Honeysuckle Summer (The Sweet Magnolias #7)(91)

“He’s just doing his job,” Raylene said, though she knew it was more than that. The connection between them was powerful. One of these days, she hoped their lives would be less complicated and they could truly explore those feelings.

Right now Carter was outside checking in with whomever he had watching the house. The plan was to send them home, and he’d take over out there. Raylene had argued futilely that he should be going home himself to get some sleep before he went back on duty in the morning.

“I’ll get by with enough caffeine,” he said. “It won’t be the first time I’ve pulled an all-nighter.”

“But have you had to go out the next day and put your life on the line?” she’d countered to no avail. The man was stubborn as a mule.

She glanced over at Rory Sue and saw a frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought maybe, since I’m going to be staying here, we could try to be friends,” Rory Sue said. “Instead, when I asked about Carter, you blew me off. You wouldn’t have done that with Sarah or Annie.”

Raylene smiled despite the tension in the air. “You’d be surprised how often I’ve told them exactly the same thing,” she admitted. “Things between Carter and me are complicated, so I minimize the relationship.”

“Self-protection in case it doesn’t work out,” Rory Sue guessed.

“Exactly. I can’t lose something if I don’t let myself admit I’ve ever had it.”

“That’s kind of crazy, isn’t it?” Rory Sue said, looking bewildered by the concept. “Besides, what’s so complicated that you can’t work it out? Look at me and Walter. Nobody would have predicted the two of us being together, but we are. At least we’re working at it, because we think it’s worth it. Don’t you think Carter’s worth it?”

“Of course he is,” Raylene said at once. “He’s amazing.”

“And you’re as hot for him as he is for you. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Sometimes it’s still not that simple.”

“But great sex along with friendship is a pretty good basis for a relationship. That’s what I have going with Walter that I never had before. We don’t just have sex, we really talk. It’s taken me my whole life to figure out how important that is. Before, I was all about the chemistry.”

“I’d say that’s a sign of maturity,” Raylene said.

“So what about Carter? He looks like the kind of man who could set off all sorts of fireworks.”

Raylene really wasn’t comfortable with the direction of the conversation. She knew Rory Sue was reaching out, but the topic was simply too intimate. She didn’t especially want to admit that she and Carter hadn’t made it anywhere near a bed yet.

“I’m really happy if you and Walter have found something special,” she said instead. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to try to get some sleep.”

Rory Sue looked startled by the abrupt announcement. “Did I say something wrong? That’s another thing I’m lousy at, knowing the boundaries, especially with other women. My mom had the same problem.”

“Don’t worry about it. I really am tired.”

Rory Sue looked disappointed, but just then Walter came out of the kitchen, and her eyes brightened. Raylene was no longer even a blip on her radar.

Raylene went into her room, changed into her nightgown and slid between the sheets. When the phone rang, she almost left it for Walter, but decided at the last second to grab it. Her nerves tensed in that first instant after she’d said hello, as she waited for nothing more than silence in response.

Instead, Carter asked, “You all tucked in?”

“Carter Rollins, are you sitting out there in the dark spying on me?” she teased.

“Thinking about you in there stripping off your clothes helps to keep me awake,” he told her. “Are you naked? Please tell me you’re naked. That ought to be good for a couple of hours of sleeplessness, at least.”

She laughed and snuggled down under the covers. “Stark naked,” she fibbed. Anything for the cause, she thought, allowing herself a delicious shiver at his sharply indrawn breath.

“Ah, there it is,” he said softly. “The image that’s going to get me through the night.”

“Has it been quiet out there?”

“Too quiet,” he said. “It’s a little spooky. If it weren’t so dangerous, I’d try to convince you to come out here and protect me from the goblins of the night.”

“Under the circumstances, that might be counterproductive.”

“Yeah, I know. One of these days, though, this is going to be behind us, Carrie’s going to be better, and you and I are going to have our chance. I believe that with all my heart, Raylene. I’m going to fight to make sure it happens.”

“Our chance to do what?” she pressed, needing to hear the sweet promise of his words.

“Be together in that very bed where you are right now. We’ll be all tangled together after a night of making love, and we’ll talk about our hopes and dreams, and then we’ll make them come true. Every one of them, Raylene.”

She sighed at the lovely thought. “I wish—” she began.

“We’ll have that,” he said firmly, interrupting her. “Believe it. Now, get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”