Page 110 of Hometown Hottie

“You remembered?” I all but whispered, so exhausted that my bones felt heavy. Somehow, he was still making my heart beat faster. “Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.”

Alone with him for the first time in a few days, I should’ve been trying to talk to him about us. About Ryan and how I finally stood up to him, but I couldn’t bring myself to add more stress to this day.

Carson made the tea in silence, then brought it to me but didn’t sit down. “Do you mind if I grab a quick shower? You don’t happen to have any more of Ryan’s laundry, do you?”

I accepted the cup gratefully as I nodded. “Help yourself. It’s folded in the hamper in the bathroom.”

“Thanks.” He turned around and strode down the hall before I could say anything else.

While he showered, I stayed exactly where I had been all along, sipping the tea and wondering if my brain would ever function fully again. Carson walked into the living room again not long after, and he sat down with me this time, but not close enough that we were touching.

A pang of longing shot through me and I let out a soft groan. “You really don’t have to stay with me.”

At the same time that I said it, he spoke too. “None of this is your fault, Nova.”

Our eyes met and he smiled at me, motioning for me to go ahead, but I shook my head no and nodded at him instead. He sighed, eyes locked on mine. “Can you think of anyone who would come after your family like this?”

My heart flipped. “No, not really. We don’t have any problems with anyone that I’m aware of.”

His features hardened. “Except for Frank. You might not have a problem with him, exactly, but he sure has a problem with you. I wouldn’t put it past him to do something like this after trying so hard to get you to sell to him.”

My head spun so violently I swayed with it. Carson gave me a soft smile as he got up. “Why don’t you lie down? We don’t have to talk more about this tonight. I’m going to go check on what’s going on at the bakery, but I’m coming back, okay? I know you don’t need a babysitter, but after everything that happened tonight, I do.”

“I know you’re just trying to make me feel better,” I murmured as I dragged the throw off the back of the sofa and covered myself with it. “Thanks, though. I’ll see you later.”

“Sure, Nova. See you later.”

My eyes closed as soon as he was out the door. I started realizing he might’ve been right.

Shocked, sad, and completely and utterly exhausted, I fell asleep, unable to fight it for even just a minute longer.