Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2)(40)
She started down the driveway when classical music sang out from her coat pocket. Liz popped open her phone.
“Hello?”
“Liz, it’s Grant! Where the hell have you been? I texted you a question an hour ago and the stakeholder meeting is in ten minutes!”
“Sorry. Something... came up.”
“Are you avoiding me? Is this about that personal matter we talked about a few days ago? If so…”
“No! Of, course not. That’s— we’ll talk. Like you said.”
“Okay. Good. Sorry. I’m just stressed. Ethan asked me to justify the timetable you set out for implementing the new CSR software and you didn’t put that info anywhere in the presentation, I didn’t—”
“It’s in the appendix.”
“It is? Oh, thank God. Okay. Great. I just need to know one other thing then…”
A familiar pickup rounded the corner at the end of the drive.
Liz listened to Grant with half an ear. She replied on autopilot, then ended the call, more grateful than she should have been to see a particular dark-haired contractor bearing nothing but a coffee tray and a smile.
Lord, she needed a break.
“Good morning.” Carter’s voice cut into her thoughts as he grabbed a bag in his other hand and kicked the truck door closed.
Liz’s heart skipped a beat. “Good morning.”
“I see John’s still here.”
“He’s leaving soon.”
“I brought doughnuts.” Carter waved a bakery bag temptingly.
“Don’t bring them inside unless you plan to share. The freeloader masquerading as my brother is still emptying the fridge.”
Carter winced and waved her over to his pickup. “I’ve got just the picnic spot then.” He pulled down his tailgate and spread his jacket over the end. “Hop up.”
With a tentative nod of agreement, Liz scrambled onto the tailgate and accepted one of the coffees he handed her. “I have coffee inside,” she said, even though she took the cup. Hot, fragrant steam tickled her nose.
“Yes, but your coffee is inside... and we’re here. This is much better.”
“How?”
“Coffee consumed in the sunshine always tastes better.” A smile teased the corners of his mouth.
“Is that so?”
“Try it. You’ll see.”
She took a tentative sip, her heart fluttering in her chest as he watched her. “You may be onto something here.”
“Either that or it’s the company.” He winked.
Her heart did another flip-flop. The man was far too free with his flirtatious expressions, not that she was complaining. “Definitely the sunshine,” she said, grinning into her cup. “So what’s in the bag?”
Carter hopped onto the tailgate beside her. “Not telling until you pay the toll.”
His thigh brushed hers casually, sparking an answering heat. She didn’t move away. “The toll?”
“I get a chess rematch after lunch.”
“Why would you want a rematch? You won.”
“I’m just trying to be fair. You were all tipsy on wine and on the verge of a chocolate chip cookie coma when we played last night. I was virtually taking advantage of you.” A smile played around his lips as he eyed her over his coffee.
“Taking advantage, huh?” Liz tugged the bag from his fingers. Dear heavens, what would it be like for this man to actually take advantage of her? She peered into the bag to hide the blush coloring her cheeks. “Tipsy, you say? Okay, buster, you’re on. Though, I warn you now. Lunch may be take-out given the way my brother was inhaling the leftovers.”
“Even the pot roast?”
At Liz’s nod, Carter scowled. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but I won’t be sorry to see him leave.”
“You’re not the only one,” she said, sinking her teeth into a chocolate-covered doughnut. “You’re not the only one.”
CARTER RESTED HIS ELBOW on his shovel as he watched John walk down the front walk. The guy was barely over thirty, but his gaunt features and weary bearing made him look a decade older.
Maybe now was a good time to get a bottle of water… and some information. Carter headed toward his pickup. “You heading out?”
“Yeah.” John paused. What was probably meant as a grin twisted his features.
Carter eyed John’s car. Rust holes dotted the bottom of the door. “How are things going these days? Working?”
John eyed him warily as he pulled a cigarette from his shirt pocket and lit it. “Getting by.”
“I hear you.” Carter leaned amiably against the side of John’s car. “Didn’t know you were still in the area. Haven’t seen you around much.”
“Oh, you know.” John blew some smoke toward the trees and shrugged. “I’ve been… away. Sort of a vacation. Seeing some friends. You know how it is.”
“Sure.” Carter smiled and reached into his pocket for a mint. Popped it into his mouth. According to the local rumor mill, the last vacation John had taken had been a stint in the county jail, but Carter wasn’t anyone to point fingers. He’d made his share of bad choices over the years.