Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

 

 

 

Carolina woke to the sound of birds singing and lapping pool water. She was naked, on a chaise, and spooning with Matt. From a dismal evening out on the town, they’d ended up in his pool—with a bottle of Jack. The things they’d done…well, they’d reconnected on some very sexy levels.

“Baby,” he groaned, cupping her breasts.

“Cowboy, we’re late.” She tried to rise, but he stayed her with his very talented fingers.

“Give me a minute, Dr. Rodriguez.”

This early, the man was really too hard to resist.

Carolina sighed out, “One minute.”

Matt curled a muscular arm around her waist, working his thick crown against her opening. With a pump, he slid inside her from behind. Carolina sucked in a sharp breath, writhing in unadulterated lust.

Oh, he knew just what to do!

And now, he had them diving back into an erotic fray.

“Matt, yeah. Just. Like. That!”

Harder, faster, he pumped, until they both were on fire. The space between her legs tightened. Carolina stroked herself as Matt thrust, a powerful slam, and there! Thundering bliss lit up her body, then she felt him stiffen. With a hard pound, he was undone, too.

“Good mornin’, sugar.” He laughed, rubbing his beard-stubbled-chin along her shoulder before he planted a kiss on the nape of her neck.

***

After a morning quickie, they’d hit the ground running. In a blistering blur, they showered, dressed, had coffee, and walked outside. He had a crew to man and kissed her deeply.

“See you for lunch.”

If Carolina wanted her plan to work, she had to keep a straight face. “No can do. I’m going into town. There are some cute gift shops.”

“Yeah, I guess your family might like something from Texas. Later, then.” He didn’t say anything else, just winked.

She didn’t have a second to waste. She climbed behind the wheel of the Range Rover. Instead of going to the office, Carolina headed for his mom’s house.

*

Twenty minutes later at Matt’s office, Carolina’s cell trilled. Engrossed in the charts on the faulty genes, she pressed answer.

“I’m sorry about yesterday,” Jeff said. The husky tone of a night spent drinking saturated his voice and annoyed Carolina.

She went to cut the BS routine ASAP. “Just forget it and my number. Bye.”

“Please, don’t hang up, Carolina!”

The note of desperation drilled under her skin. Carolina’s finger froze on the way to disconnect the call. For a nanosecond, she faltered. “We have nothing to discuss. You need help, Jeff. A counselor or a psychiatrist.”

God, why was she such a sucker?

“Let me make it up to you. Carolina, no argument, last night I was out of line. You’ve always told me, I was top in my field. Hah! That’s ironic, because it’s exactly how I see you. I’m nothing without you. I don’t know what the hell I thought. That maybe if I played the part of some jackass university professor that you’d stay impressed. From the start, it’s been the card I played with you and…Fuck, I lost the thread of what I was trying to achieve. If this might mean our professional relationship — if we even have that — is damaged, I’ll do just as you say. I’ll start seeing a shrink, or we can go to couples therapy. You have to admit, as a vet team, you and I are one of the best. Not just in Miami, nationally. We’ve done well on that front.”

“I’ve moved on,” she said.

“There’s always room for negotiation. I’ll open an office. Private practice. You’d like an office in the Grove, or how about Key Biscayne? We’ll be partners. Just you and me, princess. In business and personally. If you need time to think, just tell me how long. I had hoped we could go back —”

Carolina interrupted him. “We can’t. Ever.”

“Okay, I know that now. That’s why I’m calling. Please, just lunch. I want to show you I haven’t lost my mind. Yesterday, on the plane, I had too much to drink. I was working on the Evermore report, actually, and it got me thinking about us. I got off in Dallas and had a crazy thought. I wanted to see you. Really needed to see you again. I treated you wrong yesterday. Throughout our whole relationship.”

“Jeff, it’s over,” she sighed heavily, gazing out the window to the golden land of Evermore. “So over that there’s no way I’m meeting you. I don’t trust you. It’s not only about being hurt, it’s about how underhanded you’ve been and still continue to be.” He was pressing every hot button she’d ever had only now, they were all wrong. It’s why she found herself coolly detached. There was no anger left in her, only pity for a man she had once believed in with her whole heart. A heart he’d trampled on…but that was in the past. It seemed like a million years ago.

“I’ll change! Give me a chance. Meet me before I leave for the airport. You owe me that, for all I’ve done for you.” Jeff’s quavering breath evoked nothing in her except the desire to be done with the phone call.

“That isn’t possible. I’m busy getting ready to ride out and treat some cattle. I won’t be back all day so don’t, I repeat, don’t call me again. I won’t be taking my phone and don’t want some excuse that you called a dozen times, then showed up because you thought I was hurt or something. I’ve already had the pleasure of those mind-warping moments. You have stalker tendencies. I’m repeating myself because I believe this to be true: you need counseling. Yesterday, I made a mistake by calling you. It won’t happen again. Goodbye, Jeff.”

“Fuck, Carolina! You don’t have to be so black and white. I remember exactly why we didn’t make it as a couple. You haven’t changed. Still as cold as ever. Lovely to look at, but shallow. Sweetness, you’re nothing but frigid —”

Carolina hung up. Calmly, she set down her cell phone and closed her eyes. She pulled in a cleansing breath. Not because she was irate, she wanted to release this conversation. An act of closure. She had worked hard to shut out all Jeff’s sick ramblings. She was not off base in the level of disturbance that Jeff, for all his education and achievement, suffered. With Matt, she’d dispelled the preconceived notion of being less than a woman; a deeply sown thought planted seed by seed by Jeff’s poisoned words. At that moment, she fully understood that he no longer held her prisoner. His words found no place to root. She’d finally shut the door on Jeff and her past.

When Carolina opened her eyes, she breathed easier. Footsteps thudded in the hallway, coming toward the direction of Matt’s office where she sat. The clock on her cell read seven fifteen a.m.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Brandon stood at the doorway, his cowboy hat in his hands.

“Very sure.” She rose from behind the desk. “We don’t have much time. Thanks for your help.”

“You’re the one helping us. The horses are loaded. Don’t forget a hat. We’ll be out all day. Once we’re past the south gate, there aren’t any trucks. Heck, there’s no cell service.” He looked at her as if she needed to consider these aspects.

“We’ll vaccinate those cattle we can and tag them. If the meds work, you can inoculate the others during the season.”

“Not for nothing, but I think we should tell my brother. Matt won’t be happy being in the dark. Don’t you think he’ll miss you, especially leaving like this?”

“I’ve got that covered.” A page of printer paper sat squarely on the middle of the desk.

She’d written a note, in big block letters, reminding Matt that she’d gone into town. He’d have to be blind to miss it. He was manning one of the crews in place of Brock who was out today. First pediatrician’s visit for the manager’s newborn son. A healthy baby boy named David Reese. Matt had not questioned her decision, knowing she had countless family, especially women, who might expect a present from her trip. In reality, she rarely brought gifts home from her business trips. They were exhausting twelve-hour days from start to finish. So a white lie was in order. If it meant repaying Matt’s extreme thoughtfulness in preparing that amazing business plan, all was fair.

Carolina wanted to surprise him with the means to protect his cattle and the future of his family’s ranch. She’d be gone in a day to Miami to pick up her van. Then she’d drive to Louisiana. Afterward, well she was still coming to terms with what to do with her career and life. Definitely, a stop back by Evermore was on the horizon, and she smiled at the prospect.

Being out with the cattle was much better than facing the fact of her impeding departure. Carolina’s heart swelled in her chest, thudding hard, threatening to implode.

“Need gloves?” Brandon asked, jarring her meltdown.

With a shaky breath, she laughed. “Nope, I’m all set thanks to your brother.” Carolina mashed down the straw hat she’d been wearing since she’d first arrived. She pulled on the pair of thick leather work gloves Matt had given her stamped with Evermore’s logo. She glanced back from the doorway toward the desk. A couple of paperclips were still on the carpet from the unleashing of their maddening attraction. Those tiny details, invisible to some, were a neon sign detailing that event, and Carolina laughed at her own joke.

“What’s so funny?” Brandon asked.

She felt her face heat. “Life. How things work out.”

“You got that right.” He joined her with his own private chuckle.

Carolina picked up the lunches that Miss Louisa had packed. Sandwiches, fruit, jars of pickles, and fresh baked brownies for dessert. They smelled delicious and she asked Brandon, “Can you help with these?”

“Miss Louisa’s handiwork?” he asked.

Carolina laughed. “The woman’s a miracle worker.”

“She sure is,” Brandon agreed.

Walking next to Matt’s brother out over the grounds, Carolina felt comfortable yet empowered. Something about Evermore, the people and the land. Outside, the early morning air made her feel alive. Much better than sitting around and worrying how hard it would be to board a plane heading back to sunny Miami, alone.

Just as Brandon had promised, the horses were ready. She mounted Skyfall, following close to Brandon’s quarter horse in the lead.

“Let’s ride,” she said aloud, feeling at home in the saddle on this spirited gray horse. Skyfall was in need of being claimed as she had once felt. Why not? The idea struck Carolina and took root. She’d purchase Skyfall. Right from the start, she’d felt a connection.

“We’ll pick up the pace,” Brandon said over his shoulder. “Carolina, you good with that?”

“Yep.” She gave him a thumbs-up.

They went from a relaxed cantor to a full-on trot. It took all of Carolina’s concentration, but filled her with a sense of freedom and glee she’d never known possible.

“Girl, we’re a team,” she whispered to Skyfall, making her horse’s ears twitch. Carolina gave into the trot, letting her body follow the rhythm of her horse, and the sun warming her skin.

Brandon wasn’t one to talk much. None of the McLemore jabbered on. Spoken words were saved. Matt used a whole different language, one she’d mastered and they shared. Soon, they’d be together again. Sharing a last round of love making where they’d sort out what was to come.

Up ahead, a pen had been set up and men worked to corral the cattle inside. Brandon dismounted, giving her a questioning look. “Well, this is it.”

“This setup is very impressive,” she said, dismounting Skyfall. Two large pens were equipped with chutes for the cattle to enter for vaccination.

“Whenever you’re ready, we can begin,” Brandon offered. “Over there. We’ll bring each of the cattle to you. Rory will handle them. I know you’ve got experience but this herd has been out grazing. Being penned gets them feisty. Mind their back hooves.”

“Got it.” Carolina took the bottle of water that he offered, wiping the back of her arm across her forehead.

The plan was solid. She’d do more than mind the rear hooves. Getting pinned between cattle and a fence was no laughing matter. She’d witnessed the kicks and jostling McLemore men took in stride, a daily event, tales laughed and retold, marking them as tough or immune to physical complaint. She wasn’t a fool nor were her bones made of Kevlar. Getting hurt would do more than slow down this process, she’d cause a delay. Time was in short supply on a ranch and Carolina got right to work.

For five solid hours, the cattle, for the most part, threaded through the makeshift stall. She shot hides and pierced each ear with a metal tag.

“Lunch break,” Rory called out.

“Miss Louisa packed us a great lunch,” Carolina relayed, pleased with their work. This would be the perfect way to complete DNA finger printing if only she was staying the week. She patted her back pocket for her cell to snap some photographs. It wasn’t there. Grrr! It was back on Matt’s desk.

With a sinking heart, Carolina realized she couldn’t get any photographs to show Matt. Well, he’d still be super happy when he heard. It wasn’t like the man was in the dark when it came to vaccinating cattle.

The idea of them—she and Matt, his family and Evermore—working as a team…yeah, she could see that definitely in her future.

The possibility of keeping DNA records for breeding and future study was appealing on several levels. She tucked it into her to-do list for discussion with Matt, maybe later today.