King Creek Cowboys Box Set 1

Chapter 19

Grace rattled on to Carter about God knew what. He liked Grace, respected and trusted her with his business. But Christ, how the woman could talk when she had a mind to.

His attention wandered and he saw Kit talking with his mother. Kit’s beautiful smile radiated from her like welcome sunshine on a dreary day. Kit started to laugh and his mother smiled. The two got along so well.

Today was anything but dreary, and in the midst of close to a hundred neighbors and family, Kit still managed to shine brightest out of everyone at the barbeque.

He had hired several people to handle serving food and drinks and taking care of guests during the event. He’d wanted Kit to be able to enjoy herself after all the hard work she’d put into the event. She still kept checking in on the temporary staff, but all seemed to be going well.

She was probably explaining a recipe as she brought his mother over to the table of food. They were motioning in that direction and both seemed to get more and more animated as they talked.

“Carter?” Grace’s voice edged in on his thoughts. “Carter. Did you hear what I said?”

No. He brought his attention back to Grace. She glanced in Kit’s direction, as if to see where his mind had been, before returning her gaze to him.

“Do you really think Kit will last?” Disapproval was in Grace’s voice. “That she won’t go back to L.A.?”

Grace’s tone made him pause. Anger? Frustration? Worry even?

“I think she likes it here.” Carter glanced at Kit again, before looking at Grace. “The employees sure as hell love her cooking.”

Grace frowned. She was a great manager, but her disapproval of his relationship with Kit was getting old.

Before she could say anything, Carter went on, “Kit’s been working her ass off for this get-together for weeks.” He nodded in her direction. “I’ll check on her.”

Grace looked like she’d just chewed on a cow patty, but she nodded.

He rested one hand on Grace’s shoulder and smiled. “You’re terrific at your job and you know I appreciate you.” He smiled. “I got this, Grace.”

She relaxed beneath his touch and nodded. “Go get her, boss.”

He smiled and squeezed her shoulder before heading toward Kit. He focused on her, watching the way she laughed, her sexy smile, and the amusement in her eyes. He liked how easily she spoke with his family and how comfortably she fit in the environment.

“Slow down there, big brother.” Bear caused Carter to stop in his tracks. “I’ve been looking for you. I’d like to introduce you to Jennifer.”

Carter’s focus shifted to the gorgeous brunette at his brother’s side. He wondered what had happened to Sandy. Or was it Mandy? They’d never said it was a date. Maybe it had just been a fun night out for friends.

“Welcome to the ranch, Jennifer.” Carter extended his hand and she took it. “A real pleasure.”

Bear had a thing for brunettes, and Carter wondered where he’d found this one.

“It is nice here.” Jennifer spoke with an English accent. She had a faint handshake, and it felt as if her hand might turn to dust within his. She appeared slightly bored as she looked around at the guests milling about. She returned her gaze to Carter. “You have quite a lot of friends.”

She was polite but stiff. Clearly, she wasn’t the type to feel comfortable at a cowboy barbeque.

“It’s a good excuse to get together with folks we know.” Carter hooked his thumbs in his pockets as he studied the brunette. Something about her that he couldn’t quite place, told him this one was trouble. He hoped his brother knew what he was getting into. “You two having fun?”

“Yeah.” Bear grinned. “Poor Jennifer is being dragged to meet the whole family.”

“It’s a big one,” Carter said.

“Yes, I noticed.” Jennifer didn’t sound like she hated it, but also like she wasn’t that interested in it either. Still, Carter tried to be polite.

After a few moments of talking with Bear and Jennifer, Carter excused himself and headed straight for Kit.

When he reached her side, he touched her arm.

She looked at him and flashed a smile that made his stomach tighten. “Hi, cowboy.” She gave a nod toward his mom. “Julie and I were talking about the garden patch you’re going to start this week. She mentioned you told her about it.”

He wanted to touch Kit so badly it physically hurt to keep his hands to himself. “We’d do anything to keep our favorite ranch chef.”

“We?” Julie asked with a teasing smile on her lips.

His face suddenly felt a little hot. Couldn’t hide a damned thing from his mom. “I’m not gonna let this one go, Mom.”

The light dimmed a little in Kit’s eyes, but she gave him a bright smile. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at the ranch.”

Julie tilted her head to the side. “I hear a ‘but’ in there somewhere.” His mother was known for being sharp-witted and perceptive.

Kit seemed to backtrack. “No buts about it. I love it here.”

Screw it. He didn’t care if everyone in the state knew Kit was his woman.

My woman.

Carter put his arm around her and pulled her close. He looked down at Kit and smiled at the surprise in her eyes. Right there in front of God, the ranch employees, and what seemed like the entire town of King Creek, he kissed her long and hard.

When he drew back from the kiss, she appeared to be too stunned for words.

“About time.” Julie smiled. “I didn’t know how much longer we were all going to have to keep the act up, pretending not to know about you two.”

“We?” He echoed his mom as he met her gaze, and she laughed. She looked positively giddy.

“From the look on Kit’s face, she was expecting that less than us.” Julie grinned at her son and squeezed his forearm.

“I didn’t know we were coming out in the open,” Kit said quietly.

“I’m sorry. I just…” he really didn’t know what to say. Had he gone too far, not respecting her request? But damn, this had gotten almost ridiculous.

“It’s fine.” Kit finally smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for another kiss. Heat flowed through him from that long, sweet kiss. He drew back wearing what had to be a sappy smile, and noticed more people staring at them. “I can always get you right back,” Kit added.

“And that’s why she’s perfect for you.” Julie’s smile broadened as Carter stood there a little stunned himself.

Haylee strode closer and gave a wicked grin. “We’ve been taking bets on when you two would come clean.”

“Who won?” Kit clearly wasn’t going to let herself feel embarrassed by it.

“I did.” Julie spoke up again. “I gotta go collect my money.”

Carter spent the next hour with Kit, his arm around her shoulders as he introduced her to family members she hadn’t met yet, as well as friends and neighbors.

Kit appeared to be enjoying herself, however he sensed something was off. He couldn’t quite place what it was.

At one point, when they had a moment alone, she rested her hand on his arm. “Carter, when this event is over, we need to talk. I’ve put it off far too long.”

He frowned. Clearly she didn’t feel that this was something she could say with a hundred people surrounding them.

Every now and then he would join her as she checked in with the temp staff. When everyone else had their food, Carter and Kit filled their plates and sat across from each other at the end of a picnic table. He was hungry as hell and dug in.

“Damn.” He gestured to his plate with his fork. “Don’t tell Mom, but I’ve never tasted potato salad as good as this.”

Kit smiled. “It’s just made with baby potatoes and a few everyday ingredients.”

He shook his head. “I think this is another one of your secret recipes that I’m going to have to tickle out of you.”

“Don’t you dare.” She grinned. “Maybe we could make some kind of deal.”

He shoveled his meal in his mouth, pausing only to drink water and rave about her food. The cowboy beans and deviled eggs were incredible, but best of all were her secret recipe BBQ sauces.

When he finished thirds, he pushed aside his empty plate and took both of her hands in his on the tabletop. “Something’s wrong. I can see it in your eyes, Kit.”

She started to say something, then hesitated a moment. “There are some things we need to talk about. But later, when the barbeque is over.”

He frowned. “I don’t like seeing you upset.”

She straightened and smiled, but the light in her eyes had dimmed. “I’m fine. Let’s—”

Grace’s voice cut into the conversation. “A boy is here to see you, Kit.” She moved aside so that Carter and Kit could see a young man of about eighteen, wearing a San Francisco Giants baseball cap.

“Hi, Mom,” the boy said to Kit.

She went totally still. “Michael?”

“Yes.” The young man kept his eyes on her. “At least that’s what you named me. You can call me Noah.”

Kit stammered, “How—how did you find me, Noah?”

Carter felt like something crawled down his spine as he watched the exchange. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what was happening. Kit had said she didn’t have kids and wasn’t able to have any children.

But this young man, Noah, was her son? He could see the resemblance. He had the same moss-green eyes.

Why had Kit clearly not recognized her son? Why had the boy changed his name from Michael to Noah? Why did she ask how he’d found her? The questions continued to pile up in his mind until he almost couldn’t think straight.

He shoved them all aside.

None of his questions mattered. What did matter was that Kit had lied to him. Lying was something he couldn’t accept. Wouldn’t accept.

Carter stood and extended his hand to Noah. “I’m Carter McLeod, the owner of Superstition Springs Ranch.”

Noah shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

Carter saw Kit’s face from his peripheral vision. Her features had gone pale and she looked stunned.

“I’ll leave you to talk with your son, Kit.” He barely kept ice from his voice. “I’ll see to my guests.”

“Thank you.” She looked like she wanted to say more, but Carter turned away.

He couldn’t believe that she would do something like this. Not to him.

Maybe he didn’t know her as well as he’d thought he did.

She seemed so perfect.

He sidestepped Grace and strode toward the house. He needed a moment to himself before he joined his guests again—without Kit at his side.