Page 57 of Family Bonds: Carson & Laine

“Don’t forget to tell your cousin what a bad boy you were tonight,” she said, smiling at his bare butt. Oh yeah, she’d be sketching that next.

“Why not?” he said. “Might as well let the whole family know what is going on. I’ve got no problem with it.”

Her jaw dropped and she knew he just called her bluff.

17

THIS IS SERIOUS

“What’s this I hear you got in trouble on Friday?” his sister, Ava, asked him on Sunday. His mother wanted to have a cookout. Carson wanted to invite Laine but didn’t ask. It’s not like his mother offered, but he was positive she wouldn’t have had an issue with it.

“I wasn’t in trouble,” he said.

“Because you lied to Mac,” his father said.

“Does everyone know what happened?” he asked and looked around at his brother and Delaney sitting in the shade. Seth was inside with Adele trying to find her bathing suit and his sister was feeding his nephew Brayden.

“Yes,” his mother said.

“What does everyone know?” he asked. He should find out before he offered more than he needed to.

“That you were with a woman at the beach who lost her top,” his mother said.

He started to laugh. “The waves were rough. She didn’t know and it wasn’t planned. I did the gentlemanly thing and blocked her and got her a towel. I don’t think much was seen.”

“Enough,” Hudson said. “Or someone recognized you and you know how things fly on this island.”

“I do,” he said. “I’m sure that’s not the first time a woman lost the top of her bikini in the water.”

“Before we go any further,” his father said. “Let’s address who you were with.”

He snorted. “You all know who I was with,” he said.

“He was with Laine,” Ava said. “We know, Dad.”

“What else did you hear and from who?” he asked them all.

“I heard about the beach,” Hudson said. “At work yesterday.”

That didn’t surprise him. Not that he wanted it running around the hospital, but it was a small island and he was known.

“What else?” he asked.

“Seth and I went to Duke’s last night,” Ava said.

Seth walked out with Adele who had her suit on. “Stay on the beach and I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Yes, Dad,” Adele said. “Can I just get water in my bucket?”

“You know the rules. Only up to your knees until an adult is with you,” Seth said. When Adele was down by the water, his brother-in-law turned and added, “Duke said you were in a hurry to leave Friday night.”

Carson laughed. He figured that would happen. Might as well put it out there. “Duke came to see us. Laine knew him. The food was great, but you know, we were in a hurry. I tipped well and made sure Duke knew it didn’t have to do with the food.”

“I ran into Mac last night,” his father said. “At the store. Carson...”

“Hey,” he said. “I was desperate. We’ve all been there. Right? Don’t lie to me, Seth and Hudson.”

His brother and brother-in-law started to laugh. “What am I missing?” Ava asked.

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