between them, one that shouldn’t be crossed. Again.

  Disappointment shot through her.

  Stop.

  Knowing where things stood was for the best. Getting wrapped up in any kind of fantasy or daydream over one kiss would be a mistake. Hers never ended up the way she imagined. She’d learned that lesson several times over.

  Avery moved her food around on her plate. Her appetite had disappeared.

  “Thanks for breakfast.” Avery scooted away from the table. “I’m heading to the greenhouse. See you out there.”

  * * *

  After throwing herself into work to keep her mind occupied on anything except Carter, Avery needed to relax. Her muscles and emotions were coiled tightly like a spring ready to fail from the load, but she’d pushed through working in the greenhouse and on the drive into town with Carter. What else c
ould she do?

  The town was charming with a Main Street full of shops and restaurants—everything a tourist could want to find. She made a mental note of the souvenir shop’s location so she could buy a magnet. She collected those from each place she visited.

  Lowering herself into the hot springs, with the water covering every part of her except her head, appeared to be the perfect remedy. Steam rose into the chilly air, taking her tension with it.

  “Oh…” That was the only thing she could manage to say when the water was working its magic by turning her body into mush.

  Carter was a few feet away, appearing as blissed out as she felt. “Good idea to come here?”

  “Best idea ever.” Thank goodness she’d packed a one-piece swimsuit, but it was a part of her checklist because of where she was going for her next job—Arizona.

  The scent of minerals surrounded her. When they’d stopped into the Quinn Hotel and Spa, Carter’s cousin who worked there, Roxane, had supplied Avery with a brochure about the hot springs that included the composition of the water. But she wanted to shut off her brain and soak, not remember multi-syllable names.

  “I have them occasionally,” Carter joked. “Roxane tells me I should come to the hot springs more often.”

  Avery dipped lower until her chin brushed the water. The cold air provided a nice contrast to the temperature of the water. “Smart woman.”

  Carter nodded. “I should listen better to her and others, including my grandmother.”

  Feeling mellow, Avery closed her eyes. “New year. New you.”

  He laughed. “I can add it to my list of things to try.”

  “Doing is better than trying.” Avery’s stepfather had always told her that.

  “A guy has to start somewhere.”

  Her eyes sprang open. Something about Carter’s tone…

  He was gliding toward her. His wide, muscular shoulders bobbed in the water. She’d been trying not to notice him before they’d entered the hot springs, but he was fit with muscles, which were the result of long hours of manual labor, not time spent using weights or fancy machines at a gym.

  Uh-oh. Noticing him this way wasn’t right. She stared at the water.

  Sure, other women in the hot springs had stared at him. Avery didn’t blame them for that. But she couldn’t allow herself the luxury. Not when she was working with him.

  I hired you.

  Client and consultant.

  He’d made how he thought about her crystal clear. Best not to think about his physique or kiss or…

  Something touched her hair.

  She jumped.

  “Sorry.” Carter tucked a stray strand into her messy bun. “Some fell out and was about to get wet.”

  “Th-thanks.”

  Of course he wasn’t making a move. He was trying to be polite since they were getting dinner afterward, but her heart raced with a mixture of attraction and anticipation she couldn’t control.

  “Thanks.” Her voice sounded huskier than normal. Ridiculous.

  However, she thought about moving away from him. He was too tempting. Would he notice if she did?

  His gaze darkened. “Is something wrong, cowgirl?”

  The question told her he would notice any distance Avery put between them, so she wouldn’t do that. She also didn’t dare admit what she was thinking about him. Not directly anyway. “I wasn’t expecting to be here today.”

  “It’s nice.”

  That was how she’d described their kiss. So much for not thinking about it or him that way. A fluttering feeling in her chest kept growing. Her fingers wanted to reach out and touch him. She knew all the reasons she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop imagining herself doing that and more.

  “It is,” she admitted. “But being here makes me feel like I’m on a”—date—“vacation, not working.”

  Carter shrugged. “Nothing wrong with having a little fun.”

  Unless this time with him made her long for more. That, she realized, was the problem with Carter Quinn. She couldn’t have more.

  “Fun is good,” she agreed, keeping her tone light.

  “Especially when you can have fun with someone else.” His words hung in the air as if floating on top of the steam in a bubble. He came even closer. “I have fun with you.”

  Awareness buzzed through her. Whatever she was thinking and feeling wasn’t all in her head. Did that mean the line he’d drawn at breakfast was shifting or had she misunderstood what he meant earlier?

  His gaze locked on hers, so intense she couldn’t have moved if she tried. “We never talked about last night.”

  “The, um…” Avery couldn’t bring herself to say the word. What was she—twelve? But the nerves that had been lurking under the surface suddenly appeared with full force.

  “Kiss,” he offered with a hint of amusement. “I have to keep reminding myself that I’m paying you to help me with the farm. That puts us in an awkward position because I’m also attracted to you. But I don’t want you to feel forced into anything or uncomfortable with what happened.”

  “I’m not.” The words shot out bullet-fast. “But I’m not in the habit of…”

  “Kissing clients,” he finished for her.

  Avery nodded. She’d worked hard to build her business, but if people heard about her kissing clients, not only would her reputation be at stake but also her business. She couldn’t risk that.

  “You’re the first,” she admitted. “And it shouldn’t happen again while I’m working with you.”

  Even if her lips were screaming in protest.

  “I get it. Not kissing makes sense under the circumstances. This isn’t a typical boy-meets-girl situation.” He didn’t sound upset, more like shy. “You working and staying at the farm complicates the situation. Unfortunately.”

  Carter was all shades of adorable, especially with his red cheeks, though that might be from the hot springs. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “I do. I like working together, but I also enjoy spending time off the farm with you.”

  He was so cute, shifting in the water and appearing middle school-ish, unsure rather than the confident adult he was.

  “I want us to do more things like this,” he continued. “If you want that, too.”

  Did she? Avery wasn’t sure, but she wanted to understand exactly what he was suggesting. “Do you mean date?”

  “Dating implies kissing, which we won’t be doing, so hanging out might be a better term.”

  Yes, but she wanted to make sure she wasn’t missing anything. “Hanging out as friends?”

  The hopeful expression on his face matched the feeling in her heart. “That seems best. What do you say?”

  Her normal response would be no, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. For so many years, she’d kept herself from getting close to anyone. An act of self-preservation that had left her with a few acquaintances but none to call a friend. Maybe the new year was the time for her to do something different, too.

  What had she told Carter?

  New year. New you.

  Becoming friends with a guy she found attractive and enjoyed kissing might not be the smartest move, but her contract ended on Friday. Sooner if they finished before that. No one had to know they’d kissed that one time. If she wanted to make a change, she had to start somewhere.

  Why not with Carter?

  “Yes.” The way his dimple seemed to wink at her made her tingle. “I’d like to hang out with you.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Carter woke up feeling happier than he had in years. He didn’t have to search far to know the reason—Avery. Dinner at Quinn’s, despite his family, and soaking in the hot springs had been fun, as had eating pizza before heading to the farm. Her kiss the other night had left him eager for another, but he understood her reasons for not wanting more. Respected them.

  Her.

  Hanging out. Friends.

  That was good enough while she was here.

  It ha
d to be.

  Though maybe she’d return. Not for work but to vacation. She seemed to enjoy the town yesterday, and she couldn’t stop talking about the hot springs on the drive home.

  Carter pushed aside the curtain in his bedroom window. Though her next visit shouldn’t be in the wintertime. A blanket of thick white covered the ground, and heavy snow fell from the gray sky.

  He sighed.

  As forecasted, the snowstorm had hit.

  Not a problem. The weather wouldn’t hamper his plans for today, since he’d been prepared, but they might be stuck at the farm for a day or two. The country roads were usually the last ones plowed, which meant the weather could mess with Grams’ plans.

  When he’d spoken to her yesterday morning, she hadn’t mentioned Avery, only said she would be by as usual on Monday. That had surprised him. The snow, however, might keep his grandmother away. Unless she could sweet talk someone from the county’s transportation department to plow sooner. Knowing her, she would try.

  He dressed, let Ruff outside, and made coffee.

  A few minutes later, the back door opened. Either Ruff had figured out how to work the door handle or it was Avery.

  She entered, carrying a box of eggs.

  “Good morning.” Snow clung to her hat and jacket. “The snow apocalypse arrived as scheduled.”

  The scarf around her neck and mouth hadn’t kept her cheeks from becoming red or her nose from running. She sniffled, but he’d never seen a more beautiful woman.

  Well, friend.

  That was half of a “girlfriend.” Grams would be happy he was making progress toward the full word.

  With a chuckle, Carter took the eggs from Avery and placed the box in the mud room. He could deal with them later. “Why did you visit the chickens?”

  She pulled off her gloves and then wiggled her fingers. “I woke up early, so I thought I’d help you out with morning chores.”

  She’d assisted him with chores before but had never taken on one herself. This surprised him but in a good way. “Thanks.”