Claiming Kara:Fate Harbor 3(46)

"Don't forget, she still has to come over and put one more layer on, plus the sealer."

"Should we be here?"

"Oh, yeah, it's full court press time. She can push us away all she  likes, but we are going to continue to pursue her. She needs to know  that we're being consistent in our pursuit. Our consistency is another  way for us to gain her trust."

Quinn hadn't thought of it that way, but it made total sense. She needed  to feel that she could rely on them to be there for her, that they  would always want her.

"But I think you need to be the one to talk her next time. I've pushed enough." Quinn laughed.

"Yeah, Ben, I think you did."



* * * *



"Kara, what did Ben say to upset you? He won't talk about it, but he  didn't want to be here today, and he told me that it would be better if  he wasn't here. Can you tell me?" Quinn knew he was going for the  jugular, but he really wanted to see Kara's reaction.

"Okay, since you asked, he pushed for more than I was willing to give. I  told you both that trust is an issue for me, and that the other day-and  night-was about me being needy. I just can't commit to anything more.  I'm not sure that I'm ever going to be able to commit to anyone ever  again. I don't think it's in me, Quinn."

"That's just wrong, Kara. You and I both know what you want more than  anything is to have a family like the one your parents have," Quinn said  gently.

"I did, but I've resigned myself to a different path. I'm going to focus  more on my art. I've put out my feelers to get a teaching job, as well.  I really wanted to raise children, but if I can't do that, influencing  young minds should help feed that need." Quinn listened to her voice.  There was some enthusiasm at the prospect of teaching, but nothing like  the joy she used to express when talking about having a family of her  own.         

     



 

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I suppose."

"Is it really because of the experience you had with Ben and me that you decided a relationship isn't in your future?"

He watched her apply the sealer to the painting as she gave  consideration to his question. She turned to look at him. "Actually,  after the two of you, I thought I could have a relationship. It was the  past year of dates that convinced me that it wasn't in the cards. God,  Quinn, how could I go through so many men and not want them? I think  there's something wrong with me. Even with Jim I was just settling. I  think it's best if I just focus on my art."

"That's what I don't get, Kara. You know you had feelings for us. Why  not give it another try? You know damn well we want to." Quinn couldn't  keep the frustration out of his voice.

Kara gave him a fierce look. "Okay, here it is. When I put the hurt  aside, I really don't think you will ever be a true partner. I don't  think you will ever truly lean on either Ben or me."

Quinn nodded. He had thought that was the obstacle.

"I'm so sorry, Quinn. I know you have the best intentions, but you won't  be able to help yourself. Something will come up and you'll think you  know what's best for everyone. Or something will happen, and you'll go  into your cave instead of asking for help."

Quinn reached out, and tucked an errant strand of hair behind Kara's ear  and smiled at her. "I think you're wrong, baby. What's more, if you ask  Ben, you'll find that he thinks you're wrong, as well. But only time  will tell." He leaned in and gave her a warm kiss, and was relieved when  she parted her lips and kissed him back.



* * * *



"Your man looks awfully good tonight," Ilsa said as she shared a plate of food with her daughter.

"Yes, he does," Kara said as she watched Quinn talking to Dale Hart. He  was wearing the same suit he had had on the night of the party, only  with an ice-blue shirt underneath. He looked even better this time.

"So, you admit he's your man?" Ilsa probed with a delighted smile. Kara looked over at her mother with saucer eyes in surprise.

"Mom, why are you sounding so happy? I thought we both agreed that they, especially Quinn, were in the doghouse?"

"Because you have been unhappy for almost two years. Because they are  good men who actually moved down here to be with you. The fact that they  came to our house and declared their intentions to your dads and I when  they moved here certainly didn't hurt either. I like them, Kara, and I  think you love them."

"Are you telling tales out of school, love?" Conn asked his wife as he stole a shrimp off of their plate.

"Hey, Papa, why didn't you tell me that Quinn and Ben came to visit you?" Kara asked.

"Because they asked us not to," Conn explained as he stole another  shrimp. "As they said, it was always going to be up to you whether you  were going to take them back."

"We still have issues, Papa," Kara warned her father.

"He's a smart man, with a lot of incentive. He'll figure it out."

"Plus, he has an even smarter brother who will kick his ass if he takes  too long." Kara slapped Ben's hand as he tried to snag the last shrimp  off her plate. "Do you mind if I steal your daughter for a little bit?"  Ben asked her parents.

"Just bring her back when you're done. We don't get to see her except on Sundays," Conn griped.

"I will, Mr. Johansen," Ben promised as he steered Kara away. "It's a  pretty night. Do you want to go for a walk on the dock?" Kara took  another look at Quinn, saw that he was still talking to Dale, and  agreed.

It was quiet out in the marina, and she enjoyed it when Ben wrapped his  arm around her as they continued to walk. "I'm going up to Sitka in a  couple of days."

"Why, is everything okay?" Kara didn't like the idea of Ben being gone.  She supposed that told her a lot, right there. It was just like she had  involuntarily told her mother, she was back to thinking of these men as  hers. But at the same time, what she had told Quinn was the truth, and  until that was dealt with, she was unwilling to commit to them. She  looked sideways at Ben and found him smiling down at her.

"What?" she asked in a disgruntled tone.

"You like me. You're going to miss me."

"Maybe I am. So what?" He stopped, and turned her so they were facing one another.

"So, everything. So, when I get back from Sitka, we're going to have a  long talk, you, me, and Quinn, and we're going to get this settled." He  reached up, cupped the back of her head, and wrapped his other arm  around her waist, pulling her close. Before she even had a chance to  think, let alone react, his mouth was descending and her lips were  parting. Even when they were making love-scratch that, even when they  were fucking-she had never felt so taken, so overwhelmed. Ben was  claiming her as his. There was no doubt in her mind that he was telling  her in no uncertain terms that they were going to be together for the  rest of their lives, and she could do nothing else but agree.         

     



 

When he finally released her, she was unsteady, but he held her.

"You understand me, don't you, Kara?"

"Yes, Ben." What else could she say? "But, Quinn-"

"You're wrong about Quinn. You'll figure it out. Everything's going to  be fine. We're all going to be okay. I'll be back on Wednesday. I just  need to get some papers signed over for the business, and then we're  here permanently, okay, Kachawli?" Kara looked up at him in a daze and  could do nothing more than nod. It was going to be all right. It was  finally going to be all right.

"Let's get you back to your parents, shall we?" Ben wrapped his arm  around her and guided her back to the boat. She leaned against him,  reveling in his strength.





Chapter 14




Kara raced to the truck that pulled up to the fence. It had skidded to a  halt, and that just wasn't the way Quinn drove. Both dogs were barking  madly as she yanked open the gate and rushed around to the driver's-side  door. After everything, Quinn still hadn't gotten out of the vehicle.  Things just weren't adding up. Jerking the door open, she watched as he  slowly lifted his head from the steering wheel and looked at her. His  eyes were dazed with grief.

"Baby, what is it?" She reached in and stroked his arm. He just  continued to look at her like he didn't even know who she was. "Quinn?"  She still didn't get a response.

Kara got up and stood on the running board and put her arms around him,  and whispered in his ear. "It'll be all right." She prayed she wasn't  lying. She prayed with every part of her being that this wasn't about  Ben, but instinctively she knew it couldn't be. He would have been  comforting her.

"Quinn! You need to get out of the truck." When he just continued to  stare at her, she stepped back down and pulled at him, relieved when he  followed her. She shut the door behind him and twined her fingers  through his. She pulled him with her as she enclosed the dogs back  behind the fence and took him up the front porch to the house.