28. Carson
CHAPTER 28
CARSON
His words set fire to my soul. I hoped. No, I fucking prayed they meant what I wanted them to mean.
Blood heated in my veins as the intensity of our locked gazes ratcheted up. Heat pooled low, and I thanked God for the officer’s uniform I wore. I’d have to be hung like a fucking stallion for the dark blue material of my winter dress uniform coat to show a woody.
I shoved the lust away and turned to my family. “All right, change of plans. Brock and I’ve been spun up. They’re arranging a flight for us, so…”
Protests filled the air, and I put my thumb and forefinger in my mouth, whistling loud enough to earn glares from the people around us as they plugged their ears.
“Grumbling won’t change anything. I’ve gotta go. I’m going to get y’all settled at the restaurant, grab something to eat, and then haul my butt back here to catch my ride.”
The bitchin’ and moanin’ continued as I herded them toward the door, Roman at my side. I looked around, making sure Margot hadn’t gotten lost. Daddy held her in his arms.
A soft smile tugged at my mouth at the sight.
“How did you get here?” I asked, my eyes glued to Daddy and Margot as her little arms fluttered while her mouth moved a mile a minute.
Brock patted my shoulder. He and Adam moved off, leaving Roman and I to follow behind. My gaze roamed over Roman’s face as I waited for him to answer.
“A cab. We flew in.”
I nodded and said, “Need a lift?”
He smiled and turned, looking out over the families gathered around us. My eyes followed his. Some of my classmates’ families still milled about, laughing and talking with each other. Pride showed in their faces, hugs, smiles, and laughter. My gaze drifted past them all until it landed on Margot and Amelia. Daddy held court with Margot and all my nephews while Amelia and Mama talked.
“Yeah. I do. We do.”
This wasn’t what I imagined—or planned.
I’d planned to jump on a plane to Germany after graduation.
Was I ditching my family to maybe, hopefully, get laid?
Yes. Yes, I was.
I didn’t even feel bad. I finally found the guts to own my identity, and I planned to lay all my cards on the table this weekend.
In Germany.
But he was here.
Now, I had no fucking clue what to do.
And I didn’t have the time to figure my shit out.
“Hey? You okay?”
I startled, spinning toward the voice. A furrow dug deep grooves in Roman’s face when it came into view.
“What?”
“You okay? You zoned out on us.”
“Yeah. Sorry, I’m thinking.”
“No worries. Do you want me to drive?”
I shook my head no, then nodded yes, passing him the keys without a word of explanation. He climbed into the truck; I looked around.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“They left already.”
“Where’s Margot?”
“She’s with Mama and your parents.”
“You ready to go?”
I nodded, but I didn’t move.
Here was my shot. We were alone. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Words failed me. Or I failed myself because I suddenly realized I had planned everything but what to say.
Fingers snapped before my face, and I blinked.
“Carson?”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, follow my finger,” Roman said, holding a finger in front of my face.
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m starting to worry you’ve had a stroke.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? You’ve zoned out at least three times in the last twenty minutes.”
“Sorry, I’m just trying to decide something.”
He pushed me toward the truck and said, “Well, let’s figure out the answer in the truck. You’ve got a flight to catch and need to eat.”
“You’re such a daddy,” I said.
He groaned and shifted in the driver’s seat.
“You okay?” I asked, worried he’d hurt himself somehow.
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye and grunted, raising his fist to his mouth like he was covering a cough, but he didn’t cough.
“Roman?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He didn’t sound fine. His voice was low and rough, raspy. I’d never heard anyone sound like that. It was raw and sexy. My cock perked up, and I groaned, getting strangled as I tried to keep it from echoing through the truck.
“You good?” he asked.
I nodded, coughing and sputtering.
Fuck a duck! Could I embarrass myself anymore?
He stared at me for several minutes, then pulled out his phone.
“Hey, Jane. I’m calling about the Wilcox party…,” he chuckled and continued, “No. I’m not adding any more people. Actually, we’re going to shrink a bit. The man of the hour received orders, and who knows when he’s gonna get a decent meal again, so I wondered if you could pull something together for him?”
“What do you like?” Roman asked, glancing over at me.
“No raw fish.”
“Did you hear that? Good. Yeah, whatever you can throw together. He looks like he’s lost weight, and they’re sticking him on a flight in less than an hour.”
I could hear her speaking, but not what she said.
“Thanks again,” he said and hung up. “She’s gonna pull some strings and get you some food.”
I laughed at him. He had always been a caretaker, making sure we all ate and stayed hydrated. It’s probably what made him such a great dad.
Roman pulled into the parking lot, and we rushed into the building. It was gorgeous at a glance, and I hated I couldn’t stay.
“Jane?” I asked the girl at the hostess stand.
“No, sir. She’s pulling together a pick-up order. Even though we don’t do that,” she said, confusion written across her face.
I smiled at her. “Well, the captain can be pretty fucking persuasive. Can you point us to the very large, very loud private party?”
“Umm… yeah, but I thought you were picking up the to-go order?”
“Long story and not much time.”
She shrugged. “Go to the top of those stairs. You can’t miss them.”
“Thanks. Tell Jane where we are.”
We took the steps two at a time, and sure enough: the family gathered at the tables in the private dining room. I paused in the doorway. The man I loved stood next to me, and our families were gathered together, laughing. All my dreams had materialized and played out in front of me. Even Adam and Brock were there. That was a surprise. I didn’t think they would show up since Brock got called in as well.
“Carson!” Margot shouted when she saw us.
She hopped off the chair she’d been kneeling in, darted under the table, and raced toward us. I dropped to my knees and scooped her up. Her little hands cupped my face as she beamed at me before looking at her daddy.
“Hey there, princess.”
“I like your uniform. Daddy says his is different because he’s in the Army and you’re a frog, but that don’t make sense.”
Laughter rumbled through my body in waves as I chuckled at her. “What doesn’t make sense?”
That adorable, confused expression made her even more adorable. Her neck craned as she looked over her shoulder to where Adam and Brock were sitting with my brothers.
She turned back to me and said, “Frogs are green, and you’re wearing blue.”
The room cracked up, myself included. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I said, “You’ll have to take that up with the Navy, princess.”
“I don’t like green.”
“Punkin, Daddy’s uniform is green,” Roman said. The affront in his voice was clear as the sun shining through the restaurant’s windows.
“Yeah, and it’s ugly, Daddy. If anyone should be a frog, it’s you. I like blue better. It’s best.”
“Outta the mouths of babes,” Brock called.
Roman’s eyebrow climbed his forehead before he said with a grin, “I’ll remember that the next time you show up in my ER.”
“Excuse me…”
I turned. A girl burdened by two oversized bags stuffed full stood there. Despite biting back a groan from the bags’ smell, my loud, rumbling stomach made its presence known over the noise.
“Jane?”
“Yes, sir. Congratulations, Ensign.”
“Thank you. I take it that’s for me?”
“Yes, sir. And Chief Jones, as well. I added in some extras when I heard he’d be traveling with you.”
“That was mighty kind.” I looked at Margot and said, “Go to your daddy for a second, princess.”
The pout was epic, but Margot leaned out of my arms toward Roman. Once he had a hold of her, I pulled my wallet out and peeled off a couple of bills. “This is for you. This,” I said, taking out a credit card, “is for the bill.”
“Absolutely not,” Roman and my dad said simultaneously.
I shoved the card back into my wallet. I chose not to argue with them. Roman may have been out of my life for a while, but I knew how stubborn he could be.
“Alright then, I guess I’ll let them duke out who is paying for the food,” I said, taking the bag from her.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I sighed as Brock checked his buzzing phone. It was time to go. I turned to Roman and Margot. There were so many obstacles in my way. Our way and the Navy just kept throwing up roadblocks and fucking up my plans.
“Time to go?” Roman asked, and I nodded.
Emotions I couldn’t name flashed across his face as his eyes roamed over mine until he cleared his throat and turned his gaze to his daughter.
“Punkin, hug Carson’s neck. He and Mr. Brock have to go to work.”
“But…” she began, only to stop and dive at me.
I caught her easily, hugging her tight to me. Her little body pressed to mine cemented my desire to make her and her daddy mine. To hell with the Navy.