Page 23 of Family Bonds: Carson & Laine

His sister, Ava, was married and had a son. His first nephew. Though Ava had a stepdaughter, Adele, who he loved as his own flesh and blood anyway.

“Good for him,” she said. “I doubt my father will retire.”

“Everyone does at some point,” he said.

“He doesn’t have much more than work,” she said. “You like that, don’t you?”

He was still looking the vase over. “I do.”

“I can see it in your eyes.”

“I’m picturing white roses in here. My mother would be over the moon oohhing and aahhing over it.”

“Take it,” she said.

“I can’t,” he said.

“Sure, you can. I made it last week. I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet. I thought I’d keep it in the house, but I can’t find a place for it. Sometimes I make a piece that I don’t want to sell because I’d like someone to appreciate it. If a stranger buys it, I won’t know if they appreciate it. But the look in your eyes is showing me what I want.”

It was the tone of her voice that had him thinking of two meanings.

No rushing, he reminded himself. He’d put the other thought away for now.

“Thank you,” he said.

“No, thank you,” she said. “I don’t do my craft for money. Though money is a wonderful thing, it’s about emotion for me. Such is life. Emotion is what controls and feeds it. You are envisioning the possibilities of that for a woman that means a great deal in your life. I’m touched.”

Her voice had gotten almost tender.

“Here you are cooking me dinner and then giving me this. All I did was bring some wine and sparkling apple juice.”

“Your company is something I’m enjoying,” she said. “I don’t have a lot of guests in my house.”

“Now I’m touched,” he said. “And honored.”

“You should be,” she said, laughing.

She turned her back on him and returned to the chicken. It gave him another minute to look over her body, but he realized he couldn’t make much out of it in her dress.

He’d have to go on memory from last night of her short shorts and baggy T-shirt.

“While dinner is cooking,” he said, “can you show me more of your artwork? Or is that something I’m not supposed to see?”

“You can see it,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if you were interested.”

“I find I’m interested in just about anything that touches your mind.”

She stopped and stared. “I want to say that was a smooth statement, but there is a part of me that believes you speak what you feel. Some might think that is crazy. Or take advantage of it.”

“Both,” he said, laughing. It was a forced one. “Could be another reason why I’m still single.”

“You’re a complex man, Carson.”

“About as complex as you are, Laine.”

“That remains to be seen,” she said. “But I think the two of us could have a lot of fun.”

“I think you’re right.” He picked up his sparkling wine and held back the smirk that he was toasting with that. “To us and the first thing to tackle on the list.”

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