Dark Carousel (Dark #30) - Christine Feehan Page 0,101

hears him as well. At least we have that in common, and in Paris, we were becoming fairly good friends. Hopefully that will count for something.”

She kissed him again, just a brush of her lips across his, but it was enough to claim him. To tell him that he belonged to her.

13

Lourdes and Bella were in the bathtub playing with rubber ducks when she entered the bathroom. Charlotte had never seen so many kinds of ducks. They weren’t the standard yellow ones she’d had as a child. These were various characters, and the girls clearly loved them. They chattered away together, laughing like old friends—or sisters. She sent a small grateful warmth to Tariq for thinking of toys for the girls.

“They’re already bonding,” Genevieve whispered, sipping at her coffee. “I never thought I’d be so crazy about a couple of little girls but I love spending time with them. They make me feel . . .”

“Normal,” Charlotte said, with a small laugh. “I was just telling Tariq I needed normal, and here it is.”

Genevieve nodded. “I can’t agree with you more. Do you want a cup of coffee? It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had.”

The thought of drinking coffee made Charlotte’s stomach roll. She pressed a hand to her belly and shook her head. “I’ll pass, but thank you.”

“You and Tariq good?”

“Better than good. I’ve fallen so hard so fast. Thanks for taking care of the children while we’re sorting things out. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you doing that for me.”

“I wanted to. After all the things you’ve done for me, Charlie, this was easy.” She sighed and put down the mug of coffee. “I can’t stay here forever, but I have to admit I’m a little afraid to strike out on my own.”

Charlotte heard the tremble in Genevieve’s voice. She leaned toward her. “Do you want to leave?”

Genevieve shook her head. “Of course not. It isn’t that, but I’m not about to be the fifth wheel here. This is your family and you need space to make it that way.”

Charlotte shook her head. “You are my family. I don’t have anyone else, Genevieve. It’s the two of us. We chose each other in Paris, long before your grandmother was murdered. Way before my brother was murdered and all of this happened to us. You’re my family. Tariq knows that. He wants you to stay. You can have your own house and eventually, when the danger is gone, live life the way you want, but for now stay here; make one of the houses yours.”

Genevieve looked away from her, back toward the two little girls. Three-year-olds, both of whom had witnessed brutal, vile violence. They were whispering together, dunking the ducks and watching them pop back to the surface. Both would giggle when the little ducks bobbed and looked as if they were swimming.

“I want to do that, Charlie, more than anything. I want to stay. I feel safe here. I’m not afraid for the first time in months. But I don’t want to rain on your parade. You deserve to be happy and to form a family with Tariq . . .”

“Stop, Vi. Seriously, just stop. Just because I found Tariq and I want to bring together these children doesn’t mean I don’t want you in my life in a huge way. I’ll need help, a lot of help. I’m counting on you for that. I don’t know the first thing about children. You already agreed to help me with Lourdes. The only thing that’s changed is we have four more children, two of whom are teenagers.”

Genevieve snickered. “Is that all that’s changed? Four more children? A little thing like that shouldn’t stop us.”

Charlotte found herself laughing. Real laughter. She loved the fact that it was genuine, that she could laugh in spite of the circumstances. “Okay. Maybe it’s big.”

“Try huge. But if you’re certain Tariq won’t think I’m just hanging around living off him, I’ll stay and help you.”

“You have your own money, Vi,” Charlotte reminded with a small smile.

“I’ll offer, but I can guarantee you, he won’t take a cent. He’s the throwback kind of man, you know, to another century. He’ll want to pay.”

Genevieve was so right. Charlotte nodded. “Whatever it takes to keep you here with us, Vi. I don’t care if he wants to foot the bill. We can help out when the crisis is past. In the meantime, it’s my turn to take care of the kids. You go