“Do you recall us talking about fight or flight mode? Sometimes you have to let go to get it back,” he advised. “Why did you tell your father you’ll think about staying with him if you don’t feel safe?”
“After assuming he died, I want to spend as much time with him as I can. I can suck it up. I’ve done more when Cain owned me,” she admitted.
“He never owned you,” Jameson growled. “No one can.”
When Caroline didn’t respond, he lowered his voice. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I watched how he treated you and couldn’t risk blowing my cover. After every auction, Julio got more desperate to find Rebecca. It took the Serenity Team and us to bring down the ring, and we still failed to locate her. I counted on taking you with me, and instead I got found out.”
“You don’t scare me, Jameson,” she said softly. “Your father kept me in his mansion for almost a year. I lost both my parents in one day, and he gave me one night to get over it before forcing me to entertain strange men. The place felt like a museum and served as a prison. You shocked me yesterday. I don’t know what to think. You’ve never treated me badly, but I recall my dad coming home and telling Mom Mr. Stanton generously gave them bonuses. Now I know why he got them. It served as hush money for his partner.”
“I know. Carrying his name didn’t make it easy on me all the time, especially with Phillip, my half-brother. He did no wrong in my father’s eyes. We ended up at the same school for about a month before they expelled him for pushing a girl down a flight of stairs because she refused to go out with him. After the incident, no one dared to go out with me for fear I might be like him,” he said, turning onto the road to Embers.
Caroline shivered involuntarily. “It makes me sick to think he got away with hurting people. Expulsion doesn’t fit the punishment. He might’ve killed her,” she said in dismay.
“You know yourself, something like consequences doesn’t exist unless it applies to the victim, not the abuser,” Jameson said sadly.
“Who do you want me to meet tomorrow?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I’d rather let her tell you. I’m not trying to keep a secret. It’s her story to tell,” he said, turning into the ranch’s driveway. “How do you like the car? You didn’t push many buttons,” he teased.
“I’m warming up,” she quipped.
Smiling, he pulled into the driveway. She handed him a container. “I put your cake in this to keep it moist and added a slice of the apple pie.”
“Thank you,” he said, appearing moved by her gesture.
“Do you want me to drive to the farmhouse tomorrow?” she asked.
“If you prefer. I won’t be there. Rachel will take you to renew your driver’s license and then stay with you until you feel comfortable,” he said, opening his door and heading around to get hers.
She beat him to it, letting herself out. “I wanted to see my dad again. Do I…call you or text you?”
Jameson smiled, pleased she recalled the rules.
“You can do it either way. Julio and Matthew might cover you for a few days if I’m gone. I’ll let you know in advance,” he said, stopping at her steps. “Have a good evening.”
Caroline punched in the security code and glanced back at Jameson getting into Mac’s truck and pulling away. His shoulders seemed to slump, and his head remained down as they drove away. She wanted to run her hand through his hair and kiss his forehead, as he did many times before, when she woke up from a nightmare. Entering the cabin, Caroline sighed. She relied on Jameson to come back for her, and now she felt at odds. How could she be with someone related to the man who sold her to Cain?
Putting the leftovers in the fridge, Caroline wandered the house aimlessly, trying to put her feelings into perspective. Rebecca, Riley, and Rachel thought highly of Jameson. But he mentioned how the team in Serenity didn’t like him. Her stomach twisted in knots imagining why they sent him to Texas. If he helped save their family members, why didn’t they want him around?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Mac gave Jameson a side eye as they drove to the farmhouse. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nothing to say. Caroline needs space and healing. It’s the least I can do.”
Mac rubbed the scruff along his jaw. “I see you’re still acting the martyr. How’s it working for you?”
“How’s it going with you and Delaney?” he shot back.
When Mac didn’t reply, Jameson pursed his lips. “It seems like you’re good at dishing it out, old man.”
Sighing, Mac glanced at Jameson. “I’m not too damn old to keep from kicking your ass.”
Jameson grinned. “Seriously. What’s going on with the two of you?”
“Delaney has an ex. He’s messing with her head, and she’s not letting me in. It can’t be good for the baby,” he worried. “She’s got another six weeks to go and testy as a hornet’s nest. I’m considering driving her to Corpus Christi and leaving her with him. There’s nothing more dangerous than a mad pregnant woman. Keep it in mind, son.”
“Sure thing, Pa,” Jameson quipped as they got out of the truck.
