Page 143 of Contentious

“I do, too,” Cresley said.

“Do you want a family, Carson?” Ty asked.

Cresley held her breath, waiting to hear what he would say.

“I didn’t think I did until you two came along and made me see how cool it is. Now I can’t imagine life without you guys.”

“We can’t imagine life without you either,” Cresley said. “And we’re so glad we don’t have to.”

“So then it’s all worked out, right?” Ty asked. “We’re a family now.”

“Carson needs time to recover before he makes any big decisions.”

“But he just said⁠—”

“I heard him, but let’s take things one step at a time and get Carson back to full health and see where we are, okay?”

Cresley wanted to give him time to rest and recover. Their emotions were running high, and she had no desire to back him into any corners. Just because he couldn’t imagine life without them didn’t mean he wanted to be permanently shackled to a single mom and her son. Not that long ago, he’d wondered what Julian could be thinking spending all his free time with Isla and her kids.

“Fine, but he’s my family.”

Carson closed his eyes and smiled as he tightened his hold on the boy. “Always.”

* * *

The three of them were asleep when Julian and Isla arrived two hours later.

Carson opened his eyes and blinked his brother into focus, noticing that Julian was still wearing a dress shirt and suit pants. “You didn’t even get changed before you hit the road.”

“I picked up Isla and headed south. How’re you doing?”

“Much better now that Beckett is in custody.”

“They said he’s making a racket, demanding you be charged with shooting him.”

“He had it coming.”

Julian handed them their cell phones. “Sure as hell did. The whole family wanted to come, but I held them off. Expect an onslaught when you get back to town.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

Cresley raised her head off Carson’s chest. “Hey, guys.”

Isla moved toward Cresley’s side of the bed and squeezed her shoulder. “We’re so happy to see you all.”

“We’re happy to be seen,” Cresley said with a grateful smile for her new friend.

By eight o’clock, the doctor was ready to release Carson. They gave him a scrub shirt to wear home and handed a plastic bag containing his bloody T-shirt to Isla.

“Should we find a place to stay tonight and head home in the morning?” Julian asked.

“Nah, let’s go home,” Carson said.

“Are you sure you’re up to more hours in the car?” Cresley asked.

“I assume I won’t be driving this time.”

“You assume correctly,” Julian said. “I talked to the police outside, and they were finishing up their work on the Rover. They gave me the keys. Isla can drive my car home, and I’ll drive yours.”