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“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.”
“Of course. He
’ll be just a few more minutes with his other patient. Can I see your insurance card?” she asked.
“I don’t have insurance, I’ll be paying for it.”
“A credit card?” she asked.
“No, cash,” Caroline replied and could tell by the receptionist’s facial expression that she was suspicious.
“You can fill out these forms and have a seat while you wait,” she told her and Caroline nodded her head.
She swallowed hard and felt her heart racing. As she went to sit down, she dropped the pen. Hunter retrieved it for her and then handed it to her as he eased real close.
“Don’t be scared. You’re safe here. People come from all over to see this doctor, he’s that great,” he said and she nodded, couldn’t help but inhale his cologne but she was panicked. She couldn’t fill out these forms. She couldn’t let Hunter stay here.
She kept the pen on the first line and began to fill in her name. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t put her real name and she couldn’t lie with Hunter right here next to her. She glanced to her right and took in the sight of his close proximity and thick, jean-covered thighs. She noticed a few of the women looking at him and smiling, but he kept a straight face and then he placed his arm over the back of her chair as if he were stretching.
“You okay?” he whispered. She looked up, her heart racing, tears filling her eyes. She couldn’t lie to him. She couldn’t be mean to him. She swallowed hard and nodded.
I have to be. No one can know the truth or Cameron will find me.
“You know what? I think I changed my mind. I’m not feeling well,” she said. He squinted at her and he placed his hand on her knee. She tightened up.
“Don’t be scared. I’m here for you,” he said, confusing her, making her heart lift with excitement, hope, something that she prayed, suddenly wished with all her might could be true, but it couldn’t be. Men could not be trusted. He couldn’t be or he could hurt her worse than Cameron.
“Caroline, the doctor is ready to see you,” the nurse said and she looked at her and then at Hunter, who gave a firm, yet soft smile.
“Come on. You’ll feel better to have that thing off your arm.
She couldn’t let him go in there with her. She was about to tell him as they walked together and when she turned to tell him to stay the doctor came out of the room.
