Free Emergence (Awakening Series Book 2) by Olivia Hayes Page A

breathed, finally looking down. "Wow."
    I didn't know what to say, so I sat there staring at him and hoping that my words would sink in soon. A few moments later his eyes met mine again and I braced myself for rejection, digging my fingers into my thighs.
    "Sorry, I think I was just shocked for a moment. A daughter, huh? Do you have any pictures of her?" he asked, and my breath caught in my throat as I dove into my purse for my phone.
    As I flipped through my pictures, trying to find a recent one of her, I started rambling.
    "She's the sweetest thing ever, all blonde curls and gummy smiles. Her eyes are bright blue like mine, and when she laughs it's the best sound you've ever heard in your life." Pulling up a picture from my visit with Charlie, I handed him my phone. "That was over the weekend, the other little girl is my sister's toddler, Margaret."
    "She's beautiful, Lou. You must be so proud," Carson said, flipping through a few more pictures.
    "Thank you. She looks just like her father."
    "I don't know her dad, but it looks to me like she has your eyes and smile," he said, showing me a picture of the two of us that Kelly had taken a few weeks back.
    I smiled to myself. We're both incredibly happy in the picture, and I thought she did somewhat resemble me, but if you put her next to her father, there would be no denying who she really looked like.
    "Can I meet her?" Carson asked, stunning me silent.
    It took a moment for me to form a response because I was so overwhelmed by his almost immediate acceptance of her.
    He continued, "I mean, if you don't want me to, I understand. But at some point....."
    "No, no," I said, holding up my hand to stop him. "Of course you can meet her. I'd love nothing more," I said, feeling relieved.
    "Are you going to the company party tomorrow night?" he asked.
    To tell the truth, I really hadn't thought about it. I didn't have anything to wear and I couldn't really afford to drop a bunch of money on a dress I was only going to wear for one night.
    "I wasn't planning on it," I admitted. "It's more for the account reps, managers, and the customers than it is for the employees."
    "Can I change your mind? I need a date. I'll come over around five and you can introduce me to Carly, then I'll drive us down to the Westin. It'll be fun."
    I was thinking I could probably borrow a dress from Kelly if I had to, she and I were about the same size and she was always going to events with her boyfriend.
    I must have taken too long to answer because Carson reached over and took my hand. "I won't take no for an answer. If I have to be there, I want a gorgeous woman on my arm, and I can't think of anyone more beautiful that you, Lou."
    How could I say no?
    **
    "What do you think?" I asked, surveying my rear end in the floor length mirror. "I don't know if this color does anything for my figure," I added, turning to see how washed out the champagne color of the gown made me look.
    "Yeah, that one's not my favorite on you. Try the blue," Kelly said, bouncing Carly on her hip.
    I started stripping as I talked to Kelly.
    "I told Carson about Carly today at lunch. He's coming to pick me up for the party tomorrow early, so he can meet her."
    "Did you tell him everything?" she prodded.
    "Not yet. That's one thing I'm not ready for. We just reconnected and I'm not ready to drop that bomb on him, but I promise, when the time is right, I will."
    I grabbed the blue dress, stepping into it as Kelly gave me a disapproving look.
    "I think you're making a mistake here, but since it's really none of my business-"
    "What do you think?" I interrupted, turning to face her.
    "Wow, Lulu, that's definitely my favorite so far, it's stunning on you! And your eyes look incredible."
    Eyeing myself in the mirror I took in the dark blue satin dress. It had a double ruffle that started at the back of my right hip and wrapped up around my waist and over my left shoulder, fastening behind my neck. The ruffle distracted from the width of my