Page 17 of Loving Carter

Chapter Three

Skylar

“Hey, Skylar, how’sit going? I heard your meeting with the business expo folks was interesting. I meant to ask you about it when you were over for dinner last night, but I forgot.”

I glance up when the door opens. Carter’s brother, Kellan, is now standing in the doorway to my store. Although Kellan, like Carter, is well over six feet and has dark hair and brown eyes, he only somewhat resembles his older brother. He’s young and doesn’t have the same sexy swagger his brother has.

“I’m good. How are you?” I ask.

I half suspect he’s been sent to check up on the progress I’m making on the expo. Kellan rarely stops by the bakery. When Carter was here this morning, neither of us mentioned the head kiss last night. I’m still not sure how I feel about that. I know it was something spontaneous he did, nothing that he’d planned. To me, it felt like he was telling me that he’d always be there for me. I know Carter doesn’t think I’m a failure. Maybe the kiss was reinforcing his belief in me.

That’s a thought I like.

“I’m good. I came to see if I can help with the expo,” Kellan says.

Help. Now there’s a word I like, so I immediately and enthusiastically say, “Yes.”

We’ve only been working on this thing for a few days, and I haven’t made any progress yet. This morning’s list of to-dos is sitting in my office, undisturbed, next to yesterday’s list Carter and I created. I plan to take care of those tasks.

Soon...ish.

“So you’re really willing to help?” I ask.

Kellan sits on one of the stools at the counter and spins around once. When he’s facing me again, he says, “Sure. I might as well make myself useful since Carter’s busy interviewing people to help us this summer.”

“Any good prospects?” I ask.

He shrugs. “They’re a bunch of high school students who have a lot of enthusiasm but zippo knowledge about life on a ranch. You know, the kind of person who’s never seen a horse.”

I’m wiping the counter, but now I stop and look at him. “Can’t you hire some kids who know about life on a ranch?”

He meets my gaze and says, “The kids who know ranches currently live on ranches, so they’re busy this summer and not applying to help us.”

“Ah. Good point. That must make finding people hard.”

Carter didn’t mention any of this when he was here today. He could have complained, but he didn’t. That was thoughtful, but I wouldn’t have minded listening to his problems. That’s what friends do.

But now, thinking about it, I realize I complained to him for ten minutes last week about my problem finding comfy sneakers. Maybe I should table some of that. It only seems fair.

Still pondering the topic, I hand Kellan a menu just in case he wants to order something. “What kind of tasks are you willing to do? Naturally I plan to keep any easy, fun tasks for myself,” I tease.

Kellan laughs. He has a nice laugh, but it doesn’t make me feel the same way I feel when Carter laughs. Carter’s laugh makes me feel like laughing myself. Our friendship is based on years of shared laughs.

“Whatever you need done,” Kellan says. “Carter seems extra stressed these days, so I thought I’d help out. Preparing for the summer crowds at the ranch is keeping him hopping.”

Oops. Now I feel guilty about those lists on my desk. I drum my fingers on the countertop and consider Kellan’s offer. Hey, I’m not one to ignore a flotation device when the metaphorical water is reaching my neck.

“Help is always welcome,” I say. “Carter and I have a lot to do.”

“What does he say when you ask him why he volunteered you both for so much?” Kellan asks as he fiddles with the silverware in front of him. “I would have thought he’d dodge work on the expo.”

“Me too,” I say. “But when I asked him why he volunteered for so much, he just shrugged.”

Kellan shrugs just like his brother then laughs again. “That’s just like Carter—always trying to handle everything.”

“Firstborn child,” I note.

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