Page 19 of Fall Back
At least dinner is peaceful as Clive and Ester keep up the conversation, along with the women the Burns brothers have been blessed with. I hope they appreciate their women because they really are their better halves.
Don’t get me wrong, I grew up with these guys and love them all like brothers, even though I was always closest to Noel. But the way they’ve been glaring at me and grunting their responses throughout dinner has me rolling my eyes.
When we’re done eating, I kiss Carson’s temple and murmur, “I’m going to help clear the dishes and clean up. You stay here and talk to your family.”
She looks at me for a long moment, clearly reluctant, before nodding slowly.
I work along with the ladies to get things cleaned up, hearing the low murmurings of the Burns family from the other room. I keep part of my attention there, listening for any yelling because that shit is not happening on my watch.
Just as we’re finishing up, Noel slides into the kitchen, his eyes intent and focused on me. I snort out a laugh and admit, “I expected you sooner.”
He steps up to me until he’s close enough to be threatening before he growls, “What is going on with you and my little sister?”
Our gazes lock for a long time, long enough that it would be uncomfortable if we hadn’t been best friends for years with the memories of joining up and combat between us. As it is, this man knows me better than anyone else. He knows who I am ona soul level, and he needs to know I’m all in when it comes to Carson.
He needs to trust me.
“I got a call of a suspicious person one morning. It turned out to be Carson. She locked herself out of her rental and was trying to get back in. The moment she turned around, I knew one very important thing.”
“What did you know?” He eyes me suspiciously as he asks even though he may know the answer already.
“She’s mine.”
I don’t bother to sugarcoat it because I don’t need to. What would be the point? Noel and I have always been upfront with each other, and it isn’t going to change now.
His eyes narrow and he blows a breath out through his nose like a bull about to charge. “She’s yours?” When he chuckles, the sound is filled with disbelief and dissention. “How does that work? Aren’t you the same guy who was just out picking up women wherever he went?”
“Noel,” I growl, the warning clear in my voice, “that was before she came back, and you know it. I’m not going to apologize for a past that has nothing to do with her. What I can tell you is that no one is going to treat your sister better. I’ll always protect her and put her first.”
“We’ll see,” he fires back ominously.
“Yeah,” I agree, “we will.”
He makes a humming sound before Carson’s voice has us turning, “Have you finished duking it out?”
I close the distance between us, pulling her against my side and breathing easier as she melts into me. “I think we’ve come to an understanding,” I murmur softly.
“Sure,” Noel snorts. His eyes harden as he looks at me. “You hurt her, and it won’t just be me you’ll be dealing with.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I promise.
“I’m exhausted,” Carson whispers loud enough for only me to hear.
I look down at her and nod before kissing her forehead. “Time to take you home, my little criminal.”
Noel laughs, but coughs to try and cover it. When I glance at him, he’s struggling to maintain control of his laughter. With my arm wrapped around my woman, I lead her back into the dining room where we go through the arduous process of saying goodbye and thanking everyone for dinner.
A lot of loaded looks are shared along with promises of weekly dinner and no more secrets and hiding out for Carson. My woman takes it all in stride, her whole demeanor lighter than it was before we came out to Limitless. It’s clear now how much not being honest with her family was eating at her.
She’s much more relaxed by the time I help her up into my truck. Her gaze stays trained out the window as the world passes us by.
“Thank you,” she whispers a few moments before I pull into her driveway and she turns toward me, “for making me go out there. It was past time and putting it off longer was only going to make things more difficult.”
“You seem lighter now,” I point out.
She giggles and nods. “I feel lighter.”
After parking, I lean back in my seat, my control already frayed after spending so much time with her. I won’t be able to hold back if I go inside with her. Not tonight.
