Carter (Remington Ranch Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

Shane hung up.
    Summer looked over at him.
    He pursed his lips. “You win.”
    Her smile said she knew exactly what he meant.

Chapter Three
     
    When Carter turned into the driveway, Summer smiled at the sight of the house. She really did love the place. She’d only stayed here for a short time, but it had felt like a sanctuary. A safe place to hide and to rest. It was so beautiful, sitting as it did on the bank of the Yellowstone, with glorious views of the mountains all around.
    Carter brought the truck to a stop outside the front door then looked over at her. “What time did you tell Cassidy we’d be over for dinner?” he asked.
    “Seven.”
    He nodded and looked at the clock on the dash. “In that case, I’ll bring your bags in for you and leave you to get settled. I need to head home to shower and change.”
    She hadn’t been expecting that. He’d agreed that they could talk when he got her here. “But…” she croaked.
    He shook his head with a finality she recognized. “But nothing. You need to rest your voice for more than just an hour. I need to get cleaned up and changed. There’s nothing to argue about.”
    She nodded. She knew he was right. But she wasn’t giving up, either. She climbed out of the truck and followed him up the steps. Once she’d unlocked the front door, he brought her bags inside.
    “Where do you want them?”
    She pointed down the hallway to her bedroom. Carter stopped in the doorway, looking uncomfortable.
    Summer couldn’t help smiling. He’d been over here a few times during her last visit, but she knew he was uncomfortable invading her private space as he’d put it. He’d made a big effort to stay out on the deck whenever he came, only venturing in as far as the living room when she insisted. She gestured toward the bed, knowing that would make him more uncomfortable still. As he placed her bags on it, she sat down and smiled up at him. “Thank you.”
    He nodded and backed away. He didn’t stop until he reached the door. When he did he blocked the light.
    She wished he’d come back, come sit beside her, talk to her, be honest with her about how he felt, let her be honest about how she felt. “Do you have to go right now?” she asked.
    He’d taken his hat off and was twisting it in his hands as he stood there. He held her gaze for a long moment before he nodded. “I do. Get some rest. I’ll come pick you up around six thirty.” He turned on his heel and left.
    She was tempted to run after him, but she knew there was no point. He’d be back in a couple of hours, and hopefully, by then she’d be able to talk for a little while—rather than croak or whisper, which seemed to be all she was capable of right now. She heard the front door close and a few moments later his truck pulled away. She lay back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. What was she going to do? What could she do? She had no idea. She knew she wanted to do something. Carter was her ideal man—both physically and in personality. She’d told Cassidy that it seemed as though someone upstairs had listened to everything she wanted in a man and had put Carter together, especially for her. He was kind, he was sweet, he was caring. He knew who he was, he loved his life, and he loved his work. She sighed. And his life and his work were right here in Paradise Valley. How could they get involved with each other when she would probably be leaving in three months’ time—and he would never leave! At the same time, wouldn’t it be crazy not to explore what they both obviously felt for each other? How would they be able to avoid it? Unless they avoided each other, which seemed to be Carter’s solution. She shook her head. She wasn’t going to let him get away with that. She wanted to spend time with him, even if it was only as friends.
    She got up from the bed and went through to the bathroom. She couldn’t kid herself that just friends would be enough. She started the water running. She wanted to