“More than anything,” she murmured, turning her head for a quick kiss before going to pull the casserole out of the oven.
Liam set the table, all the while laughing and joking with Jack. When they sat down to eat, the boy started to pick up his fork, but set it down again. “Liam, I’m sorry—” he began, but at the same time Liam started to speak.
“Jack, I owe you—” He stopped. “Go ahead.”
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry for what I said out on the beach. I was out of line.” Jack’s eyes met Liam’s.
“I’m sorry too, son. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
“No sweat.” Jack shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I’d like to talk about it, Jack.” Liam accepted the salad from Carrie, dished some onto his plate, and then passed it to Jack.
“Mom already told me who the suit was.” Jack helped himself to salad, obviously avoiding Liam’s gaze. “Did you get rid of him?”
“Yes.”
“Well, good,” Jack said briskly, reaching for the casserole dish.
“Marty isn’t really what I wanted to talk to you about.” Liam accepted the casserole from him and spooned some onto his plate. “I don’t want you to think that we aren’t ever going to have problems.” Jack frowned as Liam continued in a matter-of-fact tone. “We’re going to get on each other’s nerves sometimes. You’ll get mad at me. I’ll get mad at you. It’s all part of being a family. Take it from me, kid—family life can be really messy.”
Jack grinned. “You should know, I guess. You had like... a platoon of kids in your family.”
“You’re right. With eight brothers and sisters, it could get pretty chaotic,” Liam chuckled. “Son, we’ve gotten to be good friends these past few days and I’m very glad. But I’m also your father and I’m not going anywhere, so now you have two parents to drive you crazy. Aren’t you lucky?”
Carrie smiled, her heart nearly bursting with pride as Liam took the parenting reins with honesty and kindness. She was surprised at how lovely it felt to have someone share this journey of raising a gifted child. No jealousy or guilt, just relief and unspeakable joy.
Liam took a couple of bites, watching Jack absorb what he’d been saying before he continued. “I’m brand new at this parenting thing. You’re brand new to the dad thing, so I guess we’re both in uncharted territory.”
“I guess so,” Jack mumbled around a mouthful of salad and then glanced at Carrie, who scowled affectionately at his lack of table manners. “’Scuse me.”
“Your mom, over here, stuffing her face”Liam jerked a thumb Carrie’s direction as she returned his teasing with a goofy expression that broke Jack up completely“is an old hand at parenting, but you’re going to have to allow me some mistakes. And trust me to never ever deliberately hurt either one of you.”
Jack flushed, but he met Liam’s eyes straight on. “I’m sorry, Dad. I never really thought you were going to hurt her. I was being a douchebag.”
“It’s okay.” Liam reached out to ruffle Jack’s hair. “And son, thanks for calling me Dad. I like the sound of that.”
“Yeah, well, it feels better than Liam.”
“I think so too.” Liam smiled. “Douchebag? Really?” He quirked a brow at Carrie, but she only smiled and shrugged.
Douchebag was Jack’s newest word and she had no idea where it came from. That was another teenaged thing that Liam was going to have to grow accustomed to. She eyed him as he frowned, clearly struggled with something before he blurted, “Jack, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
What on earth?
Carrie gazed at him, a little shiver passing through her as she tried to figure what else he could possibly have to say. She thought he’d handled things very nicely.
He took a breath. “I’m in love with your mother.” Reaching across the table, he took Carrie’s hand. “And she’s in love with me.”
Her heart soared. Blinking back tears, she smiled and nodded, afraid to speak for fear of blubbering.
“Yeah, I kinda figured that out.” Jack blushed to the tips of his ears.
“How’d you figure that? We thought we were being pretty discreet.”
“I’m gifted.” Jack grinned. “And perceptive.”
“And modest,” Liam said.
“You forgot handsome and charming,” Jack added.
“Oh, is charming what you were being when you were chatting up that cute little blonde at the canoe rental place yesterday?” Liam winked at Carrie. “What was her name? Lanie?”
After wiping her eyes on her napkin, she said, “Jack? You like Lanie Palmer?”
“Geez,” Jack groaned. “Thanks a bunch, Dad.” Liam snickered as Jack pointed at his mother. “We’re not going there, okay?” He got up from the table to take his plate to the sink. “Anyone want dessert?”
Inwardly, Carrie breathed a sigh of relief as the silliness continued throughout the rest of the meal. Thank God, they’d weathered a small family storm.
Jack served the blueberry tarts with a flourish, right down to the folded towel over his arm. He even started a pot of coffee before he left to go night fishing with Tony, Will, and Noah.
“There you go, parents.” He pushed the switch on the coffeemaker. “I’m outta here, so you two can stay put and do whatever you were planning to do down on the boat later.” With a knowing smile as he quoted Liam’s earlier whispered proposition in a low intimate tone that sounded remarkably like his father.
“Lord, is nothing sacred around here?” Liam’s brows furrowed in mock dismay.
Jack only laughed. “Hey, if you want sacred, don’t whisper indecent proposals to my mother right in front of me.”
“I can’t believe you even heard that.”
Hot color crept up Carrie’s neck. “We weren’t planning anything in particular,” she denied, but Jack held up his hand.
“No details, please.” He clasped his hands, rolled his eyes skyward, and the brogue was right on. “Lest ye defile me boyish innocence.” He headed out the door. “I’ll be back late.” His wicked grin was so much like Liam’s, it took Carrie’s breath away.
The two of them sat at the table, staring silently at one another as the sound of his flip flops slapped on the deck, then faded down the stairs to the docks. Shaking his head as if to clear it, Liam got up to carry dishes to the kitchen. “You’ve got a weird kid.” He grinned over his shoulder.
“You mean we,” Carrie retorted, following him to the kitchen with the rest of the plates.
“This may work yet.” Liam gave her a tender smile. “Carrie, he’s calling me Dad.”
“So I heard.” Filling two mugs with coffee, she moved to the living room, gazing out the window overlooking the bay. The lights of a freighter flickered in the moonlight. After a few moments, Liam joined her and they snuggled together on the sofa.
“I was afraid he hated me after that little fiasco on the beach.” Liam wrapped his arm around her.
“You were great with him,” Carrie said, running her hand up his denim-covered thigh. “It will be easier when we’re settled and he has the security of all of us being together all the time. I think he’s not sure what’s going to happen next. Everything’s kind of up in the air.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” He caught her hand, pressing a kiss into the palm. “Put on the ring. Let’s set a date.”
“I guess we could spend the rest of the summer trying to find a house or maybe get a builder.” Carrie shivered at the magic his tongue created on the sensitive skin of her wrist. “Eliot owns the land on either side of his place. Maybe he’d sell a lot to us. It would be so great to live next door to him. Jack adores him. Outside of Noah and Margie, Eliot’s the closest thing he has to a grandparent.”
Liam set her hand down slowly. “He has a complete set of grandparents in Toronto. And I have a house in Lincoln Park.”
“You want us to move to Chicago, don’t you?”
“It’s where I live. I
t’s where Will and Tony live.” He put his cup on the blanket chest and turned to her. “My house in Chicago is plenty big for all of us. There are wonderful schools there. Jack could study with Eric Currado at Northwestern. He’s the best there is. He could get him ready for Juilliard.”
“Interlochen can get him ready for Juilliard.” Carrie scooted to the end of the sofa to set her mug on the lamp table. “You’ve been thinking about this a lot, haven’t you?” It wasn’t her intention, but the words came out sounding like an accusation.
“Of course.” His brow furrowed. “Carrie, the city just makes more sense for all of us. We would be together for one thing. Jack wouldn’t be boarding, he’d be with us. Northwestern has a wonderful music academy. There’re tons of opportunities for him there. And summers, we could come back up here and he could go to Interlochen.”
“Liam, I don’t want him in some huge urban high school.” A chill developed in the pit of her stomach at the very thought. “He’s used to a small town school and the intimacy at Interlochen. He’d be lost in Chicago. And he... he needs the lake. He’s always lived on the water.” Her conscience prickled as she spoke.
Who exactly am I talking about here? I need the lake. But so does Jack. We can’t leave.
“Then we’ll sell the house in Lincoln Park and buy one on the North Shore. He can still sail and swim. Same lake, other side.” His voice dropped into that low persuasive timbre she’d grown accustomed to hearing from Jack when he wanted something special from her. The power of his gaze drew her in.
She didn’t want to have this discussion tonight, not when she wanted him so bad she was trembling. “Liam, let’s not waste our time alone tonight on this.” Moving over beside him, she started on the buttons of his shirt. “Can’t we just wait until you’re done with the benefit before we make any decisions?” Her hands found the crisp hair on his chest, the warmth of his skin, the hard nubs of his nipples. She pulled his mouth down to hers, seeking the warm coffee-sweet cavern with her tongue.
TWENTY-FOUR
Liam met Carrie’s lips fiercely, opening his mouth to her searching kiss, meeting her tongue with his own. Desire rose in him. Several long nights had passed since they’d made love—he was aching to be inside her. Sliding one hand down her leg to the hem of her dress, he slipped it under the fabric to stroke her soft thigh. She moaned, reaching for the snap of his jeans. His mind clouded, his senses became intoxicated, but a voice inside him wouldn’t be silenced.
No! We need to talk about this. Now! Tonight!
Easing away from her, he ran his thumb over her full lower lip. “Talk to me, baby. What are you so afraid of?” he murmured. “Do you think I can’t have my career and take care of you and Jack, too? Are you so terrified of change that you’d be willing to stay in this little town forever and keep him from the world?” He caught her hand in his, lacing their fingers. “Can’t we find a way to compromise?”
“How?” Her voice was husky as she pulled away from his. “I don’t want to live in the city. I love living in Willow Bay. What’s so wrong with that?”
“Nothing’s wrong with this town. It’s wonderful. But I need more, and Jack does, too. He’s got incredible talent. He should be developing it. I’m certain Currado would take him on, but he’s in Chicago.”
“What about baseball and sailing and all his friends here?” She asked, a tear edging out of the corner of her eye. “I don’t want anyone in the city trying to put him up on a stage. He’s too young for that. I couldn’t face fighting drugs and alcohol and those kinds of problems. You know how show business is!” She choked, then swallowed hard. “And yes, I’m scared I’ll lose him... and you, to touring and audiences and all the... celebrity.”
He was touched by how she struggled not to cry. “Carrie. Sweetheart. Listen to me.” Liam pressed a gentle kissed to her lips. “First of all, this is the symphony. You know? Classical music? As far as I know, drugs aren’t a big issue with conductors or pianists. And I swear to you, I’ve never seen a violin section trash a hotel room.” He added a wink, “Um... the horns, I’m not so sure about.” Grinning, he was encouraged that she smiled through the tears. He pulled her closer. “Besides, Jack isn’t nearly ready for touring. He has years of study and preparation ahead of him. I’m not going to let anyone exploit him.”
“I know that, but—”
Pressing his finger to her lips, he stopped her words. “Stop creating mountains and monsters. My career is pretty innocuous as entertainment careers go.”
Liam watched her closely as she knit her fingers in her lap, her eyes downcast. She was clearly scared and confused—but he was dammed if he knew what to say to convince her how groundless her fears were.
She’s closing up again. Shit.
He blew out a frustrated breath. “What did you think was going to happen after I got done with the benefit?” With difficulty he kept his voice even. “Did you think we’d get married and just continue to divide our time between this apartment and my boat?”
She sat straight up, hugging herself. Her dark eyes flashed. “Frankly, I hadn’t gotten that far yet. I’m still working on believing that you aren’t just going to cruise away after the benefit.”
“Okay, now that was below the belt.”
“I really don’t care.”
He went on offense. “Dammit, I have a career to consider here.”
“I have a business to consider here.” Her tone turned even cooler. “And my son.”
“Our son!” he snapped. After a long moment of silence, he raised both hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m fully aware of your business.” It seemed impossible to address this without sounding patronizing, so he started over. “I love this town too, but I have to go out into the world to make my living. I can’t do it here. I also love you and Jack. I want you with me, not sitting up here waiting for me to make an appearance between concerts. You’re a wonderful photographer. You can make a living taking pictures wherever you are. Jack deserves the best. I can do that, but I need to keep working.”
“I’m sorry, too.” Carrie leaned over to put her hand his chest. “I want to be with you. I want us to be a family, but it’s important to me for Jack to be here where kids fish and sail, not in a big city where there are drugs and gangs and guns and violence. And there’s my studio. I worked hard to make it a success. I’m not ready to go out and start over in a new place. The competition in Chicago would be fierce.” Sliding her hand over his belly, she stroked the hair there, raising goose bumps—and more—with each touch. “Besides, what about my own playing? Where would I do my lounge act?” She gave him a sly smile.
That drew the chuckle he was certain she’d been going for, and with a sigh, he put his arm around her, resting his chin on top of her head.
God, I never expected this much of a battle. Would the conversation have been the same sixteen years ago? Am I being selfish expecting her to just pack up and come with me?
But he was thinking of her and especially of Jack—he needed a master like Eric Currado and the stimulation of the city. On the other hand, the kid loved it here. This was the only home he’d ever known and he’d already been thrown for a loop by meeting his long-lost father. Was it fair to pack him up and take him away from everything familiar while they were getting to know one another? Interlochen would give him what he needed for now, probably as easily as studying with Currado.
What about after he graduated from Interlochen? Could Carrie handle it if Jack went as far away as, say, New York?
She slid her fingers under his unbuttoned shirt, running her hands over his ribs and reaching around to massage the tense muscles of his back. Moving almost automatically, his fingers traced her spine down to her waist. Thoughts tripping over one another, his mind raced as both sides of the argument tumbled around and around in his head.
Her breath warmed his neck. The soft mounds of her breasts pressed into his chest as he settled back on the sofa and pulled her against him.
Maybe retirement isn’t such a bad idea.
She explored the waistband of his jeans, her fingers dipping below the low-riding denim to find his burgeoning erection, her fingertips stroking his heated flesh. He relaxed deeper into the cushions, taking pleasure in her warm breath on his skin, her hands on him.
It isn’t fair to ask her to pull up stakes and follow me.
She obviously needed the security of being here. All he really needed was her and Jack. It would be great to have time to work with Jack himself. The kid was like a sponge, absorbing everything set before him. He smiled as he thought about the piece they’d been working on together since his trip up to Lawson—a little surprise for Carrie. He knew she’d be overwhelmed—just thinking of her reaction excited him.
I’ll retire. Let the touring go.
Will mentioned a movie score—he’d been dying to try that. And didn’t he say he had other ideas? Maybe he could teach at Interlochen. How great would it be to be near Jack every day? He could do some more composing and arranging—try his hand at some choral music. He didn’t have to be on a podium anymore. He had plenty of other ways to use his talent.
As her tongue touched his nipple, a lightning bolt of desire shot through him and any attempt at clear thinking was over. His hands moved to her head. He tangled his fingers in her hair, gently pressing her head down while she kissed and nipped his belly and opened the snap and zipper of his jeans. When she’d freed him and her lips and fingers were on him, all clear thought took flight. Her mouth and tongue worked magic.
He was hard as a rock, in a throbbing heavenly haze, mindless with the stroke of her tongue and the rasp of her teeth. “God, Carrie, how do you know—” He gasped.
Once More From the Top (The Women of Willow Bay) Page 17
