Page 113 of Family Bonds: Carson & Laine

“No,” she said. “My father made the same comments you did about me going to the showing next week. He asked if you could go. Then he said he could hire security to follow me around.”

Carson laughed. He was pretty sure that was going to happen regardless of whether he went with Laine or not. “Do you think you can stop your father from doing that?”

“No,” she said. “My mother is concerned too. I made a comment about how so much has happened in twenty-four hours and she pointed out she knows very well how that can happen. They both do. I guess I let a lot of that slip from my mind. Before we talk some more, if you can get the time off to go with me, I’d like you to. I’m taking the helicopter over on Friday and coming home Sunday morning as soon as Lincoln or Egan can get there. They were going to let me know as it got closer.”

“I’ll put in for Friday and Saturday off,” he said. “You know I want to be there to see you in your world.”

“I do know. And though I don’t like to live my life in fear…”

“Yes, you do,” he said. “That is why you push yourself to try things you wouldn’t normally do. It’s to push past that fear. It’s still there in your life whether you believe it or not.”

“You’re one hundred percent right. I don’t want to have regrets that I couldn’t do something when I had the chance, even if I’m afraid to do it. It’s the same reason that I’m here. If you want to go with me, I shouldn’t tell you that you can’t when I’d love for you to be by my side.”

“Really?” he asked. “You aren’t just saying that?”

“No,” she said. “I wouldn’t ask you to take time off of work. You told me before you wanted to go.”

“But you haven’t asked,” he said. He realized that after the fact. He just wanted to go and never asked if she wanted him there.

When she asked why he wanted to go and he was honest, he knew she believed him. It had nothing to do with fear or protection and everything to do with pride.

But she still never asked.

“I haven’t. So I’m asking you right now. I know you’ve got to work, but if you can get the time off, I’d love for you to go. I’m not someone to ask much of people. More so when I knew you couldn’t do it.”

“I understand,” he said.

“But I’m not sure how many more times I’m going to travel,” she confessed.

“Why?” he asked. “You said you weren’t going to let this stop you. And I shouldn’t have asked you to cancel. That’s not right of me.”

“No,” she said. “It’s not. But the truth is, I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. I got thinking before everything happened last night, that I don’t want to be gone so long from home. I miss the island. I miss teaching Josie. I miss you.”

He pulled her into his arms for a hug. “It was only a few days and I missed you too.”

“In the past, I used to travel the whole three weeks. Even when I opened my studio here, I’d be gone for weeks at a time. But slowly I shifted to going for a few days and getting back. The more I left, the more I wanted to return.”

He needed to hear that.

That someone else felt the pull to be here as much as him.

“I know that feeling,” he said.

“I also understand why you did what you did. Or I think I do. Avery pointed out that she was annoyed when Carter got involved with Josie’s biological father months ago. I told her she was nuts and how great it was to have a man she loved stand in front of her.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You didn’t feel that way not that long ago.”

“And that would be a burn on me. My bad. Sometimes you need someone to remind you or point out what an idiot you’ve been.”

“I’m not sure I’d say you were an idiot. Though we know you do dance at the Idiot Club frequently. Why don’t you come in and relax? I’m hungry, have you eaten much?”

“I didn’t even finish my sandwich,” she said, putting a pout on her face. “I was too busy making calls and being told I might have overreacted. Then I overreacted even more and took an all-exclusive membership out at the club. I asked Avery if she knew anything more about you that I don’t. I don’t know that I’ve ever done that with a man before. It’s not like me.”

He frowned. “Why not ask me? I don’t understand.”

“I am asking you. Even if Avery knew anything, which she didn’t, she wouldn’t have told me anyway. But I guess I’m trying to understand why you reacted the way you did.”

“My girlfriend that I’m deeply in love with was assaulted and then arrested in another state. I think I reacted the same as most men would. I just happened to have the means to get my butt there fast.”

---