Town of Chance 5:Sweet Caroline(29)

“Wait, are you two available for lunch? We’re heading back soon,” Sam asked.

“No,” Shelby said very firmly.

Sam stood pretty close to Shelby and Shelby swallowed hard. Caroline could tell this man affected her sister.

“I don’t bite, Shelby. It could be fun, and we could get to know one another and take things slow,” he said.

“I’m not interested. Have a nice time,” she said and pulled Caroline along with her. Caroline glanced at Hunter, who held her gaze and looked her over. He seemed upset and disappointed, but Caroline actually felt disappointed, too.

“So, that’s how you know so much about ménage relationships and dodging a group of men who are interested in claiming you.”

“What?” Shelby asked and looked back over her shoulder. Caroline snorted.

“Sister, I think we’re both in a heap of trouble. You like him, and I’m assuming that goes for your boss and the third brother, Bender, who is a detective in town, I believe? I met him briefly Saturday when Mike introduced us.”

“I’m not interested and pretty much for the same reasons that you’re not interested.”

“But you like him. It’s obvious and he seems very military-like and he is really good-looking.”

“And what about you who said she was fearful of Hunter and his size, yet seemed to be affected in a positive way by his close proximity?” she retorted. Caroline thought about that a moment.

“I wish I was normal. I wish none of what happened, happened. I wish I never let Cameron hit me, talk down to me, and control me. I wish I could let go of the fear of men. I want safety and security, beside companionship and trust.”

“So do I,” Shelby said.

“Then how the hell can we get that if we can’t let go of the fear and of the negative experiences? I don’t want to flinch when I hear a deep male voice, or if Hunter, C.J., or York are close to me. I wish I could be friends with them and try to figure out if they’re for real or if, like you said, I’m making them into something they’re not.”

“That’s something I can’t answer because I don’t know, but I’m not interested in engaging in anything right now. I’m working, I’m trying to establish a feeling of independence, and being shared by three men will take everything I’ve worked so hard for completely away from me.”

Caroline was quiet. She didn’t know if her sister was right or wrong, but she knew she didn’t want to feel fear or pain ever again. She couldn’t help but to think being in Hunter’s arms, so big and strong, would help to ease that fear. Was he for real, or were his brothers and him just another route to feeling pain and failure once again? She didn’t know, but she felt this tightness in her heart as her mind whispered that they weren’t bad men and that she should let them in. Could she let down her guard and do so? And if they hurt her, then what? She exhaled as they walked in silence. She wondered if she and her sister could really find happiness in Chance, or would they always feel so isolated and afraid?





Chapter 5




Caroline was smiling as she spoke to Mrs. Murphy about her homemade zucchini bread.

“I almost couldn’t make them this year. Some hoodlum kids tried to sabotage my garden.”

Caroline smiled. “But they weren’t successful.”

The older lady with the gray hair but firm, strong expression raised one eyebrow up and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “No they weren’t and no thanks to any lawmen,” she said, looking past Caroline.

As Caroline turned to look, she felt the hands on her waist and the large presence behind her and locked gazes with C.J. and then York.

“Mrs. Murphy, we couldn’t wait to come over and buy some of your zucchini bread. I see you met Caroline.”

C.J. ran his hand along her waist and kept it there. She froze in place. She felt the heat move through her body and for some reason she didn’t pull away, but instead calmly looked at Mrs. Murphy.

“That’s the least you could do considering you and the rest of them deputies never found them hoodlum boys.”

“Now, now, Mrs. Murphy, I think you scared them way out of Chance. They never came back to your place now did they?” C.J. asked, and Caroline saw York smiling and heard him chuckle as he looked at the display of breads and then winked at Caroline.

“Harumph.” Mrs. Murphy was exasperated with them and gave them the evil eye. Now Caroline chuckled.

“Well, I’m going to take two of them. They’re delicious and it sounds like a lot of hard work to make them from scratch.” Caroline pressed away from C.J. to take out her money.