Chapter 20
NYLAH
I flip the page of my book and scan the next paragraph, but I’m not taking any of it in. I’m tired, I’m uncomfortable… and my husband is angst-ing. It’s hard to chill when he’s prowling the room like a caged tiger, getting undressed with little grunts and slapping his clothes onto the floor.
Now that our girls are down for the night and most of the kids are already asleep, we’ve all retired to our rooms, and Carson doesn’t have anyone to distract him anymore.
He hasn’t told his friends about what his father left for him.
In fact, if conversation steered toward us and our news, he made a point of doing quick redirects.
I thought it was stupidly obvious, but no one else seemed to notice.
Or if they did, they knew better than to say anything.
I, on the other hand, cannot keep my mouth shut.
“Caveman.”
“Nope.” He’s shaking his head as he pulls on his boxer shorts and thankfully leaves his shirt off.
Yep, still love that body of his.
It’s not as defined as it used to be. His edges are a touch softer, but he’s still strong and shapely. Still my sexy man.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He plunks down on his side of the bed, grabbing a car magazine out of his bag so roughly he rips the cover. “Shit!”
I have to suppress a grin. I’ve always found agitated Carson amusing, but he really hates it when I get the giggles.
Clenching my jaw, I force my lips into line before clearing my throat and softly saying, “But you need to.”
He sighs, opening the magazine with force and flipping through the pages so fast he’s clearly not reading anything. I doubt he’s even seeing the pictures at that pace. “I can’t own a business.”
“Why not?”
“Because!” He throws the magazine up, and it does a few spirals while heading for an inglorious landing on the floor. I can’t see it anymore, but I’m guessing it’s splayed out, its pages all bent and askew.
“Baby.” I soften my voice, resting my hand over his. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.” He frowns, his eyes finally hitting mine so I can see the stress radiating out of them.
Cupping his cheek, I tip my head and smile at him. “I know the idea of doing this is terrifying. But you want this. And you can succeed.”
“I have been a loser for most of my life. What makes you think I’m not gonna fuck this up too?”
“Because you scored me.” I smirk. “You’ve kept me. I’m a freaking queen, so… you can’t be all that bad.”
His lips twitch, a barely there smile flashing at me before his mouth flatlines again.
“And you’re a wonderful daddy.”
His eyebrows wrinkle, like he’s not sure he believes it.
“You are. Those girls love you so much, and they have very good reason to.” Taking his hand, I place it over my belly.
His thumb automatically starts to stroke the curve.
“And this little guy is so lucky to have you. He’s gonna learn a bunch of cool things from you.
Can’t you just see him tottering around in a garage, bike parts and engines neatly stacked along the walls? ”
“Kitten,” he practically whimpers, but I don’t let up, painting a vivid picture of the dream I know he desperately wants.
“You deserve this,” I say in a fierce whisper, grabbing his face and forcing him to look at me again. “Your dad wanted this for you. I want it for you, and I will do whatever it takes to help you achieve this.”
He gently curls his fingers around my wrist and starts to shake his head.
“Just like you helped me. I never would have been able to run the Boston Marathon without you.”
“This is different.”
“No, it’s not. We’re gonna do this, one step at a time. And we’re gonna do it together.”
His eyebrows pop up. “Together?”
“Yes. I want to run this business with you.”
“But what about your job?”
“I’ll be on maternity leave in six weeks anyway, and then after this little dude is born, I’m all yours. We’ll get the business up and running, and then by the time I’m due back at work, the garage will be generating enough cash that I won’t have to go back.”
“How do you know that?” He shakes his head. “Nolan’s a small town. How the hell are we going to generate enough business?”
“The guy you work for right now is a subpar mechanic and a total putz. He manages to get enough cars through each week to keep going.”
“Yeah, because he pays his employees shit salaries.”
“Something you won’t have to put up with if you start your own business.”
He clenches his jaw.
“Baby…” I put my firm voice on. It’s time to really sell this thing.
“You’re going to be so good, and our services will be so much better than anyone else’s in town.
We’ll have people lining up to get their cars and bikes looked after by you.
I can be in charge of accounts and marketing.
You know I’m great with numbers and business strategy.
Plus, I understand how people tick, and I can get them through our doors. ”
“I just…” He lets out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over my belly again. “I can’t do anything to screw up this family. You all deserve the best, and—”
“We got it.” I smile at him. “We got it in you.” Tipping my head, I brush my thumb across his downturned lips. “You are the best for us, Carson McAvoy. We don’t want anyone else. Just you.”
His lips start to curl in the right direction.
“And I believe in you. I believe in us and what we can achieve together.”
With a little twitch of his nose, he gives me a doubtful frown. “You won’t get sick of me? If we do this, we’ll be working and living together.”
I make a face, pretending to think it over before darting my eyes back to him. “Well… you are my favorite, so I think we’re gonna be okay. And if I get sick of your grumpy ass, I’ll just kick it for ya, and then we’ll be good to go again.”
“You’re gonna kick my ass?” He reaches for mine, giving it a firm squeeze.
I laugh. “You bet I am.”
With a playful growl, he pulls me toward him, crushing his mouth to mine and laying me back down on the bed.
I go willingly, my body still hot for this man, even with my big belly in the way.
Our teasing kisses soon turn serious, the heat between us rising in a flash as he lies beside me, caressing my curves and gently sucking my neck.
Delicious tendrils of pleasure cascade through my body, and I lift my T-shirt, giving him easy access to all my sweet spots.
He moans in appreciation, diving for my eager nipples while I cup the back of his head and drown in these heady sensations.
“Yes, Caveman,” I whisper.
“So fucking hot, Kitten.” He nibbles his way to my other breast and gives it a thorough taking care of before licking a path over my rounded stomach and heading south.
Yes, please!
A shot of glee whistles through me, but it’s cut short by a turning of the door handle.
“Shit,” Carson whispers, rushing to pull down my nightshirt and make me decent.
His boxer shorts are tented as he sits up in bed, and I can’t help a soft giggle.
“What?”
He follows my line of sight, glancing down and swearing again as he pulls the covers up just as a head of black curls pops through the door.
He’ll be softening already. Kids do that to an erection. They can kill a mood in two seconds flat.
Portia’s big blue eyes are wide and sleepy as she stares across the room at us.
“What’s up, blueberry?” Carson asks.
“Daddy,” Portia whimpers, running into the room and straight for her father.
He’s always been her favorite, and as he hoists her up and nestles her against his chest, I get why.
Brushing my arm down her back, I smile at her, all snug against Daddy’s chest. “What’s up?”
“Harley’s snoring, and I can’t sleep,” she grumbles.
I share a bemused smile with Carson as he strokes circles on her back, then kisses the top of her hand.
“You can stay here for a little bit.”
“Such a softy,” I mouth.
He wrinkles his nose at my teasing, and I lie down with a laugh, rolling over to switch off my bedside lamp.
Looks like we won’t be getting lucky tonight.
But we’ll get another chance later. And maybe right now, Carson needs his little girl seeking comfort from him. Maybe she’ll help him realize that he’s our hero and he can do freaking anything, even bring a dream to life that he doesn’t think he’s big enough for.
Well, he is.
And we’re going to make him see it.