Read Online Once More From the Top (The Women of Willow Bay) by Nan Reinhardt - Free Book Online Page B

her reasoning soon. He was Jack’s father and keeping them apart was wrong. She regretted it, but she had no idea how to make it up to either of them, except to try to make the transition from strangers to father and son as easy as possible. Liam had every right to be furious with her, but now that he was here, she couldn’t bear him being unhappy with her.
    Not when he can still light a fire in me with a look. Dear God, I have to get myself under control.
    And there was so much more she had to confess, she really hoped he could cool off and understand.
    “How do you think Jack’s going to react?” Julie sat back down on the toilet seat.
    Carrie blinked and shook her head. “I have absolutely no clue. None.”
    “I think he’ll be thrilled to know his father. Margie told me a couple of months ago that he said something to her and Noah about trying to find him when he turned eighteen.”
    “He said that? ” She was floored. Jack had never mentioned anything about finding his father to her, even though she knew he had to be curious.
    “Well, yeah. Did you think he never wonders?” Julie’s blue eyes darkened in the artificial light of the bathroom. “You’d get Mom of the Year anytime, Caro, but it’s only natural for him to wonder about his father.”
    “I assumed he thought about it. I’ve considered telling him, but I’m such a damn coward.” Carrie wrung out the plushy net sponge and hung it over the spigot. “Mostly, I couldn’t face Liam again. He makes me feel so… I don’t even have a word for it.” She gave her a friend a little helpless shrug.
    “Turned on?” Julie offered with a grin. “Horny? Hot?”
    Carrie couldn’t help laughing. “Yep, all those things and more. But you know, our issues are still the same as they were before.” She shoved the drain open with her toe. With a loud gurgle, the tub began emptying. “Nothing’s changed. I’m still not gonna follow him around the world, waiting backstage, even if he might possibly want me to. And I’m most certainly not going to allow him to take Jack anywhere with him.”
    “Carrie, he just got here, and you’re already borrowing trouble. You’re still in love with him.” Julie tossed her a bath towel. “Don’t deny it. After all this time, you are still as hot for him now as you were then.”
    “What if I am? What good is it going to do me?” Carrie caught the towel and wrapped it around herself. “Noah said he’s only rented that berth until the end of July. I have no idea how he even feels about me right now. He’s pissed, but he’s being decent—only because he wants to see Jack.”
    “So when does that happen?”
    “Actually, I’m hoping I can convince him to wait until Sunday. I’m having dinner with him tonight on that boat.” She jerked her thumb in the general direction of the docks as she stepped out onto the bath mat. “I need to get a feel for what Liam’s thinking about me before I bring Jack into the picture.”
    Julie gave her a puzzled glance and then sighed. “You aren’t going to convince him of anything if you intend to wear those khaki pants and that powder-blue granny twin set you have laid out on the bed.” She opened the glass door of the shower stall that butted up to the garden tub. “Hop in the shower, rinse off, and wash your hair, kid. I’ll find you something to wear that will knock his socks off.”
    Carrie dropped the towel and slipped into the shower, turning on the water full blast. She pivoted slowly to rinse the bubbles off her shoulders. “What’s wrong with the blue twin set? I just bought it.”
    “Yeah, well, it isn’t exactly enticing.” Julie’s voice floated in from the bedroom. Carrie imagined her rooting through the closet.
    She shampooed quickly, wrapped herself in a terry robe, and wandered into the bedroom, using a small hand towel on her dark curls. “I don’t think I’m going for enticing , I’m thinking more of grown-up . He accused me of being a