“If you’ll let me lock the wheels on the chair, and you use it to steady yourself,” he said, standing before her. “I’ve known Betsy for a couple of months. She’s nice. You can trust her to help you change.”
Caroline’s face changed to an expression of pain.
A knock on the door caught his attention. “Stay seated until I get back.”
Opening it wide enough to see who stood on the other side, Jameson recognized Rebecca.
“Do you mind if I come in?” she asked.
He stepped aside, allowing her to enter.
Rebecca walked to Caroline and took her hand. “Hello, Caroline. We’ve never met, yet I feel like I already know you. Jameson tore through half the US in search of you. I’m Rebecca.”
Caroline leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her neck. The two women cried together, despite the water. Rebecca murmured reassuring words. She asked Caroline a few questions before turning to Jameson.
“I’ll take it from here,” she said softly. “Why don’t you change?”
Jameson waited until Caroline’s gaze met his, and she nodded her permission. Grabbing a couple of towels, he walked out and threw them on the floor, stripping down to his underwear. He grabbed one of the unisex robes and dried the floor before entering the living room.
Julio glanced up and covered his eyes. “Dude, I did not need to see you like this.”
“Calm down. I left my go bag in the truck. I hope you have clothes for Rebecca.”
“She keeps a spare set here when she gets called to reassure the survivors. I brought your go bag in and put it in the other room. I’m assuming you won’t leave while she’s here. You can take the room beside her,” Julio informed him. “We’ll graduate her to one of the cabins when she feels better. Dr. Greene took room three.”
“Thanks,” he said, heading toward the second room, he changed his clothes. He returned a few minutes later to find Garett keeping Julio company.
“We brought you dinner. Eat while the women take care of her,” Garrett ordered. “She seems to have formed an attachment to you. Tread carefully, brother.”
“I know what you’re implying. We knew each other while I worked undercover. I’m the only person she knows here,” he said, making excuses.
Julio sighed. “Let’s lay all our cards out, Jameson. You’ve carried feelings for this woman long before she went missing. Your brother’s only warning you because she needs to heal, both mentally and physically, before you make a move. She may never recover from this.”
“Rebecca did. If she can do it, Caroline will,” he said stubbornly.
“We established a relationship way before they took her. The only relationship you have with Caroline is as one of her jailers. You worked undercover. She may feel safe with you, but it’s because you’re familiar,” Julio said slowly.
Jameson knew what Julio insinuated, and he prayed it wasn’t true. In the time he spent with her, he made it clear he wasn’t like the other men. It’s what got his cover busted. She must recover, because he already envisioned a lifetime of making her feel happy, safe, and loved.
CHAPTER FIVE
Two Weeks Later
Caroline woke to find Jameson asleep in the chair beside her. She smiled as she took in his short brown hair and the scruff along his jaw. In a perfect world, she might’ve found herself attracted to him. Recalling her first day at the clinic, she told him her favorite color was green. If he only knew she dreamed of his green eyes every night when she fell asleep.
Padding to the bathroom, she completed her morning routine, brushed her teeth, and her hair. She stared at the stringy, dull strands and decided to pull them up in a ponytail. The effort left her feeling tired, but she pushed through.
If someone told her how much her life would change in such a short time, she’d fall over laughing. Cain always kept her at his side or working the bar. An involuntary shiver went down her back as she imagined how he reacted to finding her gone. Two weeks ago, she prayed to die as she shivered in the cold. Today, she won the battle. Eating grew easier by the day, and Jameson never left her side.
When she experienced a nightmare, his rock-hard arms wrapped around her, reminding her of her safety. He told her stories of his childhood. During the day, the women visited, bringing her new clothes and playing cards while Jameson worked the ranch. Sometimes, Rebecca showed up alone, asking her questions about Cain and how the ringleader communicated. She closed her eyes, recalling the harder questions.
“When did Cain take you?” Rebecca asked quietly.
“He bought me five years ago,” she admitted, turning to the view outside.
“Do you know any of these women?” Rebecca asked, showing her pictures on the hospital tray.
Searching the images, her hands touched a photo of two women. One with braided black hair and the other with long, flowing red hair. She pushed them toward Rebecca. “Maria’s dead. Cain beat her when she tried to escape. She hit her head on the fireplace and died. He sold Diedre to an old man. The last time I saw her, they injected a tracker in her arm.”
