Free Carter (Remington Ranch Book 3) by SJ McCoy Page B

because I’m not sure I do.” He didn’t just mean that he’d never delivered kittens before. He also wondered what he was doing letting Summer come over to join him—with a bottle of wine—which meant she wouldn’t be driving home tonight.
    He’d worry about that when she got here. For now he wanted to make sure that he had everything he might need on hand. For a moment he stood and looked around the little laundry room. The cat looked as though she might be getting close. She was crouched on top of the pile of towels panting. He had no idea how long a labor might last. He took his phone back out. He was going to have to call Doc Lee. The old guy would no doubt be surprised to get a call about a cat, but he’d taken care of all the Remingtons’ animals for as long as Carter could remember.
    Once he hung up with the vet he smiled. He shouldn’t have worried. Of course Doc Lee had told him everything he needed to know, everything he needed to look for, and when to call him if it looked like there were problems. He might be more used to assisting with breached calves or foals, but he cared just as much about little stray kittens. Carter busied himself in the kitchen making sure he’d have everything he needed, just in case. From what the Doc said, as long as things went well, the kitty would take care of everything herself.
    He looked around, wondering what Summer would make of his place. It wasn’t exactly a palace or even anything like the place she was staying in, but if it was enough to put her off him, then it was better that they both find that out now.
    ~ ~ ~
    Summer was glad she’d bought one of those insulated bags that kept things frozen at the grocery store this afternoon. She slid the pizza inside along with a bottle of wine and a tub of ice cream. They had been her supplies for a quiet night at home; she would never have guessed that she’d be taking them up to Carter’s place tonight. She also would never have guessed that her plans for the evening would have evolved from having Carter over to dinner, to going out with him to Chico, to this—heading up to his place with frozen pizza, and intending to assist in the delivery of kittens. She grinned as she grabbed the car keys and headed out the door. Just the thought of Carter—big, burly Carter—being so concerned about a momma kitty melted her insides. The fact that he would have stood her up in order to help a cat, made her grin like a crazy person. She hadn’t really dated much over the last few years. It was hard. She never knew if guys were really interested in her or just interested in being seen with a country singer. None of the guys she had dated would have stood her up for a cat; she was pretty sure of that! It just added to Carter’s charm. He was a one of a kind without a doubt!
    She threw the bag into the car and set out up the valley. As she drove, she couldn’t stop smiling to herself. She might be thirty miles from town, but it was such a beautiful drive. She already loved this place. She loved the kind of life she got to live here. It felt so free, so real. Her smile faded. She’d love to make it last. To make this her real life. She’d love to trade her apartment in Nashville for the house on the river. Trade the concerts and studio sessions for nights out with Cassidy and her friends—and nights in with Carter! She shouldn’t be thinking like that though. Tonight wouldn’t be about a night in with him. It would be about taking care of a momma cat and her new kittens. How could she be thinking about sleeping with Carter? How could she not?
    Half an hour later, she slowed as she crossed the river and came to the outskirts of town. She knew Carter’s nursery was right there; she’d driven past it enough times. She turned into the driveway that led past the nursery itself and around to the house at the back. She’d never been able to see it properly from the road, sheltered as it was by a line of spruce. It was beautiful.