Carter's Cowboy

by McClone, Melissa

  Her jaw jutted forward. She appeared to be weighing his words. Unless she wanted him to grovel.

  Carter had no idea why, but he would do whatever it took to put a smile back on Avery’s face. He would try a simple, yet sincere, explanation first.

  “I have two sisters.” He wasn’t sure if he’d mentioned them to Avery, but he wanted to ease the growing tension. Well, hers. “Lots of female relatives, too. I’m fully aware of how much women are capable of doing and accomplishing. I had no idea what you looked like until you arrived. What I said was meant as a compliment. Your reputation in the industry is solid and your results impressive. That’s why I hired you.”

  When they reached the front door of the bunkhouse, Carter hesitated. Would she be upset if he opened the door for her? Better not chance it. He’d left the light on when he’d been there earlier to drop off bedding and towels, so she wouldn’t be stepping into darkness. “The door’s unlocked.”

  She opened it and stepped inside.

  He followed her. Two steps beyond the doorway, the air felt no warmer than outside. That could mean only one thing—no heat.

  He swallowed a sigh. “The bunkhouse was nice and warm earlier. I’ll check the circuit breaker, but if that doesn’t fix it, I’ll have to call a repairman.”

  Carter went into the laundry room. After he opened the fuse panel, he checked each switch. Not a breaker problem. That meant the heater was broken. If the HVAC guy couldn’t make it out here tomorrow, maybe his cousin Andrew, an engineer who kept everything at the Quinn Hotel and Spa in working order, could try to fix it. Carter knew better than to try himself.

  She glanced around. “Is there a wood stove or fireplace?”

  “No.” That was something they’d never needed.

  “Space heater?”

  “Nope.” Carter had never needed one of those, either. Driving to town to buy one would take too long, and they’d still need to heat the place up. That wasn’t going to work. “You won’t be able to stay here tonight.”

  She lifted her chin. “It’s not that cold.”

  “I wouldn’t let Ruff sleep in here without any heat.” A good thing Carter had a spare room where she could stay—otherwise, he’d be on the couch in the living room. The third bedroom had been converted to an office. “You can use the guest room until the heater is repaired.”

  Wariness flashed on her face. “That might take time.”

  “Let’s hope the part is on the truck or in stock.”

  She stepped away as skittish as a colt. She didn’t say anything, but panic filled her eyes.

  He wanted to address any issues she might have. “What?”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want to impose.” The words rushed out, one on top of the other. “Bet your wife won’t appreciate you springing a last-minute houseguest on her.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I don’t have a wife or a girlfriend.” He wasn’t sure why he’d added that last part. “It’s just Ruff and me. Plenty of room for one more. I suggested you stay in the bunkhouse because it’s closer to the barn, and I thought you might prefer the privacy, but you’ll freeze out here.”

  Her gaze flitted back and forth, not focusing on one thing. “I’ll find a motel.”

  “Providing a place for you to stay is a part of our agreement.”

  As she raised a brow, her mouth tightened. “Yes…”

  The “but” was implied.

  He would try again. “I mentioned my sisters. Maggie and Ivy would have concerns if they were in your shoes and had to stay with someone they didn’t know, but if I didn’t have the bunkhouse, that’s the room I would have offered.”

  Avery nodded, but she didn’t appear convinced.

  “The heater has never given me any trouble before. I have no idea what could have gone wrong, but I can’t, in good conscience, let you stay in here with no heat.”

  She gnawed on her lower lip as though she didn’t like what he had to say. That wasn’t going to stop him. He would tell her about a typical evening with him. And what it would be like for her. That might convince her.

  “During dinner, we can discuss a few of the suggestions you mentioned during our phone calls,” he added. “I’ve done some research, but I wanted to clarify a couple of things. Then you can check on Mercury while I work in my office. Bottom line, I don’t expect to entertain you while you’re here or vice versa.”

  He waited for her to say no, but she didn’t. Well, she hadn’t said anything.

  “If you’re set on staying elsewhere, that’s fine, but the guest bedroom has an attached bathroom so you’ll have privacy,” he continued. “There are two entrances to the room, one from inside the house and the other from the backyard. Both have locks.”

  Not that Avery would need to lock her door to stay safe from him, but she didn’t know that.

  “That gives you two ways to escape.” He kept his tone light. “Not that you’ll need either one.”

  The right side of Avery’s mouth curved upward a tad. Not exactly a smile, but she wasn’t frowning.

  He would take it. “What do you say?”

  Avery raised her chin. “Yes.”

  The defiant gleam in her eyes suggested she wasn’t happy about the new sleeping arrangements. Before she changed her mind and headed to the nearest motel in town, he exited the bunkhouse, hoping she’d follow. Thankfully she did. “Let’s grab your luggage from the truck.”

  She nodded once, but her shoulders sagged.

  The urge to hug her and tell her everything would be okay took hold of Carter in a way he didn’t understand, but he wouldn’t do that. Not with the way she’d reacted.

  Instead, he pressed his arms against his sides. “As soon as we get your stuff into the house, I’ll call about the heater.”

  “Thanks.” She sounded drained as if all her energy had been zapped. So different from when she’d first arrived on the farm—eager and ready to go on a tour right then.

  Why the change?

  Tiredness?

  Anxiety?

  Hunger?

  Whatever the reason, Carter wanted to put her at ease. “My grandmother dropped off baked ziti earlier. We’ll have that for dinner.”

  “Your grandmother lives nearby?”

  He nodded. “I have a large, extended family. My brothers and sisters live in town, but they often drop by unexpectedly. Rarely do they knock, though Ruff usually hears them before they reach the front door.”

  “You’re lucky to have a close family.”

  Her wistful tone stopped him from making a typical joke about the number of Quinn relatives nearby. “I am. Do you live near family?”

  “No.” She spoke sharply.

  Given the vague clues from what she’d said, someone had hurt her. A family member, a former client, who knew? But instinct welled inside him, a need to protect her. He’d felt a similar protectiveness over his sisters, mom, and cousins, but this feeling wasn’t brotherly or familial. He wasn’t sure what this was, but it didn’t matter.

  Taking care of Avery did.

  And tonight, he would.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  With her heart rate settling from her near meltdown at the bunkhouse, Avery stood in the entryway of Carter’s house. The living room appeared neat and tidy. Not a speck of dust or item out of place. Much cleaner than the room where she stayed between consulting gigs.

  She shouldn’t be impressed, but she was. “Nice home.”

  “Thanks.”

  As he rolled her suitcase onto the wood floor, Ruff lumbered in from the hallway as if he’d just woken from a nap. The dog sniffed her before moving to Carter’s side.

  “I’ve slowly been renovating rooms,” he added. “Emphasis on slow, but there is always something I need to be doing outside so the inside gets the short end of the stick.”

  She made a mental note to see what changes could be made to help with that. “We can find ways to streamline what you and your employees do. That might give you additi
onal free time.”

  Excitement flashed on his face. The result? A drool-worthy expression.

  Swallowing, Avery focused on the dog.

  “More free time would be great, but the farm comes first. Especially if I add a second greenhouse as you mentioned during one of our talks.”

  His enthusiasm pleased her. “I’ll keep that in mind. You’ve been clear what your priorities are.”

  Which probably explained why he was single.

  Farming could mean long hours and backbreaking work.

  Not a lot of time to date.

  But his relationship status wasn’t her business.

  His farm was, and that included this house.

  The hardwood floor gleamed, and a hint of lemon lingered in the air. She didn’t see any shoes by the entrance, but she wanted to ask. “Should I take off my boots?”

  “Not unless that’s what you want to do.” He didn’t remove his. “Just check the bottoms.”

  She’d wiped her boots against the welcome mat on the porch, but she checked anyway. “Clean.”

  “This way.” He moved toward a hallway on the left.

  She followed. Framed photographs hung on both walls. Some showed a couple in various stages of their life. Others seemed to be of a large family. A few were of Ruff as a puppy.

  A door on the left was open. “This is my office. There’s a desktop computer and printer if you need them. I’ll write down the Wi-Fi password for you.” He kept walking. “The closed door is a bathroom. The next door is my bedroom. Yours is the only one on the right side of the hallway.”

  “Right side,” she repeated. “Got it.”

  Carter acted like he wanted to say something—make a joke—but he didn’t.

  That was her fault. Carter Quinn might be attractive, paid her a compliment by calling her pretty, and offered her a room in his house, but that didn’t mean she’d had to overreact.

  Except that was exactly what she’d done in the bunkhouse.

  He motioned to the door on the right.

  When she crossed the threshold, she felt instantly at home. Granted, the bunkhouse had been freezing, but this bedroom went beyond the warm temperature to cozy and welcoming.

  As Carter placed her suitcase onto the queen-sized bed, Avery willed her pulse to slow. Her breathing, too.

  She’d jumped all over him for mentioning her looks and then treated him like he was an axe murderer who would feed her body to the pigs. Not that he had any on the farm.

  Only cattle and chickens.

  Horses and a dog, too.

  Talk about freaking out.

  And embarrassing herself.

  “Will this room do?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She placed her backpack on the floor. “Thank you.”

  Complimenting her wasn’t a crime, but she preferred to be acknowledged for anything other than her looks. He didn’t know that, however, and she shouldn’t take her frustrations from past interactions out on him.

  Nothing he’d done suggested he would flirt or make a pass. He hadn’t followed what he’d said with any innuendos. A glance or two, but that could mean anything or…nothing.

  Pathetic.

  She’d stayed in other clients’ houses so many times she’d been surprised when he’d offered her the use of the bunkhouse. Yet, when he’d brought up sleeping in his home, she’d snapped.

  The bitter taste of regret coated her mouth.

  She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to be alone, but Carter was still there. He moved toward the door with quick steps as if trying to get out of her way. Which proved yet again that he was a decent guy. One with sisters, brothers, and a lot of other relatives who might drop by unexpectedly and enter without knocking. Knowing that made her feel more comfortable. Now to let Carter in on that.

  “There are clean towels hanging in the bathroom,” he explained in a low voice, sounding as if he didn’t want to upset her more. “If you need extra washcloths or hand towels, they’re in the cabinet below the sink.”

  “Thank you.” She needed to say more, but expressing her appreciation for his hospitality was a start.

  Carter had been nothing but polite. He’d apologized after she’d taken his words the wrong way. Albeit, her being hair-triggered was due to what she’d dealt with in the past from bosses, coworkers, and plain jerks, but painting all men with the same wide brushstroke wasn’t right.

  Or fair.

  She hadn’t spoken up for years, but now standing up for herself was second nature. She’d become her own advocate because no one else would, but she still needed to think before she spoke.

  He backed up farther. “If there’s anything you need, please let me know.”

  “I will.” She surveyed the room. Much better than the freezing cold bunkhouse. A green-and-blue plaid comforter and coordinating pillows gave the space a slightly masculine feel. Mismatched nightstands with matching lamps sat on either side of the bed. A dresser graced one wall, while an oversized oak armoire seemed to be the only closet. “This is a lovely room.”

  “It used to be mine before Ben followed Frannie to Heaven.”

  The affection for those two people shone on Carter’s face, the same as it had when he talked about his family. He was fortunate to have earned such love.

  At least she had Mercury.

  Avery would forever be grateful to her stepfather for that. She took a breath before releasing it slowly.

  “Staying here is much better than spending the night in a freezing bunkhouse.” Time for her mea culpa. “I’m sorry for my reaction—or rather, my overreaction—earlier.”

  “No problem.” He spoke without missing a beat. The words could have been said flippantly, but his were full of sincerity. “You traveled a long distance today only to have things not be what you expected when you arrived.”

  Her mouth dropped. She closed it. That was exactly it, but how had he figured that out about her? “The drive wasn’t bad, but the other…”

  Avery needed a minute before continuing.

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Carter said.

  “I do.” She’d expected him to press for the reason, not back off, but that didn’t change anything. He deserved an explanation for her behavior. “There are a few things that upset me. Push me over the edge. Being called pretty is one of them. I’ve been judged because of my looks with not-so-pleasant outcomes. I also don’t respond well when plans change suddenly, even if the result turns out in my favor. Like staying in this guest room instead of the bunkhouse.”

  Too many times, her life had been thrown into upheaval. From being kicked out of the home she’d grown up in to losing jobs, she’d had security ripped away when she’d least expected.

  “I’m also not a big fan of surprises,” she continued. “But I shouldn’t have freaked out over staying in your house. My behavior was uncalled for. I hope you’ll forgive me and allow us to start over.”

  The corners of his mouth curled up. He didn’t sigh, but she caught a slight exhale.

  “I do, and we can. I’ll be sure to minimize any sudden change of plans and limit surprises while you’re here.” His tone was serious, but his body seemed lighter as if a hundred-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He walked toward her with his arm extended, gloves still covering his hands. “Welcome to Quinn Organics. I’m Carter.”

  Relief poured through her. She shook his hand. “Avery.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “The pleasure is mine.”

  He laughed. So did she.

  “Now that we’ve gotten that over with, take some time and get settled,” he suggested. “I’ll put the ziti in the oven before I check on the livestock and the bees. It won’t take me long.”

  Time to herself before dinner would be good. She wanted to wash off the grime from the drive. “See you soon. And thanks.”

  For so many things, but most especially for starting over.

  This time, she would kee
p her emotions in check. Easy-peasy. At least, she hoped so.

  * * *

  An hour and a half later, sitting across from Carter at the table in his kitchen, Avery wiped her mouth with a napkin. She didn’t consider herself a foodie, but she thought the home-cooked meal from his grandmother, along with the side dishes and dessert from her friends, was top notch.

  Avery placed the napkin on her lap. “Dinner is delicious.”

  She only wished Carter didn’t appear as if he were watching what he said. He seemed to be holding himself back. Letting her initiate conversation. Measuring his responses. At least his smile had returned; however, the dimple on his left side remained missing.

  “Your grandmother is an excellent cook,” Avery added.

  “She’s had lots of practice between five kids, twenty-five grandkids, and three great-grandchildren.”

  Avery drew back. “That is a big family.”

  Humor glinted in his gaze. “It seems to get bigger every couple of weeks.”

  “Are your cousins having babies?”

  “One is. A few others have gotten engaged or married.”

  But not him. Which was surprising since he seemed to be a catch. He didn’t have a girlfriend, but an attractive guy like him must date.

  Do. Not. Go. There.

  “When you contacted me, you mentioned inheriting the farm. Were the Martins part of the Quinn clan?” she asked.

  “No, just longtime residents of Quinn Valley.” A faraway expression formed on Carter’s face. “They hired me for an after-school job. I’ve been here ever since.”

  As he told her about working for the Martins, who had no children, he spoke with gratitude for the opportunity they’d given him at the age of sixteen and then again two years ago when the farm passed to him after Ben’s death. Carter talked about the couple as if they were still around. His love for the two echoed in his voice.

  “A few years ago, Ben let me run things, but now that I’ve done it on my own, I’m ready to take the next steps.”

  “Which is why I’m here.” Avery knew what he hoped to accomplish based on their phone calls. She leaned in her chair. “I’ll fine tune my initial plan as I learn more about your operation.”