Larissa's POV
Carson's phone buzzed against the nightstand, cutting through whatever words he'd been preparing to say. His expression shifted as he glanced at the caller ID, a frown creasing his brow.
"I have to answer this," he muttered, already moving toward the bedroom door.
I returned my attention to the dresser drawer, methodically folding my lingerie into neat piles. From the living room, Carson's voice carried a different tone entirely, transforming from intimate to authoritative within seconds.
Minutes later, he reappeared in the doorway, tension radiating from his shoulders. "Something's come up at the office. Emergency board meeting that can't wait."
"Right now? We barely started sorting through everything."
"I know, and I hate the timing. But when the board calls an emergency session, especially after our extended absence, I don't have a choice."
"I understand," I replied, though disappointment settled in my chest. "I can manage this alone."
