Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(62)

“No, not exactly.”

“So you did sleep with her,” she accused.

“None of your business,” he repeated. “The point is that I’m here now, and frankly I could use a shower and a nap.”

“What about breakfast?” Carrie asked. “It’s the most important meal of the day. Isn’t that what you’re always telling me?”

“Had it,” he said.

“Oh,” Mandy said, looking wistful.

“What?” he asked.

“I wanted to go to Wharton’s for pancakes. I figured if we piled on enough guilt, you’d take us.”

He turned to Carrie. “And you?”

“I wouldn’t mind a pancake,” she said.

He was so stunned by the admission, he immediately nodded, “Okay, then. Pancakes at Wharton’s. Be ready to go in fifteen minutes.” He turned to Carrie. “That reminds me. Grace says she has a job opening for the rest of the summer, if you’re interested.”

“Waiting on tables?” she asked, making a face. “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound like much fun.”

“It’s not supposed to be fun. It’s a job. It’s a busy place. I imagine the tips are decent, but it’s up to you. You might get to know some more people, too. And if you aren’t interested in that, Raylene brought up an alternative. I’ll let her tell you about that.”

“I’ll take whichever job she doesn’t want,” Mandy piped up.

Carrie frowned at her. “Stay out of it, squirt.” She turned back to Carter. “Do I have to decide today?”

“Of course not. Talk to Grace when we get there. She can tell you what the job entails. Then you can call Raylene or go over there. After that, make a decision.”

“If you don’t want the job at Wharton’s, I do,” Mandy said eagerly. “I could save up for some really cool clothes for school next fall.”

“Back off,” Carrie said. “Carter says Grace offered the job to me. You’re still a kid. No one’s going to hire you.”

“I’m just saying, if you don’t want it—” Mandy began, only to have her sister cut her off.

“I’ll probably take it,” Carrie said, though Carter could tell her heart wasn’t in it. She was just trying to keep Mandy from getting it.

“Okay, fine,” Mandy said huffily. “It’s all yours.”

When Carrie stalked out of the room, Mandy turned to Carter with a wide grin. “Reverse psychology,” she said. “You should try it sometime. Not on me, though. On her.”

He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Apparently there were quite a few lessons he could learn from the women in his life. If they didn’t drive him into an early grave.



An hour later Carter noted that despite her earlier enthusiasm for going out for breakfast, Carrie had merely dissected her pancake and pushed the resulting pieces around on her plate. She gave him a look that dared him to make something of it. He was so relieved that she’d actually talked to Grace about the part-time job at Wharton’s that he kept silent about her failure to eat.

“What do the two of you have planned for the rest of the day?” he asked as they headed for the car.

“Would you mind if I went over to see Raylene?” Mandy asked. “I was going to volunteer to weed her garden since she can’t do it.”

“That would be very thoughtful,” Carter told her. “What about you, Carrie? Do you have plans?”

“I might as well tag along with Mandy,” she said casually. “I should see what kind of job she had in mind before I give Grace my final answer.”

“Good idea. Call Raylene and make sure she’s not busy.” He was struck by a sudden thought. “You two aren’t planning to cross-examine her about last night, are you?”

“Not me,” Mandy said.

Carrie was not as quick to respond. “Only if the subject comes up,” she said.

“Try to make sure it doesn’t come up,” he told her. He handed her his cell phone. “Her number’s on speed dial. Give her a call. If she says it’s okay for you to come over, I’ll drop you on my way home.”

“Speed dial, huh?” Carrie gave him a knowing look.

“Do not make too much out of that. Everyone I ever call is on speed dial. I can’t remember phone numbers.”

“It’s sad that you’re so old and decrepit that you can’t remember stuff,” Mandy teased.

Carter shook his head. “You two are determined to give me grief today, aren’t you?”

“Pretty much,” Mandy said happily, then fell silent when Carrie got Raylene on the phone.

“It’s okay? You’re sure?” She grinned. “Okay, we’re on our way.”

She handed the phone back to Carter. “It’s fine with her. You don’t have to take us. We can just walk or ride our bikes over.”

“We’re already in the car,” he said. “I’ll drop you off.”

Carrie grinned at her sister. “I knew it. He’s not about to miss a chance to get one more glimpse of her this morning.”

“Whatever,” Carter said.