“Yeah, I get that. I think sometimes people have an idea of who they think I am. Like this Michael guy. He thinks he’s in love with me.” I shake my head. “He doesn't even know me. He thinks he does because he saw a few of my shows. Isn't that crazy?”
“Not sure I’d call it crazy. You have a strong effect on others. A certain pull that makes them want to be closer to you. At least that’s how it felt for me.”
I lick my lips. That’s true. I am having all kinds of feelings for Jameson and I haven't known him for long. I guess there’s a fine line. “I guess you’re right. I feel a pull to you too. But shouldn't it be mutual? Two souls coming together and recognizing each other?”
“That does sound nice. To be honest, I’m not sure. I’ve never felt this before.”
I stare into his eyes. “Me either.” I lean towards him, my eyes falling closed as my mouth meets his. His hand tangles into my hair as he tilts my head to take my mouth the way he wants. He gives himself room to work so he can devour my mouth. His kisses are consuming, showing me a part of who he is. He’s a man that wants control and I find I get off on him having it. It lights up my body.
“We gotta stop or I’m going to take you right here.”
“Who says that’s such a bad idea?” I say between kisses.
“Too much sun.” He pulls back. I stare at him for a moment.
“Truth.” I nod.
“Some creep is stalking you. I doubt he’s out here but I’m not chancing getting you naked out in the open like this.”
“Oh.” I look around.
“No one is here. If they were, I'd take care of it.”
“How? What if they have a—" I trail off, not wanting to finish that thought.
“This is Texas. Everyone has a gun, sweetheart.”
“Oh. Like right now?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t notice him carrying one. He reaches behind him and pulls out a gun. My eyes go big. PJ has a concealed weapon license and generally has one on her, but you never see it.
“Can I?” I lift my hand.
“If you want to learn I’ll teach you. Maybe tomorrow.” He tucks the gun back behind him.
“Tomorrow.” I contemplate the word. “We really don’t know how long I’ll have to stay here, do we? Is that okay? I know you said it was but I really don’t want to be a bother.” Jameson lets out a deep laugh.
“You’re far from a bother.”
“Good, because I’m enjoying myself here. It feels like a real vacation. I get why you didn't like going into the city. Why would you when you could stay here in the peace and quiet?” I turn a little, leaning my back up against him. I don’t know if it’s him or this place but I feel so relaxed. I shouldn't be. There is a lot going on and with Michael still on the loose I should be nervous. But I’m not. It feels as though for once in my life I have someone else to look out for me besides PJ. It feels good that Jameson wants to keep me safe and what better place to do it then right here?
“Then I should keep treating you like you’re at a five-star resort.” Jameson pulls the basket over closer to us. He grabs a lemonade, handing it to me. Then he starts pulling out all sorts of different goodies from inside.
“Wow, your mom is not messing around.”
“Not when it comes to food,” he agrees. I pick up one of the sandwiches, taking a bite. “I’m going to gain weight here. I haven’t eaten this well in a really long time.” I want to say that I never ate this well because a lot of my meals were eaten alone. My dad was always too busy to spend the time with me. While the food may have been quality, it wasn’t special. It wasn’t made by someone who cared for me. Since I’ve gotten older and I travel so much with the show, most of my meals are takeout now.
“A little weight never hurt anyone.”
I huff a laugh. “Is there one inch of fat on you?” The man is built like a tank. He is broad and thick. He’s no stranger to hard physical work by the way his body looks.
“Working out here makes it hard for a person to keep fat on their bones. I’m sure you have the same problem with all that dancing.”
“Sometimes. I fluctuate a lot actually.” My weight tends to go up and down. I never tried to control it. It is what it is. I take another bite of my sandwich. Right now I don’t care about anything else but being here with Jameson. I plan on enjoying every second of it.
13
Jameson
I sit in my office trying not to think about Bunny naked in my bathroom right now. I’d drawn her a bath soon after we got back. It was her first ride and I didn't want her to be too sore from it. I’m hoping a good soak will help with that. My cell phone vibrates across my desk, alerting me to a new message.
“What did you find for me?” I ask Davis. I have deep pockets and when it comes to keeping Bunny safe, I will use every resource I have to do it. Paying to have someone dig into this stalker was my first priority. With Davis, I knew no one would know I was poking around. Not yet, anyway.
“He’s connected. I’m surprised he was doing time to begin with.”
“I’m thinking he didn’t have to break out of that prison. It’s more likely that his family bought his way out.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Davis agrees. “I’m going to send over what I have on him and his family. If he doesn’t hurt your girl, I believe he’ll just hurt someone else. He’s a predator that doesn't need prison time. He needs to be put down.”
“I owe you one.” I’m sure he had to pull a few strings to get all the information he got. I still have no idea what Davis did those eight years he’d up and enlisted. He never talks about it. I knew he was a changed man, though. I could see it in his eyes. I’m pretty sure he’d been recruited. His father had been in the service too. He’s only been back home a little over a year now.
“You don’t owe me. I’m still returning the favor,” he drawls.
“It wasn’t a favor.”
“I don’t take handouts.”
“Then we’re square.”
“Maybe,” he says before hanging up. I’d taken care of his farm while he was gone. He’d left men to tend to it but I checked up on it. I made sure everything was running as it should be. I don’t want to be paid back. He served our country. It’s the least I could do to show my gratitude to him.
I pull up my emails to see exactly what information he was able to obtain. The family name sounds familiar but who knows. I’m new money, not old, so I don’t know some of the older family names if they’re not significant now. I haven't spent my whole life rubbing shoulders with these people. It’s a whole new world to me. One I don't much care to be a part of. But I knew men like Michael Romano; they don’t understand the meaning of the word no. They are entitled assholes who think having money means they can take whatever they want. No one will take my Bunny from me, though.
It doesn't matter how long I’ve had the money, only that I have it, and a shit ton of it. Money is money to me. No one person’s is greener than the others. I grab the name from the email and fire off a new email to my financial advisor. I want to know everything about this family. Starting with what investments they hold. I need to be prepared to hit them where it will hurt the most: their bank account. That’s one of the only things that will get these types of people's attention. By the looks of these reports, I can tell that their hands aren't clean.