“How do you feel?” he asked, striking up a conversation.
“I’m fine, Jameson,” she said firmly.
“Rebecca tells me you moved to one of the cabins. How’s it going?” he asked.
Like hell. I can’t sleep without you near and worry Cain will find me and put me in a cage again. You hurt me with your absence. I thought you cared.
“It’s going fine. Rebecca helped me sign up for my master’s degree. I don’t start for another month,” she informed him.
“Wow. It must feel exciting. I never asked you what you studied,” he said, turning his full attention on her.
“I want to become a therapist and help trafficking survivors. I want to focus primarily on children,” she murmured, glancing away from him. Caroline didn’t want him to see how he affected her.
“I’m sure you’ll be great. I saw how you hovered over the kids and took such great care of them,” he said confidently.
Caroline jumped out of her chair. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, marching for the opening in the barn.
She heard someone running after her, but she refused to stop.
“Caroline, wait,” he demanded.
“Leave me alone, Jameson,” she growled. “I haven’t seen you in weeks, and you want to enjoy small talk at a wedding?” she yelled, refusing to glance behind her.
“You don’t understand,” he called gently.
“Oh, I comprehend more than you believe. Go back to your best man duties. We don’t have anything to say to one another,” she shouted, walking to her cabin.
“You’re going the wrong way. If you insist on leaving, let me drive you,” he offered.
Turning around and walking in the opposite direction, she shouted, “No, thank you. I don’t want to put you out. You have a wedding to celebrate. Goodbye, Jameson.”
His hand closed around her arm, sending a frisson of fear running through her. She threw up her hands, waiting for the punch to come.
“Damn it, Caroline. I would never hit you, no matter how angry you make me,” he swore.
She tugged her arm from his hold and straightened the strap on her borrowed dress. “It’s a knee-jerk response. I’m not saying it again. Leave me alone.”
“All right,” he said, giving up. “Will you let me drop you off at the cabin? I didn’t mean to ruin your fun. Come back to the festivities, and I’ll stay away.”
That’s the problem. I don’t want you to…
Taking a few breaths, Caroline calmed herself as her therapist taught her.
“I can walk to the cabin alone,” she said, gritting her teeth.
“I’m aware of your capabilities. I only meant to talk. I haven’t seen you and wanted to check on you as a friend,” he explained, plunging the dagger in her heart once more.
Stopping, Caroline stared at him. “Friends? When did we become friends? When you used me to get the information about Rebecca? Guess what? Cain discovered my snooping. I went three days without drinking anything but water. Did I see you come to my rescue? You left me there, Jameson. I waited every day for you to find me. When you didn’t come, I realized you were no different than Cain. He used me for my body, and youused me for my knowledge. You pretended to care when you brought me here, and then you left.”
“Let me explain,” he insisted. “I’m working on a case. Sometimes, I don’t return when the others do.”
“You returned late Tuesday. Not once did you come visit me,” she said, unable to hide the hurt.
“I didn’t. I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I needed to get a few things done before the wedding.”
Caroline stayed silent, fighting back the tears.
“Why don’t you come inside, and we’ll get a cold drink. It’ll cool both our tempers,” he suggested, holding out his hand. “Besides, you’re still going the wrong way.”
