Page 44 of No More Secrets
Carter turned in the saddle to look at her. Without speaking, he pointed to the right where three deer strolled through the meadow. She shifted to get a better look. “They’re so small,” she whispered, not wanting to startle them. Charcoal’s ears twitched at her voice.
Carter nodded. “A mom with twins.”
In the dimming light she could just make out the spots. Fawns. She had never actually seen fawns in real life, just in cute email forwards.
She followed Carter past the white fence that divided pasture from crops and wound around a copse of trees. The leafy branches stretched and reached toward the full, orange moon hovering just beyond. The sky was layered with colors that had never touched the Manhattan skyline.
Crickets and fireflies sang and danced in the dusky light.
She followed Carter over a low, rolling hill. He stopped and Charcoal drew up next to Romeo. The creek bubbled below them, reflecting the colors of the sky as the sun began to set across the fields and woods.
“Wow,” Summer whispered.
Carter smiled. “Yeah.”
Charcoal shifted under her and Summer realized she had actually ridden here. On a horse. Without falling off and getting trampled. She was sitting on a horse watching an incredible sunset with a man who gave her butterflies. In the city she would have been working late most likely. Maybe heading out to a reception or a cocktail party. Or holed up in her apartment poring over blog stats.
This was better. This was perfect.
She reached over and touched Carter’s hand. He opened it and she interlaced her fingers with his. And together they watched the sun sink as the moon rose.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Summer had collected eggs — and gotten flopped by a chicken— boxed 250 shares of spring vegetables, and ridden shotgun on the fertilizer run for the acres and acres of corn. Her manicure was shot, and she was in bed by ten every night. Except the other night when Carter had taken her out for ice cream.
He hadn’t even let her change. They went into town and stood in line for the ice cream truck. She had been startled to note that most of the other patrons were in various states of undress, too, giving the line waiting experience the festiveness of a slumber party.
And yet, somehow, there was something stirring inside her. A contentment, a sense of security that made absolutely no sense to her. She was excited to wake up every morning. She couldn’t wait to get downstairs and see Carter. To walk the land with him, to watch him move through his world.
“I don’t know, Niko,” Summer sighed into the phone. “I feel like I’m missing the puzzle piece on this article. I can’t articulate the appeal of this place.”
“Maybe there is no appeal,” he yawned.
“Very funny. Although how anyone can live without fresh bagel and coffee delivery is beyond me,” she said, crouching down to examine a weed. “Sorry for waking you. I just had a break and forgot what it’s like to be human and sleep past six.”
“No, it’s fine. I have an early shoot at the museum. Romero’s in town for his exhibit’s opening and I have the pleasure of doing the meet and greet and a couple publicity shots. Where are you by the way?”
Summer stood up and looked around. Rolling hills, a hulking silhouette of the huge stone barn, and a tree line whispering with the warm breeze. “I’m in the middle of a soybean field.”
“Sounds horrible.”
“It’s really kind of beautiful. You’re going to love shooting out here.”
“Are you drunk on raw goat’s milk?”
“Very funny, smart ass.”
Nikolai yawned again in her ear. “How are you feeling otherwise? Are you taking it easy or being an idiot and pushing yourself too hard?”
“I feel ... good.” She really did. She was exhausted every night, but it was a satisfying fatigue that came from using her body. “There might be something to be said about not sitting at a desk ten hours a day.”
“Just make sure you’re not overdoing it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I miss your face,” he told her. “Don’t fall for a farmer and forget to come home, okay?”
She thought of the other night. Of holding Carter’s hand in the moonlight. “I’ll do my best.”
