Chapter 2

Across town, Carly walked into her business. It wouldn't open until tonight so only a few employees and the man she asked to meet her were inside.

Max, Michael, Morgan, Leticia, and two more bodyguards came through the door right after Carly.

"Quite an entourage you have there, Caroline. What's with all the muscle?" Luke said from his spot behind the bar. "Should I have worn my Kevlar vest for our meeting? Which gangster is coming after you this week?"

Michael shot him a dirty look. He said, "Watch how you talk to my mother or else.."

"Michael!" Carly admonished sharply "Apologize , now."

He was still displaying these random moments of playing tough guy since the last kidnapping. But, at other times, he was a sweet boy who only wanted to play with his siblings.

Michael mumbled, "Sorry."

Carly said to Leticia, "Take the kids to the VIP room. I had Marco set up a play station on the big screen TV in there for them."

Max motioned for two guards to go with them.

As they left Luke said, "What a mouth that kids has. Doesn't take any crap, does he?"

"Did you think a kid of mine would?" Carly said

Gavin, a body guard, came through the door and said to Max, "The perimeter is secure."

"You stay outside. I'll stay with Mrs. C" Max said.

Gavin went back through the door. Carly smiled at Max. She never stopped being impressed with his loyalty and dedication to her family.

"So, why did you drag me down here at this ungodly hour?" Luke said, pouring himself a drink. "What couldn't wait?"

"We need to hire a manager to run the club and we need to do it today. I'll be out of town for a while." Carly said. She took a seat on a stool at the bar. "I wanted to make sure you knew who to deal with if any emergencies come up concerning the club. But the manager will have full control, as I do now, and you won't have to do anything extra."

"Well, I have some time. I could redecorate." Luke said "You've made it so..."

"Classy." Carly finished for him. " The way I like it. In other words, don't f - up my club while I am gone, Uncle."

"Ha!" he said " I could run this place with my eyes closed. You just get one of these peons around here to order the booze and open the doors on time. The rest takes care of itself."

Carly rolled her eyes but said, " With the Haunted Star and your love of running off every other week to have a little adventure, when would you have time to worry about my club? I think it would be better if you stayed hands-off. Got it?"

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He raised one back at her. Then smiled, " Is that all you had to say? You could have left me a phone message and let me sleep in till, oh, say dinnertime. So, where are you heading off for in such a rush that we have to find a manager today?" He put on a fake Brutish voice, "Jetting off to the island again, madam?"

"Not hardly. I'm as through with that place as I am Sonny." Carly said

"That's right. I did hear that you finally claimed your Spencer name. How many last names have you had now? 10? 15?"

"I lost track years ago." Carly said, joking along with him. "But Carly Benson Spencer is who I am these days."

"I would have thought you'd chose Caroline Durant," Luke said

Carly titled her head and jokingly whispered, " I'm saving that one for my alias."

"Now you're thinking like a Spencer!" Luke said, pointing at her. "Well, hire whoever you want. And I will keep an eye on the joint while your away."

"Leave Caroline's to me to worry about," Carly said "If you want to do me a favor you can make sure to call my cell if anything, and I mean anything at all, happens to mama or Lucas. Bobbie doesn't want to worry me so she wouldn't say a word."

Luke nodded. "Going to be gone long? My sister will not like that one bit. Is this a solo trip or are you taking the ragamuffins and your latest captive?'

Carly shook her head as if to say What the hell are you talking about? " Are you calling my children ragamuffins? And my man a captive?"

Luke laughed and said, in his British accent, " My lady, will your offspring and your man slave be joining you on your holiday?"

Carly laughed. "It'll be Michael, Morgan, Jason and me. And we aren't sure when we will be back."

"You really are going back to your roots, huh?" said Luke "You're with Jason now?"

The smile on Carly's face told him the answer.

She turned and surveyed Caroline's. It wouldn't be easy to leave this club behind, it represented her independence, she loved everything about this place. But it was a small price to pay to be with Jason. She would have gladly given up every material thing she had for him. Her body warmed at the thought of his lips on hers last night. It felt like all the years since their last kiss had been a drought and now the rain finally fell.

Even hearts

like mine
get lucky,

lucky sometimes !

Carrie Underwood lyrics