Chapter Eleven
Thursday was chaotic. They were still weaning the calves from their mothers and pitiful sounds filled the air. During the afternoon everyone on the ranch pitched in to help move the food that had been prepared over the last two days to the library.
As Carson entered the kitchen for lunch at Hayden and Laura’s place, he rubbed his face. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Abby came into his life. Not that he was complaining. Staying awake to see her soar was no hardship at all.
While Abby was sleeping, he’d also been working in his dark room.
As always, his eyes searched and found Abby. She had a clipboard in her hand, her braid was hanging over her shoulder, and she was chewing her bottom lip as she did when she was figuring something out.
He didn’t want to think of her leaving. Since she’d moved in with him on Tuesday night, he was happy. Deeply, deliriously happy. He’d never thought he was the happy-to-stay-at-home-kind but with Abby in his house and bed, he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
As he moved toward her, she looked up. Their eyes met, her face lit up. His heart tripped. Damn, he loved that she was happy to see him. With another step he reached her. Pulling her closer, he leaned in for a kiss. “Hi, I’ve missed you.”
For a moment she put her head against his chest but then someone called her and she was moving away again.
“Here, bro,” Dylan said as he put a few boxes in Carson’s hands. “Can you handle these boxes?”
“Of course. Do I take them to the library?”
“Let’s load everything in my truck and go together. That way it should go quicker.”
As they left, Carson looked over his shoulder at Abby. She was in organizing mode—by now he knew it well. Eyes on her list, small frown between her eyes, she was focused on getting calm out of chaos, ignoring everything else, including him.
Something moved inside him. Irritation, if he wasn’t mistaken.
Turning back, he nearly tripped with the boxes in his arms.
“Steady, now,” Dylan chuckled. “The women will have our hides if anything happens to their baking. I see Abby has moved in with you?”
Carson nodded. “Until she leaves on Sunday.”
Dylan opened his truck, and they placed all the boxes inside. “So, it’s just a temporary thing?”
“Yeah. Her life is in Seattle.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Shrugging, Carson looked away toward the mountains.
“It’s not even a week since I met her. Besides, even if I wanted her to stay, she may not like life on a ranch.
She’s a city girl; her life and clients are back in Seattle.
There isn’t anything for her here.” The thought of her leaving was ripping out his heart, but he didn’t have anything to offer her.
Dylan chuckled as they got into the truck.
“I don’t know if there is something in the water around here, but as far as I know all the Westons have fallen in love within days of meeting their significant others.
I know I did. The moment I laid eyes on June, I just knew she was the one for me.
Of course, it took a while for my head to catch up with my heart, but when you know, you know.
Rose, Ellie, and June all come from a city, remember? ”
“They chose to come to Marietta. Abby is just visiting.”
As Dylan drove away from the ranch, Carson stared out of the window. “She’s thrown out most of my clothes and organized my closet.”
Dylan glanced at him. “That I have to see. You’re glad she’s leaving then?”
“No!” It came out sharper than he’d intended and he inhaled deeply. “The house is neater, tidier. George also seemed to like it.”
“I’m not sure I’m following. What are you saying?”
“I like being around her, even with all the tidying and … stuff. It should irritate me that she’s forever picking up and folding things, but it doesn’t.
Okay, if I’m honest, there are times it’s a bit much, but she’s funny and sexy and she”—inhaling, he struggled to catch his breath—“she makes me happy.”
“From where I’m sitting, it’s obvious you feel something for her.”
“How do you know what it is you’re feeling? Could be temporary. I hardly know her. I mean, I do know a little about her, obviously, but can you really know someone in less than a week?”
“So why don’t you ask her about herself?” Dylan asked.
“She’s talked about it. Not much though.”
“From my experience with June, I know people who grew up in foster care are wired a bit differently because of the way they’ve been brought up, but if you love her, it won’t bother you.
You and I didn’t have a happy home growing up, but at least we had a home—something Willow reminded me of.
And yes, because of our childhood I was determined never to fall in love or get married.
But …” he said with a grin, “as I’ve learned, love finds you whether you’re ready or not. ”
For the rest of the way into town, Carson had to listen to his brother talking about June. He was happy for him, of course, but it was difficult to listen to happy endings when Abby was leaving soon.
Dylan parked in front of the library. “Come on, I want to get back to the ranch to make sure June is okay.”
“It’s easy to see just how crazy you are about her.” Carson smiled as he got out of the truck.
“Oh, yeah. I can’t imagine a day without her.”
As they moved the food from the truck to the library, Carson’s mind was busy. Dylan’s words echoed in his mind—I can’t imagine a day without her. Waking up without Abby beside him? Spending the rest of his life without her? His heart lurched.
What was this feeling that was driving him crazy? It couldn’t be love, could it? Would he even know if it was? Anyway, he still found the idea that someone could fall in love in a few days’ time a bit ridiculous.
As he looked up, Willow, who was standing nearby, smiled. “It’s possible.”
Taken aback, Carson turned away quickly. Weird didn’t begin to describe his cousin. Cooper usually minded his own business, but Willow was like Luke, Hayden’s son. They had no filters.
As they returned to Dylan’s truck to get the rest of the food, his brother slapped him on the back. “My suggestion for what it’s worth is trust your gut about Abby.”
Carson picked up more boxes from inside the truck. “It all happened so fast. What if what I feel changes? I don’t ever want a life like the one Mom and Dad had.”
“Abby isn’t our mother. June loves her and my wife has very good taste in people.
I mean, she chose me.” He chuckled. “Seriously, I’ve never seen you like this over anyone.
I think you should trust your instincts.
Okay, let’s take these boxes inside, we have to get back to the ranch.
June is a bit nervous about her first book launch, and I want to be there for her. ”
“That I can understand.”
Dylan glanced his way. “You have an upcoming exhibition. We’ve all received an invitation, thank you. It’s a week after June’s book launch in Seattle. Have you decided which photographs you’re sending to the gallery?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve sent what Noah’s asked for as well as a few new things. I’m not sure whether he’d be interested, though, he’s specifically asked for landscapes.”
“New things? Dylan asked.
“Pictures of George.”
Dylan’s eyebrows raised. “A portrait? You’ve never done that before, have you?”
“Nope, and I’m not sure if they’re any good. I’ll wait and see what Noah says.”
“You want to tell me you haven’t taken a picture of Abby?”
Carson nodded. “I have, but I … it’s not something … what I mean … there is one where she’s with George, her back turned to the camera, though.”
Shaking his head, he stared out the window, ignoring his brother’s low chuckle.
*
Abby stole a glance at Carson. It was Thursday evening and they were in Carson’s truck on their way to June’s book launch. Carson had taken her hand when they’d left the ranch, but he hadn’t said a word since.
They were both probably tired, sleep hadn’t been a priority since she’d moved in with him. She’d finished organizing June’s house. There was still the new office to do, but she should have enough time for that tomorrow and Saturday morning.
She’d also worked on Carson’s kitchen and bedroom closet in the evenings after dinner. There was still a lot to do, but at least his house looked much better than it had when she’d seen it the first time.
“Everything okay? You’re very quiet,” she said as they entered Marietta.
Carson glanced her way. “I’m thinking how right this feels. You in my house, next to me in my car.”
“I’m leaving on Sunday.”
He kissed her hand. “Don’t remind me. You look gorgeous, have I mentioned it?”
“Thank you. You clean up very nicely too.”
His low chuckle stoked the embers in her tummy. “I love these long showers I get to have while you’re living with me.”
She sighed, blushing. “Carson.”
“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re turning around,” he growled.
“I … it’s June’s book launch. I missed her wedding, I can’t miss this as well.”
He kissed her hand. “It was a great wedding. I’ve never seen my brother so happy.”
“We looked at the wedding photos again. They’re beautiful, Carson. Now I understand why I didn’t see you in any of the pictures June sent me after the wedding.”
“I was the photographer.”
“You have a wonderful gift of capturing the perfect moment. You’ve been working in your dark room over the last two nights.”
“Missed me?”
For a moment she looked down at their clasped hands but didn’t answer. Fact was, the moment he left the bed, she missed him—his heat, his body, his light snoring, his big hand cupping her breast.
She’d gone in search of him the first time. That was when she’d heard him behind the closed door of his dark room. He was probably so tired and needed sleep.
“Should I go back to Annie’s so that you can get more sleep?”
He stopped his truck so quickly, in spite of the seatbelt, her body shot forward. Fortunately, his arm was there to catch her before she bumped her head. “Sorry.”
Pulling her closer, he cupped her face. Her eyes were gleaming with a light she hadn’t seen before. “Please don’t. I’m treasuring every minute I get to spend with you.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t know what this is we’re doing, you and I, I just know I don’t want it to end. Not before you leave, anyway.” Bending down, he kissed her.
Like every single time their lips met, a whirlwind just picked her up. Slipping her arms around his neck, she leaned into him. For once in her life, she was going to forget about her plan, color way outside the lines and go with her instinct.
A loud honk as a car passed them, brought her back to reality.
Carson grinned. “You better fix your lipstick.”
“You make me forget everything,” she moaned as she opened her small purse.
“I love it when you tell me how you feel. It makes me feel ten feet tall.” Grabbing the steering wheel, he gave her a stern glance. “Stay over there, otherwise we’ll never get to the book launch.”
A giggle slipped out. Seriously. She never giggled. Never. But with Carson, it was so easy to just let go.
As they stopped in front of the library, he turned to her. “You’ll go to the dance with me on Saturday?”
“I don’t know. If you ask me, I may consider it.”
He chuckled. “June warned me you foster kids rarely do what you’re told. I’m asking you,” he said as his hand slid slowly up her leg. “And using all and any means necessary.”
Grabbing his hand, she laughed. “That’s blackmail, but yes, I’d love to go to the dance with you.”
She was awarded one of his killer smiles and was still struggling to catch her breath when he opened her door. As he helped her down, he hugged her tightly before he took her hand.
“That’s the one,” a voice behind them said. “Seen her kissing Carson Weston any time of day. Absolutely no shame.”
Carson stiffened. “Damn Aurelia Hill.”
Before he could do anything, Abby turned around and walked toward the two women behind her.
It wasn’t difficult to see which one was Aurelia Hill.
Handbag over the arm, her silver hair perfectly arranged, a judgmental expression on her face, the taller of the two women was clearly the town gossip everyone had warned Abby around.
The other woman muttered something and hastened away.
“Good evening, Mrs. Hill,” Abby said as she reached her. “I’m Abby Swanson, how do you do?”
Clearly caught off guard but trying not to show it, the woman sniffed and lifted her chin. “Good evening.”
“Yes, you’re right, I’ve kissed Carson Weston. I’m leaving on Sunday, see? And I want to make sure I get in as many kisses as possible before then. You have beautiful hair, by the way. I hope you enjoy June’s book launch and thank you for coming.”
With another big smile, Abby turned and walked back to where Carson was waiting for her.
He took her hand. “She hasn’t moved since you spoke to her.”
“She’s probably just very lonely.” Abby sighed as they neared the library. “That’s something I learned while we were in the system. The really nasty kids were usually the loners who were carrying way too much pain for one heart to handle.”
Putting an arm around her shoulders, Carson hugged her tightly. “You’re something special, Abby Swanson, I hope you know that. The world needs more people like you. By the way, I’m ready to kiss whenever you are, just sayin’,” he drawled.
“Behave, cowboy,” she grinned as her heart expanded.
Leaving him on Sunday was going to be one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do.