Chapter Thirty-Three

A subtle difference between Miami and Annona was the morning light and birdsong. Carolina came to that awareness with another realization: she was still alone. Her heart sank.

Quickly, she rolled over, checking out the room. “Hello Matt?” she called, grappling with the fact that her cell had zero messages from the man.

The bedroom door was open and she didn’t hear anything but silence. Goddamn silence! The master bedroom was at the far end of the house. He might be sleeping on the sofa or in the guest bedroom. He sure as hell wasn’t here!

A multi-hued mixture of hurt, anger, and desperation tore at Carolina, picking right up where she’d left off last night. Why wasn’t Matt here with her?

Slowly, she slid her hand across the sheet where only days ago, he’d asked things of her that she’d never shared. Matt had unleashed so many emotions that threatened to crash down on her if she wasn’t careful. The bed was not the same — the room wasn’t, either. And neither was she. Her heart was filled with one stubborn cowboy.

Every nook and cranny within Carolina, he’d taken possession of and now, she couldn’t just sit and wait. As if on fire, she pushed up from the mattress. Dear God! It felt as if she’d been tossed off a building. The muscles along her shoulders down her body screamed in pain.

In a stagger, she made it to the living room. There was no sign of McLemore here, so she crept toward the kitchen. It was empty with no wayward glasses on the counter or the sink. Carolina’s heart thudded heavy and loud in her ears. She hobbled to the foyer and opened the front door. She swallowed hard in confusion. Matt’s cars were still parked along the circular drive.

Shutting the door, she blew out a sharp breath. The house was emptier than before with the truth that he truly might not be coming back any time soon. That didn’t make any sense. Why would he blame her for something Jeff might’ve said?

Well, she’d just have to find McLemore and have a little come-to-Jesus talk with her favorite cowboy. The man couldn’t stay away forever and his words kept ringing in her ears. Suck it up.

That’s what strong people did. No way was she about to let him slip through her fingers. After yesterday, her body was stiff but if this required that she get right back in the saddle, then she and Skyfall would find that man!

With an action plan, Carolina had a jumping off point. She gathered jeans, a work shirt, and she’d have to wear her hiking boots since her Justin’s were all sorts of smelly and nasty after yesterday. Carolina’s gaze slid over the dresser and then it dawned on her. Where was her bottle of perfume?

Gabrielle. The distinctive square bottle was hard to miss on the dresser top that was completely bare. Carolina stared at the spot, now empty. It had been there when she’d showered and had gone over to get ready, with Cory’s help. Unless she’d moved it, but no she’d spritzed it on right before she’d left and even Cory had commented on the delicious scent of tuberoses. Huh?

Well, that mystery would be next, after she located one wayward McLemore!

Once dressed, she rushed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. The cabinets were tall, constructed from dark-stained wood. The cream-colored granite counters were spotless. The shiny stainless-steel appliances were equally new. Except for that dinner they’d made, together.

Carolina took out a mug from the cabinet and placed a K-pod in the brand-new Keurig machine. Matt’s kitchen was part of the perfect bachelor pad, minus the bachelor.

Her plane was departing in a few hours. She needed a solution ASAP! Carolina contemplated her next move, while not dropping the mug filled with coffee, now that her hand shook. She had no option but to ask one of his brothers for help and quickly.

***

Forget self-talk. Carolina’s idiot mind kept getting interrupted by that moronic voice in her head with a nagging reminder that she was leaving for the airport today. As she drove, she kept going over in her mind what to say and how to act. That’s all she needed to do was to tell Brandon or Rory that an old boyfriend had come to town. Oh yeah, she could definitely see the welcoming expressions exit their face. She would be persona non grata, besides branded as the absolute biggest jackass of all times. From hero to zero.

She parked outside Matt’s parents’ house. Before she lost her nerve, she sprinted from the SUV, up the porch steps, and knocked on the door.

“Come in Carolina,” Wade said, standing back for her to enter.

“Thank you. Is Rory or Brandon here? I need to ask a quick question.”

Wade bunched up his face. “Why don’t you come in. We’re just sitting down to breakfast.”

“Is that Carolina?” Sarah came out. “Dear, come in and join us.”

“Good morning,” Carolina said, clasping her fingers together that had just gone cold. “Uh…I’m not here to eat. Just need to ask Brandon or Rory something.”

“Matt with you?” Sarah gazed beyond Carolina, out the glass panel on the storm door.

In reply, she shook her head, afraid to speak his name.

“I thought I heard you.” Brandon appeared, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Where’s Matt?”

Her mouth went dry. Carolina craned her neck as if Matt’s brother were a lifeline and she a drowning victim. She tried to smile but her lips trembled. The sting she’d been ignoring started up again behind her eyes.

“I need to ask you something,” she croaked.

“Sure thing. You recovered from yesterday?” He didn’t seem to notice that she’d ignored his question about Matt.

Sarah and Wade glanced at each other.

“Yeah. I had a thought and wanted your opinion.” She turned to Sarah and Wade. “A gift I wanted to get Matt.”

Brandon’s brows knitted together. “Shoot. What are you thinking?”

“Oh, I left the ad in the car. Can I steal you for just a sec? I’m sorry to be so rude while you’re eating.” The sting started to turn liquid. Before she started to bawl in front of Matt’s family she turned on her heel and headed to the front door.

“No problem,” Brandon said as he followed her outside. “What are you guys doing today? Romantic lunch?”

“Something like that.” Outside on the steps Carolina blinked rapidly to clear her eyes. She had to suck it up. Even so, a fresh batch of tears stung her eyelids, threatening to burst forth any second. It was past seven o’clock and still no Matt. The ranch was coming alive and so was her anxiety. It wove like barbwire around her chest. Maybe, just maybe she wouldn’t find Matt in time.

“Carolina,” Brandon said as if sensing her impending meltdown when she didn’t speak. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Swallowing, Carolina fought the urge to break down and pour out her heart. Sand filled her throat, or felt like it. In a garbled rasp, she pleaded, “I need your help. Matt hasn’t come home. I know that he’s upset. Real upset and I’m to blame. I should’ve told him…” her voice trailed off.

Brandon’s eyes widened making her chest tighten. “He’ll come back. Matt blows off steam. Always has, but he returns. Give him some space.” He squeezed her arm.

“Please, Brandon.” Carolina shook her head as tears rimmed her eyes. “I don’t think he’s planning on coming back until I leave. After, I mean. I did something, really stupid.”

“What could you have possibly done?”

She tried to put her thoughts into some logical sequence. “I called a pathologist. Dr. Haverty. He was a guy that I dated, a long time ago. He arrived in Annona, the night before yesterday, and—”

“Did you see him?” Brandon’s tone sharpened.

“Only with Matt!” she replied, everything inside her going cold. “But now Matt’s missing. He never came back home last night. Something’s wrong, wouldn’t you say? Matt won’t answer my messages. I need your help. Can you find him?”

“Sweet Jesus.” Brandon pulled on the back of his neck as he scanned the horizon for a beat. Then he shifted his dark blue eyes so like Matt’s to her. Without judgement or accusation, he held her gaze. “There’s a place Matt goes when he’s tore up or pissed off. I’ll find him but I can’t promise that I can make that stubborn jackass move an inch. I’ll give it my best shot, Carolina. You have my word.”