Long Time Gone - Lorelei James Page 0,27
had been adamant they lock the doors at night or Carson would’ve just walked in.
Gigi whined and raced toward Carson immediately after Cal opened the front door.
Carson crouched down to pet the pup. “Looks like you’re ready to move cattle, dog, which is more than I can say for him.” Carson gave Cal a once-over from his bare feet to his uncombed hair. “You sick or something?”
“Nah. I just stayed up too late and overslept. It happens.”
“It never happens to you.” Carson rolled upright. “I don’t imagine you were out tearin’ it up because you don’t reek like booze or look hung over. So I’m bettin’ your late night has something to do with that hickey on your neck.”
He shouldn’t love it so much when Kimi sucked and bit on him, but Jesus it got him so fucking hot he’d rather deal with shit than ever ask her to back off. “You caught me.”
Carson jerked his chin toward Cal’s bedroom. “She’s still here, ain’t she?”
“Yeah. So if you’ll give me a little time to get ready, I’ll meet you at Dad’s so we can get this underway.”
“You ain’t gonna introduce me to her?” Carson paused and gave Cal a big grin. “That’s because I know her, don’t I?”
“Don’t be a jackass,” he said with an edge.
It was the edge that tipped Carson off because normally Cal was even-keeled.
“So how long you need to get ready? I don’t see a car here so you’ve gotta run her home first?”
Fuck. He hadn’t thought of that. “Nope. She said she’s fine sticking around today.”
“Is this why you’ve been distracted the past couple days?”
“I haven’t been distracted,” Cal scoffed.
“Yeah, you have. Even Charlie mentioned it yesterday.”
“So I screwed up one goddamned thing. Like Charlie has room to talk. He’s been distracted the last year.”
“Charlie thought I’d be preoccupied this week with all the shit that’s been goin’ on with the Wests. He volunteered to pick up the slack if I had to leave, which is why he mentioned it. He just didn’t think he’d have to be picking up your slack too.”
“I told you I’d do my part and you’re relyin’ on Charlie? That’s fuckin’ perfect, Carse. Next you’ll tell me that Casper’s watchin’ me too.”
Carson crossed his arms over his chest. “Even that shouldn’t worry you if you’ve got nothin’ to hide, Cal.”
Gigi barked and scratched at the door to go back inside.
“What’s with her?”
Cal ignored the question. “I’ll meet you at Dad’s in twenty, okay?”
“No can do. Tell me what’s goin’ on. You’re never this secretive.”
“I ain’t allowed to have secrets?” he snapped. “That’s bullshit. You’ve got your life with Carolyn which is separate from us workin’ together. I respect that. You need to learn to do the same for me.”
“Who is this woman who’s got you all twisted up in knots?”
The door opened behind him.
Kimi stepped onto the porch. “It’s me.”
Cal had never seen Carson so shocked. Under different circumstances his bugged-out eyes would’ve been funny as hell. Snagging Kimi’s wrist, Cal tugged her against the side of his body.
After his gaze winged between them, Carson said, “You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me. You’ve been here since Cal picked you up?”
“Yes.”
“And you two are what? A couple now? You’re livin’ together?”
Cal held his breath. He wasn’t sure what would fly out of Kimi’s mouth.
“What’s goin’ on with me’n Cal isn’t any of your business, Carson. I will say that he’s letting me stay here as I sort some stuff out.”
“That whole tale you spun in that letter to Caro about movin’ to Alaska was a lie?”
Kimi shook her head. “I’m still goin’. I just didn’t leave the day of the funeral.”
“When your sister finds out—”
“You will keep your mouth shut, McKay,” Kimi snapped, getting right up in Carson’s face. “Carolyn is to know nothing of this. You hear me? Nothing. My letter explained everything. She knows she won’t hear from me for at least a month. And I’m sure she’s got plenty of other shit to deal with and doesn’t need anything else piled on top of it. So just go about your business and let me’n Cal sort this out on our own time frame.”
Straight to the point. Kimi was a lot like him in that respect, so Cal didn’t feel the need to add anything else.
“But I fuckin’ hate keepin’ a secret this goddamn big from my wife. She finds out, who’s she gonna be pissed at? Me.”
“The only way she’ll ever find out is if you tell