by Kadie Scott
Carter didn’t like Angela, but she hadn’t been around when they’d been together. Their breakup had been all him. He’d put his heart and soul into each case, because they meant something. He’d assumed, as a lawyer herself—they’d meet in law school—Angela understood. He hadn’t seen how he’d neglected her, hurt her. Hell, he’d practically chased her off. She’d gone on to date another man from their law cohort for several years, but he’d heard that had broken up recently.
Not the enticing witch Carter seemed to have pegged her as. An impression he’d probably given accidentally when he’d made the mistake of drinking a bit too much and telling Carter all about her.
Unfortunately, his filter seemed to disappear around Carter Hill. Something about the way she was never intimidated by him, and how she made him want to laugh even when he shouldn’t, combined with the unusual shade of her eyes. Deep blue, rimmed in black, made even more blue by black lashes and long black hair, currently pulled back in a professional knot at the back of her neck. Her skin was tanned like she spent a lot of time outside, which she did for her job. Plus the family ranch she was always talking about visiting.
He’d developed a habit of saying whatever was in his head when she turned her blue eyes on him. Like he was hypnotized or something.
He mentally shook his head at the memory of her first salvo today. “You bellowed?” she’d said. No one else would’ve dared, except maybe Mrs. Landingham. Life whenever Carter was around was never dull, that was a bona fide fact.
She’s only a friend.
Not the first time he’d had to remind himself of that situation. Though the long dark hair, big blue eyes, and enticing curves made that a difficult sell to his dick. Not that he had a type per se. More like the “home and hearth” type was not his, and Carter definitely fell in the “girl you marry” category of female, not the “girl you take to bed for a few nights of fun and that’s it” category.
She suddenly turned her eyes his way with a sharp look, and Logan put a full stop to his mental musings, reviewing what had just been said by the defense lawyer.
Shit. How could he have let his mind drift?
“Objection,” Logan barked. “Leading the witness.”
Good thing one of them was paying attention. Damn it, Cartez. He never let anything distract him from a case. Never. And certainly not in the middle of the trial.
He didn’t dare turn to see what his team thought about it. No doubt they’d kept professionally neutral expressions. He only employed the best. They wouldn’t say anything either, but damned if they wouldn’t have noticed either.
The defense attorney wrapped up his questions, faster than even Logan had been expecting. Not too surprising. As expert testimony went, Carter was one of the best tools in his arsenal. She knew her shit, her analysis was flawless, she was well respected in the community, never flapped under pressure, and frequently used that sarcastic wit of hers against lawyers trying to dance around her with words.
The presiding judge checked her watch. “I would’ve liked to wrap this up today, but we’re out of time. We’ll resume tomorrow at eight with closing statements.”
The bang of the gavel cracked through the room, and Carter stepped out of the witness box.
Logan didn’t miss how she blew out a breath. Of relief? Why? She’d been spot-on, as always.
As she approached, she directed a pleased smile over his shoulder to the team who’d worked untiringly on this case. Then she shifted her gaze to him, and her smile widened, reaching her eyes fully and gaining a twinkle he didn’t quite trust.
“I think we should celebrate. First round on me?”
Through the happy acceptances of his team, Logan frowned. “We haven’t won anything, yet.”
“Sure you have. Though…” She cocked her head, eyeing him with the untrustworthy twinkle again. She stepped closer, lowering her voice just for him to hear. “I almost had to do your job for you and object.”
“Is that so?” Logan didn’t betray by so much as a twitch that she was dead-on in that assessment.
“You know it is.”
Why the hell did the twinkle make him want to tip her back and kiss her until they were both out of breath?
Off-limits. His new mantra.
“Your testimony was excellent,” he allowed.
With almost comical urgency, Carter dug through her purse and pulled out her phone. Then turned to take a selfie, stepping in close to him, the fresh, clean scent of her winding around his senses like a snare.
“What are you doing?”
“Marking this occasion. Where we were when Logan Cartez gave me a compliment. Smile.” Before he could protest, she snapped the picture. “So…” She tucked her phone back in her purse like that hadn’t just happened. “Where to? I’m thinking Cooper’s BBQ on Congress. I’m craving their blackberry cobbler.”
“I thought you said drinks,” Logan protested.
Drinks he could handle. Show he could be sociable with his coworkers. Dessert implied dinner. That was more time than he wanted to allot for networking.
Carter rolled her eyes. “It’s five o’clock, Logan. A girl has to eat. Besides, Cooper’s has a bar, too.”
Briefcase packed neatly, he snapped it shut and turned to find his team smiling at him expectantly. Damn.
This happened every time Carter was involved.
He had to go over the final statement. Plus, the next case up needed more attention. Which reminded him, he needed to talk to Carter about getting involved with that one.
This job was a lifetime of working toward one goal. Making sure small ranches and farms didn’t get stomped on by large ranches or towns or even large cities when it came to the one thing they couldn’t survive without. Water.
Anytime he thought of taking his foot off the gas, even a tiny bit, an image of his parents spurred him on. Faces pinched with worry, eyes dark with disappointment and a shame that came from circumstances outside their control. Logan had witnessed firsthand how the little guy could lose everything, and he’d fight for them, one case at a time.
“I can’t stay long,” he warned.
A cheer went up, like he never socialized, and Logan managed to smile. His team had earned it.
Gordon Brant, one of the associates at the firm who he worked with most often, bright, ambitious, and detail oriented, had missed his daughter’s birthday party thanks to working over weekends with Logan. Cindy Taketa, who’d clerked for him every summer the last three years, managed to get great research done while still wrapping up two final courses. He’d be working with the office manager to get her an offer this week. Josh Jones, the other clerk, new to the firm this winter, and also a law student at UT, showed a lot of promise. And Elayne Martinez, his paralegal since he’d started, and who he’d never get through a case without. Solid people who contributed to his success almost as much as the work he himself put into each case.
He’d make sure the firm paid, not Carter.
Before he knew it, they’d made their way to downtown Austin, not far from the Congress Street Bridge where the famed bats made a home. The largest urban bat colony in the world. Thousands of people would gather on the bridge and the shores of Town Lake every evening in the spring and summer to watch the bats emerge at dusk.
Logan had never witnessed the event himself. No need to try tonight. He’d do drinks and then head home. He wanted to practice the closing statement a few more times.
The line at Cooper’s wound up outside on the sidewalk. Great, more time wasted. Logan managed to keep his thoughts to himself, taking his place behind Carter, with the others ahead of her.
“Hey.” He touched her elbow to get her attention, careful to release her quickly, keeping the contact impersonal.
She blinked her big blue eyes up at him, curiosity raising her eyebrows.
“I have another case I want you to take a look at.” He could at least get work done.
They took a step forward and she turned to face him.
“What’s it about—”
The distinctive ring of her phone—a Big & Rich song, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy”—sounded, and Carter made a face as she dug in her purse.
A glance at the screen and she gave a little frown. “Just a sec,” she said to him. “Mom?” she answered, her voice a mix of curious, concerned, and happy.
Did her mother not call often? They seemed like a close family, but maybe not. Not that Logan would know how often family might call. His parents had died within months of each other when he’d been in his first year at college.
“Hold on, Mom.” She covered the phone with her hand, like that would make a difference. “I need to take this.”
“Everything okay?” he asked automatically. Because the twinge in his gut couldn’t be concern.
“Yeah. If you get up there before I’m done, can you order me a few slices of the smoked turkey with a salad and the—”
“Blackberry cobbler?” he asked.
“You remembered.” Carter grinned before she stepped away, and damn if he didn’t want to kiss her again. Maybe he should spend less time with her outside the office, and maybe even find another hydrology and water management expert as a consultant. The firm had several on retainer.
Logan chatted with Gordon, who stood ahead of him in line now that Carter had vacated her spot. As the line moved inside the building, he glanced back to see if she was close to being finished with her call and paused.
Carter stood off to the side on the wide sidewalk, out of the way of the busy foot traffic, speaking into her cell phone. Nothing about her specifically alerted him. She stood tall and straight and she wasn’t frowning or gesturing or anything like that. Maybe that was the clue. Her free hand was still and lifeless at her side. Very un-Carter-like. She used her hands when she talked.
The woman standing on the sidewalk, so still and contained, was… wrong. Something was wrong.
She hung up the phone and slipped it in her purse, but stood there, staring into space.
The person behind him cleared his throat, and Logan realized the line had moved well up without him. “Carter,” he called.
She startled at the sound of her name. Definitely lost in thought. Then smiled and scooted ahead of him to take her place in the line again.
“Is everything okay?” Logan asked.
“Yeah.” She turned sideways allowing her to both face him and see the line at the same time. “News from home.”
Her voice indicated it was no big deal, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes even a little bit.
“Good news?” Irritation spiked inside him like stepping on a sticker in tall grass. Usually Logan didn’t pry into other people’s private lives. Even friends. So what the hell was he doing right now?
“Yes. A… friend is getting married.”
Chapter Two
Carter hated lying, but that wasn’t exactly a lie. Her ex-fiancé was sort of a friend, but the word didn’t exactly cover the emotional impact of the news.
Not that she wanted to be with Brian anymore. Leaving him had been a hard choice, but, not long after their breakup, she’d realized she didn’t miss him. Not like she should if her heart had truly been involved. It didn’t make it hurt any less though, now, to hear he was getting married. He’d moved on faster than she had.
Good for him, but… Carter held in a sigh.
Logan hadn’t missed her hesitation. The man could be tunnel-visioned about this job, and his lack of fun needed serious work, but he was smart and knew how to read people. Luckily, he couldn’t ask more, because they’d made their way up to the front of the line.
Not that he was likely to ask. Not his style. Mr. Professional kept a strict line drawn between work life and nonwork life. Like she wasn’t allowed to bring up things like movies she’d made him watch when they were at work. If she hadn’t practically badgered him into being friends in the first place, she doubt he would’ve approached her with the idea.
The next ten minutes were a bustle of ordering, paying, finding a table big enough to hold them all upstairs. Meanwhile her head was spinning.
Brian was getting married.
Her ex-fiancé had found a woman who wanted to stay in La Colina, Texas, where they’d grown up together, and be the perfect rancher’s wife.
That had been the trouble with her. Carter had spent years and a hell of a lot of money acquiring first a bachelor’s degree in engineering followed by a masters and PhD in hydrology. She loved her family home on High Hill Ranch. No one could have grown up in a more loving environment, and she missed it every day.
But look at what she’d achieved today. She had no concern whatsoever that tomorrow the judge would rule in favor of Logan’s client, helping the farmer of a small acreage get access to water that the massive ranch upstream had essentially been hoarding. Not that they didn’t need it, too. Water rights were damn tricky. Especially in Texas with long periods of drought. Especially in the hill country where it got even trickier. The region sat on a massive plate of limestone which drained water to large aquifers servicing huge urban areas as well as ranches and farms.
Brian’s getting married.
Numbness had settled over her heart. Behind the numb, mostly what threatened to crush her was an overwhelming sense of… loneliness.
Carter managed to sit herself across a large round table from Logan. Given her current state of mind, she was apt to do something foolish, like try to flirt to make herself feel better. She’d had a crush for a while now and her ego had taken a good knock tonight. Her mind was already contemplating things outside her comfort zone. Like kissing him to see if he ever lost that reserved control.
Abruptly, she shoved to her feet and strode to the bar. She could walk home from here and get an Uber to the firm tomorrow to pick up her truck. What she needed right now was to forget.
The bar, like every other part of this establishment, was a rustic, right-out-of-a-western-saloon beauty of polished scrolling wood, mirror-backed shelves of alcohol, and multiple TVs playing various kinds of sports. Mostly baseball.
A burly bartender with a massive, well-groomed beard, smoothly bald head, and tattoos covering both arms under sleeves rolled back flashed her a quick smile. “Be right with you, darlin’.”
Carter waited for him to finish pouring beers for a large party of twenty-something guys obviously off work for the day. It took a little while, but eventually, he moved to stand in front of her, mahogany bar between them, his gaze traveling over what he could see of her, and Carter blinked. Was that interest in his dark eyes? Or was she just another customer?
Hard to tell behind the beard.
It had been way too long since she’d dated. Not since she’d broken her engagement, actually. A long time without a man looking at her with any spark of interest. A long time without being kissed. Touched.
She refused to turn and see if Logan was watching. He wasn’t. The idea was borderline ridiculous, and she had to silently laugh at herself for even thinking it.
“Six shots of tequila. Top shelf,” she said. “With salt and limes.”
His beard twitched as he grinned. “Celebrating?”
She shrugged and smiled back. “Something like that.”
He nodded and got to work on the shots, arranging them on a tray for her.
“Can I join?” he asked as he handed them over.
Carter’s brain paused and she stared at a handsome face. Maybe the bartender actually was flirting with her. It had been a long ass time since anyone bothered, and she’d just been thinking… “Are you allowed?”
He glanced at the clock behind the bar. “I get off in an hour.”
Oh. Oh! He was flirting. Probably with a one-night stand in mind. Not that she’d take him up on that offer, should it come, but flirting couldn’t hurt. Right? Better than making a drunken mistake and trying it on her lawyer friend crush. Besides, her ego sure as shooting needed this right about now.
What was the harm in flirting back? She smile
d. “I’ll buy you one of these in an hour then.”
That pulled a full on grin from her mountain-man bartender. “I’ll take you up on that.” He held a hand across the bar to shake. “I’m Scott.”
He had a nice grip, and a nice smile, which left her feeling nothing more than flattered at the attention. She ignored the rock in her gut saying this wasn’t the guy she wanted attention from. “Carter.”
He cocked his head. “First time I’ve met a Carter who was a woman.”
“I get that a lot. I’m one of five kids and we’re all named after country-and-western singers but using last names.”
“I didn’t know that,” a deep voice sounded beside her.
Luckily, Carter had balanced the tray full of shots on the bar. Otherwise, the way Logan’s sudden appearance made her jump would’ve guaranteed she was paying for another round of shots because these would’ve ended up on the floor.
Trying to cover, and at the same time mentally falling over at the way Scott’s flirting had been flattering but nothing more, while Logan only had to show up beside her to have awareness skating over her skin, bringing her to life. So wrong. The man had zero interest in her that way.
Don’t screw up a good thing.
No mixing business and pleasure. Right? Or friendship and pleasure.
Crap.
The idea of pleasure had things more than tingling, and she’d taken off her suit jacket, leaving only the silky, feminine sleeveless blouse, which no doubt showed how her nipples had perked up.
Get a grip, woman.
Lifting the tray of drinks from the bar as a makeshift shield, Carter cleared her throat. “Yeah. They used last names though. My oldest brother is Williams, for Hank Williams. My twin brother and I are named for Johnny Cash and June Carter. Then there’s Autry and Jennings.”
“Let me guess…” Scott pulled her attention away from her boss. Well not her boss, but maybe she should put him under that heading more. Gain some distance. “Gene Autry and Waylon Jennings.”