Page 117 of Theirs to Take

“It’s honestly fine with me if Carrie wants to stay here and use my guest room. Alastair might come looking for her at our houses if he knows that you all are related. He might not think to look here for her. I mean, I’m no one to Carrie. I have no tie to her, and her ex would have no reason to look here for her.” The three of them looked at her as if expecting her to come up with the correct answer right on the spot.

“I’m not sure what to say here,” she whispered. “I don’t want to put your and Rod’s families in danger. Evan isn’t a familiar tie to me and staying here will buy me some time. You two will have your hands full protecting your families.”

“Carrie’s right,” Rod agreed, “if she wants to stay here, I say that’s her call.”

“Fine,” Alex grumbled, “but, we’re beefing up security at the office and around here.”

“Agreed,” Evan said. “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll keep her safe.” Alex nodded and started for the front door.

“You two give us a day to beef up security. How about you work from home today?” Alex asked. He wasn’t really asking, more like telling them to take the day off.

“Will do,” Evan agreed. “Let us know if we can do anything else to help.”

“Can one of you check on my father?” she asked. “Alastair would have gone to his house looking for me. I just need to know that he’s all right.”

“I’ll check on him as soon as I get to the office,” Rod offered.

“Thank you,” Carrie said. She wasn’t sure if telling her cousins was the right thing, but she had to admit, she felt better telling them her deepest, darkest secret—even if it would take them both some time to forgive her.

Evan

Evan hadn’t had a day off in years. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he took a whole day off. He was the type of person who did better when he was busy, and that’s exactly how he planned to stay—busy.

He called his brother and asked him to stop by his place to help him run a quick errand. He was going to run by Carrie’s place and pick up her car, but he’d need Eli’s help to do that. Of course, his brother agreed to help him once he reminded him that he owed Evan. That was his go-to move when he wanted to guilt his brother into helping.

Eli showed up just before noon and Evan found him talking to Carried in the family room, trying to charm the pants off of her. “I see you met my brother, Eli,” he said. “I didn’t hear you ring the bell,” Evan said.

“That’s because I didn’t,” Eli said, “I used my key to let myself in. I didn’t know you had a pretty house guest staying with you, or I wouldn’t have barged in.”

“He nearly scared the life out of me,” Carrie breathed.

“Again, sorry about that,” Eli said.

“You shouldn’t be using my key when you know that I’m home, Eli,” Evan said. “Carrie is my new assistant at McTavish.”

“Wow, man,” Eli said, “you get your own assistant? You’re really moving up in the world, big brother.”

“Shut up, Eli,” Evan grumbled. “You’re an ass.”

“Hey, do you want my help or not?” Eli asked.

“Help?” Carried asked. “What do you need help with? I can help you, Evan.”

“I didn’t want to bother you and it’s not a good idea for you to help me. I’m going to get Eli to go over to your apartment with me and pick up your car,” he said.

“Oh, well, what will I do while you pick up my car?” she asked.

“You will sit here with the door locked and not answer it for anyone,” Evan said.

“I’d like to protest that plan,” she mumbled. “I’m sure it’s safe for me to go back to pick up my car. Do we even know if Alastair got out of jail yet?” she asked. He had heard back from Alex that her ex had made bail. He just hadn’t worked up the nerve to tell Carrie that yet.

“He’s out,” Evan admitted.

“You knew that he was out and didn’t tell me?” she asked.

“I didn’t want to upset you,” Evan insisted.

“You don’t know me well enough to know what upsets me and what doesn’t,” she challenged. She was right, he didn’t know her at all, but he was hoping to change all of that. Having some time off with Carrie would give them both a chance to know each other better. It was like getting a crash course in getting to know his new assistant, and he had to admit, he was looking forward to it.

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