“Hey buddy, ya want a beer?” Garrett called as he walked to the cooler.
“No. I’m sticking to water,” Jameson said, glancing at Caroline. She seemed occupied with the women.
Garrett handed him a cool bottle of water while he searched for his bride. Finding her with Tara and Rebecca, he turned to Jameson.
“It seems like you made some strides this afternoon,” Garrett said, scanning the crowd.
“A few,” he admitted, not wanting to disclose the intimate details of his time with Caroline.
“You’re going slow?” Garrett asked, sipping his beer.
Jameson remained mum, playing with the wrapper.
“I see. Be careful, brother. She’s still dealing with a full plate,” Garrett advised. “You recall Rebecca when she returned? One day, Julio seemed to make great strides, and the next, he seemed completely lost on what to do. Have you noticed Caroline hasn’texperienced any meltdowns in a few weeks? With her shitty counselor, I’m surprised you haven’t seen more. Of course, everyone reacts differently to trauma. I’m not condemning you but stay alert.”
“I will,” he vowed. “Caroline says she wants to try. I’m not giving her a reason to change her mind.”
“I’m happy for you, brother,” he said, glancing to where Caroline sat. His expression seemed worried, but Jameson felt confident he and Caroline were on the same page. He never felt this close to a woman before. Glancing behind him, he saw Spider staring at her again. The man seemed captivated by her, making Jameson feel violently jealous and protective of her.Damn, the green-eyed monster bit him in the ass.
Deciding to put an end to any thoughts Spider might have of Caroline, he strode toward her. A few of the cowboys picked up their musical instruments, and couples started dancing. Caroline laughed at something Rachel said and leaned in to feel Delaney’s baby moving. Her eyes filled with wonder as she smiled at the expectant mother.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jameson stalking toward her. She rose, seeing the expression on his face.
When he approached her, he took her hand. “Do you want to dance?”
“Sure,” she agreed softly as he took her to the dance floor. He wrapped his hand around her neck, his thumb gently caressing the soft, silky skin. It wasn’t the touch of a man wanting to dance. It felt like a mark of possession. Jameson laid claim to the one woman in the world who saw past his father and his mistakes, and he refused to let her go.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Jameson loaded their bags into her car and waited for Caroline to come out of the cabin. After they returned last night, she seemed exhausted from all the social interaction among the team, their spouses, and the cowboys. They spent the night cuddled together in bed, and he felt whole for the first time since…forever.
Caroline walked out, carrying two mugs of coffee.
“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted some? We could’ve stopped and picked up a cup on the way,” he said, taking the traveling mug from her.
“We have coffee here. It seems a waste to buy it when it took me less than ten minutes to make,” she said as he helped her into the vehicle.
“Did you need to stop anywhere before we head to your dad’s?” he asked, pulling out of the driveway.
“No. I called Nancy. She said, they’ll have lunch ready by the time we return. I told them we’d join them. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” he assured her. “Did you have a good time this weekend?”
Smiling, Caroline nodded. “I did. It seems weird, I’ve only met the women and we’ve become fast friends. I like how they tell it like it is.”
“Especially, Rachel,” he said. “She never holds back.”
“I like her. She has spunk,” Caroline said, sticking up for her friend.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist. I like her, too. She’s good for Matthew, and she provides comical entertainment,” he agreed.
“Hey,” she said, catching his sarcasm. “I think she’s misunderstood. I see her watching Matthew with such longing in her eyes. I know they’re a couple, but it’s like something’s off.”
Jameson remained silent, not wanting to break his brother’s confidence.
“Shall we take another stab at swimming?” Jameson suggested. “The more you practice, the better you’ll feel about it.”
“After lunch,” she said. “I’m normally not a nap person, but I feel in need of one.”
