“You missed a little, and if I thought you’d let me, I’d kiss it away.” She lowered her eyes and released her chin and he smiled then went back to eating his ice cream.
Then C.J. started telling Caroline all about the different events the town put on throughout the year and during the seasons and soon she was asking questions and chatting away. It wasn’t until they started walking around again that she closed up and then made an excuse to leave.
As they failed at getting her to spend more time with them, they watched her disappear through the crowd and felt the immediate loss of her presence. “Well, that went better than I thought it would,” C.J. said.
“I think so, too,” York added.
“It’s a step in the right direction. She needs to learn that we care and will be friends first if need be. That should help her to trust us. I think that’s the hardest part right now, but she’s warming up,” Hunter said.
“Yes, she no longer shudders at our touch,” C.J. said, looking both relieved and hurt.
“It will come with time. She’s special, and we’ve got all the time in the world,” York said.
“Speak for yourself, man. Being that close to her, smelling that perfume and not being able to lean closer is tough.”
“Hearing her sweet laughter, and not being able to kiss her, hold her close, and really get to know her is pure fucking torture,” C.J. said, and Hunter and York mumbled in agreement.
“That it is. How about a beer?” York suggested. They all agreed and then headed to a food and beer booth to grab a cold one.
* * * *
“So you want to show up at the doctor’s office for her appointment and tell her that you’re there for moral support? Don’t you think she’ll flip out and maybe be more scared of us?” York asked Hunter.
“I don’t know if it will or if it won’t, but when Sam and I saw Caroline and her sister yesterday, we both felt that these women had been hurt before. When they walked away from us, Caroline caught my gaze and she seemed almost sympathetic, like maybe she would have considered spending time with me, but her sister was truly adamant about it. Maybe even protective of herself and of Caroline.”
York exhaled and looked at C.J. They were both off from work today and planning on doing some chores around the house.
“Okay, let’s say this goes in a positive direction, especially after how she received us yesterday at the Market in town, you text us and we’ll make our way into town. I’ll join you and then C.J. will so she doesn’t feel overwhelmed,” York said to him.
“I think overwhelmed and intimidated is a normal reaction from her to us, but I don’t want that to go on any further. She needs to see that we’re good men. Hell, I can’t even sleep. I kept blaming it on shit I was creating in my head but every time I see her, I feel stronger about getting to know her.”
“Well, trust doesn’t come easy from someone who was hurt. We’ll need to go slow. We’ve seen situations like this before and certainly she has reasons for being secretive and for holding back. Keep us posted,” C.J. said, and Hunter nodded his head and then grabbed the keys to his truck. Caroline would get there a few minutes before him.
* * * *
Caroline grabbed her purse and headed toward the doctor’s office. She couldn’t help but to really feel nervous. She wanted this cast off so badly, and she didn’t want to have the constant reminder of Cameron and his abuse. She also feared the doctor’s questions and wondered how she could get him to not put her name in the computer system. It could mean another way to alert Cameron to her location.
She had to be smart. Shelby had gone to a clinic a few towns over and paid cash and gave a fake name and fake address so they didn’t ask for anything more. None of those places removed casts, so she had no choice.
Just as she approached the door, she saw Hunter. She stopped short and he smiled wide.
“Good morning, Caroline. Excited about getting the cast off?” he asked her. Damn did he look so good. He wore a plaid green shirt and blue jeans along with boots. His blue eyes bore into hers and she felt her cheeks blush as he opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as she entered the doctor’s office.
“I thought you could use a friend, to help support you since Shelby is working today. You’re going to like Dr. Anders and his staff. Very nice people,” he told her and she headed to the counter.
“Good morning,” the receptionist stated with a smile.
“Good morning. I have an appointment with the doctor to remove my cast today.”