“Someone saw us?” They’d been so wrapped up in each other that they’d rolled around on a blanket at a picnic area. They’d practically skinny-dipped at Keyhole. They’d gone at it half-naked against Carson’s truck—also just off the main road where anyone could’ve seen them. Then he’d come to her house. Specifically into her bedroom. And he’d parked in the front yard, bold as brass. “Who?”
“Your brother Harland.”
Shock froze her vocal chords.
“Evidently he saw my truck from the road that day I stopped by and he saw our goodbye kiss. He followed me home. When he realized who I was… He returned when I was alone.”
“Are any of these bruises from him?” she demanded.
“His marks are on my throat because he damn near strangled me before I knocked him on his ass.”
She twined her arms around him and pressed her cheek into his chest. She thought she’d cried herself out, but not so. A few stray tears slipped free and soaked into his shirt. “Are you okay?”
“I’m getting there. Look. The short version is your brothers all showed up around my place and threatened me if I didn’t break it off with you. Then they threw a buncha shit in my face I’d done in the past, which combined with them extolling your virtues, went a long way in convincing me to break it off with you because I didn’t deserve a woman like you.”
“All of my brothers did that?”
“Except Thomas. He watched me get my ass whipped last night at the dance after you left. So at first,” a nervous laugh slipped out, “I thought maybe he was there to finish the job. Turns out he wasn’t and he had some advice that pointed me in the right direction.”
“Which direction was that?”
Carson tipped her head back and gazed into her eyes. “Straight back to you.”’
Okay. So her knees went a little weak.
He caught her. “I’m done hidin’, sugar. I’m with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. So I want everyone to know I’m with you—and that includes your family and mine.”
Her jaw dropped.
He covered her mouth with his, gifting her with the sweetest, most romantic, most convincing kiss. Then he scattered kisses from the tip of her chin to her temple. “Please forgive me for hurtin’ you. I’ll do anything to make it right with you. Anything.”
Carolyn clung to him, letting his soft kisses and promises bolster her courage. She’d never gotten into a fight with her brothers, besides the squabbling when they were kids. If she showed up at home with Carson McKay on her arm…what would happen?
“Caro?”
She turned and her forehead bumped into the cut on his cheek and he hissed. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. How many guys did you take on last night?”
“A few.”
She stood on tiptoe and placed her lips on the wound. Then the one by his eye. Then the bruise on his jaw. And finally his upper and lower lip.
Wrapped in his arms, she was surprised to feel his heart pounding so hard.
“Am I forgiven?”
Carolyn arched back, locking her gaze to his. “Yes. But if I see your hands or any other part of you on another woman? I’ll do what needs to be done. To both of you.”
“Won’t happen again.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “What were your plans for after church?”
“I put a pork roast in the oven and told my family I’d be home to dish it up after church let out.”
“Is there enough food for me?”
She looked at him, seeing the wariness mixed with hope. “You’re serious.”
“Very serious. I won’t be throwin’ any punches—unless I’m defending myself or you—but your family needs to know they ain’t scarin’ me off. We’re done sneaking around, Carolyn. Let’s do this. Meet each other’s families and make it official that we’re together.”
Carson had on his brooding face as they drove to her house. But he kept contact with her, absentmindedly stroking his thumb over the inside of her wrist in a way that soothed her, yet awakened every nerve ending beneath that section of skin.
When they pulled into the driveway, she noticed her brother Harland’s vehicle was there, as well as Darren’s. Strange. They never showed up for Sunday dinner.
“Looks like the gang’s all here,” Carson said dryly. “You think Thomas might’ve tipped ’em off that I didn’t give a damn about their threats?”
“Maybe. More likely is someone saw us together at church and called my mother.”
“Sugar. You all right?”
She looked at him. Really looked at him, this handsome man, who’d changed her from the moment he’d entered her life ten short days ago. Here he was, battered and bruised, but still willing to stand beside her. She kissed him very gently. “This won’t be easy.”
“Nothin’ worthwhile ever is.”
The front door slammed and her brothers filed out and spread out, arms crossed, poses belligerent. Her dad eased down the steps and waited in the center of his line of sons.
“Stay put. I’ll come around and help you out.”
Both hers and Carson’s palms were sweaty when they met, but Carson kept a determined lock on her hand as they approached the line of Wests.
“I’d offer to introduce you to my boyfriend, Carson McKay, but I’ve heard you’ve already met.”
“You have a death wish showin’ up here, McKay?” Harland snapped.
Her oldest brother had been born angry. Normally she tiptoed around him, but not anymore. “Why are you even here, Harland? You don’t live here. Who I date doesn’t concern you, so butt out.”
“The hell it doesn’t! You’re my little sister and I’m protecting you. Not only that, you stepping out with a McKay puts us all in a bad light.”
Carson’s hand tightened, as did his jaw, but he didn’t speak.
Darren, her blond-haired blue-eyed bruiser of a brother, stepped forward. “We thought we all made it clear that you’re expected to stay away from Carolyn.”
“Yeah, what we said to you weren’t suggestions,” Stuart tossed out. “But God’s honest truth, turn around and drive away from here or we’ll fulfill all of them promises.”
“Times five,” Marshall added.
Thomas said nothing.