did. “He is. I’ve been working too. I just stopped in for a break.”
Lincoln’s mouth twisted. “Is everything all right with you two?”
“What? Of course. Why?”
“I don’t know. Just that Carter seemed... This week I thought he’d be... happier.”
Damn. This wouldn’t do at all. Lincoln was starting to worry again. Feel bad for Carter. Guilty about being happy when his brother wasn’t. And that was exactly what Carter was desperate to not have happen again.
“It’s not that,” Ruth said, thinking as quickly as she could. “We’re both just trying to get as much work done as we can before Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the holiday. That’s why we’ve been trying to stay away. We distract each other.”
Lincoln’s eyes softened. Glinted with amusement. “You distract each other, huh?”
“Yes.” Ruth felt her cheeks warming but figured that was natural. “Surely you can understand that.”
“Oh, I can definitely understand.” He twitched his eyebrows at her. “But seriously, maybe you can go see him tonight. He’s still in the office and he seems... I don’t think it’s good for him to go so long without seeing you.”
Ruth had no idea what to say to that, so she mumbled that she would. She finished her wine and took off, confused and concerned and trapped by indecision.
She picked up her phone five different times to call or text Carter. Then she finally gave up and drove out to the headquarters of Wilson Hotels, which was in a swanky office building midway between Charlotte and Green Valley.
She saw Carter’s expensive SUV in one of the executive parking spaces near the door. When she explained who she was, the security guard let her in with a friendly smile.
Carter’s office was on the top floor. The hallway lights were on, but most of the other offices were dark and empty. His door was only partway closed, so she pushed it open all the way.
There behind the desk was Carter. His eyes were focused on his computer screen. His shoulders were hunched like something heavy was weighing him down. He’d taken off his suit jacket and pulled loose his tie. The sleeves were pushed up, and the back of his shirt was wrinkled.
He looked just as tired as Ruth had felt all week.
“Hi,” she said rather stupidly.
He jumped and whirled around in his desk chair. “Ruth?” His eyes were wide as he stood up. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry to barge in like this. I was just...” She gave a silly giggle. “I don’t even know what I’m doing here.”
Carter walked over, pushing the office door closed and taking her hand to pull her over to the leather couch near the wall. It was a nicely furnished office and not remotely ostentatious, but it was clearly set up for practicality rather than aesthetics. “Is everything all right? Did you need me for anything?”
“I’m fine.” She had no idea how to explain her presence there other than the truth. “I just felt kind of blah. And weird about things. And Lincoln made it sound like you were...”
“Depressed? Pathetic? In need of an intervention? I can just imagine what he told you.” Carter sneered mildly, but he obviously wasn’t truly angry with his brother. “Damn Lincoln. He’s been bugging me all week. I thought we’d pulled it off Sunday, but he must have still sensed something was wrong.”
“Yeah. I think he did. I told him we were just taking time off to get work done because we distract each other.”
“That’s basically what I told him too.”
“He seemed to buy it. But I do feel kind of bad about things, so I wanted to... That’s why I came over.”
Carter leaned his head back against the couch and gave her a sweet little smile. “I’m glad you did. I’ve had a bad week.”
“Me too.”
“I am sorry if I was pushy or overbearing or whatever. I was trying to help, but I understand it’s not my place.”
“No, no. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just always prickly and defensive about things. I’m used to handling things on my own, so I guess I get kind of... kind of...”
“Kind of what?” he prompted softly, reaching over to tilt up her chin so she couldn’t hide her face behind her hair.
“Kind of embarrassed. When I feel vulnerable. Needy. I don’t like other people to see me that way. But that’s my problem. Not yours. You didn’t do anything wrong. And I’m sorry if I messed things up between us. I thought we were having a