Brought Together by a Pup, page 8
In about five minutes, she grimaced as she poured the coffees. At least time flew by in here. The morning would be over before she knew it and she could get that important space from Carter—that she’d no doubt spend thinking about him and his kisses. Or considering how to tell him she had changed her mind about him going to the wedding with her.
‘I keep meaning to ask you about the wedding,’ he said as she passed him a full mug. ‘Is it smart or casual dress?’
Opportunity knocked, and she couldn’t take it. He’d be hurt if she told him not to bother after they’d been getting on so well, to the point of sharing hot kisses. Besides, as much as she should probably go alone, she couldn’t find it in her to do so. Not because Dave needed putting in his place any more, but because she enjoyed Carter’s company far more than she’d have thought possible and very much wanted more of it.
‘Smart casual,’ she said, and found herself laughing despite her confusion. ‘You don’t have to wear a suit, but shorts and tee shirt isn’t acceptable.’
His hand was up in a stop sign. His mouth was split into a friendly grin. ‘I do understand smart casual. I have a wardrobe full of it. There’re plenty of suits too.’
Her mouth watered at the thought of Carter all dressed up in a suit and tie, highly polished shoes adding the final touches. ‘Feel free to wear one if you like. You obviously have a thing for good clothes.’
‘One of my quirks.’
She couldn’t wait to find out more. Heat filled her face. He did that to her without even trying. Or had he been teasing her? She didn’t look, instead said, ‘Time to get Rusty sorted.’
‘I’ll stick with Axel for a few more minutes.’ There was laughter in his voice, making him sexier than ever.
So he had been stirring her. Waiting for a reaction? He wasn’t getting one. ‘Good for you.’
‘What are you up to for the rest of the weekend?’
‘I’m trying to arrange to see Mrs Burnside with Axel tomorrow morning. I’m also hitting the mall for a bit of shopping later today.’ Did he have something in mind?
‘I suggest you don’t take Axel for walks until his hip’s settled down again.’
No exciting invitation to join him. ‘I don’t intend to. What are you up to?’ she couldn’t resist asking.
‘I’m heading to the farm tomorrow afternoon. I’ve got to do the annual clostridial dosage for the bulls.’
‘Sounds like fun. Not.’ They were such opposites. She didn’t do settled down while he didn’t do going off to any place that tickled his interest. She was a townie through and through. He was a country guy despite the fact he lived in town. So he was safe with her. This sense of wanting him was only physical and would pass.
‘You can always come and help.’ He grinned. ‘It’s not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon but we could have dinner after. Axel could lie on the deck with my two geriatrics.’
So he wanted to spend more time with her. Or was she reading too much into this? Probably. There weren’t a lot of signs to go by. Could be she was putting too much of her own fears on Carter? Since the accident she had learned to see people more clearly, no longer take them at face value. ‘It would be a way to get to know my wedding partner better.’ So much for telling him he wasn’t going with her. That problem had been taken out of her hands. A chill had lifted, leaving her warm and happy. ‘Time to get our next patient on the table, and Axel under the scanner.’
* * *
‘Willow, I’d like you to meet my mum and dad.’ Aware of the tension ramping up in her stance, Carter placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her nearer to him and closer to his parents. It must be hard meeting people for the first time when often the first thing they’d notice would be her prosthesis, yet she didn’t go out of her way to hide it. More points to Willow because obviously it was still confronting for her. ‘Josie and Charlie.’
Mum stepped up, her usual friendly smile in place. ‘Hello, Willow. I’m glad to meet you. I hope Carter doesn’t intend for you to dose the bulls.’
‘Wouldn’t put it past him.’ Dad held his hand out to Willow. ‘Hi, it’s good to see you out here. You’re a vet nurse, I hear.’
She shook his father’s hand and nodded. ‘That’s right, but vaccinating bulls is not on my list of favourite things to do. It was definitely not my reason for coming today.’
Wonder what was, Carter thought. Not that he was asking. It was good enough she’d come with him. ‘Let’s get the dogs sorted and then deal with the bulls so I can take you for a meal afterwards.’
‘You’re not joining the family for dinner?’ his mother asked, looking a bit miffed. ‘We’d love for you to be there, Willow.’
He hadn’t wanted to overwhelm Willow with everyone this early on. Who knew if they’d get to a point where his family was a part of their picture? And now he’d seen an interested glint in his mother’s eyes as she looked at Willow he knew they had to leave as soon as possible. She’d be reading way too much into the fact he’d brought a woman out here for a few hours. If his mother was doing that, he’d hate to think what everyone else would come up with. ‘I—’
‘That’d be lovely, thank you, Josie.’ Willow had beat him to it, surprising the hell out of him with her easy acceptance.
It wasn’t how he’d intended the afternoon playing out. But it could be that it’d work out for the best. He was stepping outside his comfort zone so why not test the waters with his family? They understood him more than anybody. If Willow could say yes, then so could he. ‘That’s taken care of, then, thanks, Mum.’
Mum gave him a wink and headed inside.
‘Where do we put the dogs?’ Willow asked him.
‘On the front deck. Mine won’t need tying up but Axel should be. He’ll probably try following you.’ He opened the back of his ute. ‘We’ve got an extra pup, Dad. Willow’s dog-sitting for a few days.’
Once the dogs were sorted they headed across to the stock pens where his father and brothers had put the bulls earlier.
Willow was looking around as she walked beside him. ‘Don’t laugh but I’ve never been on a farm before. This looks beautiful with the paddocks stretching so far.’
‘Are you serious? Where have you been?’ Knock his socks off. If he’d been wearing any. ‘You really are a city girl through and through.’
‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
‘I didn’t figure you meant you’d never been beyond the towns and cities you’ve been living in.’
‘Of course I have, but seeing the countryside from a bus or car is quite different from standing on the land surrounded by grass and fences and cattle. It’s awesome.’ She hugged herself. ‘An eye-opener. I like it.’
So did he. He was giving Willow a new experience and turned out she enjoyed it. ‘Wait till we get to the pens and I start injecting the bulls. Then you’ll hear roars like you’ve never heard.’
On his other side his father was chuckling softly. ‘Interesting.’
Carter suspected his dad was referring to Willow and where she fitted into his life.
Wrong, Dad, wrong.
Or was he? Willow was the first woman he’d ever brought home to meet his family since Cassandra. Not that he’d brought Willow here with that in mind, but naturally coming to the farm meant meeting them. It hadn’t occurred to him his parents would see anything in it. How blind could he be? Of course they would. His brothers and their wives weren’t going to be any different.
‘How many bulls are you vaccinating?’ Willow asked.
‘Six,’ Dad answered. ‘From both farms. I don’t know what Carter’s told you, but his brothers run the show. Cameron took over the family farm from me, and Calvin bought the one next door. It means everyone’s on hand for the jobs that need more than one person to deal with.’
‘A strong family unit,’ she commented with a glance at him.
Carter felt his heart squeeze with affection. ‘We get along most of the time.’
‘Brothers being what they are, that’s not every minute of every day,’ Dad added. ‘But nothing usually hinders them from getting things straightened out when need be.’
‘Sounds like me and my brother. We’re close, but don’t always see eye to eye.’ Her arm rubbed his and there was a soft smile on her face. She was happy.
Which made him more ecstatic. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d invited her here when he’d be doing vet work. It was more like another day at the office than a date, which could explain it. He wanted to put the brakes on whatever it was growing between them, while at the same time the urge to leap in and take Willow with him wherever he went was growing every day. ‘He’s a city slicker too?’
‘Absolutely. He hasn’t travelled half as much as me though. He works for a mega company in central Sydney, lives in an apartment nearby, and socialises in the same area.’
Carter shook his head. He could not imagine being surrounded by multi-storeyed buildings twenty-four-seven. ‘The few times I’ve been to Sydney I couldn’t wait to get out again. All the people, traffic, ghastly air—it’s unreal.’
‘It’s in my blood,’ she said as she looked at him. This time there was no smile, more a warning in her voice.
He got it. They were poles apart when it came to lifestyles. Southport was a town, but nothing like the massive city Sydney was. He only had to drive a few kilometres and he was in the countryside. Or at the beach. It would take hours on the road to get to a paddock on the outskirts of Sydney. It wasn’t for him.
Therein lay their differences. The big ones anyway. He’d better remember that whenever he thought they were getting close. Typical. When he finally became interested in a woman, she was all wrong for him.
It doesn’t feel wrong.
Shut up.
* * *
‘She’s got your number, hasn’t she?’ Mum said to him three hours later as he stacked the dishwasher after dinner.
‘That’s how she stays in touch, Mum.’ Damn it. He shouldn’t have brought Willow out here. If only he’d thought it through. Of course he’d get digs from his mother, who wanted so much for him to settle down and have a family. The only surprise had been no one else had had a crack at him.
‘Relax, Carter. I like her. There are no pretences about her. She calls a spade a spade.’
‘She’s had a hard time. But she doesn’t rush to tell me all her woes.’
‘Another point in her favour. You haven’t asked?’
‘You raised us to be respectful, remember?’ He had been nosy enough to look online though. It did make him feel a little guilty, although it was a fact of the modern world that if you wanted to know something you typed it in.
‘That we did. Glad it stuck.’ His mother smiled softly. ‘Bring her out here again.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘You’re cautious?’
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
Laughter came through the doors opening onto the deck, Willow’s the loudest of them all. Warmth wound through him, touched him in places he hadn’t felt anything for a long time.
‘That’s why,’ Mum said, watching him closely. ‘She’s got to you.’
‘I’m not rushing this,’ he said, harsher than intended. ‘It’s early days.’
‘Enjoy them.’
He watched his mother walk outside. ‘I am, Mum. So much I’m worried I mightn’t know how to stop,’ he said under his breath.
* * *
‘Feel like a stroll on the beach?’ Willow asked Carter as they got closer to her street. She wasn’t ready to head inside and listen to her flatmates talking non-stop about anything and everything. Or asking about her afternoon. Let’s face it, she wasn’t ready to say goodnight to Carter.
‘Sure. Why not? I think Axel should stay in the ute. He’s not entirely comfortable with that hip.’
They’d left his dogs at the farm. ‘I agree.’ She’d agree to anything. Carter hadn’t hesitated in going along with her suggestion. It had been an interesting afternoon and evening with his family. They were lovely people. So easy to get along with, and none of them had made her feel awkward. Could it be she was moving past her hang-ups about her leg? If so, she owed Carter a big thank you because this had all started when she’d met him.
They held hands as they wandered along on the edge of the sea where the sand was damp and solid. The sun had dropped below the horizon and the temperature had fallen with it but the salty air was still warm. A little zing was going on where their palms and fingers connected, sending vibes streaming throughout her. Breathing deep, Willow absorbed the happiness radiating out of her. What a day. Could they have more? A fling with Carter was so, so tempting. ‘I like your family.’ Nothing to do with a fling.
‘They like you too.’
They’d welcomed her with open arms, and even given her the same cheeky comments they handed out to Carter from time to time. When one of the children had asked her what happened to her leg, she’d been so relaxed it hadn’t been awkward to tell the lad, ‘I was in an accident and it had to be cut off.’ When Mickey had then asked if it hurt, he’d been told by his father that was enough and to go get another bag of crisps. It had been so normal that she hadn’t wanted to run and hide. Much like spending time with her own family.
A longing for her parents filled her. They were there at the end of the phone any time she wanted to talk. If she dropped in at the house in Sydney they’d all pick up where they’d left off last time she’d visited. But it was the everyday stuff, being a short drive away from them, sharing a meal and laughs, looking out for each other, that she hadn’t had in a long time.
Carter nudged her. ‘Where have you gone?’
‘Home,’ she replied instantly. That was how relaxed she was around this man. Her guard dropped whenever they were alone.
‘You miss your family?’
‘I’m only just realising how much. Seeing your parents and brothers, and how close you all are.’ She shrugged. ‘It brought back memories of good times.’
He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her nearer as they kept strolling along the water’s edge. ‘What’s changed?’
‘Me.’
Carter didn’t push her for more. Nor did he let her go.
She snuggled closer. If she explained he’d understand why she wasn’t staying on after her contract ran out even though he’d made her start wishing for more.
‘The accident that took my leg happened when I was out training with a group of professional cyclists. A truck jackknifed into us, causing mayhem. My two best friends were killed instantly. I can’t forget the screams and shouts and the smell. It’s something I haven’t been able to put behind me. Sometimes I see Dee and Jess in the dark of night and I think of everything they’ve missed out on because of one man’s mistake.’
The words poured over her lips. She hadn’t said as much to anyone for years. ‘I don’t want that to happen to me. I also think if I have all these amazing experiences then somehow they’ll know and get something from them too.’ Now he’d think she was nuts. She shrugged again. ‘It’s how it is. I can’t help it.’
Carter stopped and turned to her, his hands taking her face ever so gently and tipping her head back enough to meet her gaze. ‘You are amazing. No one would come through what you’ve just told me and not have fears and pain from losing your friends. Yet you still manage to smile and laugh, and help others, including people’s pets. Don’t ever underestimate your strength and courage.’ His eyes were moist as he spoke softly. ‘Trust me on this.’
A solitary tear escaped to roll down her cheek. No one had ever said something so beautiful to her. Not even her family when they were trying to help her put the pieces of her life back together. ‘Carter—’
‘Shh...’ He leaned in and pressed a light kiss on her lips. ‘Keep taking care of yourself, Willow. You’re doing a great job.’ Then his kiss deepened, filling her with hope and longing and wonder.
She clung to him and kissed him in return. A thank-you kiss, then an I’m-lost-in-you kiss. She pulled back and gazed up into those intense eyes. ‘Take me to bed, Carter.’
This time he didn’t tell her to ‘shh’. Instead he took her hand and walked them quickly back to his vehicle and drove to his house.
* * *
Braking outside his house, Carter shoved open his door and dashed around to open Willow’s. He scooped her into his arms, kicked the door shut, and raced inside. His mind was a blur of need and caring and relief at hearing her story from her and pride in this amazing woman. He wanted to wipe away for ever the pain he’d heard in her voice and seen in her face.
Lying her on his bed, he lowered down beside her and took her in his arms, wound his legs around hers. Felt the solid prosthesis against his shin and smiled. ‘This is you. Willow.’ The woman turning his world upside down, causing him to rethink so much.
Her hands skimmed his butt. Her mouth caressed his chin. Her eyes didn’t leave his. ‘Thank you.’
Two little words that he knew meant so much coming from Willow. He accepted her as she was. No ifs or buts. Why wouldn’t he? She was gorgeous in so many ways. ‘No more talking.’ He followed through by putting his mouth to good use, kissing first those delightful lips, then trailing his mouth down her neck to the vee of her shirt that led to her breasts and beyond. He took his time, undoing clothes, tasting, licking that sensual body, enjoying her soft skin, arousing them both as he went. He unstrapped her prosthesis as though he’d been doing it for years, making it a sexy act as his hands and lips touched her skin, heated her some more. Then he reached into the bedside drawer for a condom.
