Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2) (5 page)

Chapter 7

Present

Lou

When Carson got up to leave the bar my stomach dropped. I needed to talk to him. There was so much to say and explain. I never thought I'd see him again, but the moment I did, I knew I couldn't waste the opportunity. I threw some cash on the bar and excused myself from Anne Marie and Ben, hoping to catch Carson before he got out the door. Luckily I saw him talking to two guys near the front, so I slipped up behind him and took his hand in mine.

"You two are coming to the party tomorrow, right?" One of the guys asked, and I assumed it must be Luke. He was as tall as Carson, but dark headed with a strong jaw and green eyes. I could see why Caroline was all hot and bothered, but he didn't hold a candle to Carson in my opinion.

"I'll be there," Carson said, dismissing me as part of the invite as he tried to shake his hand free of mine.

As Luke and his friend walked away, Carson turned and stared at me.

"Can we talk?" I asked him, squeezing his hand while I searched his incredibly green eyes. He was so tall, well over six feet, and I noticed, just like the first time I met him, that there was some sort of electric pull between the two of us.

"What is there to talk about? You're married," he accused.

"I'm not married anymore," I said softly, searching his eyes and watching a range of emotions pass through them. Then he turned and dragged me out of the bar by the hand he was already holding.

Once we reached the street he turned the corner, into the alley and paused, pulling me to him and then backing me against the side of the building. I was caged between his arms, his bright green eyes searing into mine.

"Talk, I'm listening," he said, his breath on my face.

I paused a moment gathering my thoughts. It was hard to think with him in my personal space. I could feel the heat from his body pouring over me and I thought back to the one memorable night we'd spent together over a year ago. I hadn't been with anyone since then, and my hormones were on high alert. I licked my lips, feeling his breath on them.

"I was married to Derek for about three and a half years. The day I met you I had spent the morning trying to scrub some vulgar graffiti, directed at me courtesy of my husband, off the wall of our house. My whole life sucked until I walked into that bar and you bought me a drink. I didn't go there looking for anything, but when I met you the connection between us was something I couldn't deny. I didn't want to deny it. It felt too right, even if it was wrong, but in my mind my marriage was already over."

I reached a hand toward him, twisting the front of his shirt into my fist and pulling him closer to me. His jaw ticked and he took in a breath as I continued to explain.

"Honestly, I didn't want to leave that hotel room," I continued, "but when you said you were only in town for a night I couldn't deal with an awkward goodbye, or with the idea that you might not have felt as moved by me as I was by you, so I left."

His large warm hand moved to my cheek and around the back of my head, cupping my nape. The  warmth of his body enveloped me as he took a step closer. My pulse began to thrum wildly and I felt heat slowly begin to coil in my core. I twisted my fingers further into his shirt, arching my back off the wall and pulling his chest flush against me, turning my face up towards his. The sexual tension between us ratcheted up to a roar.

He rested his forehead on mine, his mouth mere millimeters from my own. I could feel his breath against my lips and I moaned into him as he closed the tiny gap between us. Finally.

The kiss was wet and hot, our mouths met openly with a crush of tongues and murmured words of want.

I didn't care that we were outside where anyone could see us, all I cared about was that I was in Carson arms again. Carson was kissing me and a ball of desire was threatening to explode inside me. His hands were in my hair, and mine were in his. His mouth was insistent and possessive, rekindling the connection I had felt to him when we met.

When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine again. Both our breaths were heavy and shallow, my hands shaking lightly as I ran them down his chest, feeling the thick muscles beneath his shirt and his hardness against my belly. I swallowed, trying to calm my racing heart.

"I tried to find you," he said, just loud enough for me to hear him.

"You did?" I pulled my face back minimally so I could look him in the eyes.

"I asked my dad for the list of interviewees that day, but there wasn't anyone named Meg on it, and none of the other names were female."

"I think I interviewed as Lou Peterson, but it's Lou Evans now. Louise is my full name," I said softly, smiling. "My dad wanted boys, and instead got twin girls. He calls me Lou, and my sister, Charlotte, goes by Charlie."

"Lou suits you," he said thoughtfully, his hand moving to cup my cheek. "I looked for you at the airport too. I sat and waited for you to walk by for hours. I don't know how I could have missed you, but I was distraught when I realized I did."

His admission stunned me, or maybe it was his honesty. It wasn't often that you found a guy who wore his heart and his emotions on his sleeve. I hoped this was a sign that Carson was that type of guy. I didn't need anyone in my life who wanted to play games. I didn't have time for it.

"Let me see your phone," he said, holding his hand out to me.

I pulled my phone from my clutch and handed it to him. He punched buttons on the screen for a second and then handed it back to me.

"I put my info in your phone. Send me your address and I'll pick you up tomorrow at 11. You're going to that party with me."

"Oh I am, am I?" I asked, smirking up at him.

He pushed into me again, trapping me against the side of the building. I breathed him in for a moment, before looking into his eyes.

"You better get used to me, because I'm not letting you get away this time," he said gruffly, kissing my cheek. "See you in the morning."

And with that he left me leaning against the building, panting like a dog in heat as I watched his sexy back and his perfect ass saunter away down the street.

**

"You won't believe what happened," I said to Kelly as I flopped onto my couch.

"Uh oh! What?" she asked, intrigued.

"I saw him again," I told her, a little giddy.

She looked at me a moment trying to figure out who 'he' was.

"
Him
," I said with inflection.

"You mean Carson? The sexy man from your one-night stand, man of your dreams, him?"

"Yes! He kissed me and it was ah-mazing! Just like I remember. God Kelly, I couldn't believe it. I really never thought I'd see him again and then there he was, standing right in front of me, staring at me just as hard as I was staring at him."

Kelly's eyes widened as her mouth dropped open.

"Oh my god, Lulu! It's like fate or something," she said in amazement.

"I know!" I was totally giddy, clapping my hands together and smiling so hard my cheeks were hurting.

"Are you going to see him again? Did you tell him about Carly? What did he say?"

"No, I didn't tell him about Carly. I just want to wait for the right time. That's not something you spring on someone right away. But, I'll tell him, I promise."

"You need to. She's not something you can keep a secret. He deserves to know," she scolded.

I glared at her with my
I know what I'm doing
look, and she raised her hands in surrender looking off down the hallway before her eyes snapped back to mine. "So, when are you going to see him again?"

"Tomorrow. Can you watch Carly?" I asked.

"You bet."

Chapter 8

Carson

As I drove to Lou's place I replayed last night's events in my head. When she told me she wasn't married anymore I couldn't stop myself from grabbing her and kissing her senseless. Feeling her body against mine and her response to me instantly rekindled the connection I had been trying to deny since I'd woken up in that hotel room without her. She'd wandered back into my life, and there was no way I was going to let her go again. Ever.

"Ready to go?" I asked, smiling as Lou opened the door and stepped onto the porch of her house.

"Ready." She smiled up at me, her blue eyes sparkling in the late morning sun.

She had on a white tank with the American flag on it and short denim shorts. Her legs looked amazing and it was all I could do to keep from imagining them wrapped around my waist as I pounded into her.

And now I'm hard.

"You look incredible," I said to her, subtly adjusting myself before leaning in and sliding my arms around her waist. I pulled her up against me, nibbling at her mouth until she opened her lips, allowing me to deepen the kiss. She tasted like warm honey and I couldn't get enough of her.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said breathlessly once I released her.

We arrived at my grandmother's house just in time to help load everything in the car for the short drive to Luke's. His house was about a half mile down the road.

"Mom, this is Louise Evans," I said, taking an armload from her and loading the back of her Explorer.

"Hi Mrs. Foster, it's a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Lou," she said, reaching out to shake hands with my mother.

"Honey, you call me Allison, everyone does," she said, accepting the outstretched hand, and pulling Lou into a hug.

My mother looked at me over Lou's shoulder and winked at me and I knew I had her approval. I'd never introduced my parents to a girl before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

"There you all are!" My dad said, coming around the side of the house. A recent storm had knocked a tree into the house, tearing down part of the front porch and smashing in the front door. The repairs were well under way, but not quite complete.

"Hey Dad," I said, shaking his hand and pulling him in for a man hug. "You know Louise Evans."

My dad looked from Lou, to me, and back before a big smile ate up his face. "Indeed I do. How are you Lou?"

"Just fine, thank you sir," she said, returning his smile.

"Well, let's get this show on the road. I'm starving!" My dad said, opening the passenger door of the Explorer for my mom.

No sooner than we had unloaded the car at Luke's, Caroline dragged me aside.

"No offense, but what are you doing with Lou?" she asked.

"For now, I'm just seeing where it goes," I said, hoping to deflect any further questions she might have.

"I really like her Carson. Please don't screw her around. I know you're still caught up on that girl Meg."

If you only knew.

"I know what I'm doing okay? Don't worry," I assured her. I was just about to tell her that Lou and Meg were one in the same when an older gentleman walked in.

"Carson, this is Luke's father, Luke Senior," she said, introducing us.

"Very nice to meet you sir," I said, shaking his hand and then excused myself to find Lou. I'd have to talk to Caroline later.

She was on the back deck, leaning against the railing with her perfect ass jutting out towards me. I walked up to her as quietly as I could, running one of my hands over her left butt cheek, and circling my arm around her waist, pulling her back against my chest.

She sighed as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"How'd you know it was me?" I asked her, leaning down to kiss her ear and then her cheek. She leaned to the opposite side, giving me better access to her neck.

"I can't think of anyone else who would be bold enough to touch me like that."

She turned in my arms then, looking at me with her soulful blue eyes.

"Carson, I don't want to play games with you okay? We've already established that we have a wicked attraction to each other, but there are things about each other that we still need to learn. The only relationship I've ever had was a toxic mess of dishonesty that I never want to experience again. So please, no matter what you are or aren't feeling for me, or about us, please just promise me you'll always be honest and up front with me."

The sincerity and vulnerability in her eyes were enough to make me agree to anything she wanted. I wasn't interested in playing games either. I'd spent many of my teen years and most of my college experience doing whatever I wanted with whomever I wanted with little to no regard for anyone else. Since meeting Lou I had gotten my life together.  Having her walk out on me like that had been a wake-up call. I was pissed that she had left, but more than that, I realized I had nothing to offer her if she'd stayed.

I had spent all my time since then trying to become a man worthy of a woman like her, so that when the opportunity presented itself I would feel like I could provide for her, take care of her, be the kind of man someone like her would want to build a life with. I never expected that Lou would actually end up
being
her, but now that she was back in my life, I realized that there was nothing that could keep me away from her.

"I promise. No secrets, complete honesty in all things."

She slumped against me, seemingly relieved.

"I'm sorry for bringing up the deep shit so soon, but I just can't waste any more of my life with the wrong guy," she reasoned.

I dragged my hands through her hair, smoothing it away from her lovely face.

"Your ex really did a number on you didn't he?"

"Sometime I'll tell you about it, okay? It's not a discussion I want to have today. Let's just enjoy ourselves."

I really wanted to hear about her ex-husband. He obviously treated her poorly and that was NOT okay with me. But she was right, it wasn't the time or the place for that conversation.

"I love your ass in these shorts," I said, running my hand over her round bottom again, and squeezing one firm cheek.

She pulled back, giving me a look.

"What? You said you wanted me to be honest about my thoughts and feelings right?"

She laughed, the sultry, throaty laugh I loved from the moment I first heard it in the bar. My heart clenched, and I knew I was done for.

"Come on," I said, wrapping my arm around her neck. "Let's go see what's taking the food so long."