He shakes his head slightly. “There’s no way I could have told her that and not had her feeling responsible somehow. You know how she is.”
“Maybe she would have felt that way when she was younger, but I think the grown-up version of her would appreciate knowing that you saw how Anne treated her, and did something about it. She’s done a lot of work trying to figure out that relationship, and I think it would help if she knew the whole truth.”
Carson swallows, and I watch the way his whole head bobs with the deep gulp. “She’s talked to you about it?”
“I didn’t fall in love with her because I barely know her, Carson. Of course she’s talked about it.”
“So then, you’ve told her about Hayley?” he claps back.Touché.
Fuck, this is complicated. Carson has known me since I was eighteen. He’s seen me grow up, which means he’s witnessed a lot of shit over the years.
“I haven’t given herallthe details yet. But I will.”
He lifts an eyebrow and nods, a clear indication that he expects me to be totally honest with her. “So, if you’re in love with her—and I assume she returns your feelings at some level,or you wouldn’t be here—why is she going on a date with some guy named Sean tonight?”
Ouch.The fact that she’s told her Dad about him after a few dates, when we never even made it out of the secrecy stage, stings even though it makes perfect sense. But that doesn’t necessarily mean her feelings about this Sean guy are serious.
“I fucked up. I got freaked out by how strong my feelings were and let old insecurities and fears get into my head. When she told me how she felt, I pushed her away.”
“As your agent, that’s exactly what I would have expected from you. As her dad, that’s exactly why I warned you off her. You never got over what happened with Hayley, and you’ve let it affect every aspect of your life since.”
“I know.” I nod in agreement as I glance down at my hands folded in my lap, almost like I’m praying. And maybe I am, in a way. Because there’s never been anything I’ve wanted as badly as I want Morgan in my life.
“See, the thing is, Renaud, love is achoice. You either choose to allow it into your life, or you choose to push it away.”
I know that, too, so I just nod. I understand what he’s saying—I’ve done everything in my power to shut down the possibility of loving someone again, just so I don’t get hurt. I’ve got no issues loving Max, or Liam and Jack. But romantic love? I’ve built up every wall I could to prevent that from happening.
“If you truly love Morgan, and you’re willing to work to deserve her, then I’m not opposed to your being together if that’s what you both want. But Iamopposed to you hurting her because you haven’t done whatever work you need to do to let go of the past.”
“I’m committed to doing that work, I swear. But in the meantime, I’m also committed to making sure she knows how I feel about her and how serious I am about us. I’m not going to lose her because I’m afraid.”
“I’m sure you already know this, but Morgan’s not Hayley. You and Hayley were still kids, in a really shitty situation. You and Morgan are adults, and I’m sure whatever issues you two have, you can work them out with a level of maturity that wasn’t present in your last relationship.”
This whole time, I thought that because Carson knows what I went through with Hayley, and has seen my slightly wild side since then, he would be convinced I wasn’t good enough for his daughter. But here he is, telling me that he thinks it could work?
“Does that mean I have your blessing?”
“I wouldn’t have thought that you, of all people, would need it.”
I lift a shoulder slightly in a shrug and tell him, “Probably not. But I’d like to have it just the same.”
He gives me a nod, and says, “If you love her and you treat her right, that’s what matters. All I want is for her to be happy, and loved, and secure.”
“Funny, all I want to do is make her happy, love her, and give her the kind of security where she knows I’ll always be there for her.”
Carson nods.
“So . . .” I gesture between us. “. . . we’re good then, professionally speaking?”
“I’m not the kind of guy who can separate business and personal relationships. But as long as you're good to my daughter, I’ll always have your back.”
“I will always treat her like she’s the most important thing in the world, because she is.” Treating her well was the easiest, most natural thing I’ve ever done—until I tried to convince myself that I didn’t have feelings when they were so obviously growing out of control. Now that I’ve embraced my feelings for her, there’s nothing to stop me from giving her the world.
“Good. I’ll find out where she’ll be tonight so you can go get your girl,” Carson says as he stands and leans across the desk to shake my hand. Once my hand is firmly in his grasp, he squeezes, looks me in the eye, and says, “Do. Not. Fuck. This. Up.”
Chapter Forty-Four
MORGAN
