Page 27 of Peak Suspicion
“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he said. Good reviews were good for business, Mom and Dalton said.
Everyone made their way to their cars. He collected empty water bottles and refolded blankets, then drove the Jeep around to the back. It would be washed, checked and refueled before the next trip. His father was in front of the garage, bent over the engine compartment of one of their older vehicles. As Carter approached, he straightened and lowered the hood. “I think I’ve figured out the problem,” Dad said. “I just need to order the part.”
“That’s great, Dad.” Carter wished he had his dad’s mechanical aptitude. He could change oil and do basic stuff, but the workings of engines were a mystery to him.
He returned the Jeep’s keys to the pegboard in the office. Dalton and Bethany were both huddled over the computer. “What’s up?” Carter asked.
“Dalton’s showing me this new module he developed for the reservation system,” she said. “It identifies people who left positive reviews for past tours and sends them an offer for a 10 percent discount on a new tour. It’s already generating repeat business.”
“I showed it to Ian and he’s talking about switching the via ferrata over to using this system,” Dalton said. The climbing route was Eagle Mountain’s newest tourist attraction. “He’s going to help me pitch it to other tourism businesses in the area as a comprehensive reservation and marketing package. It could really take off.”
“You’ll be a tech billionaire before you know it,” Carter said.
The door opened and the UPS driver entered. “Got a package for you, Bethany,” he said, and handed over a flat cardboard box.
“Thanks, Gary.” She accepted the package. “It’s my veil.” She picked up a pair of scissors and by the time the door closed on the driver, she had the package open. She folded back layers of tissue paper and lifted out a silver tiara of sculpted leaves and flowers, from which cascaded a cloud of filmy gauze. “It’s so beautiful!” she exclaimed, her eyes shiny.
Carter was surprised to feel a little choked up himself. What had been an abstract concept that didn’t really affect him—his sister’s wedding—now felt very real. “You’ll be beautiful in it,” he managed to say, his voice breaking only slightly.
She startled him by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. He patted her back. “I can’t believe my little sister is getting married,” he said.
She struggled out of his arm. “I’m older than you.”
“But you’re so much shorter.” He patted the top of her head.
She packed the veil carefully away in its shroud of tissue. “So what’s going on with you and Mira Veronica?” she asked.
“Something’s going on with Carter and Mira?” Dalton looked up from the computer.
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “We’re friends.”
“More than friends, judging by the way you raced out of here when we heard about the bomb threat at the school,” Dalton said.
“She’s made it pretty clear she’s only interested in friendship.” He was trying to respect that, though it wasn’t easy.
“You finally found a woman you couldn’t charm?” Dalton winced. “That must be a blow to your ego.”
“My ego can take it.” He didn’t want to charm Mira. Or seduce her. Well, he might want to seduce her, but not in a “let’s just have fun and not get serious” way. Mira meant something to him, though he couldn’t put the feelings into words. She was smart and funny and beautiful and…and someone had hurt her. He felt that hurt and wished he could make things right.
“Have you been practicing your Spanish for tonight’s class?” Bethany asked.
“Sí, señorita.” Carter grinned. That was what people expected of him—jokes and clowning. It worked with the tourists and most of the time it worked with his family, too.
He had been trying to show Mira a different side, but he wasn’t sure he was succeeding. Maybe there really wasn’t much more to him than a dazzling smile and corny jokes. That had felt like enough before, but not for a woman like her.
At Monday night’sSpanish class, Mira was pleased to note that only one student had dropped out after the first week. She took this as a good indication that people found the course useful and even enjoyable. And almost as important to her, it meant her portion of the fee would be almost enough for the down payment on a new car she was going to need, now that her insurance company had decided her Toyota was totaled.
Carter was one of the last to arrive. She was embarrassed that she had been watching for him. Embarrassed because she didn’t want anyone to see how interested she was in him. And she didn’twantto be interested in him. She didn’t want to get involved with anyone. Not right now.
“Hey, Mira.” He slid into a chair at the front of the class. The same one he had occupied before. Right where there was no way she could avoid seeing him. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” she said. A lie. She had been a wreck since being questioned by the sheriff, afraid that other people in town would hear about her connection to a convicted pedophile. The association was horrible for anyone, but especially for someone who worked with children every day. And to be accused of being connected to the kidnapping of not one, but two boys on top of that—she might have to leave town if that came out.
Carter was still watching her. Did he see the dark circles beneath her eyes that she had tried to cover with makeup? Or the tension that never left her shoulders these days? She avoided his gaze and addressed the class. “Hola,” she said. “Buenos tardes. Cómo están todos?”
“Bueno,” they answered, or “Estoy bien.”
“Excellente!” This last from Carter. Of course. He grinned at her and she fought back a smile.
