Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2) by Cheri Allan Page B

putting in a patio.”
    “See,” said Grams, finally coming to his rescue. “No nefarious intent involved.”
    “Exactly,” Carter said, breathing again. “She’s a nice enough person and we knew each other in school, but she’s not my type.”
    An eye-watering cloud of perfume entered the room moments before the visual assault of Lydia Sweet’s Technicolor caftan. “I have a situation,” Lydia pouted. She held up an empty maraschino jar. “I’m out of cherries. Again!”
    Grams and June glared at Claire—who just rolled her eyes. “Fine. I had a couple. If she didn’t take so long to get going, I wouldn’t have been standing there nibbling. I could have blood sugar issues, you know. Maybe I needed to eat them.”
    “Grams, if you want these steps laid—” Carter began, but Grams held up a hand in his face and wagged a finger at Claire as if directing traffic. “The Lord’s watching you, Claire Walker. And, everyone knows you’re healthy as a horse.”
    “The Almighty’s got better things to do than strike me down for eating a few cherries,” Claire grumbled.
    Carter made his escape while he had the chance. He’d snitch a pastry later.
    He pushed the wheelbarrow to the breezeway entry, selected a stone, mixed the mortar he’d left to slake in the wheelbarrow and contemplated the job at hand. Grams’ shadow appeared in the doorway above him.
    “What makes her not your type?” she demanded as if the conversation wasn’t over.
    Carter let out a long-suffering sigh. No sense pretending he didn’t know who she was talking about. “So, first you guys want me to like her, then you want me to stay away from her and now you want me to like her again? Make up my mind.”
    “I want to know why you won’t consider her.”
    “I’m taking her to our class reunion. Clearly I’ve considered her.”
    “You know what I mean. I mean seriously consider.”
    Carter raised a dark brow and shook his head. “Seriously consider? She’s in town for what? Two weeks? What’s to seriously consider? Besides, she’s a Vice President or something now. A big shot. Like I said, she’s not my type.” He got up to grab another stone, but his grandmother’s hand stopped him.
    “Don’t you dare,” she whispered fiercely. “You’re a hard worker, Carter. You’ll be taking over your uncle’s business soon. Don’t you dare think you’re not good enough for the Elizabeth Beacons of this world. When are you going to give yourself the credit you deserve?”
    He couldn’t meet her eyes. He knew they’d be filled with love and compassion. It was the fierce mama-bear look she’d always given him when she thought he wasn’t living up to his potential. And it made him feel eight years old again.
    “What do I deserve, Grams? You know I don’t do well with the straight and narrow. Never have. Heck, Liz Beacon is the straight and narrow. This is a pointless conversation. ”
    “Maybe you’ve misjudged her. How come you quit the fire department?” The sudden change in topic threw him off balance, which was probably intentional. Carter closed his eyes. He’d been a volunteer firefighter ever since dropping out of college.
    Until last week, that is.
    “It took too much time.”
    “Uh-huh,” she nodded, although her expression told him she didn’t buy it. “Well, maybe it’ll fit your schedule again in the future.”
    “Maybe.” He scraped the mortar in the wheelbarrow.
    “Carter.”
    “Grams, some things just aren’t meant to be.”
    “Are we talking about Liz or the department?”
    “I don’t know. Both.”
    “Then why are you taking her to the reunion?”
    Carter shook his head in frustration wishing he were done so he could leave. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation again. It’s getting old. Doesn’t it feel like it’s getting old to you? I think it’s getting old…”
    “Fine! Take her. But remember, she’s here to help her parents. She’s not here to have her heart