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But he knew that wouldn’t be the case. And worse, he needed to tell her himself that there might be more coming. He didn’t want her to learn from someone else about how the hackers at school had found her pictures.
And lastly, he desperately wanted to know if her family indeed held a grudge against him for destroying a family heritage site.
He’d never have purchased the ranch, if he’d have known. Or would he? It had been an excellent deal. There was nothing illegal or unethical about it. He’d known there was another interested party, but that they were unable to outbid him. How could the Jackson family possibly hold a grudge against him for paying full price? For God’s sake, it had been Robert Jackson who’d sold it to him!
In New York, there’d have been no question about it. And if Vincent had asked him, he’d have said, hell, yeah, brother. Do it.
But things were different here, now. He wasn’t the same guy he’d been. And if he’d truly created hard feelings in Cherry Lake, he’d have to find a way to make amends.
He’d never have a chance with Carrie, otherwise.
If he’d ever even had one.
Gun lifted his head. His expression changed. For a second, his goofball doggy grin returned and a moment later, Ethan heard the sound of tires on asphalt.
Gun’s tail thumped the blanket with enthusiasm, this time.
“I know, buddy,” he said.
Carrie parked behind his truck and walked over to them, her bright smile the sweetest thing he’d seen all day.
“Hey, boys,” she called, all bright and sassy.
Ethan got to his feet and Gun struggled to do so as well.
She had on a swirly sundress, in an orangey-red color and her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that danced behind her as she walked. Her arms were bare, revealing muscles defined from years of carting around weighty equipment.
A camera accompanied the bag over her shoulder and in her hand she held up a brown paper bag. “Roast beef, turkey breast, honey ham. Sound good?”
“You, Carrie Logan, are an angel.”
“Flatterer.”
She was the sweetest thing he’d seen all week. The dog seemed to understand that she’d helped him, and his obvious joy at her presence loosened the tightness in her expression.
“Hey, you pathetic thing,” she said, kneeling down to fondle Gun’s ears, carefully staying clear of his facial and throat lacerations.
Carefully staying clear of Ethan.
She snapped a few quick pictures.
“So we can keep track of his healing,” she said.
He smiled. “Photographic evidence of his journey.”
Trust Carrie to know exactly how to break the ice. Gun whined his pleasure and slurped a big, pink tongue over her cheek. Ethan wished he could be so open about his own excitement at seeing Carrie.
“Gun,” he admonished, but Carrie only laughed. The caution in her eyes faded.
“Thanks for coming.”
“You sounded hungry,” she said.
He met her gaze. “Always.”
She bit the corner of her lip. “Good. That’s good.”
To his utter shock, she leaned over to brush his lips with hers, a quick tentative greeting.
“Roast beef okay?” she murmured against his mouth.
“This is better.” He nipped at her full bottom lip. She pulled away, touching her tongue to the spot where his teeth had just been, which made him want to do a lot more than kiss her.
“On sourdough,” she added, breathlessly. “Slaw on the side. Damn, you know how to break a girl’s train of thought.”
“Uh, you started it.”
He opened up the blanket so that they could both stretch out on it, with Gun on one end, and the food on the other.
For a dog that had gone off his food, he was displaying an indecent interest in the sandwiches Carrie had brought. Ethan, on the other hand, couldn’t have cared less if she’d brought tofu on shoe leather. He was still reeling breathlessly from that kiss. And wondering how long he should wait until repeating it.
She opened a small plastic bag to reveal thin slices of roast beef.
“I know you don’t let them have people food,” she said, “but I thought, since he’s convalescing and all…”
Gun squirmed closer, whining, until he could lay his head in Carrie’s lap. Lucky guy.
