Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2) (32 page)

It was nothing like what she had with Grant.

And Grant still cared for her. He was good-looking and kind and stable. He
wanted
a future with her, and as much as it hurt, the pain she was feeling was no more than finally growing up and giving up the fantasies of a dreamy-eyed sixteen year-old.

She knew now what she had to do.

Carter wasn’t the only one who needed to grow up.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
____________________

C
ARTER ARRIVED EARLY the next morning to finish the walkways and saw Liz through the window. He hadn’t stopped to chat much since Monday morning, not because he was too busy, but because he still felt a little ridiculous having suggested she buy the house. As if she’d move back to Sugar Falls just because she liked her kitchen cabinetry and they’d had sex a couple of times?

He approached the back slider and knocked. He held himself stiffly, nervously, unsure how to act around her now that his feelings had overflowed like an ocean of water poured into a pool. He ached to touch her again, hold her, anchor himself somehow. But he feared he might pull them both under if he did.

“Hi.” He inclined his head as Liz let him in.

“Hi,” she said.

He frowned as she turned away. He laid his hand on the back of her nape, a light touch. His fingers flexed, gently kneading, immediately aware of the tension beneath the surface. “Any coffee left?”

“Sure.” She slipped away from his touch and poured him a cup, avoiding his gaze as she handed it over. She stared at the cabinet behind him.

Carter took a sip. It scalded. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You do?” Her eyes flew to his.

“The cabinets. You still want them white, don’t you?”

“You know I love the color.” Her voice was firm, oddly resigned when she next spoke. “But, yes, I think it would be best to repaint them.”

“It was a stupid impulse. I thought you’d change your mind once you saw them.” He tried another sip. “But I’ll fix it. As soon as I’m done with the walkway.” He reached out to brush the hair from her face. She stepped away. His stomach clenched, and he let his hand drop.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it,” she said.

“I told you I’ll fi—”

“
No
. Don’t.” She inhaled. “Carter, I need…” She took another breath. “There’s something I need to say. Something I should have mentioned sooner. And, I’m not sure how to say it.”

He gave her a lopsided smile despite the shot of unease coursing through him. “Just spit it out.”

She grimaced and turned to straighten the salt and pepper shakers on the counter. “I want you to know, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you again. I have.”

“Me, too.” He smiled, but it wasn’t close to genuine this time. He could already see what was coming. He could read it in her eyes when she snuck a glance at him then looked away just as quickly. Good Lord.
She was dumping him?
It hadn’t happened often, he had to admit, but he knew the signs well enough to recognize them.

“The thing is... you and I... we’re very different. And...”

“And?”

She turned to face him. She blew out a breath. “I’m sort of engaged.”

“
Engaged
?” Hell, he hadn’t seen that coming. A flash of hurt, then anger, jolted through him. How could she be engaged and not tell him?

“Sort of. What I mean is—”

“
Sort
of?”

“We’ve talked about it. Grant and I.”

“Oh, I see. You’ve
talked
about it.”

“Well, yes. Given our shared values and profession and direction in life, it’s a logical step.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Who talks like that? You make it sound like some spreadsheet analysis you’ve done to decide how to spend the rest of your life.”

“It’s not like that.” She was getting annoyed, he could tell. He didn’t give a crap.

“Are you in love with him?”

“It’s complicated. We have a history,” she said, “and… feelings
for each other.”

“Wow. You have
feelings
for each other. My best to both of you.” He knew he sounded mocking. He also didn’t give a flying shit.

Her hands rose pleadingly then dropped to her sides. “This isn’t productive. I’m sorry you’re hurt, but if you think about it, it’s probably for the best that we—”

“Does he know about us?” He cut in. “Hell, does he know what we’ve
done
?” He gestured widely. They both looked at the table.

Her cheeks flamed. “I wish you wouldn’t talk about that—”

“Why? Too messy for you? Too complicated? Oh, that’s right, that’s what you feel for him. What, dammit, do you feel for
me
?”

He began to pace now, the impotence of the situation nearly overwhelming him, forcing a need for movement.
Action.

She looked at him in disbelief. Well, honey, that made two of them! Here he’d finally gone and fallen for a woman—
hard!—
and she was dumping him? Ha!

“Oh, please,’ she said, “I’m not so naïve as to believe you don’t have a string of women lined up ready to succumb to the fabled McIntyre charm.”

He stopped in front of her, the irony of the situation forcing his fingers to flex in frustration. He wanted to grab her and shake her for acting so… so… 
reasonable…
when he felt anything but. “Did it occur to you I’m not interested in a string of women? Did it occur to you I might be interested in
you
?”

She caught her lip between her teeth and for the first time he saw the glossy sheen of unshed tears in her eyes. “We’re not right for each other,” she whispered.

“Why? Shit, I’m not asking for a life-long commitment, Liz. I’m not trying to force things. I’m just trying to figure out why you’re giving me the heave-ho. I thought we were—” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I don’t know—having fun.”

God, that sounded lame.
Fun?
It had gone way beyond fun for him. For the first time in his life, he thought he understood the panic his mom must have felt knowing his dad was still in the house. Shit. If this is what love felt like, maybe he didn’t want any part of it after all.

“I don’t think we’re looking for the same kind of fun,” she said.

His mind spun as he tried to make sense of her words. “Seems to me it was a mutual thing.”

“I’m nearly
engaged
,” she repeated, as if that meant a damn thing to him.

“
Sort of.
What the hell is that anyway? You’re not even wearing a ring.” They both stared at her bare ring finger.

“It’s not that clear cut.”

“You either are or you aren’t, Liz. No more complicated than that. Even I know that much.”

“We’ve discussed it, okay? He wants to take our relationship to the next level, but we’re coworkers, so one of us would need to leave the company.”

“Next level? What is that? You make it sound like a video game.”

“The next level,” she ground out, “is getting engaged, getting married!”

“Did
he
say that?”

She blinked, then her forehead furrowed slightly. “Yes. I mean, not in so many words, but the intent was clearly—”

“Did it ever occur to you he might just want to get laid
?
”

“I beg your pardon?”

“
The next level.
He doesn’t want to get married, for Christ’s sake, the guy just wants to get laid! And here you’re giving me a hard time just because I’m upfront about it? Fuck! The only thing complicated here is
you!
”

At her stunned intake of breath, he caught himself. “Sorry. I’m sorry.” He raked his fingers through his hair again, anger and hurt and envy for this guy he’d never even met coursing through him. “I didn’t mean—”

“
Don’t.”
She held up a hand, let it drop to her side again. “Don’t. You’ve said enough. Just... go.”

“
Liz
…” But the look she gave him told him it was too late.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
____________________

C
ARTER FROWNED at the orange juice his cousin Jim set in front of him and tried to ignore his sister’s smirk as she draped herself over a neighboring chair. Clearly it had been a mistake to come here and expose himself to his family’s scrutiny and opinions, but his sister-in-law, Kate, had invited him days ago. And he was out of milk.

He’d hoped for a private moment to talk to his cousin, man-to-man, given the fact that he’d clearly gone off the deep end. Hell, maybe there was a way to
undo
this mess he found himself in.

Just his luck, his sister was already sponging breakfast off Jim and Kate when he arrived. He’d been reduced to relating a highly edited version of the weekend’s events.

“She shut me out,” he said in conclusion, accepting a second helping of waffles from Jim. The guy ate like a king. “Why do women have to make everything so complicated?”

“Well, what did you expect?” Grace helped herself to the syrup and a generous spoonful of whipped cream. “Did you think just because she liked the cabinet color she’d up and decide she couldn’t possibly leave them? Or Sugar Falls? Or
you?
Did you think,” she laughed over a mouthful of waffle, “she’d fall in love with you over a paint chip?”

“It was a valid question. You don’t have to make me sound ridiculous,” he grumbled.

“I’m sorry.
I’m
making you sound ridiculous?”

“What I meant is... she’s not
easy
. In my experience, women have always been easy.” He turned to Jim for confirmation of this universal truth.

Grace snorted in disgust.

Carter frowned. “What I mean is, easy to please. Easy to figure out. You do nice things, say nice things to them, they do nice things and say nice things to you.
Easy.”
And nobody felt things they shouldn’t feel.

“Easy to get into bed, you mean.”

Carter scowled as he reached for the syrup. “I’m not talking about that.”

“What? Carter McIntyre not bragging about his latest conquest?”

“She’s not a—” He uttered a short curse and smacked his fist on the table in frustration. “Why do I even try?”

Shit. Is that what his exes felt like? Conquests? Is that how he appeared?
He thought back over his dating history with new eyes. He’d never intentionally misled anyone, never talked about a future or kids or love. He’d thought it was kinder to quietly back away when things got too close. Easier. But, maybe it had only been easier for him… like pushing someone away to swim to safety alone.

“Don’t be so hard on him, Grace.” Kate set baby Lily in her bouncy seat and flashed him a reassuring smile.

He stabbed at his waffle knowing he was being set adrift and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He helped himself to the syrup. “Yeah. Shut up and pass the whipped cream. By the way, thanks for breakfast, Kate.”

“My pleasure.” She glanced toward Grace then back at Carter. “But I did have ulterior motives for inviting you two today.”

Grace and Carter eyed each other warily.

“You did?”

Kate glanced uncertainly toward her husband then squared her shoulders. “The thing is, I don’t think I can continue to help with the landscaping business. I simply don’t have the time anymore.” She gestured toward the sleeping baby meaningfully.

Carter’s lips lifted in a half smile. “The first six weeks are the hardest. Rachel said so. After that, things settle out again. You’re just talking temporarily, right?”

“Carter, the business is at a point where you need someone a minimum of part-time. Probably more. I thought with Grace between jobs, it was the right time to bow out gracefully. I’ve got my own business to tend to as well as the kids…”

Carter turned toward his sister doubtfully.

“Hey, I appreciate the breakfast and all,” Grace began, “but I’m not the bookkeeping type.”

“It’s not just that,” Kate said. “There is supplies ordering that needs to be done. It’s actually very interesting. And you don’t need to worry. I’ve got it all organized...”

Carter scraped his chair back and downed the last of his coffee. “You know, I appreciate your wanting to make things all neat and tidy, Kate, but I think I can work it out on my own if it’s all the same to you.”

“But with your uncle and his back issues, I know how much more work is falling on your—”

“It’s okay. I know office work—it’s not Grace’s thing either. And you guys, you have your own stuff you need to focus on. Like you said. You’ve got everything organized now. I’ll be fine.”