Page 54 of Sassy Love
Manuel waits patiently by the door to our small therapy room. We step inside, and the table is gone, replaced by two beanbags and a shit ton of cushions. A tray with a teapot and snacks sits in the center.
“Please, let us start again. A do-over, yes?” Manuel says to Carlie with a sad smile.
“Sure.” She walks in, dropping into a beanbag.
I do the same, taking the beanbag by hers. Manuel drags a third a little closer and serves the tea before sinking into his with a crunch.
The tea is green, woody, and tart. Hot. I sip it slowly. Carlie takes a mouthful, tilting her head back as she swallows. The elegant column of her neck has my gaze fixed to it as her hair tumbles away and over her back.
Manuel clears his throat. “Right, Miss Carlie, ask Mr. Lawson his first question. It must be related to family.”
Carlie nurses the mug in her hand, turning her body toward me a little. Brown eyes study my face before she says, “Explain your family dynamic to me. Everyone in it and where you fit in.”
“Ah, that’s not a standard question,” Manuel says with a frown.
“No, it’s okay,” I offer, and a small smile curls up on her pretty face. “My parents own a ranch in Montana. I have three brothers. I’m the second eldest. Hudson is the oldest. Mackinlay, or Mack, is around two years younger than me. Reed is the youngest. They’re all married and live on their own ranches now. We’re pretty tight after everything we’ve been through and the way we were raised. Family is everything in a Rawlins household. My three sisters-in-law are considered my sisters. What else would you like to know?”
Carlie’s face has dropped in either awe or shock.
I’m not sure if it’s over the whole close-knit family thing, or the fact that I consider Gracie, Rubes, and Adds my sisters. Or if it’s me being the only one not married when my brothers have figured that part of their lives out.
“Miss Carlie, since Mr. Lawson is offering, is there anything else you would like to know?”
“I—” She drops her gaze to her mug. “Why didn’t you become a rancher like the rest of your family?”
“Wasn’t really my thing. I mean, I grew up doing all that, but I wanted something more than chasing cows and hours spent fixing Harry’s fences.”
“Oh,” she breathes. “And Harry is . . .”
“My father.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lawson.” Manuel’s words seem to split the air between us, and Carlie pulls her focus from me to Manuel.
“Next question,” Manuel prompts.
“Oh right, sure. Where do you see yourself in five years, career-wise?” Carlie says, her focus not shifting from her mug.As if she can’t look at me when I say I will be at Serenity in five years. But after everything that’s happened in my life and in the last month, the decision to work at Serenity isn’t as clear-cut to me anymore.
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
Her head snaps up. “Why?”
I shrug my shoulders. How am I supposed to be yet another asshole who takes yet another job from her? I’ve drifted around, job to job, making ends meet. No solid plan, just keeping my head above water. Getting home to Montana as much as I can.
“You are required to answer every question Miss Carlie asks,” Manuel says, nodding.
“Yeah, I know.” I suck in a breath. This feels like showing the lioness my flank or something equally stupid. But...
“I don’t know what I want.”
Carlie’s brows lower and she sips her tea, staring at some random point on the wall.
“Last question, please.” Manuel takes a sip from his own mug before jotting something on his clipboard.
“What is your greatest fear, Rawlins?”
I give her an incredulous look, and she gives me one right back. Guess even talking about other people’s fears is a touchy subject for this woman if we’ve reverted back to last names.
“My greatest fear,” I say, holding her gaze, “is not building a life I love.”
